Texas Standard · Raul Alonzo · September 9, 2026
Republicans are gathering in Dallas for an unusual midterm convention designed to rally supporters and raise money ahead of November. Texas is home to a closely watched U.S. Senate race and remains an important source of Republican campaign cash, making the state a natural setting for the gathering.
By Texas Standard September 9, 2026 8:46 am Texas Standard Original , Whole Shows Illustration by Wells Dunbar/Texas Standard
Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Sept. 9. 2026. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
Abbott proposal targets Austin and San Antonio’s city-owned utilities
Gov. Greg Abbott wants Texas to dismantle municipally owned electric utilities and introduce more retail competition, arguing customers could save money. Austin and San Antonio officials say their utilities already offer competitive rates and warn deregulation could cost cities hundreds of millions in revenue while raising bills.
Texas Tribune economy and industry reporter Paul Cobler joins the Standard with more.
Dallas GOP convention highlights Texas’ fundraising power
Republicans are gathering in Dallas for an unusual midterm convention designed to rally supporters and raise money ahead of November. Texas is home to a closely watched U.S. Senate race and remains an important source of Republican campaign cash, making the state a natural setting for the gathering.
The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey reports.
Houston researchers receive $3 million to build better magnets
Researchers at the University of Houston and Rice University have received nearly $3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop improved magnets. The technology is essential to products ranging from phones and headphones to advanced energy systems, and researchers hope the work can improve performance while strengthening domestic manufacturing.
Houston Public Media’s Michael Adkison reports.
AI could make property tax protests easier for Texas homeowners
Texas homeowners can challenge their property tax assessments, but lower-income and less-educated residents are less likely to do so. A new experiment in Dallas County tested whether AI chatbots could help close that gap by guiding homeowners through the appeal process.
University of Michigan economist Justin Holz joins the Standard to explain the findings, AI’s limitations and more.
West Texas maternal care shortages force long drives for treatment
More than two-thirds of counties across West Texas are considered maternal healthcare deserts, leaving some pregnant patients hours away from prenatal and obstetric care. The shortage of providers can complicate routine appointments and make emergencies especially dangerous in rural communities.
Millions of monarch butterflies are beginning their annual migration south through the central United States toward Mexico. A decade ago, a federal effort aimed to restore native roadside habitat along their route, creating a so-called Monarch Highway.
Harvest Public Media’s Rachel Cramer reports on what became of the plan.
San Antonio bars expand nonalcoholic drink options
Younger adults are drinking less alcohol, and bars and restaurants are adjusting. In San Antonio, more businesses are adding sophisticated nonalcoholic cocktails and other options for customers who still want the social experience of going out without drinking.
Texas Public Radio’s Jerry Clayton reports.
High electricity costs contribute to senior heat deaths in the RGV
Extreme heat is especially dangerous for older adults, but staying cool can be expensive. New reporting from the Rio Grande Valley examines rising at-home deaths among seniors and the role of “energy poverty,” when utility costs consume a large share of household income.
Public Health Watch staff writer Gina Jiménez joins the Standard with more.
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