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A former U.S. ambassador to Mexico who's also a fifth-generation Mexican American has a vision for a more inclusive approach to politics. Ken Salazar has also served as a U.S. senator and secretary of the interior. His new book is called "Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America," and it maps out a vision for more unity with our neighboring nations in a time when the U.S. is being defined by our division.

We're no strangers to talking about barbeque on this show, but how often can you eat a variety of smoked meats while supporting your local food banks? Well, this weekend, you can! Texas Monthly's BBQ Homecoming takes place this Saturday in Grand Prairie, and attendees can try a variety of items from seven different vendors. Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn joins us to talk through what to expect this weekend. 

Bekah and Ron breakdown the day's top stories. Plus, after a record-breaking September for triple-digit temps, and the buzz around El Nino this year, we wanted to check in with our favorite weather professional, Jesse Hawila, senior meteorologist at WFAA.

Thousands of Texas families are waiting for help paying for childcare, but government payments don’t always cover the full cost. As KERA’s Sujata Dand reports, even families who get that help can struggle to find care they can afford. Also, after more than four decades at the helm, a North Texas musical era is coming to a close as Plano Symphony Orchestra music director Hector Guzman steps down at the end of this season. But filling his shoes won't happen overnight; the orchestra is using its entire season as a public audition process for five finalists from around the globe, with the first concert set for Saturday. Amy Bishop from our sister station WRR previews the candidates vying to lead the Plano Symphony into its next chapter. 

In Carrollton, a heated debate is expected tonight as the city council decides whether to renew its contract with Flock Safety. KERA's breaking news report Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela joins us with the details. Also, a coalition of advocacy groups is suing to block the Trump administration from deploying ICE agents to polling sites in November. Plus, social media algorithms are great at using a person's viewing habits to feed them personalized, targeted content. But researchers at UT-Dallas found they can also have a negative impact on users' mental health, even if they themselves don't realize it. Dr. Alva Tang is an assistant professor of psychology and one of the authors of a study published this summer, and she joins us to talk about the study. 

Believe it or not, Texas high schools are already gearing up for homecoming season. With the formal attire, flowers, dinner and everything else associated with the event, it can be an expensive undertaking. But the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District is working to help families cut down on costs. 

Julia and Ron breakdown the day's top headlines. Also, ocean temperatures in the Gulf are running about two degrees warmer than normal. Those warming temperatures can harm coral reefs, with ripple effects to sea life and the economy. Houston Public Media’s Julianna Washburn reports researchers are closely monitoring reefs as the Gulf endures some of its hottest weeks of the summer. 

Farmers across the country are losing access to federal workers that help them with soil and water conservation efforts. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has been hit hard by the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce, and Texas lost 15 percent of its staff last year. Harvest Public Media’s Abigail Bottar reports on how that’s impacting farmers. Plus, If you've been considering taking your hiking game to the next level with a mountain climb, training -- even for a moderate mountain climb -- is key. KERA Photojournalist Yfat Yossifor has become our correspondent for all things nature and outdoors, and she recently chronicled her mountain climb and the training that went into it -- and it's no joke. 

According to a new investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, Ken Paxton appears to have violated federal ethics laws when filing disclosures about his assets and liabilities. We talked with reporter Zach Despart, who was one of the reporters involved in this project. And in the aftermath of a major fire in Sand Branch, residents say no one was hurt and property damage was minimal. But the community still lacks basic resources to keep future emergencies at bey. KERA's Andy Lusk visited after the fire.

Like so many brick and mortar shopping centers and malls across the country, The Shops At Willow Bend in Plano has permanently closed. D Magazine's senior editor Mike Piellucci joined us to talk about the mall's closure and how it hit especially close for his family.

When it finally gets here, the fall will bring cooler temperatures, as well as the usual seasonal illnesses: flu, COVID, strep throat, RSV and, of course, the common cold. In today’s Vital Signs, KERA’s Sam Baker talks with Dr. Donna Casey, an internist with Texas Health Dallas, about why this happens. Plus, Julia and Ron breakdown the day's top headlines. 

While many restaurants are facing challenges, a new pizza shop is thriving. Will and Julie Salisbury opened Salisbury's Pizza and joined us to discuss how they are finding success by focusing on affordability. Plus, Krys Boyd joins us for a look ahead at what's on Think this week. 

KERA's managing editor Paul Debenedetto joins us to recap what happened over the course of the two-day Republican midterm convention in Dallas. Also, Sep. 11, 2026 marks 25 years since the deadliest attack on the United States in living memory. The attacks cost the lives of several people with ties to Texas, and at least one Houston firefighter helped at Ground Zero in NYC after the attacks. 

25 years ago, tragedy struck the United States. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost, history was forever changed, and the America we know now continues to be shaped by the actions of government leaders following this attack. Jeffery Engle, the David Gergen Director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University, joined us to discuss where the United States is at, 25 years after the Sept. 11 attacks. 

Ron and Bekah run down the top stories this week. Plus, Cam Hazzard from Lewisville is a senior finishing up a triple major at Abilene Christian University. He's also a world champion dunker. KACU’s Josiah Wonnell talked with him about the 2026 Dunkman Championship. 

The Republican midterm convention kicked off in Dallas yesterday, with speeches from state representative Brandon Gill, Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton, and President Donald Trump. NPR's Tamara Keith & KERA's Caroline Love join us to talk through day one of the convention, and what to expect today.

According to the CDC, people experiencing homelessness are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, but getting help for those conditions is not easy when you’re also dealing with a lack of housing, money, and food. Doctors at Baylor University Medical Center have joined other physicians around the country to bring medical treatment directly to the forests and underpasses where their patients live. One of the team’s leaders, Dr. John Garrett, says this is the first program of its kind in Dallas. He joined us to reflect on the Street Medicine team's progress so far.

The ongoing debate over data center development in Texas could be a decisive factor in the upcoming governor’s race between Republican incumbent Greg Abbott and Democrat Gina Hinojosa. Some rural Texas voters who have voted Republican in the past are now “breaking rank” from the GOP because of the party’s response to rapid data center growth. KERA’s Pablo Arauz Peña lays out the issue for us. Plus, a roundup of what's happening in North Texas sports this week. 

Tomorrow marks 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City. An acclaimed musician will commemorate that day in Coppell this weekend through a live story, music, and theatre performance featuring a FDNY firefighter and army combat veteran.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has a new creative director -- a familiar name to fans of the DSO. Enrico Lopez-Yanez is also the principal conductor of pops and specials. Emilio Alvarez with our sister station WRR sat down with Lopez-Yanez to learn more about him and what's in store for the current season. Plus, 2026 has not been the year of the restaurant. The industry is facing rising real estate costs, inflation and stiffer competition from large corporate restaurants. D Magazine's Brian Reinhart has done a deep dive on these tough times, and we invited him in to share more on what's driving these closures and what can be done to help some of your favorite spots survive. 

Ron and Miranda breakdown the day's top headlines. Plus, COVID-19 infections and emergency room visits are on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Texas is one of 47 states where COVID infections are growing. Dr. Trish Perl is a professor in the department of internal medicine at UT-Southwestern Medical Center who specializes in infectious diseases. She recently told us that North Texas is currently in the early days of a “seasonal epidemic.” 

If you go back 50 or 60 years, Texas was the wild west when it came to government officials working closed door backroom deals, which often included payoffs. Then a public outcry led to the Texas Public Information Act. The law guarantees citizens the right to request and read government records, ranging from investigation reports to e-mails between politicians. But as journalist Nicholas Gutteridge went pursuing government documents, he found the law has been hollowed out over time. 

The GOP's first-ever midterm convention gets underway in Dallas today. To many, the RNC choosing Texas for this convention makes sense. We’re home to one of the year’s most-watched U.S. Senate races. And, arguably as important, Texas is a top source for GOP campaign cash. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey reports on what makes the state such a Republican fundraising powerhouse, and what motivates the party’s donors, both large and small. And NPR political reporter Stephen Fowler joins us to talk through what he'll be watching out for on Day 1.

Republicans are gathering in Dallas tomorrow to hear from an influential and polarizing national leader -- and it’s not the first time that’s happened. But the city, and the political landscape, have changed. Executive editor Ed Timms and Collin County reporter Caroline Love join us for a conversation about the RNC coming to Dallas this week and a look back at the 1984 GOP convention.

Foreclosure starts in North Texas are outpacing the nation, but the headline doesn't tell the whole story.  Our housing market is stronger than you would think according to a real estate expert who puts the numbers into perspective. 

The Fourteenth Amendment grants U.S. citizenship to virtually anyone born in the United States, regardless of the legal status of the parents. The Supreme Court confirmed that earlier this year, striking down an effort by President Trump to limit birthright citizenship by executive order. Now, Trump and Texas Republican leaders are targeting businesses that they say encourage people to come to the U.S. to give birth and obtain that citizenship for their children. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider looks at these efforts to crack down on alleged “birth tourism.” Also, Texas is trying to expand access to preschool by encouraging school districts to partner with private childcare centers. But as KERA’s Sujata Dand reports, some longtime Dallas providers say the school district that’s supposed to be their partner is also becoming their competition.

The eastern monarch butterfly is flying south, through the central U.S., to spend the winter in Mexico. A decade ago, a federal task force laid out a plan to help monarchs along their journey by returning roadsides to native habitat. Harvest Public Media’