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September 29, 2023

Why homeschooling is on the rise across the ideological spectrum

By: David Brown

Sean Theriault of UT-Austin with a look at why government shutdowns have become so common, and what needs to happen to avoid another come Sunday.

The summer of 2023 was the second hottest on record in Texas. But for renters, air conditioning isn’t legally required — at least not everywhere in the state.

Over the past couple of years, there’s been a shift in the way that many Texans school their kids, with more folks opting for homeschooling – for reasons that span the political spectrum, or lie completely outside it.

Writer Andrew Leland on losing his vision and the struggle to understand the changes, as told in his new memoir, “The Country of the Blind.”


Episodes

September 29, 2026

Federal changes narrow Endangered Species Act protections

The remnants of Hurricane Polo are expected to bring heavy rainfall and possible flooding across much of the state. We’ll have the details.It’s been a year since a gunman opened fire at an ICE office in Dallas. We’ll hear from the wife of one of the victims — a man who was in ICE custody.Plus, […]

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September 28, 2026

The New Wild West: Texans on the AI Frontier

Artificial intelligence is developing fast, and if you think it’s impacting life now, just wait. This is a special edition of the Texas Standard — “The New Wild West: Texans on the AI frontier.”What happens when you press that return button in ChatGPT? We’ll follow the energy-intensive requests.We’ll also explore the life-changing benefits AI can […]

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September 25, 2026

Texas voter registration backlog leaves thousands of applications unprocessed

Tens of thousands of unprocessed voter registrations were never forwarded to county officials for processing, leading to chaos and questions.If you registered to vote through the DPS, such as when you were updating your driver’s license, you may want to check with county officials who are now working through a backlog of forms they should […]

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September 24, 2026

Why Texas became a magnet for massive data centers

Last year’s tragedy at Camp Mystic moves into the realm of criminal investigation, with search warrant requests by the Texas Rangers.As many Texas communities try to push back on more data centers, they often find local officials can’t do much. How did Texas find itself in this position?What new studies are revealing about the connection […]

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September 23, 2026

The latest on the ICE shooting in Austin

A shooting involving immigration enforcement is under investigation in Austin — and it’s sparked protests.Also, a federal judge has ordered Texas to air condition every state prison by the end of 2029. We’ll look at the years-long fight over extreme heat behind bars.Houston’s new homeless services center in East Downtown has been open for about […]

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September 22, 2026

Texas prison program trains incarcerated women to transcribe braille

Do data centers help local economies? The largest one is under construction in West Texas and could provide some answers.Also, we’ll get an update on the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin and take a look at the use of deadly force by ICE on city streets across the country.Plus, the struggle […]

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September 21, 2026

‘Deep in the Heart 2’ explores the rivers and aquifers that sustain Texas

Another ICE shooting in Texas, this time in the Texas capital city on Sunday.Also, what could be an important week of speeches and negotiations in New York. UT’s Michael Mosser joins the Standard with more on what to look for, and what’s at stake at the UN general assembly gathering.With much of the UN focused […]

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September 18, 2026

Big Bend businesses push back against border wall construction

In the Big Bend region, local businesses are banding together to push back against border wall construction.Growing food insecurity in rural areas is on par with some of the country’s biggest cities amid changes to federal nutrition programs.In the fight against the spread of a destructive parasite, a look at what may be a gaping […]

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