Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, June 20, 2025:
It’s a decision day at the Supreme Court
Charles “Rocky” Rhodes, who teaches constitutional law at South Texas College of Law in Houston, joins us today with the latest and which cases with Texas ties to watch out for in the coming weeks:
Supreme Court allows nuclear waste storage in Texas
The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for a controversial private facility in Andrews, Texas, to temporarily store high-level nuclear waste, reversing a lower court decision that blocked the move. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it’s running out of options as efforts to create a permanent site at Yucca Mountain in Nevada remain stalled.
Courthouse News reporter Ben Weiss joins with more.
Feds look to eradicate screwworms before they reach Texas cattle
The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to open a facility in South Texas to help defend against the new world screwworm, a destructive pest that was once eradicated from the United States but is now working its way north through Mexico toward the southern border. The Texas Standard’s Michael Marks reports.
Texas Lottery scandal deepens as ex-director disappears
Former Texas Lottery Director Gary Grief is at the center of a nearly $100 million jackpot scandal involving a global betting syndicate – and no one seems to know where he is. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently called Grief “the mastermind” behind the debacle and said Texas Rangers haven’t been able to locate him.
Dallas Morning News investigative columnist Dave Lieber joins us with more.
Trump Mobile enters the wireless market with gold phones and big promises
Donald Trump Jr. has unveiled Trump Mobile, a new wireless service offering patriotic branding, gold-colored phones and claims of American manufacturing — but critics are raising questions about conflicts of interest and whether the service is actually a good value.
Tech writer Omar Gallaga looked into the details for CNET and joins us with what he found.
Waco’s police chief adds ‘children’s book author’ to her résumé
Sheryl Victorian, Waco’s police chief and a 28-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, has written a children’s book that highlights the values of service and leadership in law enforcement.
As a Black woman with a PhD, she says representation and trust-building are key – especially when it comes to inspiring the next generation. She joins the Standard today.
The gang delivers another custom poem. Reach out to Texas Standard with your topic suggestions!
The Texas Tribune’s Kayla Guo joins the Standard with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
