Texas Standard

The Texas Lottery gets a second chance under new management. So what will change? A new state law now in effect targets AI-generated child pornography. But could it also ban some anime? Americans have been on the move since the founding of our country. But now, more people staying put rather than relocating for new jobs and other opportunities. And: Thinking about an energy efficient upgrade for…

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The fight over redistricting has shifted from the Capitol to the courthouse, but plenty of serious work is still on the table when legislators return to their offices Tuesday. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins with a look at what’s left on the agenda. A new law in effect today creates a statewide alert system for pests and diseases that affect plants and wildlife. The Standard’s Michael…

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Three new measures are set to take effect aiming to “Make Texas Healthy Again.” Political sloganeering or genuine change? A closer look at the laws that prompted Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s visit to Texas. As we approach Sept. 1, more than 800 new laws are set to take effect. We continue our close-up of some of those that’ll have a major impact, including some that haven’t received much attention.

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Texas’ newly drawn congressional maps are aimed at helping Republicans in 2026, but they’re shaking up the political landscape already. We’ll hear just how today on the Texas Standard. Rice University’s Mark Jones on the musical chairs among Texas’ congressional Democrats, and whether these maps are likely to survive scrutiny as legal challenges proliferate. Over 800 new laws are set to take…

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President Trump is using the threat of legal action to push his policies forward in Texas and beyond. We continue our series about new state laws taking effect with a look at one that prevents people from certain countries from buying land in Texas. 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, how the New Orleans residents who found a home in Houston reshaped the cultural landscape. Actor Austin Butler and…

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President Trump signs an executive order ending cashless bail. We’ll dive into what that means for cities like Houston. We’re also tracking new state laws set to take effect Sept. 1, including one that aims to attract more film and television productions. Another increases the penalty for assaulting a utility worker. Plus, could the San Antonio Spurs get a new venue as part of the Project Marvel…

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A much-talked-about redistricting battle starts to take a back seat to other legislative priorities at the Texas capitol. As the battlefront over redistricting shifts to a multistate fight with Texas and California setting the pace, top California Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger has a message for his fellow Republicans in Texas. The Houston Chronicle’s Lisa Falkenberg tells us about her…

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Asleep at the Wheel are celebrating 50 years in the business with their latest album out this week, “Riding High in Texas.” Longtime frontman Ray Benson joined Texas Standard to talk about the band’s legacy and the music of the Lone Star State in this extended version of a conversation that first aired in June. The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the…

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At the Texas Capitol, a big shift in focus as the spotlight swings from bare-knuckle politics to long-delayed flood relief. Food is labeling set to change in Texas as a sweeping new law takes effect aimed at, among other things, alerting shoppers to ingredients long the focus of concern in other countries. Austin-based filmmaker Noah Hawley likes to play in the worlds of some of his favorite…

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President Trump claims a big win in Texas as the state House passes new congressional maps giving the GOP an edge in 2026. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom and Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media share what it means for the political landscape going forward. Are Americans falling out of love with their credit cards? Not quite, but a new trend suggests a certain spending binge is over.

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