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Austin man shot by ICE still in pain, bullet lodged in his back, ahead of San Antonio hearing
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez is due in federal court in San Antonio on Wednesday as his attorneys seek his release and raise concerns about a bullet still lodged in his body.
Child of a mail-order bride (Sept. 29, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: Writer Katya Suvorova, who grew up in Houston, talks about her book, "Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir From the Child of a Mail-Order Bride." And we discuss benefits available to veterans in Greater Houston.
David Persse, ‘pioneer’ of Houston’s EMS system, dies at 67
Marty Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, said his innovations “saved countless thousands of lives over the years.”
Galveston County residents can give input on proposed desalination plant near Texas City in November
The proposed Bayshore Desalination Facility aims to help with water security in the region by removing salt and minerals from seawater to produce 24.5 million gallons of drinking water a day. However, residents and organizations have come forward with concerns about the proposed plant's environmental impact.
Gov. Abbott warns of potential flash flooding across Texas this week
Heavy rain is expected to move east this week, raising the risk of flash flooding in West, North and Central Texas.
Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (September 29, 2026)
For our busy Houston commuters, we have – The Commuter Cut – a special 40-minute version of our show to listen to during your journey home.
Hello Houston (September 29, 2026)
Today: We discuss how changes to the Endangered Species Act could affect us in Texas, hear from Houston singer and songwriter Sara Van Buskirk, and learn about the University of Houston’s new Institute for Housing, Homelessness, and Health.
Houston police fatally shoot man charged with indecency with a child during arrest attempt
The shooting occurred at a Houston-area dog daycare in the 9600 block of Yupondale Drive where the man was allegedly employed.
Houston voters to decide on Prop A in November, which would deprioritize misdemeanor marijuana enforcement
The “Houston Freedom Act” would make misdemeanor marijuana possession HPD’s “lowest law-enforcement priority,” and it would also enshrine a departmental policy banning no-knock warrants.
ICE agent who shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston identified
The federal government has withheld his identification, even as major state and local law enforcement agencies across the country typically identify officers involved in shootings on the job soon after the incident.
Mail-In Voting
Who Can Vote by Mail in Texas?
Man shot by ICE in Austin is charged with assaulting and resisting an officer
The officer who shot Wilber Garces Perez did not have a body-worn camera, according to court documents.
NASA and Boeing are moving forward with a Starliner launch as soon as this year. Here’s why that matters
The organizations have committed to flying Starliner’s first official mission without a crew, with the expectation that a crewed flight could come in 2028. Starliner’s last flight was called a type-A mishap and left two astronauts in space.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3412: Bipedalism’s Message
Episode: 3412 In which we humans (and birds) depend upon being unstable – and thinking unstably. Today, we walk on two legs.
AI stokes fears, but can be a boon for the disabled community. Here’s how else it’s impacting Texans
From smart glasses to concerns over rouge AI agents, this Texas Standard special takes a look at this new tech frontier — and a glimpse at what may be over the horizon.
Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest
Ramos participated in a protest against the shooting of Wilber Garces Perez on Sunday, Sept. 20.
Barbers Hill ISD built a $200 million education foundation, now its structure is under scrutiny
For nearly 20 years, Barbers Hill ISD Superintendent Greg Poole pursued an unconventional strategy to grow the district’s finances. Lawmakers are now questioning the foundation’s aggressive investments, unusual structure, and potential conflicts of interest.
Camp Mystic proposes selling Hill Country property in bankruptcy plan
Camp Mystic is proposing to sell its nearly 725-acre Hill Country property as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, more than a year after deadly flooding killed 25 campers, two counselors and camp owner Dick Eastland.
Gov. Greg Abbott declares statewide disaster proclamation over diesel shortages
The governor is allowing the used of dyed diesel on roads. Diesel prices reached a record high last week, seven months into the U.S.'s war with Iran.
Harris County gets one-year extension to use federal funds for post-Harvey flood bond projects
A Harris County Flood Control District report earlier this year revealed that several of the county's disaster relief flood projects -- which were authorized by voters in 2018 as part of a $2.5 billion bond -- would not meet a state-imposed deadline early next year.
Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (September 28, 2026)
For our busy Houston commuters, we have – The Commuter Cut – a special 40-minute version of our show to listen to during your journey home.
Hello Houston (September 28, 2026)
Today: We break down the latest in Texas politics ahead of the midterm elections, sociologist Harel Shapira talks about his new book “Basic Pistol,” and we discuss a new study that looks at how proximity to food influences our eating habits.
