It’s beginning to look a lot like 2019 all over again? On this Christmas eve, we’re telling some of our favorite stories from the year that was. From the Texas Capitol City, this hour we’ll be criss crossing the state. From deep west Texas, to the Rio Grande Valley, up and east to the Piney...

From what was once the furthest frontier of the west, a mission to the furthest frontier of humankind. From Texas to the moon on this special edition of the Texas Standard. On July 20th 1969, the world held its breath as astronauts from the United States did something nearly unimaginable. But the pathway to the...

The most powerful factor in the Texas economy? Energy. This hour, we’ll explore how changes out west are affecting the entire landscape of the Lone Star State. They used to call it the fracking boom. New technologies that made it possible to extract more oil and gas from the ground. Texas’ Permian Basin has become...

Oh, when a number tells a story and leads to an investigation. The Texas Education Agency says some numbers are not adding up, we’ll explore. Plus: “Red State Blues”. Sounds like a song but it’s a thorough analysis on how red are red state policies. And we’ll be talking to the directors of “Confession Killer”...

It’s time to take a look at what Texas’ political parties are planning for the year 2020. A sneak peek to their strategies today on the Standard. With heavy hearts we bring you the latest on the shooting at a house of worship in White Settlement, Texas. What if what was once a symbol of...

Immigration, elections, new laws, challenges to natural resources. What were the top stories in Texas during 2019? That’s our focus for this hour. On this New Years Eve, we’re refocusing the rear view mirror on the year that was. We’ll hear from Victoria DeFrancesco Soto of the LBJ School at UT-Austin, Brandon Rottinghaus of the...

No matter where you are, it’s 2020 and this hour, we’re taking a look at what the New Year may have in store for the Lone Star State. Thanks for joining us and a happy new year to you and yours. Texas’ first international allies have a saying: “plus ça change, plus c’est la même...

The race for democratic presidential candidates started with two Texans. Now there are none. Julian Castro drops out – that’s today on the Standard. What’s next for the former San Antonio mayor and former US Housing Secretary? We explore some options. With the new year – come new laws. What are they and how do...

The killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and the US’ dramatic escalation in the Middle East. What it means today on the Texas Standard. The end of Julian Castro’s presidential bid may signal the beginning of his new political career. We explore. How the cost of housing has prompted a new era of student activism...

Iran warns of retaliation in the aftermath of the US assassination of its revolutionary guards chief. Where are we most vulnerable? That story and more today on the Texas Standard. As security officials take steps to fortify the US against expected retaliation from Iran, how Texas may to some degree insulate the rest of the...

What comes next for the two Texans once in the running for president? Out of the race but not down for the count. We’ll get you up to speed today on the Texas Standard. The latest on Julian Castro’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race and his rapid endorsement of a former rival. Plus...

That ballistic missile strike on bases in Iraq… the retaliation Iran promised, or could it be something else? A Texas-based expert sorts out the facts. Also, could Texas’s official computers get caught in the crosshairs between rising Iran-U.S. tensions? What state officials say about new cyber attacks and where they appear to be coming from....

De-escalation between the U.S. and Iran? As president Trump calls for more NATO involvement in the Mideast, we’ll have a Texas take on what that might mean. A former ambassador to Iraq and past dean of the Bush school at Texas A&M weighs in on finding a way past military conflict between the US and...

The powers that be: how Lone Star State lawmakers are coming down on a resolution to limit the president’s use of the military against Iran, we’ll have details. Also, lots of private property blocking further border wall construction, but the Trump administration has found a way around it, and it’s making conservationists upset. John Burnett...

After an executive order from the Trump administration, Texas becomes the first state to opt out of future refugee resettlement. We’ll have the latest. Also, a New York billionaire tours Texas by bus trying to make inroads in his presidential campaign. For Michael Bloomberg, the stakes are high. And a disturbing affair in the world...

Texas offers one of the biggest delegate prizes in all the U.S. Are the democrats in this years presidential contest taking Texas seriously? We’ll take a closer look at how far the candidates are going to win over Texas voters, and what’s at stake. Also, as candidates focus their energies on places like Iowa, should...

The Democratic presidential debate: the last before voting begins in this years contest. We’ll explore whether anything might have made a difference to voters in the Lone Star State. Also, wage violations: a new law likely to insulate some of America’s biggest franchises. And a unique way of talking among many Texans: has Spanglish become...

