Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, June 12, 2026. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
A Texas Tech gambling case could test NCAA rules
A case involving Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is raising new questions about how college athletics should handle sports betting in the era of prediction markets and online wagering platforms. The dispute could test the NCAA’s longstanding ban on athletes betting on their own teams and may carry implications far beyond Texas Tech.
John Brice, who covers college football for USA Today, joins the Standard with more.
What to watch at the Texas GOP convention
Texas Republicans are gathering in Houston this week for the state party’s biennial convention, where activists, lawmakers and candidates will shape priorities ahead of the 2026 midterms. Party leaders are expected to focus on election strategy, internal unity and conservative policy goals after a contentious primary season.
The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey reports.
Two books examine tech and Austin’s changing identity
Austin’s transformation into a global technology hub has reshaped everything from housing costs to local culture. Two recent books — “The Cost of Cool” and “Lost in Austin” — explore how rapid growth, tech expansion and displacement have altered the city’s identity and raised broader questions about the future of American cities.
Authors Jon Roberts and Alex Hannaford join the Standard with more.
The military is exploring lab-grown food for troops
The U.S. military is investing in research that could allow troops to produce food in the field using microbes and alternative proteins. Supporters say the technology could reduce supply chain risks and make deployments more self-sufficient, though the science still faces major hurdles before it becomes practical on a large scale.
Jay Price of the American Homefront Project reports.
Femme Frontera marks 10 years in El Paso
The Femme Frontera Film Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary in El Paso with films, workshops and panels highlighting women and gender-expansive filmmakers from across the border region. Organizers say the festival has become an important space for independent voices and emerging artists in Texas filmmaking.
Festival co-director Jackie Barragan joins the Standard with more.
Typewriter Rodeo
The gang delivers another custom poem.
The week in Texas politics
The Texas Tribune’s Jasper Scherer joins the Standard with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics.
