Texas Standard

Just one more full week is left in the Texas Legislature’s special session, and with House Democrats away, what happens next?Some of those Democrats have decamped to California, which is now mulling a possible redistricting effort to offset potential Republican gains in the midterms.The IRS says churches can now endorse candidates, a move that could give Texas pastors more power than ever.And: The recent flooding in Travis County revealed fossilized dinosaur tracks. UT Austin paleontologist Matthew Brown describes what was found. Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org The post Dinosaur tracks uncovered near Austin after floods appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texas’ redistricting fight is has spread past state lines. New federal legislation aims to ban mid-decade congressional redistricting, and the brawl looks likely to impact upcoming elections and the 2028 presidential race.San Antonio is planning a massive sports and entertainment district, including a new arena for the Spurs, a convention center expansion and more – with local taxpayers footing part of the bill.San Benito native Charley Crockett went from street performer to arena headliner. He joins the show to talk about his new album “Dollar a Day” and an upcoming nationwide tour with Leon Bridges.And: New research from UT Arlington shows that nature-focused livestreams can help people feel more connected to each other. Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org The post Charley Crockett talks new album and recent success appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

While the Texas House remains stalled due to a quorum break, the Senate continues its work, advancing a key education bill that could eliminate STAAR testing statewide.Texas is seeing a boom in data centers driven by AI and crypto – but the growth comes with major energy and water demands.Thanks to a $1 billion voter-approved investment, Texas is acquiring new land and developing trails to expand its state park system.And: The legacy of Claude Eatherly, a North Texas native who flew a weather support plane over Hiroshima on the day of the bombing and later became a vocal anti-nuclear activist. Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org The post State parks are getting bigger and better appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texas Democrats are facing legal threats and potential action from the FBI for fleeing the state during the special session.Concerns about artificial intelligence are coming to a head with the most recent round of college graduates. How it’s disrupting the job market.A proposed expansion for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in the Panhandle had been in the works for years, but now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is backing away.The 1991 Yogurt Shop murders in Austin remain officially unsolved. Our conversation with Margaret Brown, the director of a new HBO docuseries revisiting the tragedy.Plus: It’s been a month now since deadly flooding ravaged the Texas Hill Country. We’ll check in on the recovery.You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org. The post Muleshoe Refuge expansion plan scrapped appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The high-stakes battle over redistricting continues. Why Democratic Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins took the risk and left the state.Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to remove Democratic lawmakers from their seats for leaving during a special session, but can he legally do that?The history of partisan gerrymandering in the Lone Star State.Why Texas has become a professional services hub attracting top talent and creating new jobs.And: Remembering a Texas treasure – conjunto legend Flaco Jiménez. Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org The post A century of redistricting fights in Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

More than 50 Democratic lawmakers have left the state so the Texas House would not have a quorum, trying to derail a redistricting plan that could add five more congressional seats for Republicans in the midterms. Harvest season is arriving in South Texas, but many cotton farmers are still reeling from drought, inflation, and weakened demand. Some are cautiously optimistic as new federal funding becomes available. The Standard’s Felicity Guajardo reports. And: One in four U.S. sports bettors say they’ve missed bills because of gambling losses, according to a new survey highlighting the risks of easy, app-based betting and its lack of oversight. Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org The post Texas Democrats flee state, break quorum over redistricting appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Why weren’t Hill Country communities alerted as a deadly wall of water roared down the Guadalupe on the weekend of July 4th? In their first public testimony on the floods, top emergency officials in Kerr County said they were away or asleep. Voting the old-fashioned way? A return to hand-marked ballots in Collin County is part of a change sweeping Texas and other parts of the country. Red-crowned Amazons squawk through summer nights in Brownsville – and they’ve been the city’s official bird since 1992. Plus: An update on a major scramble to defend Texas from a devastating invader, the New World Screwworm. The post Kerr County emergency officials were sleeping when flood hit July 4 appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

What we’re now learning about what happened – and what didn’t – before the Hill Country floods. Investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy has the details. Plus: Flood survivors are asking lawmakers meeting in special session right now to tap the state’s $24 billion rainy day fund to help them meet their immediate needs. Even without a pandemic, Texas food banks are facing shortages and surging need. The CEO of Feeding Texas joins us to talk about what’s driving the crisis. Funds for adult education were first put on hold, then released – but there’s a big asterisk. The Standard’s Sarah Asch on a policy change that could affect adult ed. Plus: Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn dishes on his latest list of the top BBQ 50 spots in the state. The post Food banks struggle to meet rising demand appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Are Democratic lawmakers on the verge of a walkout to stop Republicans from redistricting during the special session? We’ll have the latest. We’re also tracking possible federal funding cuts to legal aid organizations that could leave thousands of Texans who can’t afford a lawyer without the help they need. Going beyond armed security guards, some Texas schools are turning to drones to increase security. The changing role of social media influencers was on display in the aftermath of the July 4 floods. And: Are Texas lawmakers quietly taking cues on governing from California? The post Why ‘Don’t California My Texas’ isn’t the whole story appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Trump administration releases billions of dollars in education grants it previously withheld. What it means as students head back to school. How the U.S. military is responding to a new kind of warfare that uses small, inexpensive drones. The story of a Cuban man who raised a family in Texas and spent years working for a school district near Abilene – and now is locked up in an ICE detention center. A high school student’s plan to help schools coping with a shortage of mental health counselors. And: A Houston husband-and-wife team of archaeologists have discovered the tomb of the ruler of the ancient Mayan city of Caracol, now in present-day Belize. The post Houston archaeologists uncover tomb of ancient Maya ruler appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.