Texas Wants to Know

Texas voters will return to the polls on Tuesday to vote in the state's primary election runoffs. Most of the races to watch are on the Republican side. SMU political science professor Matthew Wilson says Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are taking the unusual step of campaigning against incumbents in their own party.

On Saturday, Lubbock voters will head to the polls to decide whether or not to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in the city. It’s a step a handful of other Texas cities, including Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos have already taken. Mateo Rosiles, a reporter for the Lubbock Avalance-Journal, explains what's in Proposition A and how it could fare on May 4.

According to a new study, Texas is among the worst states in the country in which to own an electric vehicle. In fact, it’s the second worst, ahead of only Washington state, says the research team at EV Charger Reviews. The group used six factors to rank states – electric vehicles per charging port, charging ports per square mile, average electricity cost, money saved annually when owning an electric vehicle, EV per service center, and tax credits. Texas landed in the bottom 10 for three of the six, though it did rank 15th in average electricity cost. Earlier this month, Audacy’s quarterly conversation focused on the state of the environment. Jeff Gilbert of Audacy’s WWJ in Detroit spoke with analysts Stephanie Brinley of S&P Global Mobility and Sam Abuelsamid from Guidehouse Insights about the Motor City’s relationship with electric vehicles.

There are over 5,000 species of wildflowers in the Lone Star State. The most iconic one is the bluebonnet. Each spring, Texas explodes into colorful fields that residents love to see. Whether it's taking photos in the fields or stopping by the side of the road to appreciate the scenery, it has become a beloved aspect of Texan culture. So, Texas Wants to Know, how did bluebonnets, and wildflowers in general, become a part of Texas culture?

The Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars have not won a playoff series in the same season since 2003. This year, the Mavericks finished fifth in the Western Conference and will take on the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, while the Stars won the Western Conference and will play either the Los Angeles Kings or the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 1. Chris Arnold, the Mavericks' game night emcee at the American Airlines Center and a host on 105.3 The Fan, and Gavin Spittle, the brand manager at 105.3 The Fan and the host of the Spits and Suds podcast, joined Texas Wants to Know to explain why this could be the first time in 21 years both teams get out of the first round.

Partnering with EarthX, KRLD will host Audacy Conversations: The State of the Environment to talk more about the environment and offer tips to keep the Earth clean. We spoke with one of our anchors, Austin York who reported a story about the use of solar power and how efficient it can be. How does solar energy fit into the Texas power supply?

In mid-March, Pornhub stopped service in Texas after a dispute the company says infringes on adults’ rights to access protected speech. According to the Texas Tribune, the site sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton last year “to block enforcement of a 2023 state law that requires websites that host pornography to institute age-verification measures and display health warnings on its pages." So how do the new law, Pornhub, and the First Amendment fit together?

For weeks leading up to Monday's total solar eclipse, North Texans were warned about the traffic on major highways with hundreds of thousands of people projected to descend on Dallas-Fort Worth. But those traffic jams never materialized as the moon moved past the sun and eclipse watchers went on about their days. Did people heed warnings from the Texas Department of Transportation? Did the severe weather in the forecast keep more people at home? Or was it a combination of things? To find out, Texas Wants to Know talked to KRLD's Alan Scaia, who was at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park for an eclipse event, and TxDOT spokesperson Tila Grant.

As many as 1 million people could descend on Texas this weekend to see the total solar eclipse on Monday. Cities along the path of totality, like Del Rio and Hillsboro, will host festivals in an effort to capitalize on the phenomenon, which hasn't happened in Texas since 1878. What will the influx of visitors mean for communities in the path of totality? Dr. Cullum Clark of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative says it could make a big impact, but it will be short-lived, while organizers of the Cosmic Cowboy Eclipse Festival in Hillsboro and the Solar Eclipse Fest in Del Rio say they anticipate a boost to hotels and businesses in their cities. In Bell County, which is in Central Texas, Judge David Blackburn made headlines in February when he preemptively declared a state of emergency. He also joins Texas Wants to Know to explain the decision.

You’ve probably heard by now, but on April 8, a total solar eclipse will cover a large swath of Texas. This space phenomenon doesn’t happen often and there’s a reason. We spoke with Leticia Ferrer. She's the host of the podcast Totality Talks and the author of the book Texas Solar Eclipse.

Immigration has always been an issue in politics. However, in recent months Texas has been at a standstill with the federal government for border protection laws and policy. According to The New York Times, since 2021, Texas has sent National Guard troops and state police officers along the Texas and Mexico border. So how much money is this costing Texas?

The back-and-forth over Texas Senate Bill 4 is just the latest in a series of border security disputes between the state and the federal government. This week's episode of Texas Wants to Know digs into who's responsible for what when it comes to the border. UNT Dallas College of Law professor and former U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Texas Brian Owsley says control of the border is ultimately a federal responsibility. Jeremy Wallace, a political reporter for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News, adds that covering the border requires more nuance than we often give it.

Originating in South Texas, the first time Tex-Mex food was brought into Texas was around the 1800s. Since then, many entrepreneurs and chefs have taken the cuisine into the booming restaurant. The traditional Mexican cuisine shapes Texas’ culinary heritage, but Mexico is a huge country. There are different foods from different regions. This week, Texas Wants to Know how those varying cuisines impact Tex Mex.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday extended a freeze on Texas’ Senate Bill 4. The stay will last until March 18th. During this time, the court will consider whether or not it will allow Texas to enforce the bill, which would make crossing the border illegally a crime. The first offense would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, and additional offenses could result in a second-degree felony with a punishment of two to 20 years. Texas wants to know, what’s the latest on SB4?

Texans cast their ballots in the primary election on Tuesday night, awarding the state's Republican presidential primary to former President Donald Trump and selecting U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Dallas) to oppose U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R) in November. But Republican strategist Vinny Minchillo of Glasshouse Strategy explains why the night's big winner was actually Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

Crews in the Texas Panhandle are fighting the largest wildfire in state history. The Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned about 1.1 million acres and as of Monday afternoon was just 15% contained.

Texas is one of 15 states, along with one U.S. territory, that will hold its primary election on Super Tuesday, March 5. Depending on which primary voters decide to cast a ballot in, they'll choose between former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for the Republican presidential nomination, or, in the Democratic primary, form among 10 candidates in the race to oppose U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

It’s tax season, everyone’s favorite time of the year. U.S. citizens are getting ready to file their taxes, but not everyone has the same process. Those living in Texas have a couple of advantages. Texas is one of nine states in the U.S. that do not have a state income tax. But what does that mean exactly? Texas Wants to Know, what are some tax advantages we should know about.

Texans reported the second-highest number of puppy scams in the nation in 2023. A puppy scam is when someone looking to adopt a puppy online doesn't receive their promised pet after paying for it. According to the Better Business Bureau, Americans lost over $1 million to puppy scams in 2023. So, Texas Wants to Know, why we have so many scams and what’s being done to mitigate them.

Texas drivers have become accustomed to seeing highway signs that read "All you need is love and a seatbelt" or "Only Rudolph should drive lit." But earlier this year, the Federal Highway Administration announced new guidelines discouraging the use of "punny" messages on those signs. To learn more about the effectiveness of these signs and why the Federal Highway Administration is discouraging them, Texas Wants to Know visited with Dr. Kara Kockelman, the Dewitt Greer Centennial Professor of Transportation Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.