Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
How Texas plans to power its AI data center boom
In the next few years, Texas could have more data centers than anywhere else in the world. The state will need energy to power those plants and several companies have plans to build gas-fired power plants to meet the need.
Houston Chronicle energy and grid reporter Claire Hao joins the Texas Standard to dig into what’s happening and how we got here.
Few answers over ICE custody death
It’s been just over a week since an Afghan asylum-seeker who aided U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan died in ICE custody in Dallas.
Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports the man’s family and U.S. veterans’ advocates are still waiting for answers.
Feds: No physical border walls for Big Bend Ranch State Park
Federal border officials said Monday that Big Bend Ranch State Park in West Texas may be spared from physical border walls.
Marfa Public Radio’s Mary Cantell reports the news comes after federal authorities briefed local officials on Big Bend-area border wall plans for the first time last week.
Fort Bend County Judge guilty in money laundering case
The leader of one of Texas’ fastest-growing counties was found guilty of two charges related to money laundering.
Fort Bend Star editor-in-chief Ken Fountain joins the Standard to break down the case.
Finding a last-minute sub for the Dallas Opera
The lead in a Dallas Opera performance fell ill recently — just hours before the curtain went up. Replacing him before showtime was no easy feat.
WRR’s Amy Bishop has the story.
Soccer ball art in Galveston ahead of FIFA World Cup
Galveston Island has five large fiberglass soccer balls to help promote its partnership with FIFA World Cup.
Houston Public Media’s Julianna Washburn talked with one of the local artists tasked with decorating a ball. The artist was inspired by a famous event in the island’s history: Juneteenth.
Taking a bus tour using San Antonio’s Green Book
The Negro Motorist Green Book helped segregation-era Black travelers navigate cities — including San Antonio. San Antonio’s African American Community Archive and Museum offers a bus tour based on it.
TPR’s Ivanna Bass Caldera climbed aboard.
Texas Supreme Court SpaceX cases to be heard in RGV
The Texas Supreme Court is taking two cases related to SpaceX’s use of Boca Chica beach to another venue: UTRGV’s Edinburg campus.
The Texas Standard checks in with Joe Pappalardo, who covered this story for Texas Monthly.
