A federal judge is considering holding Texas in contempt of court over ongoing problems in the state’s foster care system. Bob Garrett of The Dallas Morning News joins us with the latest. Chronic wasting disease, for which there is no known cure, has been detected in a Texas deer breeding facility. The Standard’s Michael Marks […] The post Chronic wasting disease ravages Texas Parks and Wildlife facility appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The sun sets on a fourth special session at the Capitol as Texas lawmakers steel themselves to go into legislative overtime yet again. Sergio Martínez-Beltrán of the Texas Newsroom has the latest on where we stand: what’s passed, what hasn’t, and what comes next. The Biden administration takes the wrap off a new methane emissions […] The post Will the show go on for UTEP’s dinner theater? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death in the U.S. for people under 45, and the odds of survival may depend on what part of the state you’re in. Lauren Caruba of the Dallas Morning News joins us to talk about a new investigation. The Texas Standard’s Sean Saldaña has the latest on what […] The post Rare ‘Cattle Tyrant’ spotting dominates birders’ attention appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

An oil spill in the Gulf is considered to be among the worst in U.S. history. After two weeks, why is it getting so little attention? We’ll hear about an unintended impediment to the growth of electric vehicle manufacturing in the U.S. After a political fight over a school voucher-like program, salary bumps for Texas […] The post What’s behind the massive oil spill in the Gulf? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

At least three members of Congress from North Texas have decided not to run for re-election. Is it a broader signal for Texas politics? Alexandra Samuels of Texas Monthly has more. One man and thousands of open records requests: A push for government accountability? Or something else? Texas veterinarians are keeping a close eye on […] The post The challenges facing Texas food banks as hunger rises appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Arguments are set for today in a challenge to Texas’ near-total abortion ban. Eleanor Klibanoff of the Texas Tribune with more about a major abortion case before the state Supreme Court. A securities case before the U.S. Supreme Court could destroy the U.S. government, according to some critics. We’ll try to sort the hyperbole from […] The post Everything you need to know about cedar fever appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Gov. Greg Abbott is issuing political endorsements, in what may be the first step in promised payback against some fellow Republicans. Also, a closer look at the governor’s own possible political ambitions. Early voting gets underway in Houston’s mayoral runoff, and a new poll shows state Sen. John Whitmire with a seven-point lead over U.S. […] The post Is Greg Abbott angling for a spot as Trump’s VP candidate? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

For lots of folks in the Lone Star State, the holiday shopping season is underway. In recent years, the latest high-tech toy has become a red-hot commodity on the big shopping day after Thanksgiving. But this hour, we’ve got some alternatives for those willing to go a different direction. Giving the gift of reading can […] The post Our favorite Texas books of the year, just in time for holiday shopping appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

It’s a population that’s often overlooked and underestimated: People living with disabilities play a wide variety of important roles in the life of modern Texas. They’re living full lives, advocating for better caregiving options, inclusive transportation and voting accessibility. And many participate in the vibrant arts and culture of our state. Learn more in this […] The post The State of Disability in Texas – A Texas Standard special rebroadcast appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

It’s been a political season in Texas like few others in recent memory. After a legislative session and four special sessions, where do we stand? November 22, 1963: It was on this date 60 years ago that a sunny Friday in Dallas turned into one of the darkest days in the history of the United […] The post 60 years after JFK assassination, revisiting the stories of two witnesses in Dallas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

What does Congress’ budget deal to avert a partial government shutdown mean for food and the farmers and ranchers who produce it? We’ll hear more on the Farm Bill extension, and the implications for Texas. The push for police accountability: An investigative report from the Austin American-Statesman reveals that police indictments rarely lead to convictions. […] The post How this man survived in the West Texas desert for 27 hours appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

After seven months pushing a school voucher-like plan, Gov. Greg Abbott gets a firm pushback from fellow Republicans. Scott Braddock of the Quorum Report shares the latest. Mexico plans to offer “know your rights” educational sessions in Texas as lawmakers send a wide-ranging border security bill to the governor. Amid slowing sales of EV’s, one […] The post Examining Texas’ legacy of anti-LGBT laws appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

For the first time in modern memory, the Texas House is set to take up a school voucher-like plan. How do you put a price tag on a state park? We’ll hear more about the challenges facing Texas Parks and Wildlife as it tries to reclaim parkland purchased by developers. In a dramatic U-turn this […] The post Is this the end of efforts to keep Fairfield Lake State Park public? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

New Texas schoolbooks are raising concerns about the long-term implications for attitudes about climate change. The state-appointed board now running Houston’s independent school district is dealing with more than what’s happening in the classroom, but also struggling to regain trust. Apple weighs in on a push to give consumers the right to repair their gadgets. […] The post Why is Texas’ Railroad Commission wading into school textbook policy? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Supreme Court finally has its own ethics code for justices following a series of scandals – including a Texas billionaire showering gifts on Justice Clarence Thomas. Will this new code of conduct make a difference? Bison once ruled the Great Plains of North America before being hunted almost to extinction. We’ll hear about how […] The post Tracing the foodways of Black Seminoles appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill last week that will do away with COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Medically vulnerable folks are speaking up about its effects. More than 100 years ago, a regiment of Black soldiers was found guilty of crimes like mutiny and murder after a riot in Houston. Now, the Army has cleared their […] The post Clemency comes for Black soldiers, a century after their court-martial and execution appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

After months of stalemate, are the Texas House and Senate finally making progress on school spending? For millions of years, the bones of a tiny dinosaur lay undisturbed in what are now the shores of Lake Grapevine. We’ll learn about a new species. El Paso residents are concerned about the growing number of high-speed chases […] The post The Texas discovery of a new, dog-sized dinosaur appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

As the first week of a fourth special session draws to a close, the Senate passes a voucher-like plan for education. A teacher shortage and what a new study tells us about the implications of past plans to bring in and retain teachers in Texas classrooms. The independent market monitor for the Texas power grid […] The post How Texas lowering requirements to become a teacher in the 2000s impacted the profession appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The fourth largest earthquake on record in Texas struck Wednesday out west, renewing concerns about fracking and seismic activity. Erin Douglas of the Texas Tribune with more on yesterday’s temblor and what researchers and regulators are saying about it. The latest on a runoff for mayor in Texas’ biggest city.In San Antonio, plans to close […] The post Why Texans can’t vote on abortion or marijuana anytime soon appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The votes are in, and Texans have given the green light to 13 of 14 amendments to the Texas constitution. The Texas Tribune’s Karen Brooks Harper shares a rundown of how the state propositions fared.Public media reporters statewide join us with updates on key local races across the Lone Star State. Nuclear power plants, once […] The post How Texas voted on 14 statewide propositions appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.