Landowners in southeast Texas say they should be able to sue the state over their flooded property, and the U.S. Supreme Court agrees. People in Winnie, Texas, say their land only started to flood after the state rebuilt part of nearby Interstate 10. Now, they can seek compensation for the damages. Live music seems more expensive, but are musicians…

Longtime listeners may know — Texas Standard is fast approaching a milestone birthday. We’re turning 10 next March. With us almost from the beginning have been signature segments including the Typewriter Rodeo and Stories From Texas — these bi-weekly commentaries from WF Strong. He says he has a goal beyond entertainment. The post Counting Cattle W…

A federal judge says Texas’ foster care system is still broken – and has fined the state $100,00 per day. The new book “City Limits” examines the effort to rethink urban highways in Texas and traces a history of racism and inequality in three of the state’s’ largest cities. We’ll hear from author and journalist Megan Kimble. Over the past two decad…

Are protest organizers responsible if a participant breaks the law? A court decision could have a chilling effect. A new report on maternal health shows Black Texans are much more likely to die after giving birth than their white counterparts. What layoffs at Tesla mean for jobs in Texas and the EV car market. The Houston Dash celebrates a decade o…

Rising temperatures in the forecast this week. Will blackouts come with them? ERCOT, the state’s electric grid operator, says the power might go out this week. Did a doctor in Houston keep patients from receiving organ transplants? His own hospital is investigating. And becoming a psychologist is expensive, but Texas is trying to make it cheaper. C…

Corpus Christi at the intersection of a clash between dueling demands – one for water, another for energy alternatives. Dallas City Council votes to expand historical preservation efforts, with a specific outreach to communities of color. If you’re looking for an apartment in Texas, do you know what you’ll really be paying each month? A warning to …

After an extraordinary embassy raid, Mexico breaks ties with Ecuador as the U.S. joins other nations in condemnation. How Central Texas has become a big player in the push for U.S.-built semiconductors. A Texas runner heads to Boston for what will be his last marathon after being diagnosed with ALS two years ago. We’ll hear from Austinite Bill Corr…

Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued to block a guaranteed income program in Harris County, calling it “plainly unconstitutional.” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz insists his podcast is a volunteer gig and not about the money. But a new complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission says the arrangement violates campaign finance laws. Houston’s mayor clai…

As Texas eclipse watchers bask in the afterglow, we’re checking in on one event that was forced to end festivities early due to inclement weather. A quarterly report offers a look at the health of Texas’ oil and gas industry. Energy analyst Matt Smith breaks it down. The new book “The King of Diamonds” by Rena Pederson follows the trail of an elusi…

Eclipse day has finally arrived, and Texas Standard has a special broadcast from the path of totality. We’re live at the Kerrclipse Festival, on the grounds of the famous Kerrville Folk Festival, to talk forecast, what NASA and other researchers hope to learn today, the eclipse “observer effect” and much more. The post Total eclipse 2024: A special…

“Science Guy” Bill Nye has been beloved by children for generations. He was so kind and generous in a recent interview with the Standard focused on the upcoming total solar eclipse. He also answered a question about why he has been making headlines with his thoughts on climate change. This extended version also includes an introduction with persona…

Questions are still swirling around the deal cut with Attorney General Ken Paxton over securities fraud charges, with prosecutors pointing fingers – at each other. Investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy of The Texas Newsroom has the latest. As Texans prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime moment, why some say viewing Monday’s total eclipse could make you…

A plan will cap co-pays for state subsidized child care – how much of a difference will it make in stemming a childcare crisis? On Wednesday, a federal appeals court heard the latest arguments over SB 4, Texas’ controversial new immigration enforcement law. In the meantime, where does the legal back-and-forth leave migrants? Ennis, a North Texas to…

Dade Phelan’s fight to hang on to his Beaumont-based seat is seen as a proxy war for fights over the future direction of Texas Republicans. We’ll hear about how his fellow GOP opponents are seizing on an issue they think can topple the current House speaker. The issue that is rapidly turning bipartisan: Both Republicans and Democrats are calling fo…

A Texas public health expert explains what bird flu means after a case of the illness was found in a worker on a dairy farm. The effort to expand high-speed broadband in North Texas slows down as a company doing the work pulls out. Could clouds obscure eclipse day in Texas? We’ll take a look at the latest forecast for next Monday. Exploring Texas p…

What’s the connection between credit card fees and Texas? It’s a question at the heart of a case that could affect consumers nationwide. In Texas’ energy mix, gas and oil are giving way to more and more alternate sources: think wind, solar and small-scale nuclear – and many of the projects are run by veterans of the fossil fuel industry. Corpus Chr…

Angela Speck chairs the physics and astronomy department at UT San Antonio – and is a veteran of many an eclipse. In this extended interview, she offers lots of tips and tricks for having the best experience on April 8. The post Texas Extra: A step-by-step guide of what to expect during the total solar eclipse appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -…

Looking back at the week in politics with The Texas Tribune, from Gov. Greg Abbott calling for college students to be disciplined over anti-Semitic speech to a Texas congressman under investigation by the House ethics committee. Red flags have been raised over group homes for Texans with intellectual disabilities. For the first time last week, El P…

The Department of Education launched a renewed version of the FAFSA financial aid form at the end of last year, and the late rollout has caused major issues for applicants and colleges. Cattle in the Panhandle got sick last week, their milk suddenly turning thick and discolored, after coming down with avian flu. Many Texans hold jobs in the agricul…

Carolyn Pfeiffer literally wrote a book, “Chasing the Panther,” about her life and, as she puts it, her “adventures and misadventures” in the worlds of cinema and music and so much more. This extended version of her story includes her time in 1950s New York City, a wild hair story involving Fellini’s “8 1/2” and an unforgettable recollection about …

After reaching a deal to dismiss securities fraud charges, Ken Paxton’s political fortunes appear on the rise. What’s next for the attorney general? One day after a US abstention in a UN Gaza cease-fire vote, how some Arab Americans in North Texas are planning to make their voices heard at the ballot box. The San Antonio Police Department is gettin…

In a long-running securities fraud case against Ken Paxton, a deal has been reached that will let the attorney general avoid trial or an admission of guilt. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in what could be the most important case on reproductive rights since the Dobbs decision, this time on access to medication abortion. Auton…

The Texas Medical Board has offered a wide definition of emergency medical exemptions to the state’s strict ban on abortion. Health care is also at the center of a massive cyberattack that’s been crippling insurance payments, but consumer information is very likely involved. Police high-speed chases can be extremely dangerous for the general public…

The Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the maker of the iPhone violated antitrust law by maintaining an illegal monopoly in the smartphone market. We’ll hear more from Jason Snell, one of the nation’s top Apple watchers. House Speaker Dade Phelan faces another challenge: not just re-election in his home d…

After a prolonged legal back-and-forth that ultimately saw it paused again, Texas Senate Bill 4 returned to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday. We’ll have the latest on where the immigration law stands. You’ve likely heard the poll numbers in the presidential race. Do you trust them? Some tips on following the many surveys we’ll be hearin…