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…

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 …

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 …

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…