Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Oct. 27, 2025:
What Prop 4 would mean for Texas water
Texas voters are weighing a ballot measure that would create a new fund for water infrastructure – from replacing aging pipes to improving drought resilience. Supporters say it’s essential for a growing state; critics question the need for another fund and why voters must get involved.
Megan Kimble, political economy reporter for the Houston Chronicle, joins the Standard.
Military families brace for fallout from shutdown
Even though troops are still being paid, military families are struggling with financial uncertainty during the federal shutdown. Food pantries are seeing more visits, and many fear what’s next if the stalemate continues.
Steve Walsh of the American Homefront Project reports.
Canned Coke products recalled in Texas amid metal contamination
The Food and Drug Administration says Coca-Cola has recalled more than 70,000 products shipped across Texas after some consumers discovered metal fragments in cans. The recall affects several different kinds of Coke, including Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Sprite in 12-, 24- and 35-pack cans.
Representatives from the company told the “Today” show that the contamination occurred at a Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages bottling plant in Dallas. You can find the listed codes for affected products here.
San Antonio researchers take on the urban heat island
On San Antonio’s west side, where summer temperatures can top 120 degrees indoors, researchers are mapping heat risks and testing AI-powered solutions to help residents stay safe.
Esteban López Ochoa, associate professor of urban and regional planning at UT San Antonio, leads the study and joins the Standard.
East Texas is seeing a surge in mineral mining as companies explore new lithium deposits, a critical component in batteries that power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles. Support from the federal government is fueling the boom.
Dylan Baddour of Inside Climate News joins the Standard with more.
This week in Texas music history
During Halloween week in the Austin 1970s, artist Jim Franklin oversaw the annual ritual of the Pumpkin Stomp. Jason Mellard with The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University has the story:
A family fight over Bonnie and Clyde’s graves
Bonnie Parker’s niece has spent decades trying to have her aunt buried alongside Clyde Barrow in Dallas. The dispute touches on history, family and legacy nearly a century after their deaths.
Uwa Ede-Osifo of The Dallas Morning News joins Texas Standard with the story.
Could changes to federal IDEA special ed program be a prelude to gutting it?
The Trump administration wants to move a major program for students with disabilities out of the Department of Education as it works to shutter the department. Since 1975, the $15 billion IDEA program ensures that children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education. The proposed move has supporters on edge.
David DeMatthews, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy professor at UT-Austin, joins the show with the details.
