Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, April 18, 2025:
Avian flu is spreading across Texas wildlife
A year after Texas dairy cows tested positive for avian flu, the virus has jumped species – infecting birds, humans and now wild animals. New data from Texas Parks and Wildlife shows foxes, raccoons and other mammals testing positive across the state.
Dr. Hunter Reed, senior wildlife veterinarian for the department, joins the Standard with more.
San Antonio’s mayoral race is a packed house
Twenty-seven candidates are running to become the next mayor of San Antonio – the city’s biggest field in recent memory. With incumbent Ron Nirenberg term-limited, voters head to the polls May 3.
Texas Public Radio’s Josh Peck covers city hall and joins the Standard with an overview.
Are tariffs shaking up the car market?
Even with a 90-day pause on most tariffs (except those on China) global markets are jittery, and so are car buyers. Should Texans buy now or wait? And what counts as a domestic car these days, anyway?
Consumer Reports automotive editor Keith Barry joins the Standard with some insight.
Tent contractor pivots from migrant shelters to deportation
Deployed Resources grew into a contracting giant building tent shelters at the U.S.-Mexico border. Now, the company is turning its focus to deportation: housing those migrants the U.S. government plans to remove.
What does this shift say about immigration policy? ProPublica’s Jeff Ernsthausen joins the show to explain.
The history of cascarones, a Texas Easter tradition
You’ve seen them: brightly colored eggshells filled with confetti, cracked with a laugh. Cascarones are everywhere this time of year – and not just for fun.
Lucio Vasquez with The Texas Newsroom reports on the tradition’s roots and how it’s become a colorful staple in the Southwest.
It’s National Poetry Month, and we asked for your verses
April is National Poetry Month, and we’ve put out the call for original poems from listeners. Texas Standard fans delivered – and today, we’re sharing a couple of our favorites, from Sandy Norman and Dee Jean Hurta:
The gang delivers another custom poem. Reach out to Texas Standard with your topic suggestions!
The Texas Tribune’s Jasper Scherer joins the Standard with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
