Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
Trump moves to reopen trade talks with Canada and Mexico
President Donald Trump is again seeking to renegotiate the U.S. trade relationship with Canada and Mexico while imposing new tariffs on Canadian goods. The move raises questions about what happens after the current agreement expires and how businesses and consumers could be affected.
Economist and international trade expert Raymond Robertson, formerly of Texas A&M University, joins the Standard with more.
Paxton and Talarico test their messages in the Rio Grande Valley
Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are offering sharply different visions of Texas as they campaign for the U.S. Senate. Recent stops in the Rio Grande Valley offered a closer look at how both candidates are approaching a region that has shifted politically in recent elections.
Texas Monthly senior editor Allegra Hobbs joins the Standard with more.
Texas cities weigh safety rules for electric scooters
Electric scooters and other small electric vehicles are becoming a common part of transportation in North Texas. But their growing popularity has also brought concerns about crashes, traffic laws and how cities should regulate their use.
KERA’s Emily DeMotte reports.
Remembering Hurricane Harvey’s bass boat rescuers
When Hurricane Harvey inundated the Houston region in 2017, countless volunteers used personal boats to rescue people trapped by rising water.
Commentator W.F. Strong reflects on the ordinary Texans who became symbols of resilience during the disaster and why their response still resonates during another season of devastating floods.
Bonham Exchange faces shutdown over missing fire sprinklers
San Antonio’s Bonham Exchange could face closure unless the longtime LGBTQ nightclub installs a costly fire sprinkler system required by the city. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones previously pledged to help raise money for the upgrades, but the promised support has yet to materialize.
San Antonio Express-News City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez joins the Standard with the story.
New book recounts fishermen’s Gulf of Mexico survival story
In 2022, three fishermen were thrown into the Gulf of Mexico when their boat took on water, leaving them clinging to coolers while rescuers searched for them. A new book reconstructs the ordeal and the decisions that kept them alive.
Michael J. Tougias, author of “In Deep Water,” joins the Standard with more.
Kerrville couple rebuilds after a second year of flooding
Recent flooding has forced many Hill Country residents to confront the trauma and damage left by last summer’s disaster all over again. In Kerrville, one couple is rebuilding while coming to terms with the risks of living and working beside the Guadalupe River.
The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez reports.