A new trade deal with China… So what’s in it for us? Could be a sizable portion of Chinese spending on sectors with a strong Texas showing. It’s not the end of the trade war, but it might make a difference to industries in the Lone Star State. Also, what sounds like a change of...

As the senate takes up impeachment, it takes up something else in the spirit of bipartisanship with major implications for Texas, we’ll hear all about it. Also, Texas among the states becoming magnets for people from Puerto Rico. As the territory hits population lows, who’s left? And remembering a moment that made Barbara Jordan a...

The star of the show or a bit player? What’s likely to be a major role for a former heard of Baylor university in the upcoming impeachment trial, we’ll have details. Also, the proliferation of so called sanctuary cities for the unborn across Texas. And temperatures plummet across Texas… are natural gas bills skyrocket? Not...

More foster kids sleeping in state offices? Efforts to deal with a crisis in the states child welfare system still failing hundreds of young Texans. Also, concerns about a growing mental health crisis on the border. We’ll hear the latest. And disorder in the court? A special panel now asking whether judges in Texas should...

Just ahead of Super Tuesday, voter registration hits an all time high in Texas. We’ll look at what the new record setting numbers add up to. Other stories we’re tracking: governor Abbott’s decision to stop accepting refugees, widely panned by big city mayors and major newspaper editorial boards. We’ll hear why its playing out in...

Got your attention yet? We’ll take a look at just how closely Texans are tracking the impeachment story and whether it’ll move the political needle in the Lone Star State. Among the other stories we’re following, the state of solitary confinement in Texas, where more than 1300 prisoners have been held for 6 years or...

Houstonians shaken overnight by an explosion. We’ll explore the details. Also, we remember PBS host Jim Lehrer, the national star who spent years in the Lone star state died Thursday. Plus perceptions of U.S. troops stationed in Ukraine amid the president’s impeachment trial. And is this hemp or is it marijuana? Well, if in Austin...

As The impeachment trial resumes, how closely are Texas women listening? We’ll take a closer look at an important demographic in this election year. Other stories we’re tracking: Scores of Houston families on the long road to rebuilding after a massive explosion late last week: we’ll hear the latest. Also the Trump administration issues new...

As the Trump administration begins to wrap up its defense, is the Bolton book looking like a tipping point in the impeachment saga? We’ll take a closer look. Also, a Texas A&M constitutional scholar weighs in on what happens next in the senate trial of Donald J Trump. And A plan to reboot space exploration...

A race watched nationwide as a test of how well democrats are positioned to take the Texas house of representatives. We’ll take a closer look at the contest to replace and incumbent Texas house republican in district 28: why all the attention, and what the outcome does or does not tells us about changing politics...

The Iowa caucuses may be just around the corner, but Joe Biden’s setting his sights on Texas. We’ll talk with the former Vice President. Also, people in one part of Houston desperate for answers to their questions about a cluster of cancer cases, we’ll have the latest. And fully autonomous cars? Not quite there, but...

The wind-down and the takeaways: what if anything has been learned from the impeachment drama on capitol hill? We’ll explore. Other stories were covering, a new database of Catholic priests said to be credibly accused of child abuse, how credible is it that the list is complete? And the end of an era? Two families...

Bloomberg delivers a surprise in Texas. We’ll look at why the former New York mayor and billionaire is scoring so highly in a new survey. Also, Texans don’t often express an interest in doing things like they do it in California, but firefighters in central Texas are eager to make an exception right now: we’ll...

At least we know who the loser was in the Iowa caucuses last night. We’ll have more on the Texas implications. Also, as the Trump administration claims down on asylum seekers, immigration attorneys are forging new legal pathways. We’ll hear about one of them. Also one of the greatest authors of the Americas re-considered in...

President Trump delivers a State of the Union tuned for election season, as the spanish language response is delivered from the Lone Star State. Abby Livingston of the Texas Tribune has the highs and lows from last night’s speech before Congress. Plus, destination Texas as Britain makes its first post Brexit foreign trade visit. The...

The impeachment drama is over… Or is it really? And where does it leave us? We’ll take a look at the implications of the Senate vote for Texas. Plus, a pair of markers erected in Rio Grande City. What they say about an historic workers strike that left a deep impression on the Texas landscape....

In what’s been described as the worst anti-Latino mass shooting in U.S. history, an alleged shooter indicted on federal hate crime charges, we’ll have the latest. Other stories were tracking: high benzene levels outside 6 Texas refineries setting off alarms among industry watchdogs, we’ll take a closer look. Also, health officials in San Antonio prepare...

