Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
Who benefits from Houston’s rapid affordable housing expansion?
The Houston Housing Authority has helped create 17,000 affordable units in just eight years by offering tax breaks to apartment complexes. But are renters truly benefiting, or is this system enriching developers?
The Houston Chronicle’s Yilun Cheng investigated and joins us with more.
Actors, lawmakers look to ‘change the tune’ of Texas’ film incentive structure
Matthew McConaughey’s biggest professional regret? Not making more films in his home state. The actor and Austinite testified before the Texas Senate Finance Committee on Monday in favor of Senate Bill 22, which would inject $500 million into a film incentive fund every two years until 2035.
Neighboring states have more tempting tax credits and incentives programs – luring them away from shooting in Texas. The Texas Newsroom’s Nina Banks reports.
How a 9-year-old Texan died despite concerns from family, neighbors and police
An analysis by Texas Public Radio of 1,200 child abuse and neglect deaths between 2018 and 2023 finds that the state of Texas is routinely leaving children in dangerous homes without services or ongoing monitoring. Despite two child welfare investigations and child abandonment charges, 9-year-old Hardiquinn Hill was allowed to stay with her abusers and died.
Texas Public Radio’s Paul Flahive prepared this report from the series “When Home is the Danger.”
Texas women’s basketball breaks through to the Final Four
For the first time in 22 years, Texas women’s basketball is heading to the Final Four. The top-seeded Lady Longhorns, led by coach Vic Schaefer, finally broke past the Elite Eight with a win over TCU on Monday night.
Danny Davis of the Austin American-Statesman joins us with more on their road ahead.
New children’s book ‘Mistaco’ gives families ‘a fun way to share their mistakes together’
For many Texans, a bad day can get a little bit better with a taco or two. That idea is wonderfully explored and illustrated in a new children’s book by a Texan with a special place in her heart for queso.
Author Eliza Kinkz joins the Standard to talk about “Mistaco! A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas.”
With federal funding set to end, refugees in Austin will be left to navigate on their own
The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement plans to stop funding local and regional refugee services come Oct. 1. These nonprofit organizations help refugees pay for rent and groceries, land jobs, sign up for medical benefits and enroll in school – and the end of federal funding could mean those services disappear.
KUT News’ Katy McAfee reports.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
