Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
Killing of cartel head touches off violence in Mexico
The U.S. State Department issued a shelter-in-place warning for U.S. citizens after the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel boss, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes – also known as “El Mencho” – during a military operation.
The warning comes due to ongoing security operations, road blockages, and criminal activity. U.S. citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon are advised to shelter in place until further notice.
Stephania Corpi has been covering these events for Texas Public Radio, among other outlets, and joins us today from Mexico City.
2026 primary election early voting turnout outpacing previous midterms
Since early voting began last Tuesday, nearly 700,000 Texans have already cast their ballots for the March 3 party primaries – pivotal elections that’ll determine which Republicans and Democrats will end up on the ballot in November.
That turnout so far may seem small considering the state has about 18.7 million registered voters, but participation in the 2026 primaries is actually outpacing what we saw during the last midterm elections four years ago. It’s an early sign Texas voters are engaged in this primary election.
The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey has more.
Prairieland shooting trial begins again after last week’s mistrial
The federal trial of nine people connected to a July 4 shooting outside an ICE detention center in Texas begins again today.
KERA’s Toluwani Osibamowo reports tensions are high in what the Trump administration calls the first-ever federal domestic terrorism case associated with “antifa.”
Austin’s growing doula network provides support for women
Austin is becoming a thriving hub for doulas, advocates who provide support for women during pregnancy and childbirth. And they’re playing an important role in statewide efforts to improve maternal mortality rates.
KUT’s Olivia Aldridge spoke with Central Texas doulas about their efforts to advocate for the profession – and the women they care for.
What does the future hold for the Panhandle Plains Museum?
The Panhandle Plains Museum in Canyon has been closed for almost one year. The museum is a beloved institution, housed on the campus of West Texas A&M University. But the building itself has major fire code violations, and a backlog of needed repairs.
West Texas A&M officials have determined that the museum will not re-open on its campus, because of the cost to maintain it. So, what’s next for the two million-or-so artifacts in the museum’s custody?
Jackie Kingston, editor and CEO of the Amarillo Tribune, joins us to discuss.
This week in Texas music history
Jason Mellard with the Center for Texas Music History checks the archives.
‘Wild Thumb’ app aims to help Texans plant native gardens
A new free app from Texas Parks & Wildlife foundation aims to make native gardening a lot less intimidating for Texans, and a lot more helpful for pollinators. It’s called “Wild Thumb,” and its goal is to help Texans with planting and caring for drought-tolerant native plants that help struggling pollinators like native bees and butterflies.
Julie Shaddox, director of Development and Conservations Programs at Texas Parks and Wildlife, joins us with the details.
Gillespie County GOP drops full hand count for early voting ballots
Republicans in Gillespie County no longer plan to hand-count all 2026 primary ballots, as they did in 2024. Instead, the GOP will use county voting equipment to tabulate early voting results and counting election day ballots by hand.
Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with The Texas Tribune and joins us with the details.
