The threat of hail, possible tornadoes and flooding conditions spells what could be a severe start to a stormy weather season in Texas. Meteorologist Eric Berger joins us with what to expect and how it fits into the bigger weather picture.
How are you weathering rising gasoline prices? We’ll hear how some Houstonians are coping.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s election-year forecast: Not a rosy one for the Texas GOP. We’ll talk about that with Jasper Scherer of the Texas Tribune.
We’ll reveal our winner in our contest for the best Texas film of all time, as well as talk with the filmmaker behind “They Called Us Outlaws,” all about the rise of outlaw country music.
GOP
After Texas primary night, attention turns to November
Excitement among Democrats, challenges for some incumbents and a few lingering legal questions after last night’s primary election.
The top-line race on both sides of the aisle was for U.S. Senate. Democrat Jasmine Crockett conceded Wednesday morning to fellow progressive James Talarico, but for the Republicans it’s incumbent John Cornyn versus Ken Paxton in a runoff.
How did Republican redistricting affect Texas congressional races? We’ll get a better answer in November, but we’ll dig into what we can learn from primaries.
Plus, a closer look at the results in other statewide races, from governor to attorney general.
Exploring Texas’ deepest underwater cave system
Wildfire risk is so high in the Texas Panhandle that an energy company preemptively cut off power to avoid lines blowing down and starting to spark. We’ll take a closer look at the situation.
Early voting is underway across Texas. We sent reporters to polls across the state to hear from voters who made it out on the first day.
We’ll profile the candidates in a hotly-contested race near Houston where the GOP is hoping to gain a seat.
Beef prices are contributing to shock over grocery store bills, but ranchers are upset about one way President Trump is trying to bring the price of ground beef down.
And we’ll explore the deepest underwater cave in North America.
Austin’s $25 million Long Center contract draws scrutiny
A $25 million contract between the City of Austin and the Long Center is under scrutiny over how the public money is being spent. The contracts and the fees inside it are tied to the city’ cultural arts grants program, raising questions about transparency and oversight. We’ll dig into the details of the contract and the future between the two sides.
Texas Republicans have revived anti-Muslim messaging in races across the state as early voting begins tomorrow. It’s a change in messaging from elections over the past decade or so. We’ll look at why that’s the case and what it could mean for elections in Texas.
Real love means working through the good, the bad, and the funny. It’s all explored in the mockumentary “Tying Knots” from an Austin filmmaker that’s premiering this week.
Probe raises concerns over pregnant migrant girls held in Texas
The FAA reopened airspace around El Paso as abruptly as it shut it down. We’ll dig into what we know about the strange and unprecedented actions.
A months-long investigation from The Texas Newsroom and The California Newsroom finds pregnant migrant girls are being held at a South Texas shelter that’s been flagged as medically inadequate. Why even some within the Trump Administration are concerned.
Have you noticed more political ads touting concerns about Islamic terrorism? An analysis about what could be behind the change in GOP rhetoric.
We’re approaching the five-year anniversary of the deadly winter storm that almost led to the failure of the grid that powers most of Texas. “Dark Texas,” a new novel from author Charles J. Petrie Jr., explores what could have happened if the grid did fail.
Plus, West Texas Democrats have new hope for wins after Taylor Rehmet’s unexpected victory in Tarrant County.
Untangling legal questions in the age of AI photo manipulation
One of the most closely watched political contests in this midterm election year is happening in Texas, and a new poll offers some surprises.
The race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by John Cornyn has recently been characterized as tightening up, but a new poll suggests Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat Jasmine Crockett are pulling ahead from the rest of the pack.
As AI makes image manipulation easier than ever, are the laws keeping up?
Plus, the fastest-growing group online? It’s not young people. Our conversation with Eszter Hargittai, co-author of the new book “Wired Wisdom: How to Age Better Online.”
Texas GOP reexamines ICE messaging amid crackdown controversies
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said Immigration and Customs Enforcement needs to “recalibrate” its tactics, and he isn’t the only member of the Texas GOP to comment on the operations and the rhetoric around it. The messaging comes a few weeks before early voting begins in the Texas primaries ahead of the midterms. We’ll have more about that on today’s show.