The Democrat most likely to become Texas toast on Super Tuesday? We’ll look at how tomorrow’s primary vote sets the stage for a delegate fight close to home. Plus ABC News analyst Matthew Dowd joins us to talk about the latest in the race among democrats trying to topple President Trump. And the Telecom rollout...

What’s in the President’s proposed budget and what are the many ways in which it affects Texans? Maintenance for the wall in the years to come. Who’ll be paying for that? We’ll take a look. And did you know California banned state-funded travel to Texas? Well, Texas is fighting back. We’ll take a look at...

Iowa? Check. New Hampshire? Check. Brace yourself for Super Tuesday where Texas is sure to shine, we’ll have all the details. Also Food safety, food labels, small producers and big producers. A roundtable with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And what’s the meaning of a warrant forgiveness? We’ll explore. Plus how artificial intelligence is inspiring...

After almost two years, an inspector’s report on safety makes a hard landing at the offices of the FAA and Dallas based Southwest airlines. We’ll explore. Also, we’ll look at how a Texas senator seems to be leading a new trend of politicians getting into podcasting and in a big way. Plus, Texas is a...

A case of the novel coronavirus confirmed in San Antonio. Though the patient is quarantined, how do officials fight the spread of fear? We’ll explore. Other stories we’re tracking: is one of the most beloved and pristine corners of our state endangered by energy development? The conversation underway in Big Bend country. And the U.S....

More Americans potentials exposed to the Coronavirus coming to Texas. Amid concerns the disease could affect the Texas economy, we’ll have the latest. Also, some may think the opioid crisis is receding, Bexar county is stepping up efforts to help treat those with addictions. We’ll hear why. And The Trump administration calls for additional millions...

As Bloomberg surges in the polls, his Texas strategy draws national attention, as another billionaire bets on Texas as a turning point. Our conversation with Tom Steyer on how the former hedge fund manager is pitching himself as an outsider here in the Lone Star State. Also on this first day of early voting, long...

Democrats duke it out over who’s best to battle John Cornyn: Bob Garrett of the Dallas Morning News will join us with the takeaways from debate night. Plus, the one presidential candidate striking fear in the hearts of some Texas democratic politicos. Here’s a hint: he’s a democrat. Also, using federal gun laws to help...

Did Mike’s appearance move the needle in Texas? If so, which direction? We’ll asses the debate as we barrel toward Super Tuesday. Other stories we’re tracking: how reactions to the coronavirus have created what doctors are calling an infodemic thanks to social media. Omar Gallaga on viral takes about a medical crisis. Plus, Amarillo by...

Democratic State Senator John Whitmire is celebrating upcoming closures of two state prisons in his district. Why are some news organizations in Texas doing away with a shameful source of revenue? How is Dallas County finding housing for veterans experiencing homelessness? There’s an opportunity to invest in rural Texas – who will take it? Texas...

Chants of Bernie growing louder- in Texas? What the caucuses in Nevada add up to for the Lone Star State. That story and a lot more today on the Texas Standard. This week we’re looking at the top line issues approaching November. Today, how much is health care going to move the body politic. We’ll...

The Supreme Court says it won’t intervene in a high profile Texas death row appeal. But that might not be their last word on the case of Rodney Reed, we’ll have details. Also after El Paso, Midland Odessa, Sutherland Springs and Santa Fe high, are attitudes about gun control shaping up to be a factor...

In a city with a reputation as laid back, anger over homelessness is beginning to boil over. The emotions behind a recall push in Austin, we’ll have details. Also, did anything change as the result of last nights presidential debate? Bernie Sanders’ status as front runner putting some top Texas democrats into panic mode. We’ll...

Democrats in the presidential race sticking around the Lone Star State to do something here they haven’t in recent election cycles: campaign. We’ll have some tips. Lots of change in Texas since the last time democratic presidential candidates fought door to door for delegates. We’ll have a primer on what not to take for granted,...

As Texas barrels toward Super Tuesday, democratic presidential candidates are scouring the state for delegates. We’ll hear how Elizabeth Warren says she plans to deal with some of the top issues facing Texas. Also another sort of battleground in the Lone Star State as parties scramble to get newcomers registered. Plus the week in Texas...

Despite big spending by the candidates in Texas including rally’s, robo calls and door to door canvassing, many Texas democrats say they’re still not sure who’ll they’ll vote for tomorrow. We’ll hear how they’re doing the political math. Plus, fear fueling a major price drop in a clash between the Texas energy industry and the...