Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025:
Funding cuts put college access programs at risk
For more than 60 years, federal TRIO programs have helped millions of first-generation and low-income students attend college. But with funding delayed by the Trump administration, advocates worry about the future of these initiatives.
Silas Allen, education reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, joins the Standard with more.
After deadly floods, questions over Texas’ preparedness
The July 4th floods in Central Texas killed more than 130 people and left survivors questioning whether the state was adequately prepared. Lawmakers responded with a new package of disaster-readiness bills, but some experts say gaps remain.
The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey reports.
James Talarico ventures beyond Central Texas in Senate race
Democratic state Rep. James Talarico is bringing his message to voters as he campaigns for a U.S. Senate seat. The former teacher and seminary student has been criticizing the influence of wealthy donors and calling for political reform.
Houston Public Media’s Bianca Seward reports on his recent campaign events in the Houston area.
Remembering Robert Redford’s Texas ties
Actor and director Robert Redford is being remembered worldwide following his death, but his connections to Central Texas ran deeper than many knew. Redford supported Austin’s aquifer-fed Barton Springs swimming pool and the city’s environment while mentoring filmmakers through Sundance.
Austin-based filmmaker Laura Dunn, who worked closely with Redford, joins Texas Standard with more.
What black holes can teach us about the universe
A new scientific discovery confirms predictions by Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein about how black holes behave when they merge. The finding adds to our understanding of the cosmos and gravitational wave astronomy.
Aaron Zimmerman, associate professor of physics at UT Austin and member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, joins the Standard with more.
Rewriting history with “America, América”
A new book argues that U.S. history can’t be told without its deep ties to Latin America. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Greg Grandin highlights how the region helped shape America’s identity and the modern world.
Grandin, a professor of history at Yale University and author of “America, América: A New History of the New World,” joins Texas Standard with an overview.
Concerns grow over prison medical care in North Texas
Inmates at a Wichita Falls prison say they’ve been denied critical medication – leading to severe health consequences. More than 20 federal lawsuits have named a longtime nurse at the facility, raising questions about oversight and standards in Texas prisons.
Michelle Pitcher, staff writer for the Texas Observer, joins the Standard with the story.
