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.
ice
ICE enforcement is ramped up at county jails
There’s lots to consider on your ballot, from state constitutional amendments to tax rate increases for cities and school districts. Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado shares some dos and don’ts for heading to the polls.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is removing people from Austin jails more frequently as the Trump administration ramps up enforcement across the country. The Texas Newsroom’s Mose Buchele joins us with more.
Austin FC enters the playoffs today at LAFC. We’ll have more on what to watch out for with KUT’s Jimmy Maas.
Tim Duncan’s story comes home to Texas screens
As the federal government shutdown drags on, the impact grows worse. From food benefits to trade, what it means for the Lone Star State.
Texas does not have regulations for police pursuits, and some end in deadly crashes. What can we learn from Minnesota, where accountability rules offer a potential model for reform.
Immigrants with college degrees often still struggle to find work that matches their training, but adult education programs across Texas are helping these professionals reconnect with their fields. The Standard’s Sarah Asch reports.
A new documentary premiering at the Austin Film Festival spotlights the life of Spurs great Tim Duncan.
Uneven ICE notifications raise concerns
Some local law enforcement offices in Texas get a heads-up when ICE is coming to town, but others don’t. We’ll dig into why.
There’s new evidence that, no surprise, the online world isn’t always so great for today’s teens. Advice from tech expert Omar Gallaga on making it safer.
Gov. Greg Abbott has a new challenger for the 2026 election. What we expect out of a campaign from Austin Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
Taco journalist Mando Rayo shares what he’s learned from a few women in the culinary world.
A conversation with author Bryan Washington about his new novel, “Palaver,” about a man living in Tokyo, estranged from his family in Houston.
ICE lets certain jurisdictions know about their raids, but Austin isn’t one of them
Austin and Travis County law enforcement are left in the dark when ICE conducts raids in the area – and though Austin officials say that’s not unusual, other places like Harris County are given a heads up. Why the different practices? KUT’s Mose Buchele looks into this.
As a once-disruptor of the music industry looks to be winding down, KUTX’s Maile Carballo talks about where the future could be headed.
What does the darkness mean to you? KUTX’s maven of darkness herself, Laurie Gallardo, on that very question and the live taping of (SP1000) Vampire Sunscreen happening Thursday Oct. 16.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 15, 2025: State Rep. Gina Hinojosa is joining the Democratic primary race for governor
Central Texas top stories for October 15, 2025. State Representative Gina Hinojosa announced this morning she’s joining the Democratic primary race for Texas governor. AISD kicked off a series of community meetings last night to hear people’s feedback on the district’s school consolidation plan. The New Braunfels Independent School District board of trustees temporarily closed the district’s middle and high school libraries this week to review books. The City of Austin is testing a new way to respond to mental health emergencies. ICE is notifying some Texas cities ahead of immigration sweeps, but Austin is not one of them.
Legal battle brews as Texas National Guard is sent beyond state lines
The Texas National Guard is being sent beyond state lines. We’ll unpack what’s driving the deployment and the legal battle brewing around it.
The ICEBlock app, designed to alert users about ICE agents nearby, has been pulled from app stores. Critics are calling it a violation of free speech.
Years after the pandemic lockdowns, what do we know now about domestic violence rates in Texas? A new report sheds light on what’s changed and what hasn’t.
And in today’s Hispanic Heritage Moment: the King of the Accordion, Flaco Jiménez, and how the six-time Grammy winner kept a Texas tradition alive.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Houston megachurch faces legal revolt
A University of Texas professor says Congress has gotten so good at frequent government shutdowns, finding the political will to get back on track could be an obstacle in itself. We’ll take a closer look.
Nearly two weeks after the deadly shooting at a Dallas ICE facility, investigators say the motive may be more about notoriety than ideology.
Second Baptist Church in Houston is locked in a legal battle with its own members over leadership and finances, and the dispute is being heard in the city’s new business court.
Texas leads the nation in energy consumption, driven by population growth and the rise of AI data centers. What does it bode for the state’s grid and energy mix?
Court weighs Texas redistricting fight
A court battle is set to begin over the newly drawn congressional maps. At stake is whether they go into effect for the 2026 midterm elections.
The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins us to talk about the recent rise in political violence.
Have you heard of 7-OH? It’s the latest drug cropping up at convenience stores. Now there’s a fight to stop the sale of what’s known as “gas station heroin.”
A new book by former CDC Director Tom Frieden offers a formula for better health – potentially saving millions of lives.
And today’s Hispanic heritage moment spotlights the trio of brothers known as Los Lonely Boys.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Where was the acting FEMA head during the July 4 floods?
An investigative report claims as Texas flooded on the July 4 weekend, the head of FEMA couldn’t be reached. We’ll hear more about a reported slow response from acting administrator David Richardson and what it meant for Texas during the Hill Country floods.
Concerns are rising in higher ed over millions of federal dollars for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) on hold, with no end in sight.
The latest on lawsuits challenging Texas’ new law for the Ten Commandments in the classroom.
