He wants to ban Islam in Texas and now he’s the GOP pick for a seat on one of Texas’ most powerful commissions. Who is Bo French? A closer look at why, after this week, a race for a seat on the Texas railroad commission suddenly carries more weight than it might seem at first blush.
A longtime U.S. Senator from Texas forced to give up his seat — what the end of the John Cornyn era says about Texas politics today.
And where to things stand with plans for a border wall in the Big Bend region?
Also, first it was streaming that rewrote the rules for the music industry — now it’s AI. Tech expert Omar Gallaga on two very big music deals involving TikTok and Spotify and why they matter.
John Cornyn
Runoff election results show big changes for the Austin area
Primary runoff election night ended with some big changes for the Austin area and across the state. We’ll bring you the latest on last night’s results and the races we’ll be watching this November.
After a shooting spree this month by three teenagers ended in Manor, Austin Police say they could have caught the suspects sooner if they had license plate readers. Now, Mayor Kirk Watson is considering proposals to bring this kind of technology back to the city.
This week in Texas music history: an experimental composer and pioneer of the practice of “Deep listening” was born.
The Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company is moving forward after the loss of its namesake leader. Their new performance this weekend is an embodiment of that spirit.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Ken Paxton’s Senate runoff win reshapes Texas GOP landscape
Ken Paxton handily beat longtime incumbent John Cornyn in the Republican runoff for Senate. So, what’s that mean come November?
We’re also unpacking big primary runoff races from across the state on both sides of the aisle. What do the results tell us about what Texas voters are prioritizing?
And did you vote in the primary runoffs? Congratulations, you may have added time to your life. The link between voting and living longer.
The Trump administration just changed the way people should apply for green cards. They’re now supposed to leave the U.S. to do so. We’ll unpack the impacts.
Plus, Mark Duplass and his wife Katie Aselton made a new movie about a married couple. We get a little personal in our conversation about “Magic Hour.”
Paxton faces fundraising squeeze in tight Senate race
Some of Ken Paxton’s usual big backers have not pitched in yet for his U.S. Senate race. What does that tell us about the runoff election?
Houston ISD is trying something new next school year, launching so-called AI-focused schools. What’s that mean exactly?
The business of craft brewing was growing for years, but now they’re shutting down faster than they’re opening. A look at the shift.
We’ll also look at how Texas is working towards getting mental health patients out of the criminal justice cycle.
And though gas prices are high, it’s still often cheaper than flying. We’ll take a look at some Texas road trip recommendations.
New book on Selena explores the enduring impact of the Queen of Tejano
The Senate race may be capturing all the attention, but don’t forget there’s another election coming up: A look at a couple of the big races on the May primary runoff ballots.
Water woes for more Texans: We’ll hear what’s happening in part of East Austin and why.
Abandoned wells are all over the Texas oil patch. The same was happening in Oklahoma, until they figured out these polluting old wells could be repurposed to produce geothermal energy.
NASA is going back towards the moon. We’ll dig into what you need to know about the Artemis II mission and Texas’ role in a previous launch.
Plus, 31 years since her death, remembering Selena Quintanilla-Pérez — now with a book of essays on the Queen of Tejano’s legacy.
What Cornyn’s absence at CPAC could signal for Senate race
Tens of thousands of Texans statewide participate in “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration as Texas Republicans try to coalesce for the midterms.
Conservatives gathered at CPAC in Grapevine this past weekend, hoping to fend off what may be the most serious Democratic challenge to the Republican monopoly on statewide offices in decades.
A conversation with a top oil analyst who warns many Texans don’t realize just how bad a fuel shortage could become if the Iran war continues.
Plus, the Elite Eight in our March Movie Madness bracket: What’s the best Texas film?
History of Texas prison bands lives on through rare recordings
Time has run out for what many thought would be a game-changing endorsement in the GOP runoff for a U.S. Senate seat. President Trump has yet to weigh in on the race between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton.
On the Democratic side of the aforementioned Senate race: What may be a difficult battle ahead for James Talarico, hoping to win more support from fellow Democrats.
A federal judge orders an extension for school voucher applications.
Gov. Greg Abbott announces steps to help with a water crisis in the Coastal Bend.
The rediscovery of music recordings from a Texas prison.
And a race to the bottom that could wreck the NBA.
Killing of cartel head ‘El Mencho’ touches off violence in Mexico
Gov. Greg Abbott is urging Texans in Mexico right now to follow shelter-in-place orders as violence sweeps much of that nation. We’ll have a report from Mexico City on the wave of coordinated retaliatory attacks and widespread uncertainty as wanted drug cartel leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes – known as “El Mencho” – is killed by Mexican special forces.
The start of a federal trial of nine people connected to a July 4 shooting outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.
Also, this week in Texas music history remembers virtuoso Esteban “Steve” Jordan, considered by many to be the “Jimi Hendrix of the accordion.”
Talarico interview on Colbert controversy shakes up race
James Talarico’s campaign raises millions after an interview with Stephen Colbert is pulled. But was it really a backfire against President Trump? The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey with the lowdown.
A look at a hugely important hearing today for four men accused of the notorious 1991 yogurt shop murders in Austin.
Also, why are so many barbecue joints closing?
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.”
