Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
Democrats look to challenge GOP dominance in 2026 Senate race
As Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett enters the 2026 Senate primary, fellow Dems are weighing how to advance their interests while positioning themselves against a well-funded Republican field.
Blaise Gainey of the Texas Newsroom joins Texas Standard to outline the early landscape.
Why plasma donation rules could leave South Texans behind
Federal rules governing who can donate plasma are changing, and public health researchers say the shift could disproportionately affect low-income and rural communities near the border.
Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports on what it means for South Texans who rely on donation centers.
Study links petrochemical emissions to rising safety risks in Texas communities
A new report from a coalition of environmental researchers says petrochemical facilities along the Gulf Coast continue to emit high levels of hazardous pollutants, raising concerns about worker safety and neighborhood health.
Robert Bullard, distinguished professor at Texas Southern University and often called the father of environmental justice, joins the Standard with more.
How a Texas researcher helped confirm the first image of a black hole
The effort to produce the world’s first image of a black hole demanded a global network of telescopes and years of collaboration. UT-Austin astronomer Aaron Zimmerman played a key role in interpreting the data that made the breakthrough possible.
Zimmerman joins the Standard to revisit the discovery – and how it continues to shape astrophysics research.
Inside Austin’s historic Paramount Theater
Meet the volunteer ushers that keep the 110-year-old theater moving.
Galveston’s Dickens on the Strand captures Victorian charm
Every December, thousands dress in Victorian attire for Galveston’s annual Dickens on the Strand festival, filling the historic district with costumed performers, carolers and food vendors.
Houston Public Media’s Michael Adkison sends us an audio postcard of the event.
How three plaintiffs are trying to stymie voter-approved dementia research
A lawsuit over a $3 billion dementia research fund is just the latest in a string of challenges to voter-approved constitutional amendments in Texas. But at a court hearing in Austin this week, it was unclear whether the plaintiff will succeed in arguing that the state’s voting machines led to an improper election result.
Terri Langford joins the Standard to explain what she’s uncovered and what comes next.