Tech expert Omar Gallaga has the latest on a deal that would keep TikTok in the U.S. and growing concerns about who might be running that operation.
Plus, taco journalist Mando Rayo weighs in on Tex-Mex.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Rodney Crowell talks new album, career
A deadly shooting this morning at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Dallas. We’ll share the latest details.
Workplaces across the state trying to calculate the implications of a new $100,000 fee for H-1B applications. We’ll hear more on the questions raised by the new policy and the possible fallout.
How college football in Texas and beyond is being reshaped by new NIL rules allowing for direct athlete pay by advertisers and sponsors.
And the return of Rodney Crowell: Music and conversation with a Texas songwriting legend.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Texas A&M president resigns amid viral video controversy
Texas A&M President Mark Welsh is resigning after a week of turmoil over a viral video and a clash over gender identity content in the classroom.
What’s behind Texas’ redistricting push? KUT’s Mose Buchele reports on a political strategy started decades ago.
The flesh-eating new world screwworm, a parasite once eradicated from Texas, has been detected within striking distance of the border. What species may be most vulnerable.
The new documentary “When We Were Live” reflects on public access TV in Austin through rare archival footage and interviews with local producers.
Study finds no evidence of serial killer on Austin’s Rainey Street
The Supreme Court allows ICE to round up people based on factors like appearance, at least for now.
The attorneys general of New York and Texas face off over mail-order abortion pills crossing state lines.
For years, rumors have circulated online about a serial killer targeting Rainey Street in Austin. A new study finds no such threat.
The personal toll for people with chronic conditions who don’t have insurance.
Photographer Pat Blashill captures the scene of Texas punk rock on the ’70s and ’80s in his new pictorial oral history, “Someday All the Adults Will Die!”
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Some Texas counties switch to paper ballots ahead of midterms
No more QR or barcodes: Why Collin, Williamson and Bastrop counties are changing the way voters will cast ballots.
Housing affordability is a big issue in Texas, and three new state laws aim to address it. Will they work?
Many are concerned new Texas congressional maps dilute the voting power of Texans of color. But others welcome the changes.
Inside an ICE job recruitment fair in Arlington.
And: the bigger meaning behind the season’s first high school football game in Kerrville.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 6, 2025: Governor Greg Abbott has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove from office the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus
Central Texas top stories for August 6, 2025. Governor Greg Abbott has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove from office the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus in response to the party’s quorum break putting the Legislature on hold. Williamson County is trying to set aside enough funds to establish a new district court to keep up with a growing caseload. Hays County is losing its animal shelter in San Marcos next year. People who need cash to rebuild or repair their homes after last month’s flooding can apply for aid through the Central Texas Community Foundation.
This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.
Houston archaeologists uncover tomb of ancient Maya ruler
The Trump administration releases billions of dollars in education grants it previously withheld. What it means as students head back to school.
How the U.S. military is responding to a new kind of warfare that uses small, inexpensive drones.
The story of a Cuban man who raised a family in Texas and spent years working for a school district near Abilene – and now is locked up in an ICE detention center.
A high school student’s plan to help schools coping with a shortage of mental health counselors.
And: A Houston husband-and-wife team of archaeologists have discovered the tomb of the ruler of the ancient Mayan city of Caracol, now in present-day Belize.
Black farmers in East Texas feel the sting of DEI cuts
A peek into the week ahead for the Texas Legislature’s special session: We’ll hear the latest on a much-talked-about possible walkout by Democrats.
A plan to relieve congestion in Austin was approved by voters years ago – but so far, there’s not much to show for it. Is Project Connect off the rails?
The rollback of USDA diversity programs is impacting East Texas, which is home to more Black farmers than anywhere else in the U.S.
Plus: A big deadline for tariffs with Mexico on the table. If a deal can’t be reached by Aug. 1, what could that mean for Texas?
Families are cutting back on food and medicine to pay the power bill
The Epstein controversy has federal lawmakers taking an early recess, putting off important business.
Summer heat means some Texans have to choose between paying for air conditioning or basic necessities.
Is a violent protest at an ICE facility in North Texas the new normal as the country copes with a rise in extremism?
What’s happening in Harris County jails, where a dozen people have died so far this year.
And: A preview of Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game, happening tonight in Austin.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Some immigrants thankful for those who protest in Austin, but worry arrests overshadow purpose
Many residents without legal status are staying away from anti-ICE protests because they don’t feel safe. KUT’s Greta Díaz González Vázquez tells us how they are feeling about other people protesting. More demonstrations are planned for the weekend.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 10, 2025: Hundreds march in downtown Austin to protest Trump immigration crackdown
Central Texas top stories for June 10, 2025. Law enforcement officers used an eye irritant to disperse people protesting the Trump’s administration’s mass deportation efforts. Some students expect their tuition and fees to be more than double after the Texas Dream Act was struck down last week. A bill lawmakers hope will make it harder to stop or stall new housing has been sent to the governor’s desk. Juneteenth celebrations start in Austin today. FACE grant applications are open until July 17th.