Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, March 19, 2025:
Texas sees first criminal charges under near-total abortion ban
A Houston-area midwife and two others have been arrested for allegedly performing illegal abortions, marking the first instance of criminal charges under Texas’ restrictive abortion law. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Eleanor Klibanoff, who covers women’s healthcare for The Texas Tribune, joins the Standard with the latest:
Judge orders reinstatement of fired federal workers, with conditions
A federal judge has ruled that thousands of improperly fired federal employees must be reinstated – but they could still be laid off again if proper procedures are followed. The situation is hitting military veterans particularly hard, given their hiring preferences for government jobs.
Jay Price reports for the American Homefront Project.
Dallas’ cycling infrastructure update leaves advocates wanting more
Biking in Dallas is not for the faint of heart, with limited protected lanes and little connectivity. Now the city is updating its bike plan for the first time in years, but cycling advocates say it’s not enough.
KERA’s Pablo Arauz Peña reports on what needs to change.
Texas lawmakers take on water crisis, but solutions are unclear
From aging infrastructure to booming demand, lawmakers broadly agree that Texas needs to shore up its water supply. A variety of bills addressing the crisis have been filed in the House and Senate, but which – if any – will pass remains unclear.
Alejandra Martinez of The Texas Tribune has been following the legislative push and joins the show with more.
West Odessa residents take water crisis into their own hands
In West Odessa, a rapidly growing community next to the city of Odessa, the demand for water has outpaced the infrastructure. Now, a grassroots effort is underway to secure a more reliable water supply.
Marfa Public Radio’s Mitch Borden reports.
Texas Standard’s Music Madness bracket is back!
March Madness isn’t just about basketball – here at the Standard, we’re bringing back our Music Madness bracket, this time to determine the best song about Texas. After some rigorous research (Googling, Reddit threads and memory-jogging), we’ve narrowed it down to 32 contenders.
Prime Video’s ‘House of David’ reimagines the Bible
The Bible remains the best-selling book of all time, so it’s no surprise its stories are making their way to streaming platforms. Prime Video’s “House of David” is being described as a “Game of Thrones”-style retelling of biblical events, and one of the studios behind it has roots in Austin.
Wonder Project CEO Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten joins the Standard with more.
Texas House bill could make it easier to suspend the youngest learners
A new school discipline bill could undo previous reforms that limited suspensions for pre-K through second grade students, allowing for harsher penalties. House Bill 6 is a legislative priority, but critics say it could disproportionately affect young students.
Talia Richman from the Dallas Morning News’ education lab joins us to break down what’s at stake.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
