Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, Feb. 21, 2025:
What’s happened at the Texas Legislature this week?
The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins the show with the latest on committee actions, developments in the House and Senate and more. Plus, Blaise kicks off an inside look at the people behind state politics, starting with Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez.
How is Texas’ real estate market responding to the state’s booming population?
A new Realtor.com report projects that Texas will overtake California as the most populous state by 2045. But with a booming population, housing affordability remains a major concern – 90% of Texans in a recent poll called it a problem. What can we expect?
Daniel Oney with Texas A&M’s Real Estate Research Center joins us with insights.
A flea bite with serious consequences
While measles has been making headlines, another infectious disease is quietly spreading in Texas: flea-borne typhus.
Dr. Gregory Anstead, an infectious disease expert at UT Health San Antonio and the Audie Murphy VA hospital, shares what you need to know.
This old saloon tells the story of a small Central Texas town
For the Standard’s Texas Museum Map series, listener Vicky Rose tells us about the McDade Historical Society Museum, which is housed in an old stagecoach stop/saloon built in 1874.
Remembering Boca Chica beach – before Elon Musk came to town
The South Texas environmental group Save RGV has ended its legal fight against SpaceX, citing a state permit that renders the lawsuit moot – but its concerns over Boca Chica Beach’s future remain.
Gaige Davila, who wrote about efforts to preserve its memory for the Texas Observer, joins us with more.
The gang delivers another custom poem. Reach out to Texas Standard with your topic suggestions!
The week in Texas politics
The Texas Tribune’s James Barragán joins the Standard with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics:
– National leaders mount pressure campaign on Texas House GOP to pass voucher bill
– UT System names Jim Davis as UT-Austin’s interim president
– Robert Roberson files first new appeal since his execution was delayed
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
