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January 12, 2023

A giant tourism investment is coming to North Texas

By: David Brown

A big announcement that could add up to a major boost for tourism and the economy of North Texas. Underscoring the explosion of population and business growth in the Lone Star State, the announcement of plans to build a Universal Theme Park in Frisco is generating excitement in some quarters and concerns in others. We’ll hear all about it. Also after supply chain disruptions and worse, why Laredo could be at the center of a shift in how U.S. companies do business. And talk of a federal ban on gas stoves ignites a political firestorm, and fresh concerns about the safety of a common appliance. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:


Episodes

August 11, 2026

Border wall could cut access to Porvenir Massacre site

The Trump administration wants to revamp Head Start. How the changes could cost the state and impact teachers. President Trump has ordered changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations, but the executive order does not automatically change requirements for Texas schools. Law enforcement says Flock cameras that read license plates help solve crimes. But in Houston […]

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August 10, 2026

The Texas goth scene builds a culture beyond the music

President Trump says the governor’s pause on data centers is a mistake. What it means as the industry pushes to expand. Supporters of the state takeover of Houston public schools tout it as success for overall student achievement. But critics say it’s come at the expense some high-achieving students. Does a strategy for managing rapid […]

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August 7, 2026

How Texas farmers are looking to revive cotton demand

New details are emerging about the first year of Texas’ school voucher program. We’ll explain who received the vouchers and why critics still have questions.Texas cotton-growers are facing rising costs and falling demand. Our own Michael Marks looks at a new effort to revive one of the state’s signature crops.Austin Sketch Fest returns for its […]

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August 6, 2026

Big Bend border wall construction poised to begin

New reporting is raising questions about State Rep. James Talarico’s voting address. We’ll explain what it found and why it matters.Construction crews have arrived inside Big Bend National Park as plans for a new border wall move forward. We’ll hear the latest from reporters on the ground.Could stores be charging you a different price than […]

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August 5, 2026

Texas A&M professors sue over race and gender teaching rules

Texas A&M professors are suing the university system over restrictions on teaching about race and gender identity. We’ll discuss the legal challenge. Some Latino voters in Texas who supported Donald Trump in 2024 say they’re reconsidering that decision ahead of this year’s midterm elections. We’ll hear what’s driving the shift. The American Red Cross has […]

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August 4, 2026

Gov. Abbott pauses new Texas data centers for state audit

A look at why Sen. John Cornyn decided to back President Trump’s choice for Attorney General, Todd Blanche, after all — and what’s next.Also, why Gov. Greg Abbott has hit the brakes on any new data center projects for now.Plus, the late U.S. Rep. Kay Granger’s enduring legacy.And plans are underway in Austin for a […]

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August 3, 2026

Texas backtracks after wrongly flagging voters as noncitizens

A voter purge is being rolled back in Texas after some eligible voters were wrongly flagged as potential noncitizens. We’ll discuss what happened and what it means ahead of the midterms. Also, for recent college graduates across Texas, the job market can be a difficult reality check. We’ll look at why landing that first job […]

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July 31, 2026

Revisiting ‘Out of the Blue,’ 60 years after the UT Tower shooting

Columbine. Sandy Hook. Santa Fe High School. Robb Elementary: Touchstones for a sense of shared tragedy. School shootings have become a part of modern life, but what do we remember of the event that opened this chapter 60 years ago?On Aug. 1, 1966, a sniper climbed to the top of the University of Texas Tower, […]

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