Texas Standard

1 day ago | texasstandard.org | Wells Dunbar

Here’s what’s coming up on Texas Standard for Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Listen on your Texas public radio station, or ask your smart speaker to play Texas Standard. Check back later today for updated story links and audio. ‘Culture war issues’ may not be marquee, but they aren’t absent this legislative session During the last legislative session, lawmakers made headlines and drew backlash for tackling controversial issues including gender-affirming care, abortion and book bans in school libraries.

2 days ago | texasstandard.org | Dominic Anthony Walsh

From Houston Public Media:As Houston City Council members kick off budget hearings with more than 23 units of municipal government this week, the city faces economic turmoil caused by President Donald Trump’s trade and immigration policies as well as a legislative tug-of-war over toll road funding with Harris County.

2 days ago | texasstandard.org | Will Stone

From NPR:Concerns over a flesh-eating parasite have led U.S. officials to halt all imports of live cattle, horses and bison across the Southern border. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made the decision on Sunday, citing the northward spread of the New World screwworm, which has been detected in southern Mexico in the last year. “The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance,” Rollins said in a statement.

6 days ago | texasstandard.org | Kyle McClenagan

From Houston Public Media:A Grimes County judge has ordered the owners of the Texas Renaissance Festival to sell its property and assets after siding with a group of prospective buyers who sued after a $60 million deal fell through in 2023. A court trial was held last week in the civil lawsuit, filed in August 2023. Judge Gary Chaney released a judgment late Wednesday ordering the festival to keep up its end of the original sale agreement from which the festival owners were accused of backing out.

1 week ago | texasstandard.org | Elizabeth Myong

On Cadena’s website, visitors have a virtual one-stop shop where they can buy goods made by vendors, nearly half of them based in Mexico. Alejandra and Mabel manage business operations and offer marketing assistance while the collective gives artisans power to reach a wider audience. Cadena splits the sales revenue with artisans. The artisanal goods on the website feature a modern approach to traditional Latin American artistry. Take one of Mota’s best-selling collections, for example.