Texas Standard

February 10, 2026

Untangling legal questions in the age of AI photo manipulation

One of the most closely watched political contests in this midterm election year is happening in Texas, and a new poll offers some surprises.The race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by John Cornyn has recently been characterized as tightening up, but a new poll suggests Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat Jasmine Crockett are […]

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February 9, 2026

Walking Dallas, one mile at a time

Redistricting wars may sound like esoteric politics, but a race in Houston shows how high the stakes are for some Texas communities. We’ll look at how a lesser-known political contest in Houston’s 29th district illustrates the impact of the redistricting fight on some Texas communities.It may sound like a social media trend, but it’s a […]

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February 6, 2026

Why many Texans are getting ready for the ‘Benito Bowl’

Texas becomes the first state with a strict abortion ban to provide doctors with guidelines on exceptions. We’ll dig into what’s in those guidelines with ProPublica reporter Cassandra Jaramillo.Coming soon to the pristine spaces of the Big Bend: Construction of a border wall. We’ll look at how many locals are trying to push back.And in […]

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February 5, 2026

School voucher applications open across Texas

The application window opens for Texas education savings accounts, often called school vouchers. But demand may outstrip available funds. We’ll talk with two reporters for the Houston Chronicle closely following the application process, hear about the application experience of one Texas mom, and learn more about what’s included, what isn’t, and what happens if there’s […]

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February 4, 2026

Starlink poised to expand broadband footprint in Texas

The partial government shutdown is over. Did you know we were in one? Well, now another could be on the way as negotiations over ICE’s budget persists on Capitol Hill.Texas school boards are considering a new state law that allows time to be set aside during the day for prayer and reading the Bible.Texas has […]

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February 3, 2026

Analysis finds extreme heat inside Texas prisons

Texas state prisons that don’t have a/c get so hot in summer with temperatures that violate state standards for other lockups.Also, well-known former Texas Police Chief Art Acevedo questions tactics used by immigration agents in Minneapolis. We’ll hear from him about his concerns over fallout for other law enforcement.And we’ll check in to see how […]

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February 2, 2026

Democrat makes surprise win in solid-red Texas district

In a little-watched race, Taylor Rehmet’s surprise win for Democrats in Texas may be a potential warning shot for Republicans in a midterm election year. Is this a one-off, or is the GOP in trouble in the Lone Star State?Also, Texas environmental regulators greenlight what looks like the largest fossil-fueled power plant project in the […]

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January 30, 2026

Austin’s Banana Phone turns public roasting into performance art

With national attention focused on the tactics of immigration enforcement, a concern is growing among Texas Republicans about the political fallout.We’re still months away for an important midterm election. But this weekend, voters in one part of Texas will be picking their representative to Congress. Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media brings us the backstory […]

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