Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
As government shutdown drags on, Texas economy feels the strain
As the government shutdown enters its fifth week, its impact on Texas is deepening – from unpaid federal workers to suspended economic data and pressure on ports. SNAP benefits are also set to expire for millions.
Raymond Robertson, director of the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics and Public Policy at Texas A&M University, joins Texas Standard with more on the impact:
Inside ICE operations at Travis County jails
New reporting reveals that immigration agents are making frequent visits to Austin-area jails, taking people into custody multiple times a day. The practice, largely hidden from public view, reflects a wider national crackdown.
KUT News’ Mose Buchele reports for The Texas Newsroom.
Step into Quentin Tarantino’s and Robert Rodriguez’s ‘Grindhouse’
Texas Standard has been showcasing horror movies with Texas ties all October, and today it’s “Grindhouse,” the double feature from Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino filmed across Central Texas. Fangoria’s Jason Kauzlarich saves us an aisle seat:
Texas police chases and the push for accountability
Police pursuits can be deadly, yet Texas lacks statewide standards for when or how they’re conducted; only a handful of states even track the data.
KERA News’ Caroline Love reports from Minnesota, where accountability rules offer a potential model for reform.
Helping immigrants with degrees find the right jobs
Immigrants with college degrees often still struggle to find work that matches their training. Adult education programs across Texas are helping these professionals reconnect with their fields, from engineering to health care, and rebuild their careers.
Texas Standard’s Sarah Asch reports.
Tim Duncan’s story comes home to Texas screens
A new documentary, “The Boy from Saint Croix,” offers an intimate look at San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan, blending family memories, rare footage and Cruzian pride.
Director Scott Duncan, Tim’s older brother, joins the show to discuss how he brought the project and their shared story to life.
Houston’s plan for a new homeless service hub
Houston Mayor John Whitmire wants to open a large service center for unhoused residents in East Downtown, a key piece of his plan to reduce street homelessness. But local pushback could complicate the effort.
Dominic Anthony Walsh of Houston Public Media reports.
