It’s been four years since the deadly days-long blackout in Texas – and “The Disconnect” podcast is back for a third season, exploring what’s changed and what hasn’t.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been told by the new Trump administration to stop work. How a long-term closure might affect you.
An investigation into the death of a foster care child has led to the closure of one facility and some bigger questions.
And: The women on Texas death row have a special relationship with a group of nuns. The details might surprise you.
ICYMI: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s 2025 State of the State Address
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott spoke in front of a crowd of lawmakers and supporters to deliver his State of the State Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 from Arnold Oil’s corporate headquarters in East Austin. He named his list of emergency items, which are the only issues lawmakers can pass bills on in the first 60 days of the session. This is a recording of a live presentation of the address from the Texas Standard and The Texas Newsroom.
What does the Farmer’s Almanac say about Texas’ winter?
Gov. Greg Abbott announced his priorities over the weekend, and it looks like lawmakers in his party are getting right to work.
The Arlington City Council unanimously approved a drilling site that would put 10 new gas wells within a few thousand feet of homes, a daycare and elementary schools. A closer look at the debate.
The impact of bird flu goes far beyond the price of eggs. The latest on how it’s affecting Texas farms and people.
As we’ve well heard, Elon Musk is taking a big role, attempting to re-shape the U.S. government. The young engineers helping him do it.
Plus: It’s feeling a bit like spring already in Texas, but there’s still winter ahead. What the Farmer’s Almanac predicts for the coming months.
Flu surge shuts down schools in North Texas
What to expect from this weekend’s State of the State address, where Gov. Greg Abbott will reveal his emergency items for the current legislative session.
Have you noticed the flu is going around? There’s actually more than one virus making folks sick at the moment. We’ll check in with a doctor.
One of the many ways public media organizations raise funds is through vehicle donations. But how exactly does a donated car translate into a revenue stream? Texas Standard’s Sean Saldana followed one donation from driveway to dollars.
And: The 67th annual Grammy Awards take place Sunday, and once again, Texas is well-represented among the nominees. We’ll have a preview.
Texans weigh in on how to spend the state’s $24 billion surplus
If Texans were in charge of the state’s budget, how would they spend the money? A new survey from the Hobby School of Public Affairs sheds light on priorities.
We know many state lawmakers are prioritizing a school voucher effort that would give money for private education directly to families – and the proposal has moved forward in the Senate.
Some Texas business are already feeling indirect impacts of deportation efforts.
And: With Texas attracting more data centers, -what’s being done to ensure the energy grid can handle it?
What Trump’s declaration of an energy emergency could mean for Texas
As Texans try to keep warm, volunteers are bundling up to help a particularly vulnerable population: sea turtles facing “cold stun,” a life-threatening condition.
We’re three days into the new Trump administration and trying to keep up with a slew of executive orders. Digging into the impacts on the energy industry, as well as what it means to issue a presidential pardon.
Peer support specialists can help fill the gaps in mental health care in Texas. But there are some challenges to keeping people on the job.
And: The Sundance Film Festival gives fans a sneak peek at movies before they hit theaters. We’re keeping an eye on a few with Texas ties.
What Texas can learn from wildfire history
A Texas case before the U.S. Supreme Court on verifying ages for adult content has bigger implications than just whether one free speech law can stand.
TikTok users are flocking to other Chinese-owned apps as they await a ruling on whether the U.S. can ban TikTok. But a lot could still change.
Carbon capture is a growing technology in the Houston area. How it’s also now showing up in the classroom.
Texas has huge potential for offshore wind. What do bird conservationists think about the plans?
Plus: As firefighters continue to battle blazes in California, what Texas’ wildfire experts want you know about conditions here and planning ahead.
It’s cold outside, but politics are heating up in Austin
As cold as it is in some parts of the state, politics are heating up in Austin. As the next legislative session nears, there’s intense infighting over who will hold one of the top spots.
Abortion access in this country has changed, especially in states like Texas, since the effective overturn of Roe v. Wade. But pregnancy terminations are actually up across the U.S.
Meta will no longer fact-check. What’s that mean for the user experience on platforms like Facebook and Instagram?
And the semifinal round is here in the College Football Playoff. Texas will face Ohio State. Can the Longhorns win it all?
The W.F. Strong Power Hour
Ring in the new year with a countdown of our beloved commentator’s most mesmerizing tales.
Tour the Texas Museum Map
This year we kicked off the Texas Museum Map, exploring and highlighting museums big and small, traditional and weird.
Today we’ll take a tour of the state, with stops at the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg, the Rangerette Showcase & Museum in East Texas, and Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, among others.
