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June 14, 2024

Supreme Court rejects a Trump-era ban on bump stocks

By: Michael Marks

The Supreme Court has struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks – devices that can be attached to a semiautomatic gun to make it fire more quickly – in a case brought by Michael Cargill, a U.S. Army veteran and owner of a gun store in Austin.
The State of Texas wants to replace the judge overseeing the lawsuit over its foster care system, Judge Janis Jack, saying she can’t be impartial.
There’s been a rash of near-misses between planes at busy airports. A new piece of equipment in Austin could help prevent that.
Plus: A new investigation finds that thousands of Texans live near oil and gas wells that could be leaking excess amounts of hydrogen sulfide, putting their health at risk.


Episodes

June 9, 2025

Data centers may start creating their own power plants

Gina Ortiz Jones made history over the weekend, becoming San Antonio’s first openly lesbian mayor and only the third woman to hold the office.An assault case is exposing deeper failures in Texas group homes.With the rise of data centers across Texas, a push for private power plants run by natural gas.The new documentary “Sally” explores […]

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June 6, 2025

Trade tensions with Mexico could drive up tomato prices

For the first time since Texas’ measles outbreak at the start of the year, there are no new reported cases. We’ll get an update on efforts to contain the disease.A new report in The Guardian reveals pressure from Immigration and Customs Enforcement leadership to ramp up arrests, even of people not originally targeted.Flag football is […]

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June 5, 2025

Why ranchers are ‘absolutely terrified’ of the New World screwworm’s return

A old law suddenly no more: a judge strikes down in-state tuition for undocumented students in Texas.What changes can Texans expect for energy and the environment after this week’s conclusion of the 89th Texas Legislature?After the Smokehouse Creek Fire scorched over 1 million acres, lawmakers also passed a slate of wildfire preparedness bills.The devastating New […]

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June 4, 2025

Fear at immigration court as ICE arrests migrants there for a hearing

The race to be San Antonio’s next mayor was narrowed from a field of 27 to two. What to know before the runoff election on Saturday.Arrests outside of immigration court have happened in El Paso, Dallas and San Antonio. Why activists say this tactic encourages migrants to break the law.Texas is set to become the […]

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June 3, 2025

Houston startup eyes two-hour flights across the Pacific

The 89th Legislature is history. We’ll look at what lawmakers accomplished and what was left to do.We continue our series on an adult literacy program in Texarkana that does much more than help people get an education – and why it could be a model for other parts of the state.A Houston-based aerospace company successfully […]

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June 2, 2025

As Texas ranks near the bottom in high school attainment, a Texarkana nonprofit has a solution

Texas lawmakers have approved additional funding for public schools, including more money for teachers.Some San Antonio school districts have found a way to help struggling students catch up following the pandemic. What can we learn from those efforts?Texas ranks near the bottom when it comes to adults with a high school education. As the Standard’s […]

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May 30, 2025

Recycling rare earth elements could power the future

Severe storms brought flash floods, hail and widespread power outages to Central Texas, killing one and hospitalizing two. More than 10,000 are still without power. Rare earth minerals are being wasted when you toss out an old phone or TV. Research in Texas could change the disposal process. Texas Tech just won its first-ever game […]

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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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