Texans under the age of 18 make up almost a quarter of the state’s population, so we’ve put together a show with them in mind. We’re joining you today from Abilene and the Children’s Art and Literacy Festival.
We begin with a conversation about politics: We’ll hear from some Texas teens who make their voices heard, even though they can’t yet vote.
Checking in with our go-to tech expert about kids and technology – some tips for engaging them while avoiding some of the pitfalls.
Other familiar voices on the show will be insect expert Wizzie Brown, who is answering kids’ questions about bugs, and commentator W.F. Strong, who shares a conversation about growing up in Texas with his 10-year-old daughter.
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Talib Abdullahi
In the latest episode of Black Austin Matters, Lisa and Rich sit down with Talib Abdullahi, founder of the Black History Bike Ride. Talib shares his journey from growing up in Houston, including what it was like to have professional jazz musicians as parents, to making his way to Austin to attend the University of Texas. He talks about how his passion for history and cycling came together to spark the creation of the Black History Bike Ride.
Talib also opens up about his plans to expand the tour to new cities, his love for documentary filmmaking, and how adding an MBA to his toolkit is helping him scale his vision and deepen the impact of his work.
Asleep at the Wheel celebrates 50 years with Texas tribute
A very busy Thursday for first responders and meteorologists with flood conditions and heavy dust for many Texans – and it’s expected to get worse before it gets better. We’ll have an update.
Houston, we have a problem, and it may be related to a spat between the president and the world’s wealthiest Texan.
The Dallas Fed offers an assessment of the Texas economy and the Standard’s Sean Saldana has the details.
Also, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel talks about a new album focused on his favorite subject: Texas.
Here’s what happened with abortion at the Texas Legislature this year
Three related bills prompted substantial discussions in the Texas House and Senate this year. Two of them passed. KUT’s Olivia Aldridge tells us about the main abortion bills that were part of the conversation at the Texas Legislature this year.
Damn Knicks
On this episode we discuss the New York Knicks losing in the Eastern Conference finals much to Fresh’s pain. We also discuss if rap beef is still relevant in these days and times. Hip-hop facts include Dr. Dre, Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is that the west coast is emerging as the new south.
Trade tensions with Mexico could drive up tomato prices
For the first time since Texas’ measles outbreak at the start of the year, there are no new reported cases. We’ll get an update on efforts to contain the disease.
A new report in The Guardian reveals pressure from Immigration and Customs Enforcement leadership to ramp up arrests, even of people not originally targeted.
Flag football is helping to tackle a gender gap in youth sports, getting a boost in Texas from none other than the NFL.
A simmering trade dispute could make tomatoes more expensive at the grocery store.
And: The week in politics with the Texas Tribune.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
KUT Morning Newscast for June 5, 2025: Texas agrees to end in-state tuition for students without legal status.
Central Texas top stories for June 5, 2025. Texas college students without legal status are no longer eligible for in-state college tuition after the DOJ sued the state of Texas. International students at UT Austin are feeling uncertain about their future. Here are the grid-related bills that passed and didn’t pass during the 2025 Texas Legislature. Texas is a step closer to winning the Women’s College World Series. FM 1826 will be closed starting tomorrow until Saturday at 5 pm.
Fear at immigration court as ICE arrests migrants there for a hearing
The race to be San Antonio’s next mayor was narrowed from a field of 27 to two. What to know before the runoff election on Saturday.
Arrests outside of immigration court have happened in El Paso, Dallas and San Antonio. Why activists say this tactic encourages migrants to break the law.
Texas is set to become the next in a handful of states to ban lab-grown meat for human consumption.
It’s Texas vs. Texas Tech in the Women’s College World Series championship, with Game 1 tonight.
And: We’ll explore Lucas Schaefer’s “The Slip,” a new novel set in late ’90s Austin and propelled by a mysterious disappearance.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Recycling rare earth elements could power the future
Severe storms brought flash floods, hail and widespread power outages to Central Texas, killing one and hospitalizing two. More than 10,000 are still without power.
Rare earth minerals are being wasted when you toss out an old phone or TV. Research in Texas could change the disposal process.
Texas Tech just won its first-ever game in the Women’s College World Series. We’ll introduce you to star pitcher NiJaree Canady, the first softball player making $1 million a season in NIL deals.
Plus: How about a little music? We’ll start with the Huston-Tillotson Jazz Orchestra, a relatively new group with big plans. And a lot of Americans used to have a piano in their homes – how and why that’s changed.
Oil companies face new deadlines to plug orphaned wells
Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration. Why now, and what’s next for the Texas-based billionaire.
A bill that aims to plug the state’s abandoned oil and gas wells – sometimes called “orphaned wells” – is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
Insurers in Texas are partnering with aerial imaging and AI companies to assess homes from the sky.
The Trump administration continues to threaten mass deportations. But dairy farms don’t seem to be losing any workers.
And: “Tacos of Texas” podcast host Mando Rayo shares his taco hot takes.
