Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
Why Hegseth summoned top military brass
The Pentagon summoned top generals and admirals from around the world to an in-person meeting in Virginia — an unheard-of move that raised eyebrows. The Washington Post reports Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the gathering on short notice, apparently for the assembled leadership to hear a brief speech.
Alex Horton, national security reporter for the Post, joins the Standard with more.
Church ESL classes see surge after policy shift
Church-based English classes are filling up fast this fall. A recent federal policy change limiting funding for some adult education programs based on immigration status has left many newcomers seeking alternatives.
Texas Standard producer Sarah Asch reports from a Waco church where volunteers are stepping in to meet the demand.
Electronic Arts, which has footprint in Austin, to be taken private
Electronic Arts, the maker of popular video games like “The Sims,” “Battlefield” and numerous titles under their EA Sports division, is being acquired to the tune of $55 billion.
Decommissioned missile silos once built to withstand nuclear war are finding new life in Texas. Some are even being restored as homes or historical sites – offering a glimpse into a tense chapter of U.S. history.
Samantha Bryant, who wrote about the trend for Texas Co-op Power Magazine, joins the Standard with the story.
Turmoil at Texas Funeral Service Commission
The state agency that regulates funeral homes is mired in controversy – from staff firings and lawsuits to allegations of anti-Muslim bias over a proposed North Texas development.
KERA’s Toluwani Osibamowo has been following the story and joins Texas Standard as part of our Drill Down series highlighting investigative reporting across the state.
This week in Texas music history
Jason Mellard with The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University celebrates the birth of bluesman Z. Z. Hill.
Abilene celebrates its railroading roots
The Abilene Railroad Festival is back, honoring the trains that helped shape the city’s identity. From historic locomotives to community events, the festival highlights a legacy that still resonates in West Texas.
KACU’s Alexsis Jones reports.
Yogurt Shop Murders case finally closed
After 34 years, Austin police say they’ve solved one of the city’s most infamous crimes: the Yogurt Shop Murders. New DNA evidence has linked the killings of four teenage girls in 1991 to a man who died decades ago.
Tony Plohetski of the Austin American-Statesman broke the story and joins the Standard with the details.
