Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
Corpus Christi voters to decide Fair Water Amendment
Corpus Christi voters will decide this November whether the city can charge large industrial water users significantly higher rates during drought. The citizen-led Fair Water Amendment comes as the region continues searching for long-term solutions to its water supply challenges, with additional revenue earmarked for water projects.
Inside Climate News reporter Dylan Baddour joins the Standard with the latest.
Flock camera backlash grows over privacy concerns
License plate-reading cameras from Flock Safety have spread rapidly across Texas and the country, giving law enforcement a powerful tool for tracking vehicles. But growing concerns about surveillance, data-sharing and misuse are prompting organized opposition and leading some cities to reconsider their contracts.
New York Times Texas editor Fernando Alfonso III joins the Standard with more.
Self-driving mobility vehicle offers new independence
A San Antonio woman with multiple disabilities recently tested a self-driving personal mobility vehicle designed to help people navigate more independently. The technology is part of a growing effort to make transportation and everyday movement more accessible for people whose disabilities can limit conventional mobility options.
Texas Public Radio’s Jackie Velez reports.
Elon Musk plans massive semiconductor factory in Grimes County
Tesla and SpaceX are investing billions in a massive semiconductor manufacturing complex northwest of Houston that would produce chips for technologies ranging from autonomous vehicles to rockets. The Grimes County facility will also rely heavily on its own natural gas power generation, highlighting the enormous energy demands of advanced manufacturing.
TechCrunch senior reporter Tim De Chant joins the Standard with more.
Why America’s growing pickup trucks can be more deadly
Pickup trucks have grown substantially larger over the past several decades, and new crash data show some of the biggest models are involved in fatal accidents at higher rates than other vehicles. Researchers point to weight, height and vehicle design as factors that can increase risks for others on the road.
Bloomberg columnist Justin Fox joins the Standard with more.
Buggin’ out with Wizzie Brown
Wizzie Brown is a program specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and our go-to insect expert. She joins with what’s buggin’ her.
San Antonio land bridge shows signs of wildlife success
Nearly six years after San Antonio’s Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge opened over a busy highway, researchers are getting a clearer picture of whether wildlife is actually using it. The structure was designed to reconnect sections of Phil Hardberger Park while creating a safer route for animals and people.
Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan reports.
The unwritten rules every Texan should know
From staying out of the left lane to saying “sir” and “ma’am,” Texas has plenty of unwritten rules that longtime residents may take for granted. The Talk of Texas explores the customs around driving, food and everyday manners that help define life in the Lone Star State.
Novelist and essayist Sarah Bird joins the Standard to help sort out the rules.
