Texas Standard

Drew Fitzgerald, a Telecom reporter for The Wall Street Journal, dives into the challenges currently facing the trucking industry at the Texas-Mexico border. He discusses the new English-language requirements imposed on commercial drivers, highlighting how these regulations are impacting Mexican truckers. Fitzgerald also examines systemic failures in disaster alert systems, questioning their effectiveness in the wake of severe flooding and the broader implications for public safety and community resilience.

Lucio Vasquez, a dedicated reporter for the Texas Newsroom, shares insights following the devastating Hill Country floods in Kerrville. He discusses the ongoing search for the missing and the community's emotional response. A pediatric psychologist joins to give tips on how to talk to children about grief and trauma, emphasizing the need for open dialogues. The conversation also touches on political responses to the disaster and the importance of improving flood preparedness in Texas.

In this discussion, Lizzie Presser, a ProPublica reporter focused on Texas abortion policy, joins grief counselor Jillian Rodriguez and Professor Andrew Fieldhouse to navigate the emotional fallout of the recent Hill Country floods. They touch on the delayed emergency alerts that left communities vulnerable and explore the myriad of emotions faced by survivors, including grief and survivor's guilt. Rodriguez emphasizes the importance of community support and mental health resources, while Presser highlights the intersection of this tragedy with ongoing healthcare challenges exacerbated by Texas's abortion ban.

Judy Dale, a dedicated Guadalupe River regular, shares her gripping survival story amidst the recent devastating floods. She recounts the panic and chaos her family faced during the crisis and pays tribute to the hero who helped save them. The conversation dives into pressing issues like the need for improved emergency communication and flood management strategies in Texas. Reflecting on both past and present disasters, Judy highlights the resilience of her community as they navigate through recovery and support each other in the wake of tragedy.

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 Texas Newsroom’s Paul Flahive reports on the deep cultural imprint of Camp Mystic, a 99-year-old Christian girls camp that sits along the banks of the Guadalupe River – directly in the path of deadly flooding. Contaminated water, mosquito-borne illnesses, and piles of debris are raising new concerns in flood-affected areas. Also: How to save precious items damaged by floodwater. Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org 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 soil may lead to more intense flash flooding ahead. To the east, closer to Austin, rescue teams are trying to locate untold numbers of missing residents who received little warning as floodwaters ravaged communities on Saturday. What happened, what could have prevented the tragedy, and where do we go from here? Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org 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 ‘Bric’ LaDue. Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org 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. Bush Institute offers insights.And just in time for July 4th: the Brazilian BBQ smoker many Texas pitmasters are calling the bomb. Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org 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 up to geothermal energy.Don’t like tariffs? Commentator W.F. Strong tells us how some earlier generations of Texans didn’t, either – and what they did to fight them.And: Remembering Cass Wheeler, who helped transform the American Heart Association into a national force during his 30 years at the helm. You can support our work by becoming a sustaining member at supportthispodcast.org. 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 all, when you’re the birthplace of Dr Pepper, home to a national monument marking an epic concentration of mammoths, and with a growing population and national profile, there’s a whole lotta Waco to explore. The post A live broadcast from Waco appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.