Former Austin police chief Art Acevedo says ICE agents are deploying tactics that show they’re either insufficiently trained or poorly supervised. He says when trust collapses, criminals win. We’ll hear more from that conversation.
The Austin City Council has postponed a vote on a contract for AI-powered surveillance cameras. We’ll look at why the vote was pushed back and what happens now.
And, the deadline is approaching to enter this year’s Tiny Desk Concert. We’ll chat with one of the the judges for the competition. And we’ve got another Black Austin music profile from our sister station KUTX.
What’s next after Supreme Court restores Texas’ congressional map?
The eyes of many Texans are on the U.S. Supreme Court – with new redistricting maps hanging in the balance. The Texas Tribune’s Eleanor Klibanoff joins us with an update on a legal back and forth that could affect which maps Texas uses for the 2026 election season.
Another Texas Republican, U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, says he won’t seek reelection to Congress. That makes him the sixth GOP lawmaker to step back from elected office as we approach a new election season. What’s behind these departures?
Also, a common refrain from Texas restaurants this holiday season: “Cash please, not credit.”
Data reveals intensity of ICE crackdown in Texas under Trump
1 in 4 immigration arrests are happening in Texas under the Trump administration. We’ll take a look at the statewide crackdown.
It’s Election Day. One constitutional amendment that funds a new Dementia Prevention and Research Institute for the state’s aging population is on the ballot.
A look back at our top 10 author interviews as the Standard continues celebrating a decade on the air.
Plus, a new cookbook from Chef Adán Medrano focuses on the plant-based recipes that have deep roots in Mexican cooking on both sides of the border.
‘CleaVage’ musical is a deep cut into Texas plastic surgery history
The contours of Texas politics are changing – part of Republican’s decades-long plan? Texas Monthly’s Robert Downen joins us to talk about what he sees as an unprecedented consolidation of power aimed at ending fair elections in Texas.
Also, Texas A&M launches audits of its courses statewide – this after the firing of a professor over teachings involving gender identity in a children’s literature class.
And a lawsuit challenging the Texas Medical Board over who gets to call themselves a doctor.
Plus, did you know breast implants were first developed in Texas six decades ago? Well, one Dallas plastic surgeon is making sure you do with a new musical.
Those stories, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune, the talk of Texas and so much more.
No phones, devices in classrooms as Texas students return to school
Undocumented college students in Texas are no longer eligible for in-state tuition. As the new semester starts, many are in limbo.
As we keep an eye on the special session where Texas Democrats broke quorum, a look at another state – Oregon – where Republican lawmakers staged a walkout.
A new state law that bans cell phones, wearables and other electronic devices in Texas classrooms is raising questions from educators, parents and students about its implementation and impact.
The University of Texas at Austin has set up guidelines for using AI responsibly to promote learning.
And: El Paso pecan farmers innovate to cope with persistent drought.
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Remembering Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a trailblazing Texas leader
Major cuts in federal funding for infectious diseases as West Texas struggles with a growing measles outbreak. We’re checking in with Brad Burt at KTTZ in Lubbock.
Remembering Carole Keeton Strayhorn, the trailblazing Texas politician who famously called herself “one tough grandma.”
Muslim women are speaking out about the stigma surrounding menstruation during Ramadan, when they are exempt from fasting while on their periods.
And: Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s Republican Mayors Association has raised over half a million dollars to elect more GOP candidates locally. But financial reports show little of that money has gone directly to campaigns.
Cracking the mystery of sea turtles’ ‘lost years’
A new survey gives some strong indications what Texans make of the 47th president and what that portends for Texas Sen. John Cornyn’s re-election prospects.
Apple and Microsoft have followed Google in renaming the Gulf of Mexico on their maps after a Trump executive order. Tech journalist Omar Gallaga explains what’s behind the change, and whether it fits into a broader shift in Silicon Valley.
For decades, scientists have struggled to track young sea turtles between hatching and adulthood. Now, researchers may have some answers.
And: Elon Musk is making headlines in D.C. – but back in Texas, he’s been quietly growing his business empire outside of Austin.
Dustin Burrows wins race for Texas House speaker
In a session-opening battle for speaker of the House – one of the most powerful positions in state government – Rep. Dustin Burrows won the role in a blow to a rising faction in the Texas GOP, and a victory for what many call establishment Republicans.
Elon Musk, Texas’ richest resident, is turning his eyes to a vastly different venture: education. Lauren McGaughy of The Texas Newsroom has the story, plus a look at her plans to dig into how Musk’s massive wealth and business ambitions are affecting his new home.
And: As the Standard celebrates our 10th birthday in 2025, we’re kicking off a year of Top 10 lists with a beloved story from commentator W.F. Strong.
House Speaker Dade Phelan bows out of leadership reelection bid
Facing a challenge from fellow Republicans, Dade Phelan says he’s dropping his bid for re-election as Texas House speaker.
Texas has some of the most expensive insurance in the nation, forcing homeowners to pay more for less coverage.
Desert bighorn sheep return to the Franklin Mountains of El Paso, a major milestone in restoring the species.
While the area around the UT Austin Tower buzzes with activity, a quieter sanctuary to the north – the Turtle Pond – offers a break from the hustle. The Texas Standard’s Laura Rice takes us to this peaceful pocket and explores how it’s evolving amid campus changes.
Can you trust polls saying Texas could turn blue?
As immigration returns to center stage in American politics, a curious reversal in messaging in one of the state’s most closely watched races.
It’s happened before: polls show a statewide race tightening up, hopes rising among Texas Democrats, only to be dashed on Election Day. Do you trust polls that suggest Texas turning blue? A guide for optimists and pessimists.
The latest on a lawsuit brought by inmates and their supporters over intense heat in Texas prisons.
And the dedication of a new national historic site to help explain an era when Texas created separate schools for Hispanic children.
Why is Ted Cruz proposing a bill to legislate in vitro fertilization?
There’s infighting among Texas Republicans over the next steps in their efforts to stop abortions in the state.
Canada is Texas’s second-biggest international trade partner, behind Mexico. We’re talking to Mary Ng, Canada’s minister of export, trade and economic development, during her visit to the Lone Star State this week.
After the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered children under state law, Democrats raced to pass bills to protect in vitro fertilization. Now, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is pushing a similar bill – but what exactly would it do?
Ahead of Memorial Day on Monday, we’ll hear from a Texas family still working to make sure the legacy of their beloved serviceman is honored.
And: Today marks two years since the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. A survivor’s story.
Laredo native Vanessa Gonzalez on how Texas informs her comedy
The May 28 primary runoff elections are fast approaching – we’ll have an update on contests in North Texas and a contentious battle over who will head the Texas GOP.
With Texas school boards at the center of culture wars, a closer look at how those boards operate.
What’s so funny about Texas? Laredo native Vanessa Gonzalez is featured in a PBS docuseries on the roots of comedy.
And: Some Texas legislators are pushing to crack down on squatters.
A younger generation is taking over the Texas oil fields
For the first time in centuries, an American-built – and more specifically, Texas-built – spacecraft has touched down on the moon.
Multiple law enforcement officers who responded to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting have been ordered to appear before a grand jury investigating the failed police response.
The folks calling the shots in the Texas oil industry seem to be getting younger. What does this change mean for the industry?
A giant among advocates for people with disabilities in Texas steps down after a quarter century. We’ll talk with Dennis Borel of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities about the challenges ahead.
Plus, the week in politics with The Texas Tribune.
Ballet folklórico competition comes to North Texas
Former president and presidential candidate Donald Trump wades into Texas politics with downballot endorsements.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton takes aim at a faith-based group in El Paso providing services for migrants.
In Texas farm country, concerns grow over a lack of water.
In the congressional district that includes 800 miles of the state’s border with Mexico, four republicans are challenging the GOP incumbent as polls show high voter interest in border security.
Plus: High schools push for competitive ballet folklórico.