Texas Catholics, now almost a third of the state population, are celebrating the selection of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from America.
Gov. Gregg Abbott has just signed into law a school voucher plan, but some Texans are continuing to push back.
A judge orders the sale of the Texas Renaissance Festival, following a civil court trial over a purchase deal that fell through in 2023.
Fans can get an early look at this summer’s “King of the Hill” reboot at the ATX TV Festival.
And: the week in politics with the Texas Tribune.
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Ranchers plead for help to fight a devastating pest on its way back to Texas
Several current and former Frio County officials have been indicted for alleged vote harvesting, part of a years-long investigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. One critic calls it voter suppression 101. What’s behind the charges?
In the conversation over cash bail reform, what’s missing? An new investigation points to a lack of focus on the bail bond industry.
The new world screwworm, a livestock pest, may be making a comeback in the U.S., and experts say Mexico hasn’t been cooperating to stop it. The Standard’s Michael Marks dives into why it’s considered so dangerous to Texas.
And: It’s prom and quinceañera season – milestone celebrations that often come with big dresses, big parties and of course, big meals. Mando Rayo, host of the Tacos of Texas podcast, digs in.
KUT Morning Newscast for May 6, 2025: Austin firefighters are struggling to meet their goal for response times.
Central Texas top stories for May 6, 2025. Travis County us suing Nate Paul, an Austin developer tied to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, for over millions of dollars. Austin firefighters are struggling to meet their goal for response times. May tends to be the rainiest month of the year in the Austin area, but we still need more rain to recover from the drought.
Documentary tells story of landmark Texas archaeological site
As the clock ticks down on the legislative session, how close is Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to completing his wish list?
Weekend balloting across Texas brings some big local changes. We’ll hear from reporters statewide.
Texans dominate at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney.
The documentary “The Stones Are Speaking” tells the story of Michael Collins, the man who helped open the Gault site to researchers.
And: Who’ll be the next mayor of San Antonio? Voters have narrowed a field of 27 candidates down to two.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org
Texas Extra: Amy Lee Nelson on her new film, Texas music, and her dad
This week, Willie Nelson celebrated his 92nd birthday. Last weekend, the latest film he served as executive producer on had its debut. It screened at the Dallas International Film Festival and it was co-directed by his daughter, Amy.
This is an extended interview with her about the film, “King of the Roadies.” It’s about the world’s first roadie, Ben Dorcy III, who long worked with Willie Nelson and other well-known musicians.
Interview: Voting is not the only way to be civically engaged
Tomorrow is Election Day for many local races in Texas. But voting is not the only way to be civically engaged. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked with Mark Strama, director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at UT-Austin. They discussed what is civic engagement and how to be civically engaged.
Introducing the Energy Capital Podcast
The Energy Capital Podcast focuses on Texas energy and power grid issues, featuring interviews with energy professionals, academics, policymakers, and advocates.
In this episode host Doug Lewin sat down with Mose Buchele to discuss Season 3 of the Disconnect. They also talked about what needs to happen next to ensure reliability as Texas faces skyrocketing demand from AI data centers, industrial growth, extreme heat, and population increases. The grid is changing, but is it changing fast enough?
Find out more about the Energy Capital Podcast.
100 Days, Two Americas: A Texas Standard / California Newsroom Special
We’ve been here before, but this time feels different. President Donald Trump has rounded out 100 days in office, but getting a grasp of this moment in our country’s history is a challenge. Whether what’s unfolding is good or bad depends on where you look, and who you ask. This hour, we’re getting a snapshot of Trump’s second term by exploring what it’s like in California and Texas. The country’s two largest states, in population and economies, but living different versions of the same America. This is a special collaboration between the Texas Standard and the California Newsroom, “100 Days, Two Americas.”
Questions remain after death of man in Dallas County jail
Though a voucher-like plan has passed in Texas, lawmakers are far from done with education-related changes. What’s still on the legislative docket? Just about a month left before scheduled sine die at the Texas capitol, Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media shares some of the less well-known school-related measures lawmakers are considering.
In other news, a death at a Dallas County jail raises questions about how such deaths are investigated and reported. Marina Trahan Martinez of KERA North Texas drills down on what happened and what’s at stake.
Also, after federal cutbacks, long lines at Social Security offices and why they may get longer.
Are We Sinners?
In this episode we discuss the blockbuster movie, “Sinners” , and we also talk about UT’s impact on the local music scene. Brand new hip-hop facts and the controversial Unpopular Opinion with Fresh himself.
After yearslong fight, school voucher bill clears Legislature
A measure long sought by Texas Republicans is now on its way to the governor’s desk: A voucher-like plan to use public dollars to pay for private education. We’ll get details from Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom.