Texas Extra: Billy Bob Thornton and ‘Landman’
Texas Standard had good reason to talk to Billy Bob. Though he’s from Arkansas, he’s lived in Texas on a couple of occasions – and he’s played some classic Texas roles: from Coach Gary Gaines in the film “Friday Night Lights” to Davy Crockett himself in the film “The Alamo.” Billy Bob Thornton has been an honorary Texan for decades. Now, he’s secured his 7th Golden Globe nomination with another soon-to-be-iconic Texas character: Tommy Norris in Taylor Sheridan’s new series “Landman.” This is an extended interview.
Uranium mining poised for a comeback in South Texas
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about restrictions on gender-affirming care for young people. What a ruling could mean.
Texas elected officials will soon have to start disclosing more information about the properties they own – changes that could reveal more about Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent real estate transactions.
Houston-based Enron went very publicly kaput more than 20 years ago. Now, it’s back? We’ll take a closer look.
Uranium mining is ramping up again in South Texas, raising questions about the environmental and economic implications.
Plus: ChatGPT is known to have its limitations. What one of its blindspots tells us about artificial intelligence.
Work up your Thanksgiving appetite with these Texas food tidbits
We’ve been cooking up a special treat: a show all about Texas eats and drinks – the sweet, the savory and everything in between.
The biggest food story in Texas in recent months was the announcement of the first-ever Texas Michelin guide, the creme-de-la-creme.
What Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor learned traveling the country in search of BBQ.
Inside the Atkinson Candy Co., which has been handcrafting classic treats in Lufkin for 92 years.
And: A new podcast about Texas whiskey that you just might think is neat.
How news organizations are partnering with public libraries
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants the state to lead in dementia research. Why it’s such a priority and what happens next.
More people than ever get their news via social media, but with feeds looking very different for different folks, how do you bring people together? As the Standard’s Sarah Asch reports, the public library might help.
A school district in the Panhandle has a unique model for providing scholarship money for students. Commentator WF Strong says it began with a gift.
Plus: Rainbow trout may soon be arriving at a body of water near you. How to take advantage.
Reflecting on the Aggie bonfire tragedy, 25 years later
The Texas State Board of Education could soon approve a curriculum that includes Bible stories and doesn’t spend as much time on slavery.
It’s been 25 years since one of the darkest moments in Texas A&M history. Reflecting on the impact of the Aggie bonfire collapse.
Families in America today can look a lot different than what’s long been considered “normal.” The podcast “Refamulating“ explores why it’s important to re-think family.
A Black-owned bookstore in North Texas is closing one chapter, but its owner says even after very challenging times, the story isn’t over.
Plus: Why Faith Family Academy, a dominant team in girls basketball, won’t be allowed in the state playoffs.
Texas Extra: The science of motivating young people
Human brains begin to alter significantly around the age of ten — as people start to enter biological adolescence. But why are the teenage years so dreaded? And what can science tell us about how to make them less so?
That’s exactly what this next interview is about. It’s an extended version of a conversation that first aired on Texas Standard in October.
Could Texas get its own Appalachian-style trail?
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped a Texan for a top spot in his upcoming administration. What John Ratcliffe might do as head of the CIA.
Louisiana’s legal battle over putting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms could impact similar efforts here in Texas.
Did you pick up gardening during the pandemic? Some did with the help of tech company AeroGarden – which is now going under.
What can you learn about place if you spend 24 hours there? A new podcast tries to answer that question in Austin.
And: The logistics of a plan to construct a long-distance trail crossing Texas from east to west.
How Republicans broke a losing streak in South Texas
The words “historic election” have been far overused, but they’re worth considering when examining results out of Starr County. A look at a political shift in South Texas.
Texas’ oil and gas regulators requested an emergency influx of $100 million dollars in state money to address oil well blowouts and contamination. What’s happening in the oilfield?
Even during election time, you probably don’t give a lot of thought to the office of the Justice of the Peace. Why it matters – especially right now in Harris County.
Microsoft Windows users could soon face some consequences if they haven’t updated their software in a while. Our tech expert has tips on what steps to take now.
Plus, there was a plan to bring an exiled Napoleon to Texas. And no, it didn’t happen. Our W.F. Strong has been looking into this strange bit of history.
Talking with a real-life Texas Willy Wonka
Reporters have now identified a Texas woman experts say died because of the state’s restrictive abortion ban.
As early voting continues across Texas, we’ll check in with some LGBTQ+ voters about what’s on their minds as they head to the polls.
Also, some of the people removed in Gov. Greg Abbott’s voter roll purges were eligible voters.
Apple’s latest product announcement wasn’t one big event, but a whole series of smaller launches. How consumers and markets are reacting.
And it’s Halloween! We’ve got both tricks and treats in store, plus a story from our insect expert that isn’t for the queasy – but also a sweet one out of East Texas.
Texas Extra: A documentary on the Texas Farm Workers Union
The story of the TFWU is one of epic strikes and marches, but also one that occasionally brushes up against controversy. But what this documentary ultimately aims to do is simply share a story few Texans know from history.