Mayor

Remembering political trailblazer Eddie Bernice Johnson

The death of a giant in Texas politics: reaction to the passing of longtime political trailblazer Eddie Bernice Johnson.

A new year brings a new mayor in Houston. What John Whitmire plans to do to address the most pressing issues facing the city.

What 2024 heralds for one of the busiest thruways in Texas: the north-south corridor of Interstate 35.

An economist with the Dallas Fed shares red flags for Texas employment.

The San Antonio-Havana connection: A new cross-cultural art exchange between the two cities.

Also: Longhorn Nation recovers from a semifinal loss to Washington in the College Football Playoff.

YouTube chef blends her Texan and Indian roots in new show

State Sen. John Whitmire defeated U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the runoff election to serve as Houston’s 63rd mayor. We’ll take a look at what his win may mean for the state’s biggest city.

The borderlines of two South American countries have long been in dispute. How a recent re-ignition of the argument may have just as much to do with politics as it does with oil.

School districts across Texas have been hoping for an increase in funding. Why even some with large tax bases are struggling to make ends meet.

When you think of climate activists, who comes to mind? It may surprise you which age group says it’s become a top issue for them.

And we’re talking food unique to Texas – not BBQ or Tex-Mex, but South Indian-Texan cuisine. Chef Deepa Shridhar joins with more on her YouTube series “KanDeepa Texan.”

Is Greg Abbott angling for a spot as Trump’s VP candidate?

Gov. Greg Abbott is issuing political endorsements, in what may be the first step in promised payback against some fellow Republicans. Also, a closer look at the governor’s own possible political ambitions.

Early voting gets underway in Houston’s mayoral runoff, and a new poll shows state Sen. John Whitmire with a seven-point lead over U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

Cow pies and black flies: the future of agricultural food? A Texas A&M professor explains.

Plus, just how nuts is it out there? We’ll hear what’s behind the large numbers of acorns all over the place.

Why Texans can’t vote on abortion or marijuana anytime soon

The fourth largest earthquake on record in Texas struck Wednesday out west, renewing concerns about fracking and seismic activity. Erin Douglas of the Texas Tribune with more on yesterday’s temblor and what researchers and regulators are saying about it.

The latest on a runoff for mayor in Texas’ biggest city.
In San Antonio, plans to close several public schools getting pushback from communities targeted for closure.

The economics of electric vehicles: Is the race to EVs losing power?

And voters in Ohio approve ballot measures on abortion and marijuana this week. Why such measures aren’t likely to land on Texas ballots anytime soon.

How Texas voted on 14 statewide propositions

The votes are in, and Texans have given the green light to 13 of 14 amendments to the Texas constitution. The Texas Tribune’s Karen Brooks Harper shares a rundown of how the state propositions fared.
Public media reporters statewide join us with updates on key local races across the Lone Star State.

Nuclear power plants, once the target of major protests, are now winning over many Texans looking for lower carbon energy alternatives.

And what some have considered a guilty pleasure: Why more readers are taking the plunge into romance novels. One of the genres’ top authors, Ali Hazelwood, joins us.

Exploring the tale of the Chupacabra

A deal over school vouchers at the Legislature – or high political theatre? As Gov. Greg Abbott declares victory, others have their doubts. Sergio Martínez-Beltrán of The Texas Newsroom shares the latest.

You’ve heard of solar farms, but how well do animals share that land? Why agrivoltaic farms are popping up all over Texas.

And our spooky season isn’t over. The Texas Standard’s Kristen Cabrera explores the story of the arguable king of the Texas cryptids: the Chupacabra.

The real history behind Goatman’s Bridge is scarier than any ghost story

After almost seven weeks, striking autoworkers reach deals with the Big 3 automakers. Why Texas played a critical role.

Scientists recently got to see a collision of two stars in space – and its aftermath.

The president has released an executive order on artificial intelligence. How far does it go, and will it go far enough?

The tale of Goatman’s Bridge has a history that haunts Texas to its core. The Standard’s Sean Saldana takes us to Denton for the story.

And: What would Texas cryptids look like in real life? We visited an elementary school art class to get some ideas.

What new polling says about Texans’ presidential preferences

With the Texas House and Senate in special session, border security is taking center stage – including one measure that sparked a verbal brawl in the state Capitol on Wednesday night.


Tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us why social media companies are de-emphasizing news, and what that means.


Also, a new poll from the Texas Public Policy Project shares clues on where Texans stand on the eve of the 2024 election cycle.

Celebrating a century of Texas state parks

Dozens of Texas school districts have sued to stop changes in the A-F grading system used to evaluate schools.

The manager of the state’s power grid is out with a new forecast for winter. How prepared is Texas for another statewide freeze like 2021?

Israel, Hamas and disinformation on social media: Tech expert Omar Gallaga joins us with more.

New numbers in the race for mayor of Texas’ biggest city.

And a new book written by longtime Texas conservationist George Bristol, “Texas State Parks: The First 100 Years,” tells the story of how the state’s parks began.

What’s happening at the Cutoff in East Texas?

