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Texas Standard: April 11, 2018

Texan Kevin Brady may not be a household name in the rest of the US, but after a surprise announcement on Capitol Hill that could quickly change.

What House Speaker Paul Ryan’s unexpected decision to retire from congress may mean for Texas. Kevin Diaz of the Houston Chronicle joins us.

Also, with the Facebook CEO set for more congressional questions, why the interrogation from a Texas senator yesterday is being called one of the more interesting moments.

You Tube Kids-just how safe for youngsters?

And what a massive new study tells us about the implications of holding schoolkids back a grade, come counterintuitive conclusions.

Texas Standard: April 10, 2018

A case of clerical error? A peer reviewed journal questions conventional wisdom on the record setting number of maternal deaths in Texas. Details today on the Standard.

Are military cuts causing more US military flyers to lose their lives? A first of its kind investigation connects the dots between cutbacks and crashes.

Lubbock drawing national attention post-Parkland- for what may be a revolutionary way to spotlight mental health needs among students.

And the “decade of malaise” they called it, what’s it got to do with Donald Trump? A presidential scholar says more than we might think. Grab your platform shoes and crank up that Hi-fi….because it’s time for the national news show of you know where.

Texas Standard: April 9, 2018

A congressman leaves Washington well ahead of schedule. What are the options for a short term replacement to represent his Harvey hit part of Texas? The story on the Standard.

After a scandal involving a teacher convicted of domestic abuse, the University of Texas orders employees to report all future arrests –and the dispositions of their cases. Does it strike the right balance between safety and worker privacy?

Also, why state parks are going dark this week.

TXDOT issues a warning for roadside picture takers during bluebonnet season. But wait- who put those bluebonnets there in the first place? We’ll find out…and a whole lot more.

Texas Standard: March 2, 2018

With primary day fast approaching, reporters reading the Texas political tea leaves are seeing more blue. Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post joins us today on the Standard.

Southeast Texans remember trying to get around during hurricane Harvey. Doesn’t have to be a storm that big, sometimes heavy downpours make Texas roads impassable, but you don’t know know about it until it’s too late–now there may be a fix in the works.

A growing scandal over college basketball players accepting money- and a proposal to fix it that’s getting a lot more attention: What about letting them accept the money?

Plus the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and and much more.

Texas Standard: March 1, 2018

Texas based Academy Sports sticks to its guns, but fans of the AR 15 face a new backlash, including perhaps from the White House. The story today on the Texas Standard.

Lloyd Doggett & Beto O’Rourke among the Texans in Congress writing a letter to the Speaker of the House. The message: time to rethink the blank check for the US military in Syria. There’s a reason this push may have traction, and we’ll hear why.

Attention Texas home renters, have you double checked your contract? A warning about so called landlord’s liens.

Also, sworn to secrecy: Army vets come out of the shadows claiming health problems tied to top secret experiments.

Texas Standard: February 26, 2018

The headlines are disturbing. In the wake of a Florida school shooting there have been threats in Texarkana, Houston and more. Unpacking the apparent uptick on today’s Texas Standard.

Linemen from the Texas Panhandle deal with conditions they never encountered in the high plains in efforts to restore power in Puerto Rico. We’ll hear from one of them.

Plus,Central Texas bats have changed their migratory patterns ever so slightly. We’ll try to get at why.

A Mexican college could soon join the NCAA. What’s in it for teams on both sides of the border.

And, understanding the Supreme Court’s ruling on DACA.

Texas Standard: February 23, 2018

A death sentence commuted to life in prison. We’ll talk with the Texas dad who fought to keep the state from executing his son. Today on the Texas Standard.

The firearm industry is in the news these days for possible restrictions on what can be sold. We’ll take a closer look at the business itself.

A Texas State Senator found guilty on 11 felony charges. What happens next?

Country singer Lee Ann Womack has a different sound from her “I Hope You Dance” days. We talk with her about how Texas helped shape her new album.

Plus… it’s Friday- that means another custom poem written for us on a vintage typewriter… and a wrap of the big stories this week in Texas politics.

