Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Southwest Airlines to cut 15% of corporate workforce
For the first time in its 53-year history, Southwest Airlines is laying off employees – about 1,750 corporate jobs – to cut costs. The move follows a battle with an activist investor last year and signals a shift in the airline’s operations. Alison Sider, who covers air travel for The Wall Street Journal, joins us with more.
Understanding Texas’ power grid through history
With freezing temperatures hitting Texas, concerns over the state’s power grid are back. In the latest episode of The Disconnect podcast, hosts Mose Buchele and Audrey McGlinchy explore the grid’s origins, including the Texas National Guard’s past efforts to regulate the East Texas oilfields.
Texas Senate bill aims to boost teacher pay
The chair of the Senate Education Committee has filed a bill that could raise teacher salaries by thousands of dollars. Gov. Greg Abbott has made increasing teacher pay an emergency item this session. KUT’s Becky Fogel reports.
Texas women’s basketball makes history
The Lady Longhorns were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s National Team of the Week for the third time this season after a dominant run against top-10 teams. But despite their success, UT was ranked No. 2 behind Notre Dame. Austin American-Statesman reporter Danny Davis explains why Texas fans still feel slighted.
Ranchera legend Paquita la del Barrio dies at 77
Fans of ranchera music are mourning the loss of Paquita la del Barrio. Known for feminist anthems like “Rata de dos patas,” her music resonated deeply, especially in Texas. Musician and archivist Veronique Medrano reflects on her legacy.
A Texas-sized mariachi documentary hits Netflix
As part of our 10th birthday celebrations, the Standard’s revisiting our favorite stories – including “Going Varsity in Mariachi,” a documentary now streaming on Netflix. The film, which premiered at South by Southwest, follows top high school mariachi teams in the Rio Grande Valley. Filmmakers Alejandra Vasquez and Sam Osborn, plus student star Abby Garcia, join the show with more.
Trump administration rolls back privacy protections
Since taking office, President Trump has dismantled key government privacy boards, including the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board and the Cyber Safety Review Board. What does this mean for Americans’ privacy rights? Stephanie Pell, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, weighs in.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
