North of San Antonio, an explosion at a federal express facility raises new challenges in the investigation of Austin’s serial bomber. Also joining us, the head of the House Homeland Security Committee Texas congressman Michael McCaul on the federal response to the bomb attacks in the Texas capitol city. Also, is Mexico finally getting the upper hand on the drug cartels? We’ll explore some new developments that have put the question back on the table. And a pedestrian in Arizona killed by a self driving car: should we tap the brakes on the development of autonomous vehicles? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 19, 2018
A fourth bomb detonates in in the Texas capitol city leaving two more people injured, a community on lockdown, and a city on edge. We’ll have the latest on the big story making national news out of Texas today, federal agents working feverishly with Austin police to detect some pattern or motive after four bomb attacks, and no suspects. Also, the primary’s over? Not for three candidates once running to replace Beto O’Rourke. They claim they were cheated out of victory by election fraud in El Paso. But how so? And reaching victims of domestic violence in an unconventional way: through the hairdresser? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 16, 2018
Now more than 300 federal agents join police in the Texas capitol city to get to the bottom of a mystery over package bombs left on front stoops. Three bombs, two dead and a whole lot of questions, we’ll explore. We’ll hear about the first fatality, a talented 17 year old en route to UNT’s celebrated music program. Also, water scarcity in El Paso at the heart of a case before the supreme court. And in east Texas, the explosion that occurred 81 years ago this weekend. An event so traumatic people didn’t talk about it for generations. Now they’re trying to make sure the victims aren’t forgotten. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 15, 2018
20 billion dollars in debt: a Texas-based giant in the entertainment industry files for bankruptcy, we’ll explain. Also, big pushback against Putin a day after the UK announces sanctions against Russia, the US issues sanctions of its own over election interference. We’ll have the latest. And Texans getting sandbagged by callers claiming to be from the IRS. How a Texas company is fighting back. And from a magazine known for its progressive politics: a call to drop the turn Texas blue narrative. We’ll hear the thinking behind it. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 14, 2018
One of the most controversial laws to pass the Texas legislature in years: being upheld by a 5th circuit panel. What’s next for so-called sanctuary cities? We’ll explore. Also, Texas counties racing to join lawsuits challenging pharmaceutical companies over the opioid crisis. Why the race to the courthouse? And how Texas could make motherhood safer, and why the need is especially urgent. Plus, along the Harvey hit Gulf Coast this spring break, how’s business? We’ll check in with some bar, restaurants and other hot spots to hear whether the crowds are back and what’s changed. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 13, 2018
The Texan in charge of US diplomacy, isn’t anymore. After traveling the world, secretary of state Rex Tillerson is coming home, we’ll explore. Also, exploding parcels in the Texas capitol city. Police are trying to connect the dots, warning Austinites not to touch boxes left at front doors. And in Dallas explosions of another sort, these connected to gas mains. Lots of folks in big D asking questions, but not getting many answers. And what was the cause of the civil war? And how is it taught in Texas schools? Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 12, 2018
The president’s gamble over tariffs: why Texas may be in the crosshairs if Europe decides to go tit-for-tat. We’ll have a conversation with the EU ambassador. Plus, full speed ahead for the general election? For dozens of Texas candidates, the brakes are still on for the runoffs. We’ll lift the curtain on what it takes to get past the next political hurdle. And is a historic part of downtown El Paso ready for the bulldozer? Some residents say no one prepared them, and they’re pushing back. Also evangelical women in the era of Trump and me too. After allegations from a porn star and more, can Trump still count on support from the religious right? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 9, 2018
For the first time in history a US president will meet with the leader of North Korea. Vindication of a strategy or something else? We’ll explore. Also, an accused pedophile has his conviction thrown out because a judge used electric shock to coerce testimony. What happens to the judge? Nothing, so far. So who’s policing the bench? And a new vision for computing as apple reaches out to visually impaired coders in Texas. Plus fangs for the memories: 60 years of the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup.That and the week in politics from the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 8, 2018
A culture of cover up? Claims of abuse against juvenile offenders are swept under the carpet according to a whistleblower, we’ll have the latest. Also, after Harvey, many homeowners and businesses wondered how the flooding could have happened, given the flood maps. A new study says that’s the problem: the maps are wrong. And a symbol of Texas honky tonk music packing bags for Memphis. What the move means for the live music capitol. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 7, 2018
Greg Abbott goes one for three, democrats from Houston and Dallas to duke it out for the governors race, and more takeaways from the primaries. And another emerging theme for Texas politics in 2018: the female factor. We’ll explain. Also, the most expensive battle in the Texas primaries goes to the woman. We’ll have the latest on a bitter fight for a state senate post. And Beto O’Rourke gets 60 percent of the democratic vote to set up a November showdown with Ted Cruz, and the nation is watching. Also getting the border wired for the web and a questionable claim about the leading killer of African Americans and much more, today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard Primary Special: March 6, 2018
The polls just closed in El Paso in the unofficial kickoff to the midterm elections: it’s primary night in the state of Texas and we’re doing the numbers. Plus, in what might be the most closely watched statewide race, the incumbent George P. Bush: the scion of a political dynasty, faces three GOP challengers including his own predecessor. And high turnout among democrats. What are we to make of that, and does it signal a so called blue wave in Texas politics? Also, an unusually high number of open races. You think they’re not following this at the white house tonight? How will the outcomes translate to the national stage?
