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June 19, 2024

Shining a light on Black Seminoles this Juneteenth

By: David Brown

The Biden administration has announced a policy that will protect about half a million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation. NPR’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán has the details on the new directive.
Juneteenth is a holiday about visibility – and some people use the occasion to turn the spotlight on communities that have been overlooked. KUT reporter and producer Zahra Crim brings us the story of the Black Seminoles.
In the new book “Juneteenth Rodeo,” snapshots from Black rodeos in Texas in the 1970s are coming to light after being packed away for decades.
And: Anyone remember race cars on Padre Island? Commentator WF Strong on the craziest island race few Texans remember today.


Episodes

May 29, 2025

Oil companies face new deadlines to plug orphaned wells

Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration. Why now, and what’s next for the Texas-based billionaire. A bill that aims to plug the state’s abandoned oil and gas wells – sometimes called “orphaned wells” – is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Insurers in Texas are partnering with aerial imaging and AI companies to assess […]

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May 28, 2025

Corpus Christi’s water future looks uncertain as Tesla builds nearby refinery

The House has passed a bill mandating the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms. If the Senate signs off, Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to make it law. A 2023 law expanded polling place requirements – but many small counties couldn’t keep up. Now a new bill that rolls back those mandates […]

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May 27, 2025

New institute aims to immortalize the sounds of Texas music

A bill banning all products with THC is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Is this the end of the state’s hemp industry? Lawmakers are also revisiting efforts to reform or replace the STAAR test. An investigation finds that some people in Central Texas are stuck behind bars beyond the 90-day limit without being indicted […]

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May 26, 2025

After outages last year, CenterPoint promises a better tracker

This Memorial Day, we’ll hear the story of Florentino Cantú Jr., a Laredoan who saw military service as a ticket to a better life for his parents and 10 siblings. Memorial Day is a day of reflection to be sure, but it is also the unofficial start of summer for many folks. We’ll be getting some […]

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May 23, 2025

Fort Worth considers shuttering 14 schools to cut costs

With just over a week to go at the Texas Legislature: what’s passed, what’s stalled, and where we stand. Retailers track your every move to build shopper profiles and offer “personalized discounts.” But these loyalty perks may be more misleading than helpful. Declining enrollment and tight budgets have school districts reevaluating their campuses. In Fort […]

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May 22, 2025

As the clock winds down, Texas lawmakers scramble to pass key bills

A look at the behind-the-scenes dealmaking happening at the Texas Capitol with less than two weeks until lawmakers gavel out on June 2. How proposed cuts to SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, would impact Texans. Apple has a plan to make it possible to use your laptop, phone and even smartwatch with brain control. […]

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May 21, 2025

How one West Texas town built its own broadband lifeline

Texas lawmakers are considering a plan that could help prevent fentanyl overdoses in the state. Why it may not become law. A decade after the deadly biker shootout in Waco that led to nine deaths and more than 100 arrests, some civil cases against the city are still moving forward. Some Texas law enforcement agencies […]

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May 20, 2025

A special broadcast from El Paso

Today we’re broadcasting live from El Paso for a special edition of the Texas Standard. We hear from some prominent El Pasoans – former Congressman Beto O’Rourke and former El Paso Mayor Dee Margo – on the city’s dynamic politics. El Paso has become a leader in innovative water management. How the city is securing […]

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