Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
James Talarico faces questions over voter registration address
New reporting raises questions about whether U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico voted using his parents’ address after buying a nearby home. The issue follows similar scrutiny of Republican opponent Ken Paxton and could test how Texas law defines residence for voting purposes.
Kayla Guo, who covers state politics for The Texas Tribune, joins the Standard with more.
Border wall construction poised to begin in Big Bend National Park
Construction vehicles have arrived in Big Bend National Park as the Trump administration moves forward with a major border wall project. The planned work has prompted concerns about environmental damage, including potential impacts on a mountain landscape, while opponents question whether there is still time to stop it.
Marfa Public Radio reporter Mary Cantrell joins the Standard with more.
Could Texas ban ‘surveillance pricing?’
A new law set to go into effect next year bars grocery stores in New Jersey from setting prices based on any given shopper’s personal data. What are the chances something similar could happen in Texas?
CNET’s Omar Gallaga joins the Standard with the scoop.
Fort Worth theater collective SceneShop takes its final bow
After three decades of bringing local writers and actors together, Fort Worth theater collective SceneShop is preparing for its final performance. Co-founder Steven McGaw says the group’s 30-year mark felt like the right time to close, ending a long-running space for original work and artistic collaboration.
KERA’s Marcheta Fornoff reports.
Tacos of Texas previews its sixth podcast season
For five seasons, the Tacos of Texas podcast has used food to explore culture, resilience and connection across the state. Its upcoming sixth season promises new communities, unexpected stories and another look at how tacos reflect the people who make and eat them.
Host Mando Rayo and producer Louise Van Assche join the Standard with more.
Syrian refugee family builds a new life through Austin coffee shop
Youssef Shabo fled Syria after civil war disrupted his education and threatened to force him into military service. Years later, he reunited with his family in the United States, where they now operate an Austin coffee shop inside a laundromat.
Hear their story today on the show.
Waterloo Records keeps live music alive after Austin move
Waterloo Records has moved to a new location after more than four decades at its longtime Austin home, but its tradition of hosting in-store performances continues. The independent record shop’s commitment to live music remains central as new ownership and development pressures reshape a beloved local institution.
The Texas Standard’s Porshea Goins reports.
Ted Cruz bill would reshape college sports rules
The U.S. Senate is nearing a vote on the Protect College Sports Act, a sweeping bill sponsored by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. The legislation would regulate media rights, conference realignment, coaching moves and athlete compensation as Congress considers a larger role in college athletics.
USA Today college sports insider John Brice joins the Standard with more.
