Texas Standard

February 7, 2025

Former leader of USAID speaks out against agency cuts

Reports of massive staffing cuts at USAID are rattling the federal bureaucracy and supporters of foreign aid. Andrew Natsios, a Texas A&M professor and a Republican who once served as a USAID administrator, joins the show with his take on the claims of waste and inefficiency at his former agency.A new historical marker stands outside […]

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February 6, 2025

Texas Senate passes bill creating school voucher-like program

A bill to let families use taxpayer dollars to cover private school tuition was approved by the Texas Senate, but the debate over the bill’s not done. Next stop: the Texas House.El Paso has still not recovered from government vacancies dating back to the height of COVID, with growing concerns about how that’s affecting basic […]

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February 5, 2025

What does the Farmer’s Almanac say about Texas’ winter?

Gov. Greg Abbott announced his priorities over the weekend, and it looks like lawmakers in his party are getting right to work.The Arlington City Council unanimously approved a drilling site that would put 10 new gas wells within a few thousand feet of homes, a daycare and elementary schools. A closer look at the debate.The […]

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February 4, 2025

Why does Keller ISD want to split in two?

The Trump administration’s tariffs on China have taken effect, while tariffs on Canada and Mexico are on hold for now – but the threat looms, along with uncertainly. We’ll break down what it means for the state.Pete Hegseth, the new secretary of defense, visits the Texas/Mexico border. What he says about sending more troops.When is […]

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February 3, 2025

Why did the Mavericks trade Luka Doncic?

With a de facto North American trade war set to begin tomorrow, Presidents Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico announce a one-month delay on tariffs in exchange for added troops at the border. What we learned in Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of the State address, where he announced some unexpected priorities. And: A surprise […]

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January 31, 2025

Flu surge shuts down schools in North Texas

What to expect from this weekend’s State of the State address, where Gov. Greg Abbott will reveal his emergency items for the current legislative session. Have you noticed the flu is going around? There’s actually more than one virus making folks sick at the moment. We’ll check in with a doctor. One of the many […]

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January 30, 2025

Texas secures land for a new state park

A bird flu outbreak noted early in Texas is now a national issue, and concerns are rising about what the federal government plans to do. From property taxes to THC and more, Lt Gov. Dan Patrick outlines the first batch of 40 legislative priorities for the current Texas legislative session. Why a fight over mass […]

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January 29, 2025

Texans weigh in on how to spend the state’s $24 billion surplus

If Texans were in charge of the state’s budget, how would they spend the money? A new survey from the Hobby School of Public Affairs sheds light on priorities. We know many state lawmakers are prioritizing a school voucher effort that would give money for private education directly to families – and the proposal has […]

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