A massive plan was once proposed to keep Texas from running out of water in the late 1960’s… Voters said no. How the debate has resurfaced decades later.
And a big win for opponents of local marijuana decriminalization moves in Texas.
New York aids Texas Revolution
This bit of history really does seem too strange to be true. It involves the family of John Wilkes Booth, the son of Abraham Lincoln, and Sam Houston.
Remembering the ‘People’s Pope’
The Supreme Court halts deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. We’ll have the latest on the case involving migrants held in Texas.
He was called a “monster” by one of the survivors of the El Paso Walmart mass shooting. We hear from victims and relatives of those killed as the gunman is sentenced.
Pope Francis once made a high-profile visit to the Texas-Mexico border where he celebrated Mass on the banks of the Rio Grande. Residents on both sides of the river remember the People’s Pope.
How the tariff war with China could affect Texas.
And we talk to the South Texas author of the new novel “Futbolista”
Do We Glorify Drug Culture Too Much?
This episode we discuss hip-hop’s effect on drug culture and if we play into too much ourselves. We also discuss hip-hop artists going back to one producer per album, like in the golden eras.
Texas Extra: Our favorite Typewriter Rodeo poems
Texas Extras are special and extended content put together just for our podcast listeners!
Texas Standard recently revealed our Top 10 list from April: the Top 10 Typewriter Rodeo poems from the past decade. Each poem is pretty short, usually just about a minute long, but we still didn’t have time to play them in their entirety in our on-air Top 10 – which just felt like a shame. We remedy that for you here, enjoy!
Valley bakery raid sparks immigration debate in region swept by Trump
The Texas House has approved its version of the state’s two-year budget. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom gets us up to speed on what Texas’ representatives want to spend taxpayer money for, and where they’ll have to work out the kinks with the Senate.
A test for President Trump in South Texas – and how a certain bakery there came to play an outsized part in the political drama.
They call it Y’all Street: What the emergence of Dallas as a financial center means for Texas and the big money business.
And: Five years after COVID, how have high school sports changed?
A Texas company says it’s brought the dire wolf back from extinction
How shutting down the Department of Education will affect the rights of students with disabilities.
Dallas-based company Colossal Biosciences says it’s successfully created three genetically engineered wolf pups resembling the long-extinct dire wolf.
How the state makes it hard for journalists to track the deaths of abused and neglected children.
Military veterans helped elect President Trump. Now many are protesting his administration’s deep government cuts.
And: As state agencies implement return-to-office mandates, workers report cramped conditions, insufficient parking and more.
Baylor bets big on E-sports with first-ever program director and coach
A second child has died of measles in Texas as cases continue to rise. How this latest outbreak compares with that of the ’90s.
Baylor has just hired its first-ever E-sports director and coach: Adam Stanley of Brewton-Parker College, a small private college in Georgia and powerhouse in E-sports.
Hosting the Final Four of the college men’s basketball championship has been a big boon to San Antonio. We’ll hear more as the Houston Cougars get set for their championship game against Florida tonight at the Alamodome.
And: A homecoming for Texas actor and comedian Michael Yo as the Moontower Comedy Festival gets underway in Austin.
Texas Extra: My KUTX
March was all about music for Texas Standard. We debuted our latest Texas Standard special – “Rap to the Ranch: The Ballad of Mason ‘Bric’ LaDue.” And we celebrated ten years of the show with a top 10 list of our favorite music interviews and stories from the past decade.
The first weekend in March, the music partner of our home station KUT actually let the Texas Standard team take a turn as guest DJs! Our playlist is very different from our top 10 list because these are *personal favorites in one way or another.
Please note, for podcast purposes, we couldn’t play the whole song – so you’ll just hear little teases. Here’s the playlist:
1. Asleep At The Wheel – “Bob Wills Is Still The King” (feat. Clint Black) [David Brown]
2. The Black Angels – “You On The Run” [Alexandra Hart]
3. Selena – “Tus Desprecios” [Raul Alonzo]
4. Freddy Fender – “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” [Kristen Cabrera]
5. Jess Williamson – “Chasing Spirits” [Leah Scarpelli]
6. David Halley – “Loose Diamond” [Shelly Brisbin]
7. Khruangbin – “The Infamous Bill” [Casey Cheek]
8. Scarface – “Good Girl Gone Bad” [Wells Dunbar]
9. Amanda Shires – “Mineral Wells” [Gabrielle Muñoz]
10. Margo Price – “Hands of Time” [Rhonda Fanning]
11. Black Pumas – “Colors” [Laura Rice]
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this work at supportthispodcast.org.
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.