As cities grow, so do tensions between state and local officials over policy direction. A bipartisan coalition of 18 big city mayors team up to press state officials over top priorities. What they’re planning and more in our conversation with the mayor of Fort Worth. Also, how transgender youth and their families are gearing up to fight several new proposals in the GOP led Texas legislature. And an update over public access to a beloved east Texas body of water called The Cutoff. Plus rising grocery prices and the SNAP gap for those needing help to get food on the table. These stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Remembering former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach

The Biden Administration is moving to address growing numbers of migrants at the border. We’ll hear from the Secretary of Homeland Security. Also the results of the mayoral runoff in Texas’ capitol city: a former mayor and state senator returning to city hall. And with 4 students killed and another rescued Hays ISD engaged in a major campaign to alert students about the dangers of fentanyl. Also a bill to bag big cats held in private hands: The Big Cat Safety Act wins bipartisan support in Congress. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Oral arguments begin in United States v. Texas

A migrant camp sheltering an estimated 1,000 or so people has been torn down by police in Juarez Mexico. We’ll have details. Other stories we’re tracking: the U.S. supreme court hearing a case brought by Texas and Louisiana challenging the Biden Administrations policies of prioritizing deportations. Also a bill that would guarantee federal recognition of a marriage between any two people, regardless of sex, race, or ethnicity. We’ll hear about the implications and what the bill does and doesn’t do. And a safety plan to prevent tragedies like the deaths at a Travis Scott concert in Houston last November, does it go far enough? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Demand for mental health care continues to soar

Psychologists are seeing a surge in demand for mental health treatment. How can they meet a growing need? 60% of the nation’s psychologists are too busy to take on new patients. We’ll tell you how they’re trying to meet the post-pandemic demand. Plus there’s a runoff in Austin’s mayoral election. We’ll hear from both candidates on why they should lead the capital city, starting today with Kirk Watson. And we’ll go back in time in south Texas, when Vaqueros roped and ranged through the desert scrub. All that plus a World Cup update and the latest headlines today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: June 22, 2022

Did the on-scene Commander in Uvalde put the lives of police ahead of the lives of children? New pieces of the story emerge. On today’s show, State Senator Paul Bettencourt with reaction to yesterday’s Senate hearing on law enforcement’s response in Uvalde. Meanwhile a bipartisan group of 13 big city mayors in Texas calls on state leaders to hold a special session to prevent more mass shootings. We’ll talk with the mayor of Arlington. And you bought it, but can you fix it? Legally? Why a new law covering power wheelchairs in Colorado may have big ripple effects here in Texas. Also a Politifact check and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 26, 2021

A long awaited plan to vaccinate Texas kids as young as 5 against COVID-19. We’ll take a closer look at the rollout. Other stories we’re tracking: Texas civic leaders team up to try to get action from Congress on massive infrastructure spending. We’ll talk with the Mayor of Fort Worth. Also, why Texas juvenile lockups seem immune to reform. Plus a new high point for the commercialization of the final frontier? Plans for a massive new space station announced by a Texas-based pioneer in space tourism. And a kids TV classic returns all grown up, hosted by a native of the Rio Grande Valley. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: June 15, 2021

A new warning from ERCOT urging Texans to conserve electricity. How prepared is the power grid for a long hot summer? After last winter’s deadly power outages, politicians promised changes to beef up the grid. But this weeks warning sends an ominous message about readiness as temps climb into the triple digits. We’ll have the latest. Plus, Houston’s plan to battle climate change with the help of solar panels. We’ll hear how that effort is going. And farmers say it’s not just sour grapes, but a serious concern over herbicides. Plus what’s being billed as the first scholarly book on the history of Juneteenth. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: June 1, 2021

An eleventh-hour walkout at the Texas State Capitol as the legislature prepares for an overtime session. High drama as Texas House democrats break quorum to head off passage of a controversial measure to tighten the state’s election laws. Although the regular session comes to an end, an overtime session is already expected. We’ll look back at what got done, what didn’t and what comes next. Also, A Harris county constables unit in the crosshairs of controversy, we’ll hear why. And 50 years of Asleep at the Wheel: Texas music legend Ray Benson takes a glance in the rear view mirror. All those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 24, 2021

Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston. We’ll look at why it’s not getting any federal money for flood mitigation managed by the Texas General Land Office. Also, Texas uses gas taxes to help to maintain and build new roads. So how does it make up the loss in revenue from more people driving electric vehicles? Some say the potential answer sends the wrong message. Plus, PTAs in wealthy parts of one Texas school district have actually been paying staff salaries. Why the practice is ending and what could replace it. And there’s been a lot of back and forth about how the capital city makes room for people experiencing homelessness. Austin voters said one thing, now state lawmakers may add another. Where things stand now. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: April 29, 2021

From guns to immigration, green jobs and more, an historic speech by President Biden with big implications for Texas and the nation. Todd Gillman of the Dallas Morning News with more on the President’s speech to congress. Also a supreme court case on how far public schools can go in trying to control off-campus speech by students. And the outgoing mayor of Fort Worth on policing, the pandemic, and changes to the city she’s governed for the past decade. Plus upsetting the Apple cart: facebook pushing back big time over a new feature on iPhones. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard: