Texas Standard

‘Amity’ drew inspiration from Big Bend to paint Reconstruction-era Wild West setting The second novel following Nathan Harris' bestselling "The Sweetness of Water," the story follows siblings emancipated from slavery.

Nathan Harris’ first novel, “The Sweetness of Water,” made both Oprah’s Book Club and Barack Obama’s summer reading list. It went on to become a bestseller. Harris went on to earn his MFA at the University of Texas and published his second novel earlier this year.

A Mexican government-backed program is filling in adult education gaps in the US Plazas Comunitarias works with local organizations to offer everything from GED classes to programs for learning English.

Adult education programs in the U.S. that get federal funding have to follow a new Trump administration policy and stop providing services to undocumented people. But for some of those affected, there may be another option, funded in part by the Mexican government.

Roblox adds age verification after criticism over risks to children Users will be required to scan their faces to use the popular gaming platform. Scans will be used to guess a user’s age.

Roblox, the online gaming platform that’s wildly popular with young people, has rolled out an age verification program. The platform has received harsh criticism for putting children at risk of contact with predators. buff.ly/Jg1kHQf

Cleo Hearn, founder of Cowboys of Color Rodeo, dies at 86 Hearn spent decades promoting the history and legacy of diverse cowboys through rodeo events in Fort Worth and Dallas.

Hearn spent decades promoting the history and legacy of diverse cowboys through rodeo events in Fort Worth and Dallas. buff.ly/6eocDQm

Gov. Abbott released 1,400 pages of emails about Elon Musk. Most are blacked out. Abbott fought for months to keep secret emails between his office and Elon Musk. Now, hundreds of pages have been released.

Abbott fought for months to keep secret emails between his office and Elon Musk. Now, hundreds of pages have been released.

Hayden Pedigo on chasing feelings, leaving Texas and the hidden meaning in his music Amarillo's favorite son left Texas for Oklahoma City, but still released two critically-acclaimed albums in 2025.

Produced a really interesting interview with Hayden Pedigo on his newest solo LP, his Chat Pile collab and making a "record store album," moving away from Texas, making art first and finding the meaning later, becoming a dad! What a great guy and great Q&A by @laurarice.bsky.social: txst.us/yi13a9

More than half of Texas parents aren’t familiar with the state’s education savings account program Applications for the funding is expected to open in February.

Texas lawmakers approved a billion-dollar education savings account program set to launch next school year, but a recent study shows many parents still don’t know it exists. Researchers found gaps in outreach and uneven interest across racial and political lines.

An early look at Elon Musk’s new online encyclopedia The tech billionaire is positing Grokipedia as an "anti-woke" version of Wikipedia.

"Like anything that a lot of people read, people have started to pick up on problems. They have personal objections. They have ideological objections and Elon Musk is one of those people."

Meet the candidates vying to be Texas attorney general in the post-Paxton era At the Texas Tribune Festival, Republican and Democratic candidates made their case for why they should be the state’s top lawyer.

For the first time in a decade, Texas voters will have the chance to select a new attorney general without an incumbent in the race.

Houston area was an essential ingredient to the creation of zydeco The genre is most closely associated with Louisiana, but one musicologist points out its entire "corridor" runs from the Bayou City up to Lafayette.

A new look at zydeco argues that Houston’s clubs and communities helped define the genre as much as Louisiana did.

Houston’s role in zydeco history is deeper — and louder — than most people realize.

Today on Texas Standard: Federal shutdown deal includes THC ban provision A federal compromise to reopen the government includes a measure banning intoxicating hemp products – a move that could wipe out Texas’ legal THC consumables market. Lawmakers and business owners are…

Texas restaurants earned new recognition in the latest Michelin Guide, but not all cities saw additions.

Mando Rayo, host of the Tacos of Texas podcast, joins Texas Standard to talk about how Mexican and Tex-Mex spots fared, and to reflect on wrapping up the show’s fifth season.

Texas AG Ken Paxton officially enters Senate race against incumbent John Cornyn, Rep. Wesley Hunt Paxton announced Wednesday he has filed the necessary paperwork to enter the 2026 race. The Republican first declared his intentions to run earlier this year.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially entered the race for U.S. Senate. His Wednesday announcement comes to no surprise, since the state’s top prosecutor initially declared his intentions back in April. buff.ly/A1dh28s

A Texas church’s online class trains Christians to run for office. Now it may go national Fort Worth’s Mercy Culture Church aims to get more conservative Christians elected through its online Campaign University.

A Fort Worth megachurch is teaching Christians how to run for office — and may soon take the program national.

Go inside “Campaign University,” where faith meets political ambition: txst.us/x0lfoi

Austin City Council looks at cuts to EMS, public health and parks services after Prop Q fails Council members are expected to work on the new budget and approve it by the end of the month.

After Austin voters rejected a plan to raise property taxes, the city is facing tough budget decisions:

UT aerospace researcher recognized for pioneering work in space junk Moriba Jah received a MacArthur Fellowship because of his research into keeping our space cleaner.

A UT-Austin researcher is keeping space safe by tracking junk the size of a wrench in orbit.

Revisit our talk with MacArthur Fellow Moriba Jah on his work preventing satellite collisions: buff.ly/E20dkRa

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Drop a voice memo at texasstandard.org/talk.

Richard Linklater revisited ‘first-time filmmaker’ mindset for ‘Nouvelle Vague’ The Texas director premiered his latest film, which portrays the making of French New Wave classic "Breathless," at the Austin Film Society.

Richard Linklater talks to @texasstandard.bsky.social about his latest film, which portrays the making of French New Wave classic “Breathless.” www.texasstandard.org/stories/rich...

Q: I can’t let you go without asking you about this because recently here, the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas unveiled the Lorne Michaels collection – Lorne’s papers. I know you were a writer on SNL for a while. Any thoughts on Michaels and his impact on comedy? Q: Well, the impact is enormous and I feel like it was kind of fun, about the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, is we got to pay tribute to him a lot. But I’m breaking into the Ransom Center at night and seeing if there’s any inter-office memos about me. I just wanna find a piece of paper that says, you know, “John’s my favorite writer” and then I’ll steal it and I’ll be content with myself for life. But I can’t wait to break in and loot the papers. Full text of this interview: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/john-mulaney-mister-whatever-tour-texas-dates/

Breaking news from @texasstandard.bsky.social: @mulaney.bsky.social plans to break into @ransomcenter.bsky.social to consult the #LorneMichaels Collection.

Rest assured, Mr. Whatever...no heist is required to view those papers! Just stop by while you're in Austin. www.hrc.utexas.edu/lorne-michae...

Former astronaut Terry Virts switches from Senate race to Democratic primary for congressional seat Virts withdrew from his longshot bid for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican John Cornyn. Instead, he’s running for Texas’ 9th Congressional District.

The Nasher Sculpture Center’s latest exhibition takes art to new heights – literally. Sculptures are being installed on rooftops across the Dallas Arts District, transforming the skyline.

Former astronaut Terry Virts switches from Senate race to Democratic primary for congressional seat Virts withdrew from his longshot bid for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican John Cornyn. Instead, he’s running for Texas’ 9th Congressional District.

A former U.S. Senate candidate said he now wants to run as a Democrat for the Houston area’s redrawn 9th Congressional District. Col. Terry Virts announced his candidacy as he withdrew from the race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn.

Why more Tarrant County kids are going to Texas youth prisons than any others The rising number of youth sent from counties like Tarrant is helping to push the waitlist for beds in youth prisons to near an all-time high, the state says.

Tarrant County recently sent more kids to state youth prisons than any other Texas county, contributing to a booming waitlist for beds in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s five secured facilities.

Even if Austin doesn’t get hit by FAA flight cuts, travelers will feel pain Austin's airport is reportedly not on the FAA's list of flight cuts, but controller shortages and ripple effects from major hubs are likely to slow travel.

Austin may have dodged the Federal Aviation Administration’s list of 40 airports where flights will be cut because of the ongoing government shutdown, but aviation industry experts say travelers there are still likely to feel the fallout. buff.ly/fNjRr6d

Richard Linklater revisited ‘first-time filmmaker’ mindset for ‘Nouvelle Vague’ The Texas director premiered his latest film, which portrays the making of French New Wave classic "Breathless," at the Austin Film Society.

Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater has not one, but two movies in select theaters right now. Though they’re very different, they both explore the real stories behind some iconic cultural figures of decades past.

Poor water quality continues to afflict West Texas town as officials seek new solutions Toyah residents are once again having to boil their water before drinking it. The small town has endured years of water problems.

Toyah residents are once again having to boil their water before drinking it. The small town has endured years of water problems.

How could ‘Amazonification’ change what customers see on Whole Foods shelves? Eight years after Amazon purchased the Texas-based chain, a pivot to capture more of the grocery market has some concerned about the brand's identity.

Eight years after Amazon purchased Texas-based Whole Foods, a pivot to capture more of the grocery market has some concerned about the brand’s identity.

Commentary: ‘Three red marbles’ is a story fitting for Thanksgiving A store owner's kindness leaves a lasting impression on three young boys.

“We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,” she confided, “but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man” here.

Local funding and spending initiatives meet varying fates from voters across Texas Bids to raise property taxes in Austin, expand emergency services in rural North Texas, and clear the way for a new San Antonio Spurs arena were all on the ballot.

In addition to statewide constitutional amendments, Texans decided a variety of local propositions on Election Day. These ranged from funding sports arenas to increasing property taxes to funding emergency services – and beyond.

Here’s a breakdown:

This is a true Austin gem run by people who really love what they do

Hyperreal Film Club finds home to host friends and movie lovers in East Austin brick-and-mortar spot For years, the club held pop-up screenings at different venues until it moved into its new space. The founders say the club is as much about celebrating the people who show up to watch movies as the…

For years, the Hyperreal Film Club held pop-up screenings at different venues until it moved into its own space. Its founders say the club is as much about celebrating the people who watch movies as the movies themselves. buff.ly/WfOv5UT

Anticipating oil glut, OPEC makes subtle shift that could impact prices at the pump A cooler start to winter is also driving up demand for natural gas.

Fears of an oil glut help explain a move by OPEC yesterday that was both highly anticipated and, according to our go-to industry analyst, something of a surprise, too.