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February 28, 2023

Is Houston still affordable?

By: David Brown

An orange haze, a vicious wind, in some places visibility cut close to zero – is an exiting dust storm a warning of more? With high winds expected to return later this week, what the layers of dust across Texas may tell us about changes to our climate.

A recent survey from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed roughly four out of five Houstonians are stressed out about recent price increases – raising the question of whether Houston still deserves its long-held reputation as one of the most affordable large cities in the country.

Tens of thousands protest against the president in Mexico amid concerns about threats to elections there.

A bill set to raise the penalties for illegal voting in Texas gets the green light from a Senate committee.

On Rare Disease Day 2023, we’ll hear how advocates for people with such diseases are pushing for change.

And an online hack targeting Asian Texans.


Episodes

April 10, 2026

‘They Called Us Outlaws’ revisits rise of outlaw country music

The threat of hail, possible tornadoes and flooding conditions spells what could be a severe start to a stormy weather season in Texas. Meteorologist Eric Berger joins us with what to expect and how it fits into the bigger weather picture.How are you weathering rising gasoline prices? We’ll hear how some Houstonians are coping.Lt. Gov. […]

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April 9, 2026

Lawsuit challenges Texas crackdown on hemp-derived products

High stakes in Texas as cannabis businesses file suit over a new statewide ban on smokable hemp.This year’s midterm elections signal the biggest turnover in recent memory and Texas is part of that trend. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey on what’s behind this changing of the guard.Despite a tenuous ceasefire with Iran, tech expert Omar […]

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April 8, 2026

‘Western Star’ explores Larry McMurtry’s legacy and Texas storytelling

A proposed overhaul of Texas classrooms could change what millions of students read. We’ll look at how this could impact classrooms across the state.An investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales uncovers a pattern of pursuing staff members. What we know and how the congressman is responding.Billions of dollars in clean energy investment across Texas is now […]

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April 7, 2026

South Texas water crisis raises concerns about aquifer use

A deepening water crisis in Corpus Christi is raising questions about how South Texans get their water — and who gets it.For students pursuing job training instead of a traditional college degree, there are some long-awaited changes to financial aid. Now, new support could open doors for workforce programs.A reckoning over the legacy of Cesar […]

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April 6, 2026

What Trump’s election executive order could mean for voting

A runoff in the Houston area between challenger Christian Menefee and longtime incumbent Al Green is being seen as part of a much bigger fight for the future of Texas Democrats.Also, an executive order from the Trump administration may put the postal service in the middle of election-year politics.Also — explosions on the other side […]

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April 4, 2026

Texas Extra: City manager remains optimistic in the face of Corpus Christi’s water crisis

David Brown speaks with Corpus Christi city manager Peter Zanoni about how the city plans to beef up its water supplies, the state’s role and why no water emergency has been declared.

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April 3, 2026

Corpus Christi official says the city will never run out of water

Despite warnings of a water crisis, Corpus Christi’s top official overseeing water says “we will never run out.” Gov. Greg Abbott has warned of a state takeover if the city can’t deal with a water crisis. The city manager tells Texas Standard why he’s so reluctant to declare a water emergency. The maker of a […]

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April 2, 2026

What the Artemis II liftoff means for the future of space exploration

Control of Artemis II has been handed over to Houston: we’ll hear about the launch and what appears to be a big boost in interest in the space program. But it’s getting a little tight up there above the air: concerns about orbital traffic jams after a second Starlink satellite breaks apart. Texas prisons without […]

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