Texas Standard
David Brown, Angela Kocherga & Laura Rice
May 9, 2025
Texas Renaissance Festival ordered to sell land, assets following lengthy legal battle
Texas Catholics, now almost a third of the state population, are celebrating the selection of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from America.Gov. Gregg Abbott has just signed into law a school voucher plan, but some Texans are continuing to push back.A judge orders the sale of the Texas Renaissance Festival, following a civil court […]
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May 8, 2025
Ranchers plead for help to fight a devastating pest on its way back to Texas
Several current and former Frio County officials have been indicted for alleged vote harvesting, part of a years-long investigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. One critic calls it voter suppression 101. What’s behind the charges?In the conversation over cash bail reform, what’s missing? An new investigation points to a lack of focus on […]
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May 7, 2025
How shrimp fraud is affecting coastal fishers
According to a new poll, Texans have predictable opinions along party lines about Donald Trump’s immigration policies – but it’s more complicated on the economy.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is taking legal action against Austin ISD, accusing it of teaching critical race theory. It’s not the first time a Texas district has faced such charges.Shrimp […]
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May 6, 2025
What’s next as Gregg Popovich steps away from the Spurs?
State lawmakers from the House and Senate reach a deal lowering property taxes. Will it pass?It’s the ultimate company town: How Space X’s launch site in South Texas became a city.Generic and house brands are taking off as people look to save on grocery bills. But that’s not the only reason shoppers prefer them.What’s next […]
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May 5, 2025
Documentary tells story of landmark Texas archaeological site
As the clock ticks down on the legislative session, how close is Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to completing his wish list?Weekend balloting across Texas brings some big local changes. We’ll hear from reporters statewide.Texans dominate at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney.The documentary “The Stones Are Speaking” tells the story of Michael […]
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May 3, 2025
Texas Extra: Amy Lee Nelson on her new film, Texas music, and her dad
This week, Willie Nelson celebrated his 92nd birthday. Last weekend, the latest film he served as executive producer on had its debut. It screened at the Dallas International Film Festival and it was co-directed by his daughter, Amy. This is an extended interview with her about the film, “King of the Roadies.” It’s about the […]
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May 2, 2025
Judge rules Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act was unlawful
A South Texas ruling prevents the deportation of some detainees. What it means for the Trump administration’s strategy.Houston’s large Afghan population is closely watching efforts to unwind programs providing them legal status in the U.S. Why many say they can’t return to their home country.Some Texans will be headed to the polls tomorrow for local […]
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May 1, 2025
Farmers in Texas face mounting losses as lawmakers propose relief
An $8 billion funding bill for public schools has passed the Texas House. But is it enough? Where lawmakers stand on education spending.After a string of weather disasters, a bill could bring financial relief to impacted farmers.A new book, “Rethinking Medications: Truth, Power, and the Drugs You Take,” examines a shift in trust over federal […]
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About
Texas Standard is grounded in the best traditions of American journalism: fact-based, independent, and politically neutral reporting. The program is a one-hour daily news magazine that airs weekdays on more than 30 public radio stations across the Lone Star State. Visit texasstandard.org/listen to find it on a radio station near you. Or listen anytime to this podcast. Texas Standard is produced in the state capital in collaboration with KUT Austin, KERA North Texas, Houston Public Media, and Texas Public Radio San Antonio, as well as news organizations across Texas, Mexico, and the United States.
David Brown
David Brown is host of the daily statewide public radio news hour, Texas Standard. He is former anchor of the Peabody award-winning public radio business program Marketplace, and a veteran public radio journalist for more than three decades. Brown has covered national and international affairs for NPR and PRI’s Monitor Radio from bases in Atlanta, Boston, London, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. He has received numerous Murrow awards, National Headliner Awards, AP Broadcast honors and two Grand Prizes from the International Radio Festivals. Brown earned his Ph.D. in Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin, his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law, and is an active member of the California and U.S. Supreme Court Bars.
Angela Kocherga
Angela Kocherga is KTEP news director and also reports in the field on border issues including migration, the border security buildup, binational health, the trade. Her recent work earned a national and several regional Edward R. Murrow Awards. She is a 2019 recipient of the Maria Moors Cabot prize awarded by Columbia University for courageous reporting in Latin America in recognition of her body of work on the border and across Mexico. Emmy winning multimedia journalist Angela Kocherga is news director with KTEP and Borderzine.
Laura Rice
Though Laura’s official title with Texas Standard is Managing Producer, she actually wears many hats. Listeners will sometimes hear Laura on-air as an occasional host or reporter. More often, her work is behind-the-scenes. She helps make editorial decisions about what’s on the program and gives a second set of ears to the audio that makes it over the airwaves. Laura is passionate about working with the next generation of journalists through Texas Standard’s internship program. She also loves leading special projects for the team — including the National Edward R. Murrow Award-winning documentary “Out Of The Blue: 50 Years After The UT Tower Shooting.” Before joining the Texas Standard team, Laura worked just a few cubicles over in the local KUT Newsroom where she served as the station’s Morning Edition producer and fill-in host. Laura found radio after a start in television news. She worked as an anchor, reporter, and producer at stations in Austin, Amarillo, and Toledo, Ohio. She graduated from journalism school at the University of Missouri-Columbia and earned an MA from the University of Texas at Austin’s department of Radio-Television-Film.
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