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May 15, 2025

Central Texas art studio centers artists with disabilities

By: David Brown

A bill would make it possible for criminal offenders as young as 15 to be sent to state prisons for adults.
Why hopes for a big increase in per-student funding for Texas public schools may have slipped away for this legislative session.
Also at the Capitol: The loud bang of a wooden mallet is supposed to keep lawmakers in check. But it’s a symbol of power, too. What’s the story behind the use of the gavel?
For decades, a quiet but growing movement has supported artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Standard’s Sean Saldana visits a progressive East Austin studio helping redefine what inclusion in the art world can look like.
Plus: Texas musician Carrie Rodriguez joins us to talk about her new collaboration with Calexico.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.

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Episodes

February 27, 2026

The town where Texas declared its independence

Who’s up, who’s down, and who’s in trouble  — a final poll before primary day in the Lone Star State. We’ll go over what the numbers are telling us.President Trump is in Corpus Christi today, hitting the hustings on this last day of in-person early voting before crucial primaries in Texas. James Henson of the […]

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February 26, 2026

Paxton sues more out-of-state providers over abortion pills

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton files suit against a California doctor and a larger international organization for providing abortion pills to Texans. Paxton’s lawsuit is not the first time he’s gone after out-of-state providers of mifepristone — though so far, he’s had little to show for it.After the floods in Kerrville, volunteers round what may […]

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February 25, 2026

Killing of cartel head ‘El Mencho’ touches off violence in Mexico

Gov. Greg Abbott is urging Texans in Mexico right now to follow shelter-in-place orders as violence sweeps much of that nation. We’ll have a report from Mexico City on the wave of coordinated retaliatory attacks and widespread uncertainty as wanted drug cartel leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes – known as “El Mencho” – is killed […]

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February 25, 2026

Trump invokes Texas in State of the Union speech

Texas came up more than once during President Trump’s State of the Union speech. We’ll have an analysis of what he mentioned and what he left out.Camp Mystic is facing troubles in court after the way it handled deadly flooding in July. But a comment from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick could spell even further challenges.After […]

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February 24, 2026

Amid scandal, calls grow for Rep. Tony Gonzales to step down

After violence on the streets in parts of Mexico, things are returning to normal. But will it last? We’ll dig into the latest following the killing of cartel head “El Mencho” in Mexico.Why turnout for early voting for the March primaries is exceeding expectations – especially for Democrats.The growing calls for Congressman Tony Gonzales to […]

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February 20, 2026

What happens now after Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariffs

A major repudiation of one of the Trump administration’s signature initiatives: The Supreme Court’s tariff decision and the Texas impact today on the Standard.A new investigative report reveals six deaths in six weeks at immigration detention centers in Texas. Other stories we’re tracking: As the first week of early voting in the Texas primaries comes […]

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February 19, 2026

Talarico interview on Colbert controversy shakes up race

James Talarico’s campaign raises millions after an interview with Stephen Colbert is pulled. But was it really a backfire against President Trump? The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey with the lowdown.A look at a hugely important hearing today for four men accused of the notorious 1991 yogurt shop murders in Austin.Also, why are so many barbecue […]

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February 18, 2026

Exploring Texas’ deepest underwater cave system

Wildfire risk is so high in the Texas Panhandle that an energy company preemptively cut off power to avoid lines blowing down and starting to spark. We’ll take a closer look at the situation.Early voting is underway across Texas. We sent reporters to polls across the state to hear from voters who made it out […]

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