Texas Standard: January 17, 2018

The big freeze—it’s not just a buzzphrase for Texans right now as congress is stuck over DACA and the threat of a government shutdown. The search for a thaw today on the Standard

The Trump Department of Justice asks the Supreme Court to intervene over a California judge’s order to keep DACA going. We’ll hear why that judge’s move has become a controversy in legal circles.

Also Governor Abbott’s opening volley in his reelection bid: property taxes.

And a solution for Texas schoolkids living in poverty: weekday boarding?

Also after a false alarm in Hawaii–parents talking about apocalypse with their children.

And what’s the key to keeping your car from getting stolen? A politifact-check and more today on the Texas Standard.

Texas Standard: December 25, 2017

In 2017, the oil industry didn’t bounce back to those record highs of three years ago, but oil country? That’s another story, we’ll explain. We hope you and yours are have a very merry Christmas day, and we are celebrating the holidays here at the Standard in a manner befitting those of us who love all things radio, with a bit of a listening party. Our reporters have made their lists of favorite stories, our editors have checked em over twice and today we’re listening back. From the ghost towns of Texas Christmases past, to a restringing session with Trigger…you know Trigger right? Grab something warm to sip on because its our special edition of the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 20, 2017

What’s most important to Texas? Harvey relief? A deal for DACA? What about just keeping the government going through the holidays? Deadlines and decisions on the Standard.

In a moment we’ll talk with editors in three Texas cities to hear what Texans are telling them about what D.C. needs to get done by this weekend. And why.

Remember how schoolteacehrs used to pin a note to your shirt so parents would get the message? The state’s just done that to hundreds of students. The message: you’ve been hacked.

Plus the Texan who taught the Beatles how to blow it. Delbert McClinton on the real story on that intro to Love Me Do. All that and a whole lot more.

Texas Standard: December 19, 2017

Internal dysfunction at the Texas agency that manages state buildings. How it’s affecting what tax dollars pay for? On today’s Texas Standard.

You’ve heard it before, but could 2018 be the year for Texas Democrats? We’ll hear one argument.

Austin wants a soccer team. But the city is still kicking around ideas about where to put a stadium.

Plus, remember anthrax? The mail attacks made it a household name across the country, but it’s long been an issue in some parts of Texas.

And- is so-called clean coal really a viable solution to long-term energy plans? What one reporter found in the Lone Star State.

All that and more on today’s Texas Standard.

Texas Standard: December 18, 2017

The GOP says it has enough votes in the Senate to pass its tax bill. The reason? What might be called a last minute Santa clause…The story today on the Texas Standard.

When Katrina made landfall in 2005–more than a thousand guns disappeared in the chaos, reappearing in crimes years later. But after Harvey, the story was different…the results of an investigation by the Texas Standard and the Houston Chronicle.
Also, what’ll it take to bring tourism back to the coastal bend.

And the occupation with the highest rate of suicide? It’s probably not what you think. We’ll hear about a crisis down on the farm –and what can be done…All that and much more today on the Texas Standard.

Texas Standard: November 21, 2017

The Governor offers $20,000 for information about an attack on border agents. But questions remain–was it really an attack? The story today on the Texas Standard.

What we know, and don’t know about the death of a US border agent near Van Horn.

Also, a John Doe, kicked out of the University of Texas for sexual assault–reinstated—at least for now. We’ll ask why.

For the second time in a row, a Mexican-American studies text is rejected by state officials…no ethnic studies classes? Not exactly. we’ll hear more…

Home for the holidays? Not in parts of southeast Texas–Harvey’s homeless three months on….
Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard

Texas Standard: November 6, 2017

It’s being called the deadliest mass shooting in modern Texas history — why? And why in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs? This is a special edition of the Texas Standard.

Today coming to you from a remote community in Wilson County roughly 30 miles east of San Antonio. In yesterday’s mass shooting nearly one in every ten persons was directly touched by this tragedy—the second major mass shooting incident in the US in less than a month.

