Texas Standard

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 Sarah Asch reports, a literacy program in Texarkana offers a solution.Despite headline-grabbing moves by companies like Tesla and Oracle, tech employment in Texas’ biggest cities is slipping.And: Global oil production is ramping up. What that means for summer travel. 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 in the Women’s College World Series. We’ll introduce you to star pitcher NiJaree Canady, the first softball player making $1 million a season in NIL deals. Plus: How about a little music? We’ll start with the Huston-Tillotson Jazz Orchestra, a relatively new group with big plans. And a lot of Americans used to have a piano in their homes – how and why that’s changed. The post Recycling rare earth elements could power the future appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Elon Musk's departure from the Trump administration raises eyebrows about his future plans. Meanwhile, Texas pushes a new bill mandating deadlines for plugging orphaned oil wells, sparking environmental concerns. Insurers are using aerial imaging and AI to assess storm damage, drawing mixed reactions from homeowners. The state also grapples with immigration issues affecting its dairy industry, all while Mando Rayo spices things up with taco insights and cultural reflections on Texas cuisine.

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 is headed to the governor. Water insecurity is a problem around Corpus Christi – and that’s before a new Tesla plant coming in that will require more of it. What you need to know. Plus: The eyes of the world are on Fort Worth for its annual Van Cliburn Piano Competition. 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 – only to have their charges dropped. From Tejano to Texas country, the sounds of the Lone Star State are getting a new home at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Plus: We’ll go behind the scenes of the new podcast “Better Outside,” hosted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 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 tips on how Texans can make the most of it, from experiencing the great outdoors to keeping cool – plus some Texas summer songs that hit just right. And: Hurricane season starts June 1, and CenterPoint Energy says it’s ready with a new and improved outage tracker. But after failures during Hurricane Beryl and last year’s derecho, is that enough to restore customer trust? Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support our work by becoming a sustaining member at supportthispodcast.org 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 Worth, officials are proposing a five-year plan to close more than a dozen schools. And: the week in politics with Jasper Scherer of The Texas Tribune. 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. Tech reporter Omar Gallaga says it’s no gimmick and could bring serious accessibility benefits. Plus: A new coach, a new star – and a bumpy takeoff for the Dallas Wings. 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 are getting rid of a gun they consider too risky for their officers – by selling them to civilians. State and federal money has been set aside to connect rural Texans to the Internet. When the remote West Texas town of Monahans couldn’t get that help, they did it themselves. And: Texas cities once again top a list of the fastest-growing in the U.S., led by Princeton, a suburb east of Frisco. 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 its future in the desert. KTEP’s Aaron Montes visits a local academy training the future stars of lucha libre.And: How bighorn sheep have returned to El Paso’s mountains after a century away. The post A special broadcast from El Paso appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.