Texas Standard

With the Hill Country devastated by deadly floods, many are asking: What's a 100-year or 1,000-year flood, and are these terms outdated?A closer look at how first responders from Mexico are helping in Kerr County.A new report from the University of Texas at El Paso warns of growing job losses in Juárez's maquiladora industry.The health […] The post Climatologist explains what ‘1,000-year flood' actually means appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

More rain pummels the waterlogged Hill Country, putting a pause on search efforts and bringing a new wave of weather warnings to the region. We’ll talk with James Hartley of KERA, who’s been in Kerrville this weekend.Stuffed animals are strewn across flood-ravaged Texas. People are trying to get them to their owners.The Trump administration is […] The post Trucking industry faces new border bottleneck appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A week after the Hill Country floods, the president and first lady will visit Kerr County as the search for the missing continues and storms are in the forecast for the weekend.Talking to kids about tragedy: A Dallas-based pediatric psychologist on how to deal with their questions and their anxieties.Gov. Greg Abbott has added flood […] The post In wake of Hill Country floods, how to talk to kids about tragedy appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Texas Newsroom finds that responders to the Hill Country floods called for a public alert early Friday, a warning some say came hours too late.The upcoming special session of the Legislature, which originally looked like it would focus on regulating THC, now includes several emergency preparedness topics.And: Gillian Rodriguez with the Texas Counseling Association […] The post Processing the range of emotions surrounding Hill Country flood tragedy appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A bill in the Texas Legislature this past session would have created a grant program for emergency communication. It didn’t pass. In the days since the deadly flooding, engineers have already modeled what happened on the Guadalupe River. What they say about how we should rebuild. A harrowing story of survival: Our conversation with a […] The post A Guadalupe River regular shares her family's survival story appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

In Kerr County, local officials say they have all the resources, equipment, food and personnel they need, but with constantly changing numbers of people still missing, search and rescue teams continue to slog thru the debris of what is almost certain to go down as one of the deadliest natural disasters in state history. The […] The post Officials in Kerrville begin to assess damage as floodwaters recede appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Rescue and recovery efforts continue following devastating Guadalupe River flooding that has killed at least 75 people. More than two dozen campers and counselors died at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp, and 10 campers remain missing. Flash flood warnings are in effect for many parts of Texas, and officials fear that the waterlogged […] The post The latest on catastrophic flooding in the Hill Country appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Mason LaDue raises cattle on family land in Central Texas. But before he was a rancher, he was mostly on the road, managing tours for artists like Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa.His journey from the Dallas hip-hop circuit to the homestead is the focus of today's special program, Rap to the Ranch: The Ballad of Mason […] The post Rap to the Ranch: The Ballad of Mason ‘Bric' LaDue –  A Texas Standard Special Rebroadcast appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Federal education funding is put on hold, leaving administrators scrambling to evaluate what programs may be affected and what comes next – not just for young students, but Texans in adult education programs as well.What could rural schools teach the rest of us about how to better get along? New research by the George W. […] The post Adult education programs feel the squeeze as federal funds remain on hold appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Elon Musk may be on the outs in D.C., but closer to home, his political influence appears to be on the rise: The state’s richest billionaire scored some quiet but rather significant victories in the last legislative session.Legislative support for wind and solar may be on the wane, but Texas lawmakers appear to be warming […] The post Elon Musk's lobbying machine finds wins in Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

As we continue our yearlong 10th birthday celebration, today we're broadcasting before a live studio audience at a place that's been called the “Athens of Texas” – Waco, itself celebrating 25 years of public radio from our partners at KWBU.We'll be sampling some of the sights, sounds and tastes of this historic Central Texas city.After […] The post A live broadcast from Waco appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the Texas law that requires age verification for porn sites. We'll take a close look at the law.As the U.S. and China negotiate a new trade agreement, farmers cope with the uncertainty.Plus, how some of the best and brightest in Texas collaborated to build the Giant Magellan Telescope.Also, fresh […] The post Texans help build Giant Magellan Telescope appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

