Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, July 11, 2025:
Where things stand one week since the July 4 floods
Today marks one week since news unfolded about the devastation from the Hill Country floods. For more on the latest recovery efforts and the planned visit by President Donald Trump today, we’re joined by Lucio Vasquez, breaking news reporter for The Texas Newsroom, who has been in Kerrville covering this story:
Gov. Abbott lays out agenda for special legislative session
Gov. Greg Abbott has added flood response to the call for the upcoming special session of the Legislature, along with another new item – mid-decade redistricting.
The Houston Chronicle’s Jeremy Wallace joins us with more on what to expect when lawmakers return to Austin.
Accountability in high-speed police chases varies
High-speed police chases can be dangerous – and even deadly. Despite that, there are no uniform rules for how and when police officers can start a chase.
KERA reporters analyzed police disciplinary records across North Texas. And as KERA’s Caroline Love reports, even when officers do break the rules, accountability for pursuits is different from place to place.
Federal hurdles may impact hydropower output
Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of energy. It dates back to at least 2,000 years, when water mills would crush grains and break ore. Today, hydropower accounts for nearly a third of renewable energy in the U.S.
But as Harvest Public Media contributor Teresa Homsi reports, federal hurdles may prevent older hydroelectric plants from staying online – and new projects from getting off the ground.
Oil companies look to offer treated wastewater to grow crops
Some oil companies are looking to use treated wastewater – produced water that oil and gas drilling brings up to the surface – to grow crops. In a Texas Supreme Court case, the ownership of produced water came into question and whether or not this product actually has value.
Martha Pskowski has been following this for Inside Climate News and joins us today.
In wake of Hill Country floods, how to talk to kids about tragedy
As harrowing images from the Hill Country floods keep pouring in, some of the hardest to look at are the pictures of teddy bears, summer camp trunks and children’s clothes covered in mud. For adults, these images can feel traumatizing – not just for them, but their kids as well.
Dr. Stevie Puckett-Perez, a pediatric psychologist at Children’s Health Medical Center in Dallas and an assistant professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, joins the Standard to discuss how we can talk to children about tragedy.
The week in Texas politics
The Texas Tribune politics reporter Jasper Scherer joins the Standard with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics:
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
