Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Feb. 3, 2025:
Abbott’s State of the State: What’s on his emergency list?
Gov. Greg Abbott delivered his State of the State address Sunday, naming his list of emergency items – the only issues lawmakers can pass bills on in the first 60 days. Some were expected, like school vouchers, property tax legislation and bail reform. Others were new, including water infrastructure, teacher pay raises, and a Texas Cyber Command.
What’s next? The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins us with his weekly Monday look ahead at the Legislature.
What can federal troops at the Texas border actually do?
The Trump administration has deployed 1,500 federal troops to the Texas-Mexico border, mirroring Texas’ existing Operation Lone Star, the state’s National Guard effort. But what will these federal troops be authorized to do?
Gabriella Alcorta-Solorio reports for the American Homefront Project.
Texas court case could change campaign finance enforcement
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is rehearing a case that prosecutors say could limit their ability to enforce campaign finance and ethics laws.
With new justices on the bench, how might the court rule? Houston Public Media’s Natalie Weber has more.
Mortgage rates stall home sales at lowest level since 1995
U.S. home sales in 2024 hit their lowest level in nearly 30 years, with high mortgage rates keeping many buyers out of the market. But beyond interest rates, rising home insurance and property taxes are pushing costs even higher.
Wall Street Journal reporter Nicole Friedman joins us to break it down.
Why did the Mavericks trade Luka Doncic?
Over the weekend, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for the sensational but oft-injured big man Anthony Davis, and other considerations.
To explain why this was such an earthquake, we’re joined by Tim Cato, who covers the Mavericks for Allcity Dallas.
Baylor University’s Black Gospel Archive expands with new grant
For two decades, Baylor University has built the world’s largest digital gospel music archive, preserving rare recordings and making them available online.
Now, a $2.48 million grant from the Lilly Endowment will help the collection fill gaps in gospel music history. KWBU’s Molly-Jo Tilton reports.
This Week in Texas Music History
Dallas native Trini Lopez shared a bill with the Beatles during a run of concerts in Paris. Jason Mellard with The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University shares the tale.
Trump delays tariffs on Mexico for one month
With a de facto North American trade war set to begin Tuesday, Presidents Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico on Monday morning announced a one-month delay on tariffs in exchange for added troops at the border.
What does this mean for Texas? Tony Payán from Rice University’s Baker Institute joins us with more:
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.