In a 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court rules against nationwide injunctions, likely to be read as a major victory for the Trump administration. UT constitutional law professor Tara Grove helps us parse out today’s big news from the high court.Texas underwater? After boom times in real estate, many Texas homeowners are upside down on […] The post SCOTUS rules against nationwide injunctions appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A new Texas law requires posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. We’ll look at the looming legal battle.Where do Texans stand on how well state legislators are doing their jobs? What about how well the president is doing his job? A new poll by the Texas Politics Project offers a look.The Mexican flag, […] The post Sugar Land acquires historic district tied to city's roots in the sugar industry appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Gov. Greg Abbott's last-minute veto of a proposed ban on THC-derived products has opened a rift with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the powerful leader of the Texas Senate who championed the ban.More autonomous vehicles are now on Austin streets – and these Tesla robotaxis are a little harder to spot than their Waymo counterparts.Some Texans […] The post Senate GOP primary brawl could open a door for Democrats appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

State lawmakers passed several bills affecting how Texans vote. What that means at the ballot box.Among the allegations detailed in a lawsuit about conditions inside immigrant detention centers in Texas holding families: fighting for drinking water and children denied medical care.Why an effort by a Las Vegas company to legalize gambling in the Lone Star […] The post Waco adult education program faces budget uncertainty under DOGE cuts appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A closely watched bill to ban THC products gets vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott – but that’s far from the end of the story, with the governor calling for a special legislative session aimed at regulating THC.After U.S. airstrikes targeted against Iranian nuclear facilities, what comes next? One of Texas’ top foreign policy experts suggests […] The post Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes THC ban, breaking with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Texas Lottery Commission faces a reckoning after a string of scandals. We look at what’s next for one of the largest lotteries in the country. The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for a controversial private facility in Andrews, Texas, to temporarily store high-level nuclear waste. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to […] The post Texas Lottery scandal deepens as ex-director disappears appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

President Trump considers a move that has brought together resistance from the left and the right. The stakes for U.S. involvement in a new Mideast war.Juneteenth is a holiday marking freedom for people enslaved in Texas, a proclamation announced in Texas on this date 160 years ago, now celebrated across the U.S.. The Texas Standard’s […] The post Marking Juneteenth where it began: Galveston celebrates freedom appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Gov. Greg Abbott touted plans to have Texas build a border wall, even soliciting donations from the public. Why the project’s now being scrapped.The U.S. Supreme Court is issuing decisions today, including one affecting gender-affirming care for transgender minors.Lawyers use previous cases to argue in court – but the Houston Housing Authority is caught citing […] The post Houston Housing Authority caught citing fake legal quotes appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Why a stretch of border just over the West Texas state line has become the deadliest place for migrants.How cuts included in the president’s “big, beautiful bill” could affect Texans who depend on Medicaid and Obamacare.Why Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the largest state-funded psychedelic research initiative in history.Solar panel scams targeting Texans – […] The post Immigration crackdown hits touring regional Mexican artists appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texas-based historian and author Jeremi Suri joins with the latest about the military back-and-forth between Iran and Israel, threatening to become an even larger all-out war, and what that could mean on the home front – including Texas’ role as the world’s energy capital.Protests against president Trump’s second administration reach a new high water mark […] The post Texans rally statewide on ‘No Kings Day' to oppose Trump polices appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texans under the age of 18 make up almost a quarter of the state’s population, so we’ve put together a show with them in mind. We’re joining you today from Abilene and the Children’s Art and Literacy Festival.We begin with a conversation about politics: We’ll hear from some Texas teens who make their voices heard, […] The post A special Texas Standard for kids, live from Abilene appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A very busy Thursday for first responders and meteorologists with flood conditions and heavy dust for many Texans – and it's expected to get worse before it gets better. We'll have an update. Houston, we have a problem, and it may be related to a spat between the president and the world’s wealthiest Texan. The […] The post Asleep at the Wheel celebrates 50 years with Texas tribute appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Gov. Greg Abbott is calling National Guard troops into Texas to respond to immigration raid protests in the state.Texas had a new speaker of the House this legislative session. So how did Rep. Dustin Burrows handle the job?Flights out of the busy, and getting busier, Austin airport have been increasingly delayed because of staffing shortages. […] The post Protests erupt over immigration raids as Abbott calls in National Guard appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texas has spent years challenging the federal government. So why not fight a recent order to end in-state tuition for undocumented students?Using DNA testing to solve cold cases involving abandoned babies.Why Texas doesn't require most employers to use E-Verify, the federal system that checks a worker's legal status.The new book “Detained” shares the story of […] The post Inside a teen's five months in a Texas migrant detention facility appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post Data centers may start creating their own power plants appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post Trade tensions with Mexico could drive up tomato prices appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post Why ranchers are ‘absolutely terrified' of the New World screwworm's return appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post Fear at immigration court as ICE arrests migrants there for a hearing appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post Houston startup eyes two-hour flights across the Pacific appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post As Texas ranks near the bottom in high school attainment, a Texarkana nonprofit has a solution appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post Recycling rare earth elements could power the future appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post Oil companies face new deadlines to plug orphaned wells appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post Corpus Christi's water future looks uncertain as Tesla builds nearby refinery appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post New institute aims to immortalize the sounds of Texas music appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post After outages last year, CenterPoint promises a better tracker appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post Fort Worth considers shuttering 14 schools to cut costs appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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. […] The post As the clock winds down, Texas lawmakers scramble to pass key bills appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post How one West Texas town built its own broadband lifeline appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] The post A special broadcast from El Paso appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A bipartisan bill on abortion has passed the Texas Senate and is making its way through the House. Why lawmakers agree it’s necessary. It’s been a decade now since a deadly shootout involving rival biker gangs at a Twin Peaks in Waco. What an investigation reveals about how the case was handled. Thousands of Brazilians […] The post 10 years later, still no convictions in Twin Peaks biker shootout appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

