Texas Standard

Texas women bring homegrown horror to ‘Beneath the Bluebonnets’

Record voter registration numbers point to what appear to be new records set in early voting. What do they tell us about the midterms in Texas? Also, Meta blocks an Instagram account for a No Kings protest, stoking fears of online political shenanigans — or worse — from a major social media company. Omar Gallaga joins us with what’s known and what’s not. The Standard’s Michael Marks on another… Source

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Texas Extra: The Prairieland 22 Episode 1

The Prairieland 22 is a podcast from our partners at KERA News and NTX Now. We’re sharing these episodes Wednesday nights. Episode 1: “4th of July Party!” July 4, 2025. A protest, the shooting of a police officer, and a case the government cites as an example of a growing domestic terrorism threat: “Antifa.” Over the next year, 22 people would be arrested for the nonfatal shooting of an… Source

Texas autism therapy program could lose its funding

Democrat Bobby Pulido is leading a poll in Texas’ Congressional District 15 that had heavily favored Trump. The district’s Latinos may be leaning even further left. Some Texas school districts shifted toward a four-day school week during the pandemic. Now there may be legislation to discourage that. Texas is considering doing away with a program meant to serve children across the state with autism. Source

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‘Redemption’ explores faith and sisterhood on Texas death row

Early voting is underway. We’ll go over five things to watch for as Texans cast ballots in races that are too close to call. Is the state of Texas trying to sell a beloved beachfront state park to Elon Musk? Plus, how school cafeterias are coping amid rising costs and cuts to federal food assistance. And why out-of-state colleges are increasing their effort to recruit students from Texas. Source

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Latino horror anthology explores fears carried across generations

The border is secure, but there’s a border emergency. Why the difference between two GOP narratives? We’ll have a closer look. The first in-person votes are being cast in the Texas midterms today as early voting kicks off. The Standard’s Michael Marks joins us with a look at the race for agriculture commissioner, and how one of the most talked-about issues has little to do with farm policy and… Source

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Big Bend border wall worker camps raise concerns in West Texas

A border wall cutting through Big Bend is on hold, but something connected to the wall still has many locals unsettled. This week saw a debate between candidates hoping to represent what is geographically the biggest congressional district in Texas, and the stakes for both parties are high. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies tells us more. Also, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune. Source

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What a Democratic governor could mean for Texas

The last time a Democrat served as Texas governor was decades ago. Is that about to change? For years, politics-watchers have all but dismissed the prospect of a Democrat being elected governor in deep-red Texas. But polls suggest the closest gubernatorial race in recent memory between incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott and challenger Gina Hinojosa. Two veteran political analysts consider the potential… Source

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New UT poll shows unusually tight statewide races

A new poll from the Texas Politics Project suggests the Republican winning streak in the Lone Star State faces its toughest test yet. It’s cotton picking season in Texas. Scientists studying wild cotton and its ancestral origins hope older genetic traits could eventually strengthen the varieties farmers plant today. And: One of the most durable sayings about Texas pride gets a reality… Source

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South Texas congressional race tests GOP gains with Latino voters

What’s next for Camp Mystic as a judge rules wrongful death lawsuits filed by parents can move forward. Republican Monica De La Cruz is seeking a third term in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, where Democrat Bobby Pulido, a Tejano singer and first-time candidate, is challenging her. The South Texas race will test whether recent Republican gains among Latino voters can hold. Source

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How Corpus Christi’s desalination push landed it in hot water

New details from a deposition more than a decade old shed light on how Ken Paxton has amassed his wealth. Could they rattle the tight Texas U.S. Senate race?A new military push for AI, and an outsized role for Texas. Why some say the process is moving too fast.San Antonio’s Fiesta will look different in 2027, with its longtime Night in Old San Antonio canceled. What’s changing and what could come… Source

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Texas singer-songwriter Israel Nash on his reimagined “Sweetheart of the Rodeo.”

President Trump’s performance in the Rio Grande Valley surprised many observers of the 2024 election. But was that that the start of a trend, or just a blip on the political radar? A new professional sports league is hoping to spur new interest in an ancient practice. The Sumo Championship League’s first-ever event is happening this weekend outside of Austin. Vincent Valdez has spent… Source

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Could Bo French racism controversy hurt other Republicans on ballot?

Texas school districts appear increasingly suspicious of STAAR test results graded by a computer system. We’ll dig into what’s going on. Republican candidate for railroad commission Bo French recently drew criticism from many in his own party for comments widely labeled racist. We’ll look at the potential impact on the rest of the ballot. Texas leads the way in the number of recent ICE arrests… Source

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PossAble Dream looks to inspire high school dropouts in the RGV

The midterms are just around the corner and we’re watching several competitive races in the Texas House. We’ll have details on some of those races. A botched execution in Tennessee is having immediate impacts in Texas. A look at why the 2009 Fort Hood shooter will be executed by firing squad. Meanwhile, there’s a push to spiritualize the military. We’ll share a report about the creation of a… Source

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Are Texas Democrats really poised for statewide wins?

With less than two weeks to go before the first in-person early votes are cast in the midterms in Texas, great expectations are rising among Democrats here and nationwide with polls and pundits alike predicting big gains. We’ll break down the what, where and why. So stressed or frustrated you just want to scream? Welcome to the club: The Dallas Yell Club. We’ll hear what that’s all about. Also… Source

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What to expect as the Supreme Court reconvenes

The first Monday in October means the U.S. Supreme Court is back to work. We’ll have an early look at the docket, what Texans should watch for and more. A red-hot congressional race in a huge district — a contest between YouTube gun rights supporter Brandon Herrerra and child rights advocate Katy Padilla Stout — is drawing a lot of attention. We’ll explore why the race for the 23rd is so… Source

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Texas governor’s race appears to be competitive

Remember redistricting in Texas? The plan was to try to secure more surefire wins for Republicans. Now we’re seeing some surprises. We’ll have the details today. And another political surprise possibly in the making: The governor’s race, initially not expected to be much of a battle for Gov. Abbott, is forcing many to reconsider. We’ll hear more. Also, do public libraries have a return on… Source

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Houston voters weigh marijuana enforcement priorities

In Texas’ biggest metro, Houston, a vote looms to tell police whether to deprioritize marijuana cases. But even if it gets the green light, will it make a difference? Also, the latest on an alleged threat on the Texas capitol and a possible change of heart over a border wall in the Big Bend region. Where things stand on the push to get police connected to AI. Tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us why… Source

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Toadies get personal on first new album in nearly a decade

If you’ve consumed any media with commercials lately you know why the race for U.S. Senate between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico has become so expensive. We’ll dig into the details. With the election now just weeks away, it’s worth making sure your voter registration is in order. A backlog is affecting a lot of Texans. We’ll walk you through how to fix things. Source

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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, the Endangered Species Act protects animals from extinction. Now, the Trump administration’s… Source

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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 offer, and we’ll weigh that against privacy… Source

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