Russian election interference and ties to the Trump campaign. We’re tracking the release of the Mueller report. We’ll have the latest. Other stories we’re following: what may be a preview of the upcoming Texas senate race unfolding at the Texas capitol…results of the census are in. Though it’s probably not the one you’re thinking about, it could nonetheless have a big impact on the Lone Star State. Also, we’ll explain the car of the future will be self driving they tell us. What’s taking so long? Plus, this weekend’s Trip Tip and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 17, 2019
Just Where do you draw the line? Gerrymandering may be legal in Texas, but now there’s a pushback in the Texas legislature, we’ll have the latest. Also, we’ve been hearing about brick and mortar stores shuttering and big box retailers leaving old spaces, so who’s filling those vacancies? To an increasing extent, it’s immigrant entrepreneurs. We’ll hear more. And did Texas once resemble East Central Africa? New images emerge from the study of bones discovered and locked away some 80 years ago. Plus is there a spending limit set by the Texas constitution? A Politifact check and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 15, 2019
Texas is now flaring off enough natural gas to power all of households in the Lone Star State. Can anything be done to harness the energy? We’ll take a look. Also, the Texas legislature is stuck: once again stalled on some key issues. Time to prepare for a special session, Ross Ramsey doesn’t seem too worried. We’ll ask with the co-founder of the Texas Tribune why not. And after several decades, the University of North Texas solves the case of the missing Hobbit… first edition, that is. Plus the battle of San Jacinto that wasn’t, at least not this year. That and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 12, 2019
A push for teacher pay raises, but what about other state workers? State employees take to the streets in protest, we’ll have the latest. Also, the student government at Texas State university votes to ban a conservative student group. What the president of Texas State has to say about allegations of an attempt to curb conservative speech at the university. And there’s Lollapalooza, there’s ACL fest, and a new music festival for west Texas? Many locals say not so fast. Plus the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more today on the Friday edition of the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 11, 2019
When was the last time you heard three top Texas Republicans call for a tax increase statewide? There’s more to the story, of course, and we’ve got it. Also, Texas may be tops in wind power, but the oil and gas industry not content taking a backseat. Asher Price of the Austin American Statesman on the pushback. And the latest social media platform to grab young people’s attention: why’s it Tic Tok’s time in the spotlight? Digital savant Omar Gallaga checks in. And the teacher in Lubbock making conversations about mental health an everyday thing for her students. All those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 10, 2019
Texas is in the spotlight again over race in higher ed admissions. What a settlement with Texas Tech Medical School means for affirmative action. Also we’ll take a look at the links between health and wealth. And just in time for tax season, a bill to keep the IRS from providing online free tax filing. Plus the matador fighting to keep both the bulls and the sport alive and a Politifact check about the criminal activity of migrants here illegally. All of that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 9, 2019
Texas officials raising lots of eyebrows after taking quick action to sue the companies involved in recent chemical disasters. A change of heart? We’ll take a look. Also, who’s helping the growing numbers of people crossing the border right now? Highly strained resources for migrants in the valley as their numbers mount. And is the STAAR test aimed too high for Texas students? New complaints getting a hearing at the state capitol. Plus a closer look at the possibility of a former Texas governor taking over as head of Homeland Security. All of those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 8, 2019
A surprise resignation by the head of Homeland Security and the impact amid rising numbers of people crossing the southern border. Also a top immigration official temporarily takes over the post of a department founded to fight terrorism after 9/11, we’ll have more. And as the president postpones a promised border shutdown, anxiety persists at the border. And the Lone Star State may be famous for its Friday night lights, but maybe we should be celebrating prowess in another sport right now. Plus the story of the woman behind a political dynasty and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 5, 2019
As the president travels to the border, a democratic presidential candidate from Texas makes headlines with his pushback, we’ll have details. Also, is climate change accelerating the issue at our southern border? We’ll get the view from Guatemala. And what’s called the achievement gap in educational testing, and the attempt to close that gap for Texas kids. And a UT campus shuts down greek life altogether. Part of a trend? Also, Texas farmers hoping to cash in over the buzz surrounding CBD sales. Plus the week in texas politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 4, 2019
Texas house lawmakers give the green light to a 9 billion dollar school funding bill plus a teacher pay raise. But what happens next will be critical. Also, after a slap on the wrist from the nation’s high court, a major change coming to Texas’ execution chamber. We’ll have the what and why. Also, the pay gap for women in tech. And what could be rare bipartisan action in congress, this time to deal with what some call a retirement savings crisis. Plus your weekend trip tip and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 3, 2019