As the school year winds down, Texas lawmakers cramming for their final days at their desks are focused on education – and what some had hoped would be an increase in state spending per student may be shifted to teacher pay raises.Consumer Reports investigates a tip that sale prices at Kroger aren’t showing up at […] The post State parks are expanding efforts to improve accessibility appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A bill would make it possible for criminal offenders as young as 15 to be sent to state prisons for adults.Why hopes for a big increase in per-student funding for Texas public schools may have slipped away for this legislative session.Also at the Capitol: The loud bang of a wooden mallet is supposed to keep […] The post Central Texas art studio centers artists with disabilities appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texas gets a lot of flack for its culture wars – but some note a change at the Capitol this legislative session.More than a year after the state took over Shelby Park in Eagle Pass during the peak of illegal border crossings, it has now reopened to the public – and residents have bittersweet feelings.After […] The post An Austin book club has been reading the same novel for more than a decade appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A record-breaking heat wave will blanket big sections of the state. Is this a preview of summer?The U.S. has suspended imports of cattle from Mexico as a devastating pest, the New World Screwworm, makes its way north, threatening livestock.The Houston City Council kicks off budget hearings this week, weighing steep cuts.The new book “Freedom Season” by Texas […] The post Potentially historic heatwave settling in over much of Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Abortion pills, denial of bail, and a ban on land purchases for some people: What’s happening in the final weeks of the Texas Legislature?After jackpot controversies, multiple resignations and a ban on online lotto ticket sales, the state's lottery system is now under investigation.Cities on the rise across Texas are quite literally sinking, with Houston […] The post Houston is the fastest-sinking city in the US, study finds appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texas Catholics, now almost a third of the state population, are celebrating the selection of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from America.Gov. Gregg Abbott has just signed into law a school voucher plan, but some Texans are continuing to push back.A judge orders the sale of the Texas Renaissance Festival, following a civil court […] The post Texas Renaissance Festival ordered to sell land, assets following lengthy legal battle appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Several current and former Frio County officials have been indicted for alleged vote harvesting, part of a years-long investigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. One critic calls it voter suppression 101. What’s behind the charges?In the conversation over cash bail reform, what’s missing? An new investigation points to a lack of focus on […] The post Ranchers plead for help to fight a devastating pest on its way back to Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

According to a new poll, Texans have predictable opinions along party lines about Donald Trump’s immigration policies – but it’s more complicated on the economy.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is taking legal action against Austin ISD, accusing it of teaching critical race theory. It’s not the first time a Texas district has faced such charges.Shrimp […] The post How shrimp fraud is affecting coastal fishers appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

State lawmakers from the House and Senate reach a deal lowering property taxes. Will it pass?It’s the ultimate company town: How Space X’s launch site in South Texas became a city.Generic and house brands are taking off as people look to save on grocery bills. But that’s not the only reason shoppers prefer them.What’s next […] The post What's next as Gregg Popovich steps away from the Spurs? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.