What we’re learning about the shooter…his bad conduct discharge from the military and how he obtained access to a new AR-style rifle…

Whether this affects the conversation on guns and the chilling new talk of a new normal in this quiet part of rural Texas. All that and much more today on the Texas Standard.

Texas Standard: September 22, 2017

After Trump, after a special session, after Harvey—where does Texas go from here? From the biggest annual political event in the Lone Star State, this is the Texas Standard.

With the federal government in the hands of republicans, what kind of mark is Texas making on American politics right now?

This is the place to ask such questions: tonight’s the kickoff of the Texas Tribune festival–a weekend in the Texas capitol city devoted to all things Lone Star politics.

From what to do about interminable commutes to the role of Texas cities in climate change —and we assume, of course you can name the governor? We’ll try a little “on the street” test. We’ve got miles and miles to cover, we’re at Tribfest today on the Standard.

Texas Standard: September 4, 2017

Over 95 percent of Houston is now dry, says the mayor- as the city issues new mandatory evacuation orders. The latest today on the Texas Standard.

Last night the 4th largest city in the nation started cutting power to some residents trying to get them to leave their homes. We’ll hear what officials are concerned about even as the city dries out.

In Victoria–as people try to return home, many are greeted by eviction notices? The Harvey-hit working poor at a tipping point.

You’ve navigated the floodwaters: can you navigate the process to get help?

Plus: a decision on DACA? Reading, writing and the rural retention of teachers and a whole lot more.

Texas Standard: September 1, 2017

As cleanup crews converge on Houston, just a bit to the east its still very much rescue mode. From the heart of the Golden Triangle, this is the Texas Standard.

82,000 homes damaged across Texas.
Harvey’s gone but it left Beaumont and Orange virtual islands…and emergencies in both cities as a military task force turns a big part of its resources to east Texas.

Water water everywhere? Not a drop to drink where we are. Nothing from the tap. Bottled water long gone…
Another growing shortage: gasoline. Rescuers say they’re running low, travelers stalled along backed up roads are running out. But the problem’s not one of supply.

Texas Standard: August 31, 2017

As waters recede, the death toll rises in the aftermath of Harvey- and fears grow of more grim discoveries. Today, from the gulf coast, this is the Texas Standard.

Coming up, the latest on rescue and recovery efforts in the states largest metropolitan area, plus, explosions reported at a flooded-out chemical plant northeast of Houston.

As the biggest rainstorm in the history of the US mainland makes it way well beyond our borders, Governor Abbott announces the worst is not over for southeast Texas.

Also, an important ruling on the eve of the so-called sanctuary city bill.

We’re live from the Galveston County Daily News. And no matter where you are, It’s Texas Standard time.

Texas Standard: August 30, 2017

Roadsigns down, trees uprooted, power and food in short supply- but on the horizon, unmistakable signs of hope. The road to recovery, today on the Texas Standard

As Tropical Storm Harvey moves northeast dumping torrential rain on the golden triangle and the Texas / Louisiana border, recovery eforts kick into gear further south. Today we’re broadcasting live from the Corpus Christi area – where Harvey first made landfall a few miles north of us: destruction so severe, there’s still a curfew in place.
We’ll hear how the area’s trying to move forward…and what’s still needed.

Also, a warning on filing insurance claims and why “500 year” floods are more frequent than the name suggests.
We’re live from the coastal bend and it’s Texas Standard time.

Texas Standard: July 21, 2017

If its true you get what you pay for, what exactly are we paying those who make our laws? We’re answering your questions today on the Texas Standard.

The price of local policing is about to go up-way up- as the Department of Public Safety comes out with a price menu for its lab services. We’ll hear what’s behind what may be a big squeeze for local police.

An oil spill in the heart of Texas draws a spotlight to the miles and miles of combustibles under our boots. We’ll explore.

College Station, Texas: ground zero for the Game of Thrones? Why the author picked A&M to be a Citadel for his manuscripts…

Also, the Editor in Chief of the Texas Tribune on the week in politics and then some.