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Two Austin schools receive fifth failing ratings, opening door to state takeover

Two struggling Austin middle schools have received a fifth consecutive failing accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency, opening the door to a state takeover of all the schools in the district. Houston ISD, the biggest school district in Texas, has been under state mandate for a few years. How it’s going so far.

The Austin City Council has adopted a budget of more than $6.5 billion. There were plenty of cuts, but a few late additions, too.

Plus, a preview of the new season of the Tacos of Texas podcast.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

San Antonio seeks psychedelic therapy trials for veterans

As cleanup continues after massive rains in the Hill Country, a storm from the east threatens the Texas Gulf Coast.
An update on Tropical Storm Bertha: After making landfall in Louisiana, the storm headed back into the gulf. Forecasters fear it could loop back into South Texas.
Texas’ World Cup summer has come and gone — almost. In Houston, an early accounting of the impact.
San Antonio — a center for research on soldiers and PTSD, and how it could become central to research on some unconventional therapies.
Plus, brisket prices gotcha down? Tri-tips and other tips from Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn.

Remembering the bass boat heroes (Re-run)

Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to have a modest impact on Texas. It’s been weakening as it makes its way towards Louisiana — where it will hit first.

Many Texans are breathing a sigh of relief about that after a rain event last week caused a second year of deadly flooding in the Hill Country.

Hurricane Harvey, back in 2017, actually broke the record for the amount of rainfall from a single storm. It was, of course, devastating for areas around Houston. But Texas Standard commentator WF Strong also remembers it as a symbol of Texas resilience.

Questions remain after fatal ICE shooting in Houston

The latest on this week’s fatal shooting by ICE in Houston, described by Mexico’s president as part of a broader pattern of mistreatment of Mexican migrants. We’ll talk with reporters in Houston and in Mexico City.

Frisco has become one of the nation’s fastest-growing hubs for Indian American families, businesses and culture. But the North Texas city has also seen a rise in anti-Indian rhetoric online and in public life.

Lights, camera, Texas? As more big-ticket films focus on the Lone Star State, whether it’s looking like a long term shift in the industry.

What’s next after World Cup knockouts for host countries US, Mexico and Canada

The U.S. Supreme Court declines to block Texas from verifying the age of app-users. We’ll dig into what it means for parents, kids and others.


We continue to remember lives lost in the Hill Country flood a year ago, including beloved Houston artist Tim Walker, whose work lives on in the Bayou City.


Plus, a memorial in the Sandy Creek neighborhood honors victims of the July 4, 2025 flood in Travis County.


Also, her goal was to swim in 50 bodies of water as she approached the age of 50. “Midstream” author Kate Washington on finding new meaning in middle age.
And after the U.S. team’s crushing loss, what’s next for FIFA World Cup fans?

What to make of new Supreme Court decisions on immigration and status

As the nation awaits some politically charged decisions from the Supreme Court, some new opinions were handed down yesterday with profound implications for immigration. We’ll discuss the decisions concerning asylum and Temporary Protected Status.
Venezuelans in Texas hope to help people back home affected by this week’s devastating back-to-back earthquakes.
This week in Texas politics looks at new polling data in the closely watched U.S. Senate race between State Rep. James Talarico and Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas.
Plus, a World Cup update.

Nearly a year since July 4 floods, Camp Mystic declares bankruptcy

Facing a summer without campers and millions of dollars in debt, Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy. We’ll delve into what that means.
Recent rains buy time for Corpus Christi, which had been facing an imminent water shortage emergency, but is it enough time to find a long-term solution to its water woes? Dylan Baddour of Inside Climate News with the latest.
Renters face a rise in junk fees from the largest apartment manager in the country.
The A-B-C’s of all things Texas: A new children’s book takes learning about the Lone Star State to new places.
And a controversy in San Antonio amid calls to cancel an upcoming concert by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West.


Texas officials race to contain screwworm outbreak

Can Mike Miles, the man appointed to lead Houston ISD and help that struggling district, provide a roadmap for others in the state? We’ll have the details.
Also, a look at the federal government’s plan to stop the New World screwworm from spreading as more cases appear in South Texas.
Plus, fire safety concerns about the batteries powering e-bikes.
And Texas is likely to become the world’s largest hub for data centers — that’s led to growing concerns across the state, including in suburban areas.
Plus, Go Spurs go! The team recovered from two losses to claim victory over the Knicks in New York in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Dallasite David Lowery talks new film ‘Mother Mary’

Civil rights groups say the Houston City Council has caved to threats from Gov. Greg Abbott. We’ll hear more on the city’s decision to amend an ordinance limiting local law enforcement cooperation with ICE agents.
The latest frontier in the politics of energy: Andy Uhler on rising electricity demand statewide and the challenge convincing some rural Texans to get on board.
Austin archery students take aim at a national competition. We’ll hear about the real target of this undertaking.
“Mother Mary” director David Lowery filmed his new movie starring Anne Hathaway in Germany, but the Dallasite says he carries traces of Texas with him in all his work.
And will the owner of a huge statue in downtown Galveston please step forward?

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.

You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org

Camp Mystic ruling could shape flood accountability case

The biggest city in Texas faces intense pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott over cooperation with immigration enforcement. David Goodman of the New York Times joins us with more on a threat to cut funding for Houston police unless it changes a new policy on collaboration with ICE agents.
What happens next to Camp Mystic? A hearing over what to do with damaged structures as questions remain over last July’s deadly floods.
What’s the price for memory? More than you might imagine, especially if you haven’t bought any recently. Tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us why and what it means.
And whither Artemis? What’s next for the moon.

‘They Called Us Outlaws’ revisits rise of outlaw country music

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.

Meteor over Texas leaves debris, questions

A secretive project to build a long water barrier in the Rio Grande is revealed as letters go out to landowners to build a Big Bend border wall. We’ll hear what locals are thinking.

Look up to the sky: It’s a boom, it’s a flash… and a crash through a roof north of Houston. A UT geosciences professor helps us understand the meteor fragment impact that occurred this past weekend.

We’ll also dig into the somewhat surprising findings of a new report from the Brookings Institution on the costs of higher education.

And with March Madness in the air, the Sweet 16’s set in another bracket competition — the best Texas movie.

‘Riverbend’ returns to audiences after decades of obscurity

After winning a spot in a runoff, Congressman Tony Gonzales drops his bid for reelection amid growing pressure over an affair scandal. We’ll dig into the latest today.
Also, confusion at some polling places on primary day: What really happened and what’s the fallout?
And a film of Black resistance shot in Texas — but largely lost to history — has now been resurrected. We’ll share more about the rediscovery of “Riverbend.”
Plus, three big takeaways from a busy week in Texas politics.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org

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.

The Texans in the Epstein files

Can Sylvia Garcia, Houston’s only Latina U.S. representative, hang on to her seat? We may know sooner than some realize.
If you were waiting for this fall for the start of election season, wait no more. Early voting in the state’s primaries is set to begin tomorrow. A closer look at a race with huge implications for Texas – and beyond.
Amid concerning reports from the immigration detention center at Dilley, what are conditions really like inside? Ask the children being held there. We’ll talk with a ProPublica reporter who did just that.
Also, the Texans found in the Epstein files.

Democrat makes surprise win in solid-red Texas district

In a little-watched race, Taylor Rehmet’s surprise win for Democrats in Texas may be a potential warning shot for Republicans in a midterm election year. Is this a one-off, or is the GOP in trouble in the Lone Star State?
Also, Texas environmental regulators greenlight what looks like the largest fossil-fueled power plant project in the country. We’ll dig into what it might tell us about energy and the environment in Texas going forward.

Uvalde school shooting trial is underway

Over three years later, the first criminal trial over the police response to the Uvalde school shooting is underway. We’ll have a live report with the latest in the trial of one of the first police officers to arrive at the scene of the deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary.
With a big meeting set at the White House on Friday, we’ll review the stakes for Texas’ oil industry after the capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
We’ll hear why a Texas teachers union is suing the Texas Education Agency over social media posts related to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Plus, social media’s struggles to keep a lid on AI deepfakes.

Protecting monarch butterflies on Texas highways

He’s been an elected Democrat for over 50 years, but now local party officials in Houston are refusing to endorse Mayor John Whitmire. Unwinding the political drama, today on the Texas Standard.
Texas’ new bathroom law effects schools and government-owned buildings, but one reporter found enforcement depends on exactly where you go.
Texans Michael and Susan Dell are giving away billions to American kids. Who’s eligible and how the donation will work alongside so-called Trump Accounts.
Texas drivers know monarch butterflies all too often end up on our windshields or car grills. Efforts are underway to protect their road crossings.
Plus, some environmental concerns for the popular Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Encore presentation: Houston’s rise to become a global city

We’re bringing you a special rebroadcast from the studios of our partners at Houston Public Media, the November destination in our yearlong waltz across Texas marking 10 years on the air.
Today, we’ll explore Houston’s rise to become the nation’s newest global city.
Also, a mission to tell the true story of the first female astronauts, the Houston Chronicle with a new list of the top Houston restaurants, a take on Texas zydeco, and a whole lot more.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org

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