Proposed THC rules draw backlash from hemp businesses
The Republican race for U.S. Senate heats up with incumbent John Cornyn raising a record amount of money ahead of the primary. We’ll dive into where the race stands there, as well as between Democrats Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico.
Six months after the catastrophic Hill Country flood, where do recovery efforts stand?
Hope for the future and fear nothing will change: How Venezuelans in Texas view their country’s future now that Nicolás Maduro is gone.
What closing the hemp loophole means for farmers, and how Texas is set to ban smokable cannabis by the end of the month.
And before Hollywood, there was the Star Movie Ranch, the first movie studio in Texas.
Why a Texas appeals court halted Robert Roberson’s execution
The leading Democratic candidate for Texas’ U.S. Senate seat isn’t even in the race yet – and it might not be who you think. Plus, where things stand on the Republican side as U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt joins the field against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Another delay in the Robert Roberson case. We’ll dig into the court’s ruling and what comes next.
There’s a new movement in Texas barbecue that has its roots in the Middle East and Africa. We’ll give you a taste of the rise in halal barbecue.
Austin City Limites, one the state’s biggest music festivals, aims to become more eco-friendly.
And what we can learn from one of the capital city’s most recognizable installments of commercial art.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
11 Texas school districts temporarily blocked from displaying Ten Commandments
A poll on Texas’ 2026 Senate race finds a tightening GOP battle between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn, and a Democratic preference for Beto O’Rourke – who isn’t yet in the race.
This morning, a federal judge temporarily blocked 11 Texas school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms. We’ll bring you the latest.
Texans are bracing for changes to SNAP requirements and cuts in funding to the program that were signed into law by President Trump last month.
And: Some Black men say they’re especially impacted by new facial hair requirements going into effect for military members.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Why police are ditching a popular gun
Redistricting seems like the entire political conversation in Texas right now, so it’s probably no surprise it’s influencing the U.S. Senate race.
Texas received millions in federal funding for adult education programs, but it was uncertain and came several weeks late.
What are the impacts of programs that give money, with no strings attached, to people and families identified with high needs? We’ll dig into a study of such a program in Texas.
A Houston police officer is suing a gun manufacturer. He’s one of many saying his Sig Sauer P320 discharged without him pulling the trigger.
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 July 1, 2025: APD Chief Lisa Davis and DA José Garza say their offices are working closely together to reduce crime – and mend fences
Central Texas top stories for July 1, 2025. Austin’s police force and Travis County’s top prosecutor haven’t been on the best terms for the last five years. A storm in May left tens of thousands of Austin residents without power and with damaged homes and businesses. More than half of deaths in Travis County are caused by a chronic disease like cancer, heart disease or diabetes. Former Congressman Colin Allred formally entered the 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Registration is open for the 2025 CityWorks Academy to learn more about city government. Millions of Texans are expected to be on the roads over the upcoming holiday weekend — and DPS Troopers will be out there, too.
Trump’s new tariffs could hit Texas businesses hard
One of Texas’ top economists weighs in on the impact of Trump’s tariffs, what looks like the end of a U.S.-led free trade era, and what it could add up to for Texas.
It looks like John Cornyn may have a serious challenger for his seat in the Senate: Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The latest AI trend has users generating images in the style of animator Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli works, sparking debates over copyright and artistic integrity.
Our March Madness bracket for the best song about Texas comes right down to the wire. Your vote could decide it all.
And: We’ll hear from Zell Miller III, Austin’s inaugural poet laureate.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for April 2, 2025: Austin-area teens are teaching their peers how to get involved in the political process.
Central Texas top stories for April 2, 2025. Homelessness is on the rise among people under the age of 25. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is close to deciding whether to challenge Senator John Cornyn in next year’s primary election. Save Our Springs is suing in state court over the plan to expand MoPac through South Austin. Firefly Aerospace is working with NASA on a mission to increase understanding of severe weather patterns on Earth. An opportunity is coming up this week to get your pet spayed or neutered free of charge.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for January 31, 2025
Central Texas top stories for January 31, 2025. Tax season is here. Senator John Cornyn says he will vote to confirm the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. Governor Greg Abbott announced an expanded list of China-affiliated apps banned from state-issued digital devices and personal devices used for work. Local police say they are not participating in recent immigration enforcement. The City of Austin is looking into changing the way it responds to mental health emergencies. The Texas Men’s basketball team will face LSU on the road tomorrow.
Texas Democratic Party chair resigns after controversial comments
The head of the Texas Democratic Party has resigned following controversial comments about transgender rights and the issue’s role in elections. Lauren McGaughy of the Texas Newsroom joins us with the latest.
He’s Texas’ senior senator for now, but could he soon be known as Senate Majority Leader John Cornyn? We’ll hear more, as well as a who’s who list of some prominent Texans who might be going to Washington as part of the incoming Trump administration.
And a new children’s picture book highlights the beauty of West Texas.
The state welcomed 475,000 new Texans in a year
Large parts of North Texas are cleaning up after severe storms swept the region, but weather dangers continue.
As sea levels rise, cities along the Texas Gulf Coast are sinking. A new report is raising red flags.
Boom times in Texas continue, with new census figures showing the Lone Star State growing faster than any other.
Should Texas’ senior senator, John Cornyn, be worried about a political challenge from AG Ken Paxton? Gromer Jeffers of the Dallas Morning News explains.
Plus: The week in politics with the Texas Tribune and more.