Big Tex

A special broadcast live from the State Fair of Texas

Today we’re bringing you a special broadcast from the opening day of the State Fair of Texas in Dallas:

The fair’s storied history dates back to 1886. Karl Chiao, executive director of the Dallas Historical Society, shares more about its history, and the fair’s Karissa Condoianis talks about its future.

Big Tex is a cowboy icon – but did you know he started out as Santa Claus? The midway’s Rusty Fitzgerald shares the story of this Texas giant.

Bryan Berg, who holds four Guinness World Records for card stacking, joins us ahead of his performance at the fair.

Thousands of kids across Texas participate in the Youth Livestock Competitions at the fair. KERA’s Penelope Rivera reports on what drives their passion.

And: We’ll hear about running bumper cars and the family behind a 75-year-old food vendor.

Texas Standard: October 19, 2022

As El Paso struggled to shelter rising numbers of migrants, did the White House scuttle the city’s plans to declare a state of emergency? We’ll take a closer look. Also with days before early voting, a race in San Antonio that has debates about policing in the spotlight. And Texas new abortion ban changing the conversation for people who are dating. Plus new research on deaths attributed to intimate partner violence in Texas. And some Texas ranch owners make an unusual discovery, not on their property but under it. Also the biggest birthday boy in Texas turns 70, a Politifact check and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: September 24, 2020

Republicans versus Republican? Some members of the GOP file suit against the governor over early voting in Texas, 2 and a half weeks away. We’ll hear what the lawsuit says about republicans confidence in the Texas general election. Also, do you trust the numbers? Texas teachers concerned about the spread of COVID-19 are crowd scouring Coronavirus information. We’ll hear why. And war of the worlds: Microsoft takes on Texas in a high stakes battle for gaming supremacy, the texan biking the 3 thousand mile perimeter of the Lone Star State and more today on the Texas Standard: