Stories from Texas are written for and recorded for the Texas Standard radio program. They’re written by W.F Strong and edited for broadcast by Texas Standard producers.
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Coverage of politics, lifestyle, environment, technology, innovation and money matters from a uniquely Texas perspective.
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Poems written by the Typewriter Rodeo about all matters from a uniquely Texas perspective.
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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…
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Texas Standard commentator WF Strong says the Gruver Farm Scholarship Foundation has already made a multi-generational impact. The full transcript of this episode of Stories from Texas is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post How some donated land became …
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The State Board of Education has approved a new Bible-infused curriculum that critics say overemphasizes Christianity and is a likely violation of the separation of church and state. It’s set for introduction in schools in 2025, though it’s likely to face a long legal battle. Election transparency vs ballot secrecy: How changes to state law may hav…
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A Houston-area nonprofit that helped thousands find a new life in the U.S. disappears. A new investigation reveals surprising answers about what happened to the Alliance. More international students than ever before are studying in the U.S., and among the top destinations are the University of North Texas and UT Dallas. How a much-talked-about Depa…
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The president-elect says he might use the military to support mass deportations of migrants in the country without legal authorization. But there are considerable obstacles to such an effort, both legal and logistic. A new trade policy with an accent on tariffs. How Texas might find itself in the crosshairs. Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing to boost nuc…
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants the state to lead in dementia research. Why it’s such a priority and what happens next. More people than ever get their news via social media, but with feeds looking very different for different folks, how do you bring people together? As the Standard’s Sarah Asch reports, the public library might help. A school district …
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Texas leaders are among President-elect Trump’s biggest supporters. Are they being left off the list of Cabinet picks? She’s traveled and tasted dishes from across the Lone Star State: After 50 years, Texas Monthly food critic Pat Sharpe is retiring and sharing what she’s learned on the job. The details of a plan to turn an old golf course into a w…
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The Texas State Board of Education could soon approve a curriculum that includes Bible stories and doesn’t spend as much time on slavery. It’s been 25 years since one of the darkest moments in Texas A&M history. Reflecting on the impact of the Aggie bonfire collapse. Families in America today can look a lot different than what’s long been considere…
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Human brains begin to alter significantly around the age of ten — as people start to enter biological adolescence. But why are the teenage years so dreaded? And what can science tell us about how to make them less so? That’s exactly what this next interview is about. It’s an extended version of a conversation that first aired on Texas Standard in O…
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As lawmakers prepare to take up a school voucher-like plan, many state public schools are struggling with more cutbacks. Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking an extension of a tuition freeze for public colleges and universities. What the tiny town of Rockdale, Texas, could teach us about the energy transition and rising demand. Mando Rayo of the Tacos of Te…
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President-elect Donald Trump has tapped a Texan for a top spot in his upcoming administration. What John Ratcliffe might do as head of the CIA. Louisiana’s legal battle over putting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms could impact similar efforts here in Texas. Did you pick up gardening during the pandemic? Some did with the help of te…
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More than 1,500 bills were filed yesterday for the upcoming Texas legislative session. What they tell us about looming fights in the new year. What some immigrant rights groups in Texas are doing to prepare for expected changes in enforcement as President-elect Trump promises mass deportations. As high season for holiday shopping gets underway, con…
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The Texas Supreme Court remains firmly in Republican hands after the election. What that means for cases the court will decide. For the first time, Michelin has awarded its coveted stars – along with other designations – to restaurants in the Lone Star State. Texas is in the wake of a solar panel boom. But not everyone who’s had them installed on t…
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With the presidency and a majority now in the U.S. Senate, Republicans are eyeing a trifecta of power by capturing the seats needed for a slim majority in the House. But several races still need to be called. What’s taking so long? Elon Musk spent a great deal of his time and money helping Donald Trump win another term this fall. Will Texas’ wealth…
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The head of the Texas Democratic Party has resigned following controversial comments about transgender rights and the issue’s role in elections. Lauren McGaughy of the Texas Newsroom joins us with the latest. He’s Texas’ senior senator for now, but could he soon be known as Senate Majority Leader John Cornyn? We’ll hear more, as well as a who’s who…
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The words “historic election” have been far overused, but they’re worth considering when examining results out of Starr County. A look at a political shift in South Texas. Texas’ oil and gas regulators requested an emergency influx of $100 million dollars in state money to address oil well blowouts and contamination. What’s happening in the oilfiel…
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A strongman politician is something we’ve heard a lot about recently. This Stories From Texas is about a strongman from history and a plan to set him up anew in Texas. Texas Standard Commentator W.F. Strong dug up this story — one that you probably didn’t hear about in Texas history, for one, because it didn’t come to fruition. The full transcript …
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A historic election cycle ends with significant gains for the GOP statewide. What do the results add up to for the future of Texas? A closer look at the U.S. Senate race in Texas and a wider re-election victory for incumbent Ted Cruz, compared with 2018. The largest school bond proposal in Texas history was rejected in Houston, seen by many as a re…
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lection Day 2024 has arrived, and we’re checking in with reporters across the state as Texans cast their ballots. Plus, what to keep a close eye on tonight after the polls close. A new survey predicts Dallas-Fort Worth is poised to become the hottest real estate market in the country in 2025. What it means for the people living there. A new book, “…
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We’ll have the latest details the 400-acre Hudson Fire in Bastrop County, which has prompted the voluntary evacuation of about 65 homes. On this day before elections, what we’re hearing about early turnout numbers. Twenty-six states, including California, have citizen-led ballot initiatives – but Texas doesn’t. The Standard’s Sarah Asch brings us t…
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Hanif Abdurraqib’s latest book centers the sport, but from there spins meditations on mortality and “making it.” The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post Texas Extra: ‘There’s Always This Year’ goes be…
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It’s possible the most closely watched statewide race in Texas this election cycle could also be the closest once the ballots are counted. How Ted Cruz and Colin Allred are making a final push in the days before Nov. 5. In San Antonio, plans to demolish a building once part of a World’s Fair might be put on hold because of its history. Jack Morgan …
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Reporters have now identified a Texas woman experts say died because of the state’s restrictive abortion ban. As early voting continues across Texas, we’ll check in with some LGBTQ+ voters about what’s on their minds as they head to the polls. Also, some of the people removed in Gov. Greg Abbott’s voter roll purges were eligible voters. Apple’s lat…
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A new public TV documentary titled “Our Texas, Our Vote” delves into the diversity of Latino voters’ perspectives and priorities. For over 18 months, the nuns of an Arlington monastery have clashed with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth. Now, a Vatican-appointed overseer has dismissed the sisters from their duties. A Houston ISD basketball c…
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Why Texas billionaires are spending big on judicial races with flashy political ads. Some religious leaders touch on political issues – but how does this align with U.S. tax rules and the separation of church and state? A new book from political science professor John Domino explores the history of privacy laws in Texas and what they mean today. Te…
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