Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, May 27, 2025:
Unless it gets vetoed, Texas is poised to ban all THC products
A bill that would ban all products containing THC is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. The Texas Senate approved the house version of the bill late Sunday night. If the measure avoids Abbott’s veto, the $8 billion hemp industry in Texas and its estimated 50,000 jobs would be dissolved in September.
Karen Brooks Harper, who’s been tracking the bill for The Dallas Morning News, joins the Standard with more.
Texas House passes watered-down health bill aimed at kids and food labels
The “Make Texas Healthy Again” bill survived a flood of amendments but still passed the House. Senate Bill 25 sets new requirements for school nutrition and exercise, and mandates warning labels on potentially harmful food additives.
Bayliss Wagner, reporter with the Austin American-Statesman, joins the show with the story.
Travis County isn’t meeting felony indictment deadlines
Texas law requires felony suspects be indicted within 90 days or released on bond. But an investigation from the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE finds that in Travis County, that rule is often ignored, with suspects held longer and many charges ultimately dropped.
Investigative reporter Tony Plohetski joins the Standard to explain.
Texas Parks and Wildlife launches new podcast
In a dramatic December operation, 77 bighorn sheep were netted by helicopter and moved from near Alpine to El Paso’s Franklin Mountains, part of a century-long effort to save the species in Texas.
The story can be heard in the first episode of “Better Outside,” a new podcast from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Host Morgan O’Hanlon joins with more about the show.
New institute aims to preserve Texas’ rich music legacy
From Tejano to Texas country, the sounds of the Lone Star State are getting a new home at Texas A&M-Kingsville. The school’s new historic music preservation institute is already collecting rare music artifacts.
Rudy Treviño, longtime broadcaster and professor of practice, joins the Standard to talk about the effort.
Is STAAR testing finally getting reformed?
The stress of spring testing season is familiar to students, teachers and parents across Texas. This year, lawmakers are revisiting efforts to reform or replace the STAAR test through HB 4, sponsored by Rep. Brad Buckley.
Brant Bingamon of the Austin Chronicle explains what’s at stake.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