Commentator Matthew Dowd joins us. Texas voters, we’ve got you covered on a special Primary Night edition of the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 6, 2018
Worst deal ever! That’s what candidate Trump called NAFTA. Now putting steel tariffs on the table, could Trump tilt the scales? We’ll explore. Also, it’s primary day in Texas, we’ll have the latest. And are today’s doctors dinosaurs? The head of the new UT medical school in Austin says they’re definitely an endangered species, we’ll hear why. And when companies breaking ties with the NRA and taking stands in the culture wars, smart business? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 5, 2018
There’s Abbot and Valdez and White and who else? What does it take to make a mark in a contest like this? We’ll have details. Also, With just hours to go before primary day: gimme 5 takeaways: the university of Houston’s Brandon Rottinghaus on the big themes going into Tuesday. And 3-2-1-will we ever see liftoff by SpaceX in south Texas? We’ll have the view from the launch pad. And not since the days of sputnik: a milestone for a major Texas export. Hank Hill would be proud. All those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 2, 2018
With primary day fast approaching, reporters reading the Texas political tea leaves are seeing more blue. Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post joins us today on the Standard.
Southeast Texans remember trying to get around during hurricane Harvey. Doesn’t have to be a storm that big, sometimes heavy downpours make Texas roads impassable, but you don’t know know about it until it’s too late–now there may be a fix in the works.
A growing scandal over college basketball players accepting money- and a proposal to fix it that’s getting a lot more attention: What about letting them accept the money?
Plus the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and and much more.
Texas Standard: March 1, 2018
Texas based Academy Sports sticks to its guns, but fans of the AR 15 face a new backlash, including perhaps from the White House. The story today on the Texas Standard.
Lloyd Doggett & Beto O’Rourke among the Texans in Congress writing a letter to the Speaker of the House. The message: time to rethink the blank check for the US military in Syria. There’s a reason this push may have traction, and we’ll hear why.
Attention Texas home renters, have you double checked your contract? A warning about so called landlord’s liens.
Also, sworn to secrecy: Army vets come out of the shadows claiming health problems tied to top secret experiments.
Texas Standard: February 5, 2018
Botched executions: that’s the claim from the attorneys of the latest man put to death in Texas. We’ll examine the details. Also it’s incredibly delicate work: manufacturing and maintaining the country’s nuclear weapons. Why a new contract could be putting that work at an Amarillo plant at risk. And Mexico’s state owned petroleum company is mired in challenges. We’ll look at why and how it’s affecting the country’s relationship with the US. Plus, in Houston an effort to preserve a bit of Latino history, and a new book preserves the history of Big Spring. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 29, 2018
A vote to censure a prominent Texas lawmaker on his way out of office. What the move says about the state of the state’s GOP. Also, the disaster relief bill that would send tens of billions of dollars to Harvey devastated parts of Texas is still on hold in Washington. Why some of the state’s farmers may be contributing to the delay. And it’s been exactly 100 years since an event in Texas history that you probably don’t remember reading about in school. Why we should remember the Porvenir massacre. Plus, how re-thinking our message about the flu could do more to keep people healthy. All that and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 25, 2018
The mayor of Plano joins a boycott of a meeting with president Trump. The mayor of McKinney says that was a mistake, we’ll have the latest. Also, governor Abbott appeals to the Trump administration to get money to fund the state’s healthy Texas women’s program. But why was it being withheld in the first place? we’ll get the backstory. Plus, hoop dreams: the national basketball association calls on congress to legalize betting on pro basketball nationwide, and the league would like a piece of the action, too. Smart move or could it hurt the game? And the bandaid that kept the government going: are continuing resolutions the solution or the problem? All those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 24, 2018
Is Texas an epicenter for human trafficking? A bust in Texas’ biggest city points to how bad the problems become, we’ll explore. Also after California, Texas has more military bases and active duty servicemen and women than any other state: now a groundbreaking study on what can be done to help those with Post Traumatic stress. Plus Texas senator Ted Cruz says he’s consistently opposed government shutdowns. If you don’t like green eggs and ham, you may want to hear today’s fact-check of the senators claim. And three things many Texans can’t live without: caught in the crossfire over NAFTA? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 23, 2018
Why did President Trumps voter fraud commission ask for the names of all hispanic voters in Texas? The story not be what it seems, we’ll have details. Also wildfires shut down two interstates and force evacuations west of the metroplex. Welcome to wildfire season 2018: we’ll hear what the experts at Texas A&M are bracing for. And after marches over the weekend, women ask how to build on the momentum: one potential answer gaining momentum in a Texas high school classroom. Also 25 years after that siege outside of Waco, a perspective seldom heard: one from the inside. A survivors story. And the shift away from the war on terror: who are the revisionists? Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard: