We assume the hundreds of new data centers popping up across Texas use quite a bit of water, but we’ll look at why we don’t know for sure.
Texas has a program to help expand access to preschool. But why do some providers say it’s having unintended consequences?
Republican candidate for the Texas railroad commission Bo French put dozens of UT students in an unexpected spotlight with a racist social media post. We’ll delve into what the students say about the experience.
A book first published in the 1940s offered a scathing social critique of the rich and powerful of Fort Worth. It caused a scandal and was quickly suppressed. Now, “The Inheritors” is getting new life.
Plus, as Netflix prepares to remake “Lonesome Dove,” we revisit some of our favorite moments from the 1989 series with W.F. Strong.
Texas Extra: Texas political history and intrigue with politico Ben Barnes
There’s a lot to talk about in Texas on a daily basis and Texas Standard wants to get to as much as we can. But sometimes that means taking a great conversation and making it much shorter than we’d like. Such is the case with one this week with longtime Texas politico Ben Barnes. Our David Brown talked with him about his new memoir “Get It Done: Seven Decades of Lessons from a Political Legend.”
We present the interview in its entirety here for you now. Check it out — you’ll definitely learn something.
High electricity costs contribute to senior heat deaths in the RGV
Costs for air conditioning are so high that some on limited incomes are trying to do without. But with temperatures also at extremes, that’s leading to some grave outcomes for seniors, in particular.
The GOP’s unconventional convention is in Texas for a reason — and part of that is the state’s fundraising power. We’ll take a closer look.
And do your feelings about AI change if it helps you save money on taxes?
Plus, an update on an effort to help monarch butterflies on their great migration.
Forged in flames: An oral history of the Labor Day wildfires
This Labor Day holiday marks 15 years since the most destructive wildfire in recorded Texas history — measured not by acres burned, but by homes lost.
The Bastrop County Complex Fire was just one of more than 30,000 that ignited in 2011 — by far the worst year since the Texas A&M Forest Service has been keeping track. It was spurred by an unprecedented one-year drought.
Today on the Texas Standard we’re revisiting the stories of the Labor Day wildfires, collected by our home station KUT in the months after the 2011 fire outbreak in Central Texas.
This is “Forged in flames: An oral history of the Labor Day wildfires.
Texas hospitals face Medicaid funding freeze
$27 million a day. That’s how much Texas hospitals are losing because of a disagreement with the Trump administration over Medicaid funding. We’ll have the details.
Much of the talk of the November election in Texas has focused on the race for U.S. Senate. But who will be Texas’ next attorney general? We’ll share a closer look at candidates Mayes Middleton and Nathan Johnson.
As tropical winds and rain make their way through parts of Texas, some coastal homeowners worry about being able to secure insurance for future storms. We’ll go over what’s changing.
Plus, enormous electric power lines are one step closer to going up in West Texas. A look at how the state says this will help meet growing energy demand.
And “Gunsmoke,” a TV show from decades ago, is getting renewed attention on streaming. Commentator W.F. Strong tells us why he is watching.
A Texas remembrance of Dolly Parton
Tens of thousands of acres are burning in West Texas. We’ll check in on containment efforts and the ongoing wildfire risk.
Republicans from all over the country will be gathering in Texas soon to drum up support for the November election. We’ll have a look at how the Texas GOP has evolved.
Chinese biotech firms have become a major force in the global pharmaceutical market. We’ll look at what Americans should know about where new medicine may be coming from.
Houston Police have been collaborating with ICE. We’ll share how the collaboration has impacted one man’s life.
And Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. We went looking for a Texan who could help us remember this icon of country music and beyond — and found a longtime collaborator and friend in Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson.
New developments in Big Bend border wall fight
Border construction in Big Bend National Park is paused — for now. We’ll have an overview of the damage done and what’s next.
Texas received billions from a federal program meant to help provide high-speed internet to underserved communities. But why is it pausing new projects?
Texas is home to the largest detention camp in the country. A year after the opening of the detention facility at Fort Bliss, calls to close it are intensifying.
Some Texans have been notified of high levels of radium in their water. We’ll look at why this happens and potential solutions.
Plus, the National Hockey League is considering another team in Texas. Will it be Austin or Houston?
Mike D’Antoni talks NBA coaching career ahead of Hall of Fame induction
Tens of thousands of Texas families who received state money to send students to private schools are giving it back. We’ll explore why.
Texas cities are watching the back and forth between the Trump administration and the courts over a federal program critics say could put thousands of Texans at risk for re-entering homelessness.
John Cornyn and James Talarico have come out against imminent construction of Big Bend border barriers. We’ll have a look at where Ken Paxton stands.
Plus, our conversation with soon-to-be Hall of Fame former NBA Coach Mike D’Antoni.
And no animals were injured when monkey’s brains washed up on Texas beaches.
Migrant children held for months at Texas detention center
Children are being held in Texas detention centers far longer than legal limits allow. We’ll have a check-in on the immigration crackdown.
People and politicians have rallied around their dislike of data centers. What does this PR problem mean for tech companies?
We’ll check in on why an El Paso project might not be affected by Gov. Greg Abbott’s new data center regulations.
It’s been nearly a month since this year’s record-breaking flooding in South Central Texas. We’ll have a look at how it’s impacted small towns with few resources.
The story of how an Austin nonprofit is trying to support musicians in an expensive city.
And young Texas track athlete Cooper Lutkenhaus is breaking records abroad.
Laredo’s drag performers and allies navigate changing landscape
Texas public radio stations teamed up to tell the story of what happened after the July 4, 2025, floods — then deadly storms hit again. A conversation on how “After the Flood” updated its coverage.
After years of being legal, possessing products containing Delta-8 is about to be a felony in Texas. We’ll have a look at how we got to this point.
A state sales tax break for data centers may be costing the state billions. We’ll go over the debate in the Legislature over whether it should stay in place.
Plus, the chilling effect of a Texas law regulating drag performances. Our multimedia journalist tracked the impact in Laredo.
And if we told you railroad vine was blooming in Texas, where would you guess those flowers were popping up? We’ll tell you about these blooms that thrive in intense heat and direct sun.
That, plus a wrap of the week in Texas politics and more.
A peek inside a Texas wolf sanctuary
A new poll has James Talarico up five points over Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate. We’ll have a look at how money and scandal could factor in.
Texas shifted a lot of foster care responsibilities to third party contractors about a decade ago — but now, many have closed their doors. We’ll find out what we can learn from a key example.
There’s a civil war of sorts going on at a Houston megachurch. We’ll share a look at what a recent ruling means for a congregation’s right to control church business.
No matter where you are, data centers are one of the hottest topics in Texas right now. But what exactly are they? We’ll dig in.
And we’ll take you to a Texas sanctuary for wolves and wolf dogs — and dispel some myths.
Texas foster care rulings strengthen parental rights
Policies in Texas over when children should be removed from their parents are shifting. What do experts say about the changes?
Ken Paxton just lost a step in the first major case against an alleged violator of Texas’ abortion ban. We’ll dig into what the ruling may indicate about the law.
There have long been talks about connecting parts of Texas by rail, but a route between Austin and San Antonio is unlikely to happen anytime soon. We’ll explore why.
Oil prices are down but gas prices aren’t likely to fall as quickly. A look at the factors at play behind the pump.
Plus, why it matters that father figures are involved in reading programs.
New book recounts fishermen’s Gulf of Mexico survival story
President Trump is trying to renegotiate trade agreements with our nearest neighbors —again. Why is Canada so upset?
Much has been made over the political leanings of the Texas Rio Grande Valley. How are things looking for Senate candidates James Talarico and Ken Paxton in the run-up to November?
An iconic LGBT night spot is facing a shutdown threat — so what happened to the San Antonio mayor’s promises to help keep it open?
Plus, we’ll introduce you to a Kerrville couple rebuilding once again after a second year of extreme flooding.
And bestselling author Michael J. Tougias recalls a harrowing true story set in the Texas gulf with his new book “In Deep Water.”
Flooding risks trigger disaster declarations for parts of state
More wet weather for portions of Texas’ flash flood alley: A look at the forecast and warning systems put in place since last year’s deadly storms.
Cities across Texas have responded to the issue of homelessness in a variety of ways. Is it worth considering a broader approach?
People in Texas have been working to send relief to earthquake-devastated Venezuela, but some have questions about how they can be sure the help is getting where it needs to be.
Ocelot kittens are hands-down adorable, but zoo officials in Texas are celebrating the birth of two for reasons beyond showing them off.
And journalist Pamela Colloff tells us about unraveling a Texas Gulf Coast man’s life of deceit for her new book, ‘Catch the Devil.’
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org
Exploring Juneteenth and the history and culture of Black Texans
It’s been a celebration for more than 160 years — but only a federal holiday for a few. We’re recognizing Juneteenth on today’s Texas Standard.
North Texan Opal Lee is known as the grandmother of Juneteenth for her efforts to get the holiday recognized on a national level. We’ll delve more into the history, as well as other stories about Juneteenth celebrations.
And we’ll revisit conversations that explore Black Texan history and modern-day experience: a National Park Service site in Texas that served as a refuge for enslaved people seeking freedom in Mexico, the joy of a Black Rodeo in the 1970, and the ongoing role of the Black-owned bookstore.
Rural Texas pushes back on data centers
Weather off the Texas Gulf Coast has the potential to bring a lot of rain. We’ll dig into what it might mean for water-hungry cities around the state.
We’ve talked a lot about the number of data centers coming to Texas, especially outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Now, a closer look at the legal bind some rural counties are getting into as they try to slow the growth.
A lawsuit led by Texas could have huge implications for people with disabilities. A look at what everyone needs to know about the case.
A conversation with Joey Santore of the YouTube channel Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t about his new book, “Concrete Botany: The Ecology of Plants in the Age of Human Disturbance.”
Tim Kerr is an icon of Texas punk and the skater scene. Even now, the co-founder of legendary Austin punk band the Big Boys never stops pushing his art. He joins us for a conversation.
And the World Cup is in Texas — along with the so-called Orange Army. We’ll tag along.
Another small peach crop frustrates Hill Country growers
New World screwworm is affecting a part of South Texas currently vacant a member of Congress. Some say that should spur a quick special election.
UT researchers believe they’ve figured out who has been scrambling GPS signals across huge swaths of Europe in recent years. We’ll find out about their discovery and what it might mean.
The World Cup means lots of fans descending upon Texas cities. Environmental scientists will be studying their impact in real-time.
A new film invites all Texans to participate in the ecological recovery of the Guadalupe River after devastating flooding. Filmmaker Ben Masters joins us to talk about “Hope for the Guadalupe.”
And it may be a bit harder to get your hands on a Fredericksburg peach this year. Why that may be a growing trend.
Rural Texas counties say data centers are arriving faster than regulations
What control do county officials have when a data center wants to move in? A look at an investigation from the Texas Tribune.
The ballots are set for the midterm election in November, but at least one big thing is changing: Texas’ top elections leader, Secretary of State Jane Nelson, is stepping down.
What do the results from the primaries and primary runoffs tell us about how Texas Republicans are aligning with President Trump?
We’ve been digging into how Texas is reshaping the way the justice system responds to mental illness. Today, we step back and ask and even broader question: How do we view mental illness?
Plus, a beloved small-town Texas bakery just off the highway is reopening.
Ken Paxton’s Senate runoff win reshapes Texas GOP landscape
Ken Paxton handily beat longtime incumbent John Cornyn in the Republican runoff for Senate. So, what’s that mean come November?
We’re also unpacking big primary runoff races from across the state on both sides of the aisle. What do the results tell us about what Texas voters are prioritizing?
And did you vote in the primary runoffs? Congratulations, you may have added time to your life. The link between voting and living longer.
The Trump administration just changed the way people should apply for green cards. They’re now supposed to leave the U.S. to do so. We’ll unpack the impacts.
Plus, Mark Duplass and his wife Katie Aselton made a new movie about a married couple. We get a little personal in our conversation about “Magic Hour.”
What now after Trump backs Paxton in Senate race?
The big endorsement is in. So, what does it mean for Texas’s U.S. Senate race that President Trump chose to back Attorney General Ken Paxton?
You may have heard El Niño is coming — and not just a regular, but a super version. What does that mean for Texas weather and hurricane risks?
Texas has updated its program for drivers with communication differences, like those with autism or who are hard of hearing. We’ll cover what you need to know about the changes.
Plus, we’ll profile an animal shelter program with an outsized impact on the trainers working to help dogs ease their way into forever homes.