news

Texas Standard: December 8, 2016

He’s one of the most colorful figures in Texas politics, and published reports say he’s a major source of fake news. His explanation? That’s today on the Texas Standard.

A state of emergency: with child deaths and case mismanagement making headlines, the Governor announces action to protect the most vulnerable kids in foster care. We’ll hear the plan.

A Texas measles epidemic by 2018? A warning from a top pediatrician about the state as a battleground over mandatory childhood vaccinations.

And a stir in education circles over a plan to force schools to share information about a child’s sexual orientation with parents.

Texas Standard: December 6, 2016

How do you get Mexico to pay for a border wall? A Texas congressman has serious ideas. And he just might be tapped to head homeland security. The story today on the Standard.

Are you a marijuana user? Why changes in values and in laws across the nation have led to changes in the background check for firearms.

If a so-called bathroom bill were to pass in Texas what would be the economic impact? A warning from a Texas business group…

Reading writing and wrongdoing—what will it take to stop the epidemic of inappropriate relationships between teachers and students?

And a court orders detention centers to open their doors…now what?

Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard.

Vote

Today is the last day of early voting in Texas, and next Tuesday is Election Day. Forget the candidates, forget the talking heads on cable news, forget the social media arguments – remember that part of what makes our country special is our right to vote. No matter who you tick the box for, make sure you get your voice heard.

Texas Standard: November 4, 2016

In the works as we speak: an emergency spending plan for the agency responsible for at risk kids, but is it enough? We’ll explore. Also, by now you’re likely sick of hearing how sick we are of this political season. All the negativity bad for civic engagement? Why the extra long early voting lines suggest a silver lining. Also, the buzz surrounding the Zika panic, or lack thereof. The collateral damage of spraying for skeeters. And NFL fans, where did ya go? The sports agent who inspired Jerry Maguire tells us whats behind the shrinking viewer numbers. Plus, the week in Texas Politics and much more…we’re just getting started. It’s Texas Standard time:

12th & Chicon: KUT’s Coverage Approach

The KUT newsroom wants to share stories from the people that live near 12th and Chicon and know it best. In doing this, we do feel we have to acknowledge that our news staff does not reflect the diversity of the community we’ll be covering. We have several objectives in this project, and one of them is to learn ourselves, how to better report from this neighborhood and others in Austin. We discussed with Dr. George Sylvie, an associate professor at The University of Texas School of Journalism, the “how to’s” of covering a community we, and other media, may not be familiar with; how do you build trust, how to address stereotypes, how to seek non-official sources, how not to advocate, and more.

Texas Standard: September 19, 2016

After nixing the Obama administration’s transgender bathroom directive, the battleground shifts to doctors and hospitals. Today on the Texas Standard.

Car 54 where are you? Perhaps by the side of the road. Why Houston police crusiers are struggling to stay in the fight.

But what happens when the road itself stalls out? The story of a big gamble on a superfast superhighway, and why it hasn’t paid off as promised.

Also, some say it’s the devil in disguise, as telemarketing in Texas embraces the “pay for pray” model.

Plus, tomorrow’s news today. Our waltz across Texas for the top stories for the week ahead.

Texas Standard: September 16, 2016

A temporary ceasefire… it sounds like good news for Syria… but not everyone’s happy with the deal. We’ll explain on today’s Texas Standard.

How much do we really need to know about the health of the people running for the nation’s highest office? And how much do they have to tell us?

A start up before there were start ups. A look at how one early computer company took Houston- and the world by storm.

Ok, we get it… Pluto isn’t a planet… but wait… some scientists say that it is? We’ll have the details.

And… it’s Friday on the Texas Standard… that means Typewriter Rodeo and wrapping up another eventful week in Texas politics.

Texas Standard: August 24, 2016

Guess who’s coming to dinner? The mother of a transgender boy gets a long awaited RSVP from Ken Paxton. We’ll meet her today on the Texas Standard.

Set asides for higher ed students- the Lt. Governor wants to get rid of them claiming it would cut the cost of college across the board. Do the numbers add up?

Cleared for takeoff: new rules set to open up the skies between Mexico and Texas. Fasten your seatbelts, deal seekers.

Plus, have you noticed? From fast food places to supermarkets across Texas, what’s with all the hullabaloo over Hatch chilies?

And the etymology of a native Texan noun that’s gone global.
All that and then some today on the Texas Standard.

#Transgender, #KenPaxton, #Texas, #CollegeFunding, #Airfare, #HatchChilis, #PublicRadio, #News

Texas Standard: June 3, 2016

Texas versus Donald Trump and Trump University- a multimillion dollar lawsuit that never happened. Why not? And was it political? That story today on the Texas Standard.

How powerful the rising waters? The death toll climbs at Fort Hood in the wake of a tragedy underscoring the dangers.

Also an event 50 years ago this week that forever changed Texas politics and civil rights, but is somehow missing from school textbooks.

And with an 8 person US Supreme Court set to issue orders next week, a Texas Supreme Court Justice joins us with a modest proposal: consider a tie breaker.

All that and much more on today’s Texas Standard.

