David Brown

February 16, 2015

Corpus, Dallas, El Paso and beyond. Today, the mayors of the top 10 Texas cities join forces for the first time. Also, should a private company have the power to take your property? A North Texas republican says something’s gotta change. Do you remember the Alamo? Sure hope so, because part of its disappearing at the rate of two inches every 50 years.

February 13, 2015

A man convicted of murder nearly two decades ago – and the appeal that could get him off of death row. Plus, the oldest synagogue in Texas: Who tore it down, and why? Also: Poor grades? Low SAT’s? Perhaps you qualify for UT’s off-the-books admissions process. And a Valentine’s search for the real heart of Texas. All that and much more on today’s Texas Standard:

February 12, 2015

Groups pushing gun rights set their sights on Austin – and campus carry is the target. President Obama wants new authority to take on Islamic terrorists as his strategy in Yemen crumbles. Plus: How the craft beer business in Texas is beating the big boys. All this and more, on today’s episode of the Standard:

February 11, 2015

The oil bust gets all the headlines, but what about that crisis in that other liquid resource – one that’s even more valuable? Plus: the football player, the transgender partner, and the killing that’s the talk of Tyler, Texas. Also, remembering the man mislabeled the “Sepia Sinatra” – Bobby “Blue” Bland. All that and more, on this episode of the Standard.

February 10, 2015

Twenty-six states turn to Brownsville, Texas where ruling on whether the White House has gone too far. A reversal of fortune- Mexican Immigrants on the road back home. South by South what some businesses perish on this years festival. Also boring down on ear worms new science behind the songs that stick. And how to fix the number one consumer complaint in Texas, any guesses? All of that and more on today’s episode of the Texas Standard

February 9, 2015

From Texas twisters to Texas temblors, the source of this latest scare may not be what you think. Also, a new era in space exploration and a possible booster rocket for the Texas spirit. Plus, there’s something in the West Texas wind and it smells a lot like antibiotics. All that and more on today’s episode of the Texas Standard:

February 6, 2015

The spotlight turns to a tiny Texas town for the American Sniper trial, but how hard is it to separate fact from fiction? Also this hour: amid a measles outbreak, why part of Texas has become a hotbed for vaccination waivers.Plus Texas versus florida–who’s crazier? You decide. All that and much more on this week’s Texas Standard.

TX Standard 23: Freshman Year in a Car

We meet the Texas State student who spent his first year of college with a secret: his home was his auto.

TX Standard 22: Cricket Power

A Texas food company hopes to sell America on getting an energy boost from bugs. We’ll sample the big idea behind ‘Hopper Bars’.

Green Room: The Truman Show Delusion

Can insanity be shaped by pop culture? The discoverer of “The Truman Show Delusion”, Dr. Joel Gold, raises interesting new concerns about the interplay between media and the mind in his new book “Suspicious Minds”.

Green Room: Kids and News

In recent weeks, the headlines have been filled with tragedies involving children–from the US borderland to Israel and the Gaza Strip. How do you talk to your kids about these events? How old is ‘old enough’ to listen to the news?

Green Room: La Bestia

One of the top hits on the radio in Central America is “La Bestia”: a warning to would-be northbound migrants. But few of the song’s fans may realize that the song was bought and paid for by the U.S. Government. We’ll meet the songwriter and hear the song.

Green Room: Phil Collins’ Alamo

The biggest collection of Alamo artifacts ever amassed is returning home, thanks to rocker and hard-core Alamo aficionado Phil Collins. The English drummer and award-winning vocalist chats with the Texas Standard about his multi-million dollar gift — and his unlikely obsession.

Green Room: Iraq Veterans

As ‘ISIS’ insurgents rapidly take over vast portions of Iraq, the U.S. sends special forces and explores possible further military options. How are veterans of the Iraq conflict reacting to the news? Would they support a U.S. return to Iraq?

Green Room: Prison Heat

What could drive prisoners and their guards to join forces against the State of Texas? With temps topping 150F in several facilities, union leader Lance Lowry says spending time in a Texas prison could become an unsanctioned death sentence.

Green Room: Civil Forfeiture

Texas law enforcement agencies rake in tens of millions of dollars each year seizing cash and assets from members of the public, including many innocent people who are neither arrested nor convicted of crimes. Matt Miller Executive Director of the Texas Chapter of the Institute for Justice says its time to ban the practice.

Green Room: Soccer

More Americans are attending and watching the World Cup than ever before. Could this be the long-awaited ‘tipping point’ for the game’s popularity in the U.S.? MLSSoccer.com’s Greg Lalas talks about the prospects and the Texan set to soccer’s next star.

Green Room: Nina Diaz

Nina Diaz finally returns to the stage: this time both solo…and sober. A strikingly candid conversation with the longtime voice of the legendary all-girl rock trio Girl in a Coma.

Green Room: Googlemobiles

The self-driving cars of the future are about to be built. But is Texas ready? Meet Dr. Kara Kockleman, a UT Engineering professor and one of just a few world-class scholars studying the positives–and negatives–of our driverless future.

Green Room: Amazing Grace

Texas just lost one of its most powerful women in politics. And yet, not only did you never cast a vote for her, chances are good you don’t even know her name. But political strategist Harold Cook says that considering her impact, you probably should.