Texas Standard

Wells Dunbar, Audience and Engagement Editor who curates listener stories, guides conversations about Texans' cost-of-living struggles. The show covers John Cornyn skipping CPAC and what that might mean for the Senate contest. They dig into CPAC’s influence on Texas Republicans, fuel risks from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and grassroots No Kings protests across the state.

It’s not everyday you meet someone who has been to space — let alone someone who led a mission and broke barriers for women who might want to do the same. Still, not everyone knows about Eileen Collins and her accomplishments. A new documentary aims to change that. Here’s an extended conversation with Collins and film director Hannah Berryman. 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: Talking with NASA ‘Spacewoman’ Eileen Collins appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Michael Toth, research director at the Civitas Institute at UT Austin, explains energy markets and a major legal win for Venture Global over global LNG contracts. He discusses why U.S. LNG exports matter worldwide and how modular LNG projects change the game. Short takes also cover water wells running dry and recent reporting on DPS and ICE traffic-stop tactics in Austin.

As Corpus Christi scrambles to keep from running out of water, a complication arises: A petition to recall Mayor Paulette Guajardo.After last year’s deadly July 4 Hill Country floods, plans to reopen Camp Mystic are tearing friends apart.A confusing and chaotic primary in Central Texas’ Williamson County leads election officials to look back to the future.Plus, how to defend against a parasite moving north from Mexico that could devastate Texas ranches? Researchers testing a new idea to combat the New World screwworm: Virtual fences. The post Corpus Christi water crisis collides with mayor recall effort appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Federal immigration agents have arrived at both of Houston’s airports. What are they doing and has it reduced long TSA lines?Two North Texas Democrats who were once allies — Rep. Julie Johnson and Rep. Colin Allred — are battling for the nomination for a congressional seat.Many military dogs are living in sub-standard conditions. We’ll dig into reported problems at kennels at bases, including in San Antonio.The son of Texas baseball legend Don Baylor tells us why it’s especially meaningful to have an Austin park renamed in his dad’s honor.Plus, how Texas could fill an international demand for kimchi. The post Exploring the global future of Texas-made kimchi appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Ken Fountain, Fort Bend Star editor who covered a local judge’s trial, and Claire Howe, Houston Chronicle energy reporter focused on Texas grid and power plants. They discuss why developers choose West Texas and natural gas, how data center demand compares to a major city, the rush to build private power, and environmental and community concerns.

A secretive project to build a long water barrier in the Rio Grande is revealed as letters go out to landowners to build a Big Bend border wall. We’ll hear what locals are thinking.Look up to the sky: It’s a boom, it’s a flash… and a crash through a roof north of Houston. A UT geosciences professor helps us understand the meteor fragment impact that occurred this past weekend.We’ll also dig into the somewhat surprising findings of a new report from the Brookings Institution on the costs of higher education.And with March Madness in the air, the Sweet 16’s set in another bracket competition — the best Texas movie. The post Meteor over Texas leaves debris, questions appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Corpus Christi cuts its timeline to a water disaster and the state issues emergency orders to deal with what may be an unprecedented crisis. Today we’re coming to you from the place they call the Sparkling City by the Sea — yet despite its proximity to the water, the region faces the imminent threat of running out of it.We’re at the studios of KEDT, our partners in Corpus Christi. We’ll have the latest on the water crisis here, but also some of the extraordinary charms of the 8th most populous city in Texas — a hub for shipping, wildlife preservation, and great music. The post A special broadcast from Corpus Christi appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Revelations over César Chávez’s reported history of sexual abuse has led to an immediate response across Texas. We’ll break it down.Texas is home to two of America’s four strategic oil reserves. We’ll dive into why the Gulf Coast was the right place for this storage — beyond its oil and gas infrastructure.We’ll take a trip to Brownsville for the Final Four — in college chess that is.And we’ll bring you a story about a Texas-led discovery in South Korea: A new dinosaur species, the Doolysaurus — and it’s really cute.We’ll also check in on the BBQ World Cup competition drawing interest across Texas for its huge, promised payout. The post Debate grows over César Chávez Day and public memorials in Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Time has run out for what many thought would be a game-changing endorsement in the GOP runoff for a U.S. Senate seat. President Trump has yet to weigh in on the race between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton.On the Democratic side of the aforementioned Senate race: What may be a difficult battle ahead for James Talarico, hoping to win more support from fellow Democrats.A federal judge orders an extension for school voucher applications.Gov. Greg Abbott announces steps to help with a water crisis in the Coastal Bend.The rediscovery of music recordings from a Texas prison.And a race to the bottom that could wreck the NBA. The post History of Texas prison bands lives on through rare recordings appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.