Texas Standard

June 15, 2023

Summer heat is here – and so is the strain on Texas’ electric grid

Although Ken Paxton’s already impeached, Texas House investigators continue gathering evidence against the now-suspended attorney general. More scrutiny over the finances of Paxton and his wife, a Texas senator. Temperatures are hitting triple digits across much of Texas. Can the power grid take the heat? Tech expert Omar Gallaga on why the release of Diablo […]

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June 14, 2023

Why thousands of dead fish washed up along the Gulf Coast

Who implements a new law that bans “sexually explicit” material in Texas public school libraries – and how? We’ll talk with the president of the Texas Library Association about what’s being described by proponents as a child protection move, and by critics as the latest attempt to censor and ban books for young people with […]

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June 13, 2023

Plans to dredge Matagorda Bay Superfund site proceed, over environmental worries

A Supreme Court ruling on redistricting in Alabama surprises critics – and raises hopes for Texans challenging political maps closer to home. Why a plan to expand shipping in Matagorda Bay has many in the community sounding alarms. An effort to lift the borrowing cap for graduate student loans raised hopes – and costs – […]

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June 12, 2023

Texas Extra: Austin’s Oblivion Access fest curates the ‘weird end’ of the underground music spectrum

This Texas Standard podcast bonus features an extended Q&A with Oblivion Access festival co-founders Dusty Brooks and Dorian Domi. Oblivion Access is a four-day music and arts festival taking place June 15-18 in downtown Austin focused on dark, experimental and underground music. This musically-rich interview includes songs from festival headliners TR/ST, Have a Nice Life, […]

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June 12, 2023

What does Nate Paul’s arrest mean for Ken Paxton?

Impeached attorney general Ken Paxton won’t face trial in the Senate until late summer, but the indictment of prominent donor Nate Paul may have big implications for Paxton’s fate nonetheless. Hurricane season is upon us, and the energy industry is making preparations for potential storms. A colonia in El Paso is pulling water out of […]

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June 9, 2023

‘Flamin’ Hot’ shares the spicy story of a snack food phenomenon

Legislation on the governor’s desk known as the “Death Star” bill takes aim at local ordinances statewide. Will cities strike back? In a place known for years of drought, heavy rain has forced evacuations in Amarillo and Hereford. We’ll meet Houston’s Benchawan Jabthong Painter, winner of the James Beard Award for best Texas chef. Her […]

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June 8, 2023

Insurers are bailing on homes in disaster-prone regions. Is Texas next?

The Texas Senate passed three new bills on border security – but with the House adjourned, does it mean anything? The Texas Education Agency has taken over the Houston Independent School District, and already some major reforms are taking shape. Two major insurance companies say they won’t write new homeowner policies in California, citing the […]

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June 7, 2023

The dire situation facing underfunded Texas schools

“It’s a fantasy,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said of Gov. Greg Abbott’s objectives to lower property taxes. Patrick Svitek of the Texas Tribune joins with more on a growing divide between the state’s two top Republican leaders. One top political observer says there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to school funding for […]

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