Texas Standard

An appeals court upholds a decision to remove the judge who pushed the state to improve conditions for foster children. What happens now?
A controversial lottery win leads Texas to ban third-party apps selling tickets.
A federal court has blocked the SAVE plan, a Biden-era initiative aimed at lowering – and in some cases, erasing – student loan debt for millions. What it means for those enrolled.
And: Lawmakers consider a bill that would increase housing by converting vacant office space into places to live.

The post Controversies and resignations at the Texas Lottery Commission appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

What would be the implications for a Texas constitutional amendment “protecting the right of parents to raise their children”? Blaise Gainey of The Texas newsroom tells us who’s pushing it and the questions surrounding it.
Texas-based Southwest and American Airlines are joining with Delta, JetBlue and United to ask a court to overturn a rule requiring them to meet higher standards for accommodating passengers with disabilities.
The measles outbreak spreads beyond West Texas, with possible exposures at the San Antonio Riverwalk and at San Marcos’ Texas State University.
Plus: The Texas Ballet Theater will soon debut new commissions from women choreographers for the first time in about 20 years.

The post Major airlines target rule setting standard for disability accommodations appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We’re taking a closer look at what’s been happening at this Texas Legislature on school choice, aka school vouchers – and why there could be an early battle between the House and Senate.
Plus, the first in a series of profiles of the people behind the politics at the Legislature, starting with Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez.
What’s happening with Texas real estate right now? A forecast for 2025.
Concerns in North Texas about a virus far more common in South Texas: flea-borne typhus.
And: the week in Texas politics with The Texas Tribune and poetry from the Typewriter Rodeo.

The post What’s in the forecast for Texas’ real estate market? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A nearly $5 billion bill filed in the Legislature seeks to provide across-the-board raises for teachers and put more money toward bonuses.
Lithium-ion batteries are a major fire threat. Learn why and what consumers can do.
Texans love sharing their favorite under-the-radar barbecue spots, but how often do they actually live up to the hype? Texas Monthly BBQ editor Daniel Vaughn recently discovered a standout.
And: The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the USDA to stop its wildlife trapping and killing program in Texas, arguing that the program should be re-evaluated based on updated science, particularly concerning mountain lions and black bears.

The post Lawsuit challenges federal wildlife trapping in Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

15% of Southwest Airlines’ corporate workforce is out of a job in the Dallas-based company’s first-ever major layoffs.
Frigid temperatures across the state and all eyes are on the Texas grid’s ability to handle it. How the grid became what it is today.
President Trump has dismantled a couple of boards you’ve probably never heard about. Why some are concerned about the repercussions.
The UT women’s basketball team is ranked No. 2 in the latest AP poll, but has a case for the No. 1 spot. A look at their path towards the NCAA tournament.
Plus, remembering Mexican singer and songwriter Paquita la del Barrio.

The post Behind Southwest Airlines’ big job cuts appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A measles outbreak in rural West Texas is rapidly spreading, with 49 cases confirmed. We’ll check in to see how the hospital in that region is responding.
The Texas Metropolitan Blueprint is an ambitious five-year plan to help policymakers confront the state’s explosive population growth.
Gov. Greg Abbott is warning Texans to prepare for what could be the coldest winter event in state history.
Plus: What do federal job cuts mean for national parks – and will they affect Texas?

The post Measles outbreak spreads in rural West Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

It took a while, but the Texas House now ready to take action on some closely watched legislation. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom gets us up to speed on the week ahead under the pink dome.
A new study assesses the severity of water access problems in colonias, unincorporated communities with long-standing infrastructure issues.
What happens after an ICE raid? Cactus, Texas, still feels the impact.
In 2023, Texas lawmakers touted a business-friendly paid parental leave insurance program – but two years later, few businesses are offering it, and most new parents still can’t afford to take time off.
And: Lights, camera, Texas? How some big stars are teaming up to bring in more movie production.

The post Why Texas’ paid parental leave plan isn’t working appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Listen to the first episode of Season 3 The Disconnect: Power, Politics and the Texas Blackout.

This season the podcast explores the history of oil and gas regulation, how the industry became essentially self-regulating, and how some Texas officials continue to see natural gas as the future of electricity production, despite the rapid rise of renewable sources like solar and wind.

In the first episode, you’ll hear the story of a con man and a group of hardscrabble East Texas farmers who uncovered the biggest oilfield in U.S. history — and how that discovery forced an obscure state agency to confront the destructive forces of unrestrained oil drilling.

Listen and Subscribe to The Disconnect: Power, Politics and the Texas Blackout

The post Texas Extra: Introducing Season 3 of The Disconnect: Power, Politics and the Texas Blackout appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

After a long wait, the House speaker makes his committee assignments, and some Texas Republicans are none too pleased. We’ll hear the backstory and how it could affect the legislative session going forward.
With the New York Stock Exchange moving part of its operations to Dallas and a separate Texas Stock Exchange in the works, North Texas could soon be home to two major trading hubs. What does this mean for the region’s financial future?
A newly analyzed fossil could help answer a key question about the evolution of modern birds. We’ll hear from one of the researchers.
Plus: An Austin runner is trying to set his second world record this weekend – for fastest marathon while dribbling a basketball.

The post What a stock exchange boom means for Dallas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A new survey gives some strong indications what Texans make of the 47th president and what that portends for Texas Sen. John Cornyn’s re-election prospects.
Apple and Microsoft have followed Google in renaming the Gulf of Mexico on their maps after a Trump executive order. Tech journalist Omar Gallaga explains what’s behind the change, and whether it fits into a broader shift in Silicon Valley.
For decades, scientists have struggled to track young sea turtles between hatching and adulthood. Now, researchers may have some answers.
And: Elon Musk is making headlines in D.C. – but back in Texas, he’s been quietly growing his business empire outside of Austin.

The post Cracking the mystery of sea turtles’ ‘lost years’ appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.