Houston Astros rebound from 11 games under .500 and win AL West despite finishing 81-81
The Houston Astros have clinched the AL West title for the fifth time in six years.
Ken Paxton calls for balancing border security with immigration reform to help labor-starved business sectors
The Texas attorney general and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate blamed Democrats for standing in the way of a deal, arguing one could have been passed during the first Trump administration.
New flu season (Sept. 28, 2026)
On Monday's show: We examine how the new flu season is shaping up. And we talk through the latest stories in the world of education.
Paxton-Talarico contest on course to demolish Texas record for campaign spending in a U.S. Senate election
Collective spending on advertising by Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, and super PACs supporting each of them has already topped $153 million. AdImpact projects it will reach more than double that by Election Day.
Paxton, Talarico spar over gas tax suspension amid rising prices
Talarico, who criticized the Iran war, has called for months for a gas tax holiday. Paxton now says the tax should be permanently ended.
SpaceX’s Starship launches from South Texas, returns to Earth with a thud
The biggest rocket ever built launched from Spaceport in South Texas before entering Earth’s orbit shortly after. Though the mission ended with a thud, it does mark a significant step for commercial spaceflight.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3411: Roland Garros
Episode: 3411 Roland Garros: Airplane pioneer, inventor, and almost combat air ace. Today, meet Roland Garros.
The U.S. and Mexico aren’t breaking up over cartels. They’re arguing over who’s to blame.
At the United Nations this week, President Trump described Mexico as an "epicenter" of cartel violence and reasserted that its government must reclaim territory controlled by criminal groups.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1635: The Sign of the Barber Pole
Episode: 1635 At the Sign of the Barber Pole: of barbers and barber-surgeons. Today, reflections in a barbershop.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1635: The Sign of the Barber’s Pole
Episode: 1635 At the Sign of the Barber Pole: of barbers and barber-surgeons. Today, reflections in a barbershop.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1634: Daedalus
Episode: 1634 Flying the Aegean Sea in Daedalus’ slipstream. Today, we mix a magic drink for Daedalus and Icarus.
About 75,000 Harris County voter registrations unprocessed in Texas DPS error, county officials say
The Secretary of State on Tuesday notified Harris County officials of backlogged voter registration records that were never provided to the office due to a technical error.
Ex-‘We Buy Ugly Houses’ franchise owner in Dallas gets 15 years in prison for $39 million scheme
Charles Carrier, 67, sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors say he fraudulently got over $39 million from investors.
Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (September 25, 2026)
For our busy Houston commuters, we have – The Commuter Cut – a special 40-minute version of our show to listen to during your journey home.
Hello Houston (September 25, 2026)
Today: Pulitzer Prize winner Benjamin Moser talks about his new book, we hear this week’s “Tessa Takes On,” and The Boss Factory’s Keturah Wilson shares her journey of survival, healing, and purpose. Plus, “Current Obsessions” and “Last Minute Plans.”
Houston ISD student dead following shooting outside Westbury High School
The Houston Independent School District said the high school was operating in “Secure” mode.
Key GOP lawmaker says state should have caught error that delayed at least 178,000 Texas voter registrations
Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott, who appoints the state’s top election official and is locked in a tight race in November, hasn’t commented on the error.
Man accused of 2023 shooting spree in Austin, San Antonio could file insanity plea
Shane James allegedly killed his parents, then went on a shooting spree in Austin in 2023. He was previously deemed unfit for trial, and now his attorney has indicated he will enter a plea of insanity.
NFL fines player for pretending to drink beer: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
SpaceX plans to launch one of its most ambitious flights in South Texas on Monday. Here’s what to expect
The Starship 14 flight in South Texas could bring a massive fully reusable rocket and spacecraft into Earth orbit. If successful, the flight will bode well for both private space exploration and NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions.
Texas advocates warn proposed cuts to health, assistance programs could hurt vulnerable communities
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission proposed cuts to more than 20 client services programs. Dozens of Texas advocates testified at a legislative budget board hearing Thursday to ask state lawmakers to protect those programs.
The Austin ICE shooting has raised questions about medical standards for detainees
Wilber Garces Perez was quickly discharged from an Austin hospital after he was shot by an ICE agent. Experts say it's hard to know if he was treated appropriately without seeing medical records.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1633: Studying Calculus
Episode: 1633 In which a Cambridge don doubts his own calculus teaching. Today, a mathematician misses the point.
The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve is low. Here’s why you should care
The U.S. has tapped into its strategic oil reserve to help drive down rising gasoline prices in the wake of the war with Iran. Can oil from Venezuela help fill it back up?
Voter registration backlog (Sept. 25, 2026)
On Friday's show: We learn how tens of thousands of voter registration applications got caught in a backlog. And cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his son, filmmaker Nicholas Ma, talk about a performance they're a part of in Galveston.
ICE officer shoots, injures man in Austin, officials say
The shooting in Austin, which injured Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, came more than two months after an ICE officer fatally shot a man in Houston.
Federal judge pauses Texas Republicans’ bid to close primaries
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said in his ruling that he expects Republicans to succeed in restricting primaries to voters registered with the party during the next legislative session.
Feds reimburse Texas for $7.5 billion in border spending, ending delay
The grant program was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which became law in July 2025.
T-Squared: Erin Thornton establishes the John Thornton Founding Fund
Her $1 million gift — including a $500k match — honors Tribune Founder John Thornton's vision, and asks the next generation to see themselves as founders too.
Texas land commissioner 2026: Who is running and what you need to know
The General Land Office oversees investments that earn billions of dollars for public education, manages state lands, operates the Alamo and administers disaster recovery funds and benefits to Texas veterans. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 race and where they stand.
Texas Supreme Court rules baby delivered by surrogate can leave Texas
The decision clears the way for the 1-month-old’s biological parents to relocate him from Dallas to Los Angeles, where the couple lives, to seek treatment there. Their surrogate wants him in Texas.
Top Texas Republicans knew Bo French’s history of racist comments. They supported him anyway.
The Railroad Commission candidate is under fire from fellow Republicans for a post that said a picture of college students celebrating a football victory shows “how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners.”
$12 billion in Medicaid funds restored to Texas hospitals, ending impasse with the feds
The announcement ends a nearly year-long dispute with the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services over the funding to Texas hospitals, which were slated to lose $27 million a day.
John Cornyn says he won’t vote for Bo French as backlash to racist post rises
The outgoing U.S. senator called the Texas Railroad Commission candidate “an embarrassment to the Republican Party.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls on ERCOT to reverse 30% pay raise for board members
Patrick has also rebuked ERCOT’s board for approving and then backtracking on a contract that would allow ERCOT’s CEO to earn $6.4 million in 2027.
Minnesota drops extradition lawsuit against Abbott after ICE officer’s arrest
Minnesota prosecutors accused Christian Castro of injuring a Venezuelan man and lying about what led to the shooting. He also faces federal charges.
More young people are getting involved with South Texas civil rights group amid Trump’s immigration crackdown
For La Union del Pueblo Entero’s biennial convention, members under 45 years old made up the largest share of participants.
One group has stayed mostly mum on Bo French’s racist post — Texas’ oil and gas industry
One of the state’s largest oil and gas industry groups condemned French’s comments about South Asian students. They have not pulled their endorsement.
Texas freezes installation of Flock cameras along state roads
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the state Department of Transportation to stop issuing permits for automated license plate readers.
UT-Austin cutting majors centering Latino, Black, women and gender studies, email shows
The University of Texas at Austin rejected a department’s plan to keep the majors, a decision that came without public knowledge, an interim department chair told faculty.
What to know about possible border barriers in Big Bend
The Trump administration has said the remote West Texas region needs measures to stop illegal immigration. But a bipartisan group of elected officials is pushing to halt that plan, especially in the national park.
All recent polls have Talarico ahead of Paxton in the U.S. Senate race
We're tracking all major polls in the U.S. Senate race to give Texans a fuller picture of where this race is headed. Paxton has been consistently trailing in the polls, but the margins are tight.
Texas officials are cracking down on “illegal birth tourism.” Here’s what that means.
Texas officials have sued a Houston area postpartum center as well as investigated Rio Grande Valley hospitals over allegations of soliciting foreigners to have babies on U.S. soil.
What to know about Austin ICE shooting and migrant deaths in Texas
Most migrant deaths in Texas have occurred while they were detained since President Donald Trump began his immigration crackdown. Several were from natural causes.
Where is screwworm in Texas? Track cases here.
The New World screwworm poses a multibillion-dollar threat to the state’s cattle industry. We’re keeping track of where these cases are reported.