Democratic

Drilling down on the state takeover of Houston schools

Today, the Standard debuts “The Drill Down,” a new segment highlighting enterprise journalism from our partners across Texas. Today we’ll hear from Dominic Anthony Walsh of Houston Public Media on where things stand more than six months into the state’s takeover of the Houston Independent School District.

Democrats challenging Ted Cruz for his seat in the U.S. Senate debate for what may be the only time before the primaries. Sergio Martínez-Beltrán of The Texas Newsroom shares more.

And: A 90-year-old program designed to help blind or visually impaired people find jobs is losing participants, with many leaving because they can’t make a living.

Milk or meat? For modern cattle ranchers, the answer may be both

Texas is moving quickly toward primary day – but where are the debates? Why there’s been a decline in an election institution.

What the families of Uvalde victims are expecting as a grand jury examines law enforcement’s response to the Robb Elementary shooting.

Why Collin County seems to be playing an outsized role in Texas politics right now.

On Texas ranches, you’ve got dairy cows and bovine raised for beef. But the distinctions may be blurring. We’ll hear about a different sort of “cattle crossing.”

And concerns about the bestselling video game “Palworld,” which looks like “Pokémon” but plays like something much more grim.

Texas Standard: May 18, 2022

Democratic primaries in South Texas pit progressives against moderates. The big question is which brand will have a better chance against the GOP. We’ll have the latest. Plus for immunocompromised people who don’t get enough protection from COVID-19 vaccines, there is another option. Why most Texans don’t know about it. And COVID-19 is still having a huge impact on the Texas criminal justice system, just look at Dallas County. And as the November Governor’s race approaches we’ll fact check a claim from Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke on property Taxes. And we’ll settle in for a little music exploration as an iconic Texas album turns 50. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 17, 2022

There’s an election going on and all week we’re profiling the races. Today it’s the Democratic runoff for Land Commissioner. We’ll have details. Also, Sweden and Finland want to join NATO after decades or even centuries of military nonalignment. A look at the road ahead for the alliance. And comparing the leaked draft Supreme Court opinion on Roe v. Wade to a brief submitted by the architect of some of Texas’ abortion restriction laws. And not a leak, SCOTUS released a final opinion on a case involving campaign finance yesterday. The plaintiff was U.S. Senator from Texas Ted Cruz. Plus we’ll slow things down in a conversation focused on the legacy of Houston’s DJ Screw. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 13, 2021

Was election day in South Texas 2020 an omen for Democrats in 2022 and beyond? A prediction and a prescription getting a lot of attention. Coming up, a warning for democrats hoping to pick up swing states, and what it could mean for Texas. Also the Biden Administration’s plans for a border reopening. Angela Kocherga has more from El Paso. And the image of the firefighter: iconic, and often male. An effort to give teenage girls hands on experience that could lead to careers fighting wildfires. Plus Texas bracing for the effects of hurricane Pamela. We’ll have the latest on that front and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: March 2, 2020

Despite big spending by the candidates in Texas including rally’s, robo calls and door to door canvassing, many Texas democrats say they’re still not sure who’ll they’ll vote for tomorrow. We’ll hear how they’re doing the political math. Plus, fear fueling a major price drop in a clash between the Texas energy industry and the coronavirus. All of that and then some today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 12, 2020

Iowa? Check. New Hampshire? Check. Brace yourself for Super Tuesday where Texas is sure to shine, we’ll have all the details. Also Food safety, food labels, small producers and big producers. A roundtable with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And what’s the meaning of a warrant forgiveness? We’ll explore. Plus how artificial intelligence is inspiring new music. And have you started thinking about your Valentine? Ours will melt your heart. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 3, 2020

Bloomberg delivers a surprise in Texas. We’ll look at why the former New York mayor and billionaire is scoring so highly in a new survey. Also, Texans don’t often express an interest in doing things like they do it in California, but firefighters in central Texas are eager to make an exception right now: we’ll hear why. And amid record setting violence in Mexico, reasons for optimism? A security expert in Mexico city says yes. Plus a super bowl win for Texas last night? Maybe more than many in the Lone Star state realize. All those stories and then some today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 16, 2019

The Tale of the Tape: what the secret recording of a meeting at the Capitol means for a once highly celebrated Speaker of the Texas House. We’ll take a look at the fallout. Other stories we’re tracking, what last night’s presidential debate means for the two Texans who were, at last check, still in the running. Plus, luxury brand Louis Vuitton is putting down roots in a Texas farm town. Pourquoi? President Trump plans to stop by this week, and we’ll take a closer look. And why Texas has a thing for Halloween…or as our commentator notes, maybe it’s the other way around. All of that and so much more on the National News Show of Texas:

Texas Standard: September 10, 2019

Midland-Odessa, El Paso, Santa Fe, Sutherland Springs… We’ll take a look at laws that may have helped prevent these mass shootings. Also, three Texas border cities are part of the Trump Administration’s so-called “remain in Mexico” program. But there’s some confusion in the rollout, we’ll explore. And a think tank with a focus on renewables says now is the time to say goodbye to natural gas. We’ll explain. Plus, lovesick crabs are being lured to their deaths at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. And an analysis of the Democratic plan to victory in Texas in 2020. All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: August 22, 2019

Students just now returning to school, and report cards already? A-F grades go out statewide rating public schools, but are they fair? We’ll explore. As schools reopen, so do sign ups for sports, and something new in Texas: an effort to track related concussions across the Lone Star State. Also, is Texas an ATM for Democratic politicians? An AP reporter following the money spots another sign of a profound shift in Texas politics in the run up to 2020. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: August 1, 2019

Typically Texas Republicans donate more to candidates than do Democrats. But this year, a major shift in giving. What the numbers may tell us for 2020. Also, a death during an incident involving Dallas police in 2016. After years of refusing freedom of information requests, a disturbing video is finally released raising questions about excessive use of force, and why it’s taken so long for the public to see the pictures. Plus, was your data stolen in the Capitol One or Equifax hacks? The promise and perils of compensation and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: July 30, 2019

Day one, round 2: as democrats in the race for the White House duke it out in Detroit, what should Texans be looking for? We’ll explore. Plus, bad blood between some Houston police officials and the Harris county district attorney’s office. Some top cops complaining prosecutors are too soft on crime. Also, a new drug testing policy for some students near Amarillo casting a very broad net, and raising eyebrows nationwide. We’ll take a look. And a crisis at the border fueling a crisis for some church congregations? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: June 21, 2018

The president didn’t like the optics, he said, so he signed an executive order. Smoke and mirrors? We’ll take a much closer look at the presidential directive to end family separations and explore what its does and likely does not do. Also the impact of family separation on kids, and how this major story in the U.S. is playing in papers south of the border. And Texas democrats gather for their convention, we’ll have a preview. Plus a look over our shoulder at what the Texas GOP just did. A major change of position on the question of marijuana. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 23, 2018

Lupe Valdez is the Democratic gubernatorial nominee. We’ll take a look at what she faces as she sets her sights towards the November Election, and Greg Abbott. Plus, we’ll break down the runoff results and hear from the political experts about which races surprised them and which could be clues to what could happen next Election Day. We’ll also look at the conversation from the Governor’s first roundtable on how to prevent school shootings like the one that devastated Santa Fe. And we’ll fact-check some of the claims that came out in the wake of the shooting. Also, drought conditions in Texas are causing some ranchers to take dire measures. We’ll talk to one. Those stories and so much more, today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 14, 2018

Who won the first gubernatorial debate of the year? Though it was a one party affair, some pretty hard punches were landed. We’ll talk with the moderator of the Friday night fight, Gromer Jeffers of the Dallas Morning News. Also, well-heeled Texans are re-opening their wallets for the GOP, we’ll show you the money. And liftoff in Houston for a basketball matchup that could be hotter than the NBA finals themselves. And is summer already over at the Oasis called Balmorhea? We’ll dive in to that story and so much 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: February 14, 2018

Nine Democrats are on the primary ballot for Texas Governor. We’ll introduce you to a handful of those hoping to replace Greg Abbott. Plus a new study reveals that Texans are some of the worst in the country when it comes to voter turnout. We’ll try to answer why. Also, the flu season isn’t over yet but Texas schools hope the worst of it is gone. We’ll check in with a superintendent who shut down his district because of the flu. And the official shape of February must be the heart: unraveling the mysteries this organ still presents to doctors. Plus understanding the all-female species of fish named for the Amazon that lives only on the Texas/Mexico border. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: July 26, 2016

Have you noticed the many Texas democrats grabbing the spotlight in Philadelphia? We’ll have the latest news on the red state blues. Also, as the democratic convention moves toward making the ticket official, whither one Julian Castro? We’ll explore his political future, which may turn out to resemble that of a certain Texas Republican. And remember the lawsuit over newborns in Texas getting denied birth certificates because of their parents ID? With little fanfare that case has been settled…we’ll hear why, and it means. Plus college life across the US forever changed by one day in Texas. All that and much more on todays Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: June 14, 2016

It has been described as an unspeakable act, but how we’re speaking about it may say a lot about who we are as a people. We’ll explore. Also would you give up your rights for an insurance discount? So reads the headline in the Dallas Morning news…we’ll hear about a provocative proposal for a state with the third highest home insurance rates in the nation. Plus, 3 things to watch for as Texas democrats convene this week in San Antonio. And Hamlet for Hispanic Boys? A new book puts a Shakespearean Classic in a distinctly Texan setting. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard: