Texas Standard · Raul Alonzo · September 8, 2026
Ben Barnes rose from a Central Texas peanut farm to become one of the most powerful figures in state politics, serving as Texas House speaker and lieutenant governor before turning to business and political advising. Now 88, Barnes reflects on LBJ, political power and lessons from his career in a new memoir, “Get It Done.”
By Texas Standard September 8, 2026 8:51 am Texas Standard Original , Whole Shows Graphic by Wells Dunbar
Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.
Ted Cruz tests the waters for another presidential run
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz may be considering another run for president in 2028, having recently traveled to Iowa and endeavored to distinguish himself from potential Republican rivals.
Wall Street Journal White House correspondent Natalie Andrews joins the Standard with more.
Texas targets businesses accused of promoting ‘birth tourism’
After the Supreme Court rejected an effort to restrict birthright citizenship, the Trump administration and Texas Republican leaders are turning their attention to businesses they say encourage pregnant foreigners to travel to the U.S. to give birth.
Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports on the crackdown on so-called “birth tourism.”
Federal staffing cuts leave farmers without conservation assistance
Farmers rely on the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for help managing soil, water and other resources, but workforce reductions are making that assistance harder to access. As part of federal cuts affecting agricultural communities nationwide, Texas lost about 15% of its NRCS staff last year.
Harvest Public Media’s Abigail Bottar reports.
Wally Funk spent decades breaking barriers in aviation before finally reaching space at age 82, becoming the oldest person at the time to make the journey. The North Texas pilot and member of the famed Mercury 13 died this summer at 87.
KERA’s Andy Lusk attended a recent celebration of Funk’s life and shares a report.
Gas prices remain high as summer driving season ends
Labor Day marked the end of the summer driving season with national gasoline prices averaging above $4 a gallon and Texas prices around $3.60. Oil markets are also navigating geopolitical uncertainty while the Atlantic hurricane season reaches its traditional peak.
Kpler director of commodity research Matt Smith joins the Standard with an update on energy markets.
Texas political legend Ben Barnes looks back on decades in the Capitol
Ben Barnes rose from a Central Texas peanut farm to become one of the most powerful figures in state politics, serving as Texas House speaker and lieutenant governor before turning to business and political advising. Now 88, Barnes reflects on LBJ, political power and lessons from his career in a new memoir, “Get It Done.”
Barnes joins the Standard for a wide-ranging conversation .
James Talarico campaigns for Senate votes in deep-red West Texas
West Texas has been reliably Republican for decades, but Democrat James Talarico is campaigning there as part of his statewide U.S. Senate bid against Republican Ken Paxton. His stops have focused on affordability and concerns about data center development, while local Republicans say major ideological differences remain .
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