Corpus Christi’s water future looks uncertain as Tesla builds nearby refinery
The House has passed a bill mandating the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms. If the Senate signs off, Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to make it law.
A 2023 law expanded polling place requirements – but many small counties couldn’t keep up. Now a new bill that rolls back those mandates is headed to the governor.
Water insecurity is a problem around Corpus Christi – and that’s before a new Tesla plant coming in that will require more of it. What you need to know.
Plus: The eyes of the world are on Fort Worth for its annual Van Cliburn Piano Competition.
New institute aims to immortalize the sounds of Texas music
A bill banning all products with THC is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Is this the end of the state’s hemp industry?
Lawmakers are also revisiting efforts to reform or replace the STAAR test.
An investigation finds that some people in Central Texas are stuck behind bars beyond the 90-day limit without being indicted – only to have their charges dropped.
From Tejano to Texas country, the sounds of the Lone Star State are getting a new home at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Plus: We’ll go behind the scenes of the new podcast “Better Outside,” hosted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
After outages last year, CenterPoint promises a better tracker
This Memorial Day, we’ll hear the story of Florentino Cantú Jr., a Laredoan who saw military service as a ticket to a better life for his parents and 10 siblings.
Memorial Day is a day of reflection to be sure, but it is also the unofficial start of summer for many folks. We’ll be getting some tips on how Texans can make the most of it, from experiencing the great outdoors to keeping cool – plus some Texas summer songs that hit just right.
And: Hurricane season starts June 1, and CenterPoint Energy says it’s ready with a new and improved outage tracker. But after failures during Hurricane Beryl and last year’s derecho, is that enough to restore customer trust?
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support our work by becoming a sustaining member at supportthispodcast.org
How one West Texas town built its own broadband lifeline
Texas lawmakers are considering a plan that could help prevent fentanyl overdoses in the state. Why it may not become law.
A decade after the deadly biker shootout in Waco that led to nine deaths and more than 100 arrests, some civil cases against the city are still moving forward.
Some Texas law enforcement agencies are getting rid of a gun they consider too risky for their officers – by selling them to civilians.
State and federal money has been set aside to connect rural Texans to the Internet. When the remote West Texas town of Monahans couldn’t get that help, they did it themselves.
And: Texas cities once again top a list of the fastest-growing in the U.S., led by Princeton, a suburb east of Frisco.
10 years later, still no convictions in Twin Peaks biker shootout
A bipartisan bill on abortion has passed the Texas Senate and is making its way through the House. Why lawmakers agree it’s necessary.
It’s been a decade now since a deadly shootout involving rival biker gangs at a Twin Peaks in Waco. What an investigation reveals about how the case was handled.
Thousands of Brazilians live in Central Texas. How they’re feeling about those from their country being targeted for deportation.
Plus: We’ll take you to the Kentucky Club in Juárez, a beloved border bar and one of the last of its kind.
Did We Give Hip-Hip Away?
On this episode we discuss if the culture of Hip-Hop was too easily given away to streaming services without a fight. We also discuss the pros and cons of using A.I. in hip-hop. Hip-Hop facts this week include Aaliyah, Whitney Houston and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Unpopular Opinion is about about having too much access to celebrities.
State parks are expanding efforts to improve accessibility
As the school year winds down, Texas lawmakers cramming for their final days at their desks are focused on education – and what some had hoped would be an increase in state spending per student may be shifted to teacher pay raises.
Consumer Reports investigates a tip that sale prices at Kroger aren’t showing up at the checkout, with consumers taking the hit.
Texas Parks and Wildlife has rolled out motorized track wheelchairs to improve access at state parks.
Plus: A 15-minute film from Waco, “The Heart of Texas,” has already made a mark at festivals and is now headed to Cannes.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Bring out those fancy dresses, quinceañera season is upon us
Tacos of Texas podcast host Mando Rayo talks about what to expect at one of these celebrations – and, of course, what might be on the menu.
This episode of the Tacos of Texas podcast was originally aired live on the Texas Standard on May 8, 2025.
It’s the time of year for fancy dresses, limo rides, and all the photos. Yes, it’s prom season, but in Texas, that also coincides with another tradition: quinceañera season.
These celebrations of young women are prominent across all parts of Texas and typically include a big party and, of course, lots of food.
Houston is the fastest-sinking city in the US, study finds
Abortion pills, denial of bail, and a ban on land purchases for some people: What’s happening in the final weeks of the Texas Legislature?
After jackpot controversies, multiple resignations and a ban on online lotto ticket sales, the state’s lottery system is now under investigation.
Cities on the rise across Texas are quite literally sinking, with Houston faring the worst out of any major U.S. metropolis.
The latest projections on a fast-approaching hurricane season.
And: Checking in with Catholics across the state on the first Sunday with a new pope.
ACL 2025?!
On this week’s episode we discuss the 2025 ACL line up and why Austin needs a great R&B nightclub/venue. Hip-hop facts about Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri, Sisqo and more. Unpopular opinion from Fresh takes aim at DJs in Austin possibly doing more.