Medrano earned a silver medal in a 100-meter race after this interview with Texas Standard. The “Survivor” alum is competing in two more events. The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.The post Texas Extra: Paralympian Ryan Medrano extended interview appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Millions of Texans are marking Labor Day across the Lone Star State. This hour, we’re looking at some of the ways our work is changing:– Artificial intelligence leading to a rethink of so-called busy work.– How high tech is affecting labor unionization.– The gig economy, and the hidden dangers of breaking out on your own.– There’s one job on a few cattle farms – and many sheep farms – that is increasingly being done by dogs: herding.Plus much more on a special Labor Day edition of the Texas Standard. The post On Labor Day, a look at the ways our work is changing appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Election Day is fast approaching, and controversies in Texas over who’s eligible to cast a ballot are picking up steam. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey has an update on Republican-led efforts to purge voter rolls and growing concerns about what could be a recipe for confusion come November.As Texas public schools see enrollment numbers drop along with their budgets, an idea being tried by some districts in West Texas is garnering lots of attention – and apparently lots of money.Texas is again well represented in Paris: We’re talking with El Paso fitness trainer Ryan Medrano, who’s running in the Paralympic Games this weekend.Plus: the week in politics with The Texas Tribune and poetry from the Typewriter Rodeo. The post Texas athlete Ryan Medrano heads to his first Paralympic Games in Paris appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Housing availability is too low across Texas – and the cost to buy a home is just too high. We’ll have the details of a new report that shows the middle class feeling the brunt of the housing crunch.Seniors were some of the hardest hit during the power outages caused by Hurricane Beryl. What’s being done to protect them before the next storm?FEMA applications for damage caused by Beryl have far outpaced any other recent storm in Harris County, even Hurricane Harvey.What we know about how CEOs are using artificial intelligence to make high-level executive decisions – and when humans should step in and override AI’s choices.And: UT and Oklahoma are now in the SEC. If you don’t really get why that matters, we’ll have the cliff’s notes as college football season kicks off. The post The state is facing a middle-class housing crunch appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Mexico has halted diplomatic ties with the U.S. Embassy over criticism of the outgoing president’s plans to overhaul the country’s judicial system. What does it mean for relations with our biggest trading partner?Two towns within the city of Arlington are trying to distance themselves from their reputations as “speed traps.”CDC researchers are trying to get the word out about a disease that affects many who many not even realize they suffer from the condition: heart valve disease.And: Despite heavy rain, thousands in Boerne turned out to celebrate the Little League team that could. We’ll hear from a player and the team’s manager following their historic World Series run. The post Boerne Little League reflects on historic World Series run appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Is an investigation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton protecting the balloting process or an attempt to suppress Latino voters?CenterPoint Energy tries to repair damage to its relationship with customers after many were left without power following Hurricane Beryl.A decade of drone research at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, what does the future hold?Our Texas Museum Map project looks at the high-kicking legacy of the Kilgore Rangerettes and how they led the way for halftime entertainment.And: In East Texas, newly hatched horned lizard babies offer hope for the future of the threatened species. The post Preserving the legacy of the Kilgore Rangerettes appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has suspended his bid for the White House and appeared with former President Donald Trump to offer his endorsement. What does it mean for the race moving forward? Where does the economy really stand, and what do the presidential candidates’ promises add up to in substance? A top Texas economist does the math. The University of Texas at San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio are set to merge by 2025, with the potential to become a national and international powerhouse. And: An East Texas reporter has spent the weeks leading up to Labor Day looking back at the biggest historical labor disputes in the region. Michael Garcia of KETK in Tyler shares what he’s learned. The post East Texas has a long history of labor disputes you may not know about appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Presidential nominee Kamala Harris took the stage for a historic acceptance speech to end the Democratic National Convention, a celebration of unity and momentum unimaginable just a few weeks ago.A new series tracks the impact of one of the biggest transitions in Texas history: from big oil to greener energy.Remembering the impact of legendary TV presenter Johnny Canales, who would have turned 82 today.Plus: the week in politics with The Texas Tribune and poetry from the Typewriter Rodeo. The post Remembering Johnny Canales’ legacy appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A new policy blocks transgender Texans from changing the sex on their driver’s licenses, unless it’s to fix a clerical error.The game is up on a Texas lottery loophole that allowed some to buy up tickets en masse, guaranteeing a win. But the door could still be open for abuse.A new poll on presidential politics in Texas shows Vice President Kamala Harris cutting into former President Donald Trump’s lead.Midland officials have pushed to figure out how to address a multimillion-dollar deficit in the city’s firefighter pension, but recently efforts to stabilize the fund have slowed.Plus: Are you in the market for a fitness tracker or a laptop for your kid? We’re talking to the experts and have some tips you should consider for adding them to your cart. The post Lawmakers slam Texas Lottery for aiding jackpot scheme, prompting policy change appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Another August day, another forecast for record-setting heat – and plenty of questions about whether the power grid can manage the strain. So far, so good, to the surprise of many who’ve been bracing for calls to conserve electricity. What different about the energy mix this go-round?Texas Instruments recently received a $1.6 billion Department of Commerce grant for new chip-building facilities.In the least populated county in Texas, where truly every vote counts, a judge has overturned an election. We’ll hear about a shakeup in Loving County.Plus: A new pin on our growing Texas Museum Map, this time in the border town of Eagle Pass. The post Biden administration bets on Texas Instruments in the chip manufacturing race appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.