Texas Standard: June 2, 2016

Parked squarely over Texas a weather system promising more rain for days- but should we turn our attention to the ground? That story today on the Texas Standard.

In January new rules took effect making it tougher for minors seeking an abortion in Texas without parental consent. Six months later: what’s happened?

Also, a question for Hillary Clinton: which “red states” could she take in November? Her enthusiastic reply may surprise you. Veteran democratic consultant Harold Cook on whether she could, in fact, “come and take it”.

Plus, underrated tech for Texans- and a whole lot more. We’re just getting started.

Texas Standard: June 1, 2016

If you’re in Texas without documentation, you may have some trouble. Unless — you’re on the streets of El Paso? What’s the big I.D.? That’s today on the Texas Standard.

Batten down the hatches and get outta Dodge…for many coastal Texans that’s the plan if the big one comes. But is that good enough?

A huge humanitarian crisis unfolding south of us- and it could hit close to home.

The city with the widest freeway in the world has a giant preserve which may help reduce flooding. So what’s with the plans to pave over it?

And Wendy Davis says Texas has no equal pay laws. Is that a fact?

Texas Standard: May 3, 2016

When he started, few would have cast him as the Republican establishment’s pick for President. Tonight is it Cruz’ last stand? That story today on the Texas Standard

The worst of the rain may be gone, but perhaps not the worst of the floods. Environmentalists worry about what may be an overlooked concern showing up in photos- we’ll explain.

A would-be bathroom ordinance gets flushed- but also points to future battles across the state.

Also, a Texas social media ban that could cross the line.

And further evideince that Texas’ reputation for food is fast growing beyond the sterotypical barbecue pit.

Texas Standard: March 11, 2016

In Houston a new name has become popular–not Daniel, or Ashley–but FNU. FNU? You too? Who’s to blame for the odd name — today on the Texas Standard.
The notorious story of long waits at VA hospitals across Texas just got uglier…as a new report shows VA workers tried to hide the problem by manipulating data. We’ll explore .
Hey job seeker–do we have a gig for you. One problem though: you’ve gotta be good with I-T. And in high tech Texas, there aren’t enough candidates to qualify. What San Antonio’s trying to do to close the IT gap.

All that, plus the week in politics and more.

Texas Standard: March 8, 2016

Fire at a petroleum plant: an explosion? No one’s quite sure, but what we do know it was operating illegally. Business as usual? That’s today on the Texas Standard.

Coming up, California has the big one…so does Texas—only ours is less likely to be a quake than a storm. We’ll hear about the research and what if anything’s being done to protect Texas.

Also marijuana in the spotlight…wait a minute..those look like L-E-D’s…a new industry sprouts.

And filmmaker Richard Linklater joins us in the studio to talk about his new film, a sequel to a pop culture classic…don’t touch that dial, it’s Texas Standard time.

Texas Standard: September 24, 2015

The Pope’s message to Washington, did a woman in McAllen get a face to face preview weeks ago? We’ll talk with her today on the Texas Standard.
Fasten your seat belts- we’ve all heard the message, but many choose to pay no mind–even when it comes to kids. As tragedies mount, some wonder if resistance is cultural.
Also, the Volkswagen scandal- does it undercut consumer confidence in technology?
And the hit on the football referee–who’s more to blame, the kids, the coach, the school…or football as we know it?

May 21, 2015

State lawmakers say no. The city of Denton says so? When it comes to fracking we may be looking at a battle of the bans. Food fights, spitballs, water balloons- no problem…water guns? Stop right there partner. The Scouts ban on water gun fights prompts a range of reaction. We’ll explore. And Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor with some choice tips for this Memorial day. Those stories and the rest of the news from around the republic, on todays Texas Standard:

May 20, 2015

What if some of the Waco 174 are not outlaws after all… A legal blowback from innocent bikers? When officers in riot gear jumped a man in an El Paso cell…he claimed he couldn’t breathe. Half an hour later he was dead. Natural causes? We’ll explore. The American dream -meet generation millennial…we’ll try to square rising home prices with the market of the young and Texan. Remember the film Minority Report? The billboards that could sense who you were and morph the messaging? We’ll talk to the head of a Dallas company that’s making it real.

May 19, 2015

One million dollar bond for the 170 plus rounded up after the biker shootout… including riders for Christ and Veterans groups? What justifies solitary confinement for 9 year olds? Outrage over how a school in New Braunfels deals with misbehaving kids. Also the 16 year old who graduates from Texas A&m this week…next on her aganda a PHD. And a new national miniseries on the origins of Texas goes beyond the usual Alamo legend…we’ll talk with the author of Texas Rising today on the Texas Standard:

May 18, 2015

Cossacks versus Banditos…a turf war among bikers erupts into a shootout leaving 9 dead, 18 injured and countless questions. Education in Texas typically gets low marks-so why are four of the top ten schools in Texas?
Selling a home in a tony part of Houston for 150 dollars. What’s the catch? We’ll talk about it and much more on todays Texas Standard:

May 15, 2015

400 fish killed at the Texas State Aquarium. Now comes the lawsuit and a nationwide warning about mislabeled chemicals. The West Texas doctor ostracized for blowing the whistle on the cost of health care. All that and more today on the Texas Standard: