We asked our team of journalists at the Standard to reflect on some of their favorite stories of the past 12 months. Today we remember efforts to save animals during the big Panhandle fire, a Texas runner heading to his final marathon, prospects for a WNBA franchise in a city that’s long gone without a pro team, and much more. The post Some of our …

Some of the most frustrating hours of our lives might be spent in a vehicle. After some hard times on the road, nothing can feel better than the perfect parking spot at the place you need to be. But how will you pull in? Texas Standard commentator WF Strong has some thoughts. The full transcript of this episode of Stories from Texas is available on…

This year we kicked off the Texas Museum Map, exploring and highlighting museums big and small, traditional and weird. Today we’ll take a tour of the state, with stops at the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg, the Rangerette Showcase & Museum in East Texas, and Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, among others. The post Tour the Texas Museum Map a…

We’re taking a look back at some of our favorite stories of the year from our public radio reporting partners across the state, including: A Dallas ISD program that’s getting more Black and Latino men into classrooms. Mobile health clinics rolling out to provide vital medical services as the state loses rural hospitals. And: A visit to the traditio…

Texas Standard had good reason to talk to Billy Bob. Though he’s from Arkansas, he’s lived in Texas on a couple of occasions – and he’s played some classic Texas roles: from Coach Gary Gaines in the film “Friday Night Lights” to Davy Crockett himself in the film “The Alamo.” Billy Bob Thornton has been an honorary Texan for decades. Now, he’s secur…

At least five bills have been filed in the Texas Legislature so far to require Texas voters to show proof of citizenship. A look at the implications. How education could take center stage in the upcoming 89th Texas legislative session. Attorney General Ken Paxton files a motion to prevent testimony at the Capitol from death row inmate Robert Robers…

It’s Republicans vs. Republicans to decide the speaker’s race in the Texas House of Representatives. Photographer Melinda Wickman Swearingen, who died earlier this year, captured evocative images of outlaw country musicians. Her work will soon be on display at the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University. And: What’s the deal with these myste…

There’s a fight to lead the Texas House of Representatives, and two names top the list. Yesterday we heard about Justin Burrows; today we’re taking a closer look at his challenger, David Cook, who the support of the House GOP caucus. How one Central Texas school district is trying to do something about chronic absenteeism. And: Whataburger has long…

It’s still election season in the Texas Legislature, where there’s a race for speaker of the House of Representatives. We’re taking a close look at the top two contenders this week, starting today with Rep. Dustin Burrows. Billy Bob Thornton, who’s long been an honorary Texan, has earned his eighth Golden Globe nomination for his role as Tommy Norr…

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit claiming a New York doctor illegally prescribed abortion pills to a Texas resident. A state plan to provide incentives for affordable housing: A Houston Chronicle investigation finds little affordable housing being built – and taxpayers holding the bag. Two Texas families take legal action again…

Today we come to you from one of Texas’ once great railroad towns – and though the trains aren’t so much a central part of life here anymore, something else has happened that’s been bringing people, prosperity and a sense of renewal back to Abilene. An AI-focused facility could transform the Big Country region. Ahead of the 2025, legislative sessio…

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued two giants of the chemical business, 3M and DuPont, over so-called forever chemicals contained in household objects. A new kind of car needs a new kind of mechanic. The Standard’s Kristen Cabrera goes inside a school for hybrid and electric vehicle repairs. The old art form of tintype photography is being …

Last night’s chill has many Texans asking how the state’s power grid is looking for the winter. How much has changed since the freeze and blackouts of February 2021? Mose Buchele of KUT News has been keeping tabs. The Texas legislative session hasn’t even started, yet more than one representative claims to be the de facto speaker-elect of the House…

What possible cuts to Medicaid under the new Trump administration could mean in Texas, which already limits coverage. A cold front is blowing through El Paso, bringing high winds and freezing temperatures. Princeton’s growing pains have led to tension in its mayoral runoff election. Most of those involved in high-speed chases by state troopers goin…

Dade Phelan is out, and a bruising battle for speaker of the Texas House is set to begin – unless it’s already over? Over the weekend, GOP members backed David Cook, but Dustin Burrows claimed he had enough votes to override the caucus. What does a House speaker do, anyway? In a stunning turn of events, a coalition of Syrian rebels has overthrown B…

Facing a challenge from fellow Republicans, Dade Phelan says he’s dropping his bid for re-election as Texas House speaker. Texas has some of the most expensive insurance in the nation, forcing homeowners to pay more for less coverage. Desert bighorn sheep return to the Franklin Mountains of El Paso, a major milestone in restoring the species. While…

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about restrictions on gender-affirming care for young people. What a ruling could mean. Texas elected officials will soon have to start disclosing more information about the properties they own – changes that could reveal more about Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent real estate transactions. Houston-based E…

Martial law has now been lifted in South Korea – Texas’ fourth-largest trading partner – but the effects may not be as short-lived. A top Texas expert tells us why. Ongoing casualties in what was long touted as the war on drugs: Kevin Krause of The Dallas Morning News analyzed a decade of meth sentencing data in North Texas. Texas is known for its …

On the western side of the Panhandle, right on the Texas/New Mexico border are two towns that were established just a few years apart in the late 1800s. They were separated by a line as thin as a goal line. They both still exist today — with populations of less than 1,500 each. But Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong says their beginnings were v…

A climate-friendly fertilizer turned out to be tainted with so-called “forever chemicals” that are killing cattle and other ranch animals. Education Savings Accounts are on the legislative agenda and likely to pass. What they are and why they’re controversial. Historic horse-drawn carriages will become a thing of the past in San Antonio as the city…

Texas does more business with Mexico than any other nation, and with 25% tariff threats now on the table from President-elect Trump, what should we expect? We’ll take a closer look. The Texas Public Utility Commission issues a report on CenterPoint Energy’s much-criticized response to Hurricane Beryl. Squaring economic data points with how voters f…

Over the course of the year we talk with dozens of authors – some stars in the making, others well-known names among Texas readers – and today we’re sharing a selection of great reads in 2024. Plus: Just in time for Black Friday, booksellers share their top books for holiday gifts. The post Some of our favorite books of 2024 appeared first on KUT &…

This Thanksgiving, we’re reflecting on some of the stories we’ve been grateful to share over the past few months: – A Texas-based freelance visual journalist reflecting on winning a prestigious prize – A Uganda-born musician who calls Texas home and is taking the U.S. by storm – A comedian landing on many best-of lists, now reconnecting with his Te…

We’ve been cooking up a special treat: a show all about Texas eats and drinks – the sweet, the savory and everything in between. The biggest food story in Texas in recent months was the announcement of the first-ever Texas Michelin guide, the creme-de-la-creme. What Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor learned traveling the country in search of BBQ. Ins…

We’re taking a look at the Texans who have been picked for President-elect Trump’s new Cabinet. How some Democratic candidates in parts of Texas won their races amid a big red wave. There’s a demand for raw milk, despite its health risks, and more public officials are saying that folks should be able to have it if they want it. After 13 years, UT a…