Just two weeks after the petrochemical disaster in Deer Park, another chemical fire at a plant outside of Houston: this one deadly. We’ll have the latest. Plus: 9 dead, 20 injured, nearly 200 arrested and 4 years later, all cases dismissed yesterday without a single conviction. What happened after the Waco biker shootout? And what are the lessons? Plus, a warning about a quarter of Texas’ dams, we’ll take a look. And they call it the Rio Grande Valley, but where are the mountains? Our commentator W.F. Strong on an etymological mystery and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 2, 2019
The price of a would-be border shutdown? We’ll do the numbers and talk with the mayor of one of Texas’ biggest border cities, Laredo. Plus, 2020: it’s not just about counting votes, but counting heads, too. We’ll look at what’s at stake for Texas in the upcoming census. Also, after previous fits and starts, prospects get real for for full day pre-k covered by the state, we’ll have the latest. And San Antonio goes all in on a plan to let outside organizations run their schools. Also, a fiddle playing son pays tribute to his father and his role in shaping Texas music. All of those stories and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 1, 2019
It may be April first, but the President’s team is doubling down: the threat to close the southern border is quite serious. Mexico is Texas’s top trading partner, and concerns are growing over the possibility and the viability of a border shutdown. Also, the border agent who had a secret: he too, was an undocumented immigrant. And Houston, we have liftoff: a race for space-related books on the 50th anniversary of the 1st moon landing. Plus researchers trying to save Texas bats: a danger of doing more harm than good? All that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 29, 2019
A surprise stay of execution for a condemned man on Texas’ death row, and the possible ripple effects for religious liberties nationwide. We’ll have the latest. And do you remember the case of the Colorado baker who refused to bake a cake for a gay couple? Now Texas lawmakers are taking steps to protect licensed professionals from charges of discrimination against the LGBT community. A move shaping up to be a broader culture war at the capitol. Also, Amazon betting big on Texas: minus incentives. Plus a conversation with Steve Earle about Texas music legend Guy Clark and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 28, 2019
A tipping point at the border and pessimistic projections about the possibility of tragedy amid record numbers of asylum seekers. We’ll have the latest from El Paso where migrant families are being fenced into a makeshift shelter under a highway bridge. Also, a Texas mother files a federal lawsuit seeking 125 million from the Weather Channel after a tragedy involving storm chasers. Plus, Apple: the latest to enter the streaming wars, but are we already in over our heads when it comes to movies on demand? Also Hamilton comes to Texas and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 27, 2019
When it comes to health care, now what? An unexpected move by the Justice Department to side with Texas in fighting the Affordable Care Act, we’ll have the latest. Also, days after that fire was extinguished at a chemical plant near Houston, losses and lawsuits are starting to mount. And greyhound racing is legal in Texas. But some wonder for how much longer, after a complaint about a wave of injuries to dogs and questions about oversight. Plus the team at Politifact double check a claim about Texas child care workers. Do only 11% meet quality standards? All that and more when today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 26, 2019
Many highway checkpoints inland from the border are closed as border officials try to deal with a new surge of migrants from Central America, we’ll have the latest. Also, rural electrification transformed the lives of millions of Texas. Is it time for something similar for broadband? We’ll talk with the Texas lawmaker pushing to get the rest of Texas wired. Plus for the first time since 1940 there’s a new dental school for Texas. But how’s Texas Tech planning on keeping its newly minted dentists where they’re most needed? And fighting words: the Mueller report and how we’re talking about it. All those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 25, 2019
No collusion, no exoneration. The Mueller report promised to get us closer to the truth, what’s the reaction in an increasingly polarized Texas? We’ll discuss the implications of the Mueller report and reaction here in the Lone star State, a place increasingly seen as turning to a purplish hue. Also, gas prices on the rise: a seasonal blip, or a long term price hike? And pushback against the woman picked as sole finalist to become the next president of UTEP. And Marfa, the city that never sleeps? Why locals are on edge and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 22, 2019
Safe or unsafe? After assurances that smoke from a petrochemical fire near Houston was not toxic, concerns grow over the environmental implications. From the Gulf Coast west to Katy and beyond, efforts are underway to assess the full impact of the 4-day long fire. Also, the head of homeland security comes to Texas amid reports of overcrowding in detention centers. Texas lawmakers take up medical marijuana plus other top stories from the week that was in Lone Star politics and a whole lot more.
Texas Standard: March 21, 2019
With oil and gas revenues rolling in and the state’s savings account hitting record highs, Texas lawmakers get set to make a record withdrawal. Though the formal name for the fund makes no mention of rainy days, several days of rain back in 2017 will finally hit the Rainy Day Fund rather hard. We’ll hear where the money’s going. Also, If Joaquin Castro moves forward with plans to challenge John Cornyn for his senate seat, who’s in line to try to fill Castro’s shoes? We’ll play musical chairs. Plus why Google wants to play with you, and why it could be a real game changer. All those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard: