Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, July 17, 2025. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
Five million Texans live in flood zones, but experts say the state is nowhere near investing the billions of dollars needed to protect them.
Texas Public Radio’s Paul Flahive joins the show with what’s at stake ahead of the Legislature’s special session.
Who really got things done at the Legislature?
More than 1,200 bills passed in the regular legislative session – but who did the heavy lifting? The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey crunched the numbers.
Why birthrates are falling, even as the world grows more crowded
Every generation has fewer children than the last – a centuries-long trend with big implications. UT economist Dean Spears joins with insight from his new book “After the Spike: Population, Progress and the Case for People.”
Jack Dorsey’s latest apps are surprisingly low-key
The Twitter and Bluesky founder just launched two new apps: One tracks your sun exposure, while the other lets you message friends.
Tech expert Omar Gallaga joins with what they say about the future of tech.
Ari Aster returns with a darkly funny Western
The director behind “Hereditary” and “Midsommar” is back, but he’s not exploring demons or folk cults. His new film, set amid the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests, explores terror in a more grounded way, with lots of dark comedy as well.
Ari Aster joins with a preview.
Fixing Austin’s flood-prone crossings could take 200 years
The city’s low-water crossings pose serious dangers during heavy rains – and the city’s on pace to repair them all in two centuries.
KUT’s Nathan Bernier explains the slow progress and the risk to residents.
Williamson County begins cleanup after deadly floods
Three people died and millions of dollars in property were damaged in Williamson County alone. Officials say they’re still assessing the damage – and the recovery is just beginning:
