Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.
Possible government shutdown looms after ICE shooting
The fatal shooting of a second person in Minnesota by ICE agents has intensified calls from some lawmakers for restrictions are placed on immigration enforcement. The standoff over ICE funding comes just months after the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Mark Jones, political science professor at Rice University, joins Texas Standard to break down where negotiations stand and what could happen next.
Elgin divided over visible ICE presence
Immigration enforcement activity has drawn attention in Minnesota, but small-town Texas is also feeling its effects. In Elgin, just east of Austin, residents are split over recent ICE operations in their community. Some say the actions are necessary; others fear lasting damage to trust and safety.
KUT News’ Greta Díaz González Vázquez reports from Elgin.
Journalists recount multiple law enforcement stops in West Texas
Texas Monthly writer José Ralat and photographer Rodrigo Bravo Jr. say they were pulled over three times in a single day while reporting in West Texas – including a stop by ICE near Presidio. They describe confusion and lingering questions about why they were detained.
Ralat and Bravo join Texas Standard to reflect on the experience and its aftermath.
Voucher eligibility tied to anti-terrorism laws
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar may have the authority to exclude certain private schools from the state’s new voucher program if they violate anti-terrorism laws, according to an opinion from Attorney General Ken Paxton. The opinion was prompted by questions involving events connected to CAIR, which Gov. Greg Abbott has deemed a terrorist group absent evidence of terror connections.
Jaden Edison, higher education reporter for the Texas Tribune, joins Texas Standard to explain the legal guidance and what it could mean for schools.
Falling milk prices push dairy farmers to diversify
Milk prices have dipped below break-even levels for many producers, squeezing dairy farmers already navigating a volatile market. Some are turning to creative side businesses to stay afloat, from agritourism to alternative farm experiences.
Harvest Public Media’s Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval reports on how farmers are adapting to shifting economics.
Austin hangout turns doodling into community ritual
What began as butcher paper and markers set out at an East Austin bar has grown into weekly “doodle nights” that bring strangers together. Organizers say the low-stakes art sessions create space for connection in an increasingly digital world.
Ella Kopeikin reports from Austin on how simple creative prompts are building community.
Christian immigrants caught in broader ICE crackdown
After ordering military strikes in Nigeria targeting groups accused of persecuting Christians, the Trump administration has also launched a domestic task force aimed at what it calls anti-Christian bias. Yet immigrant advocacy groups say Christian asylum seekers are being swept up in immigration enforcement.
Jonathan Abraham Kindberg, co-director of the Texas-based Diaspora Network, joins Texas Standard to discuss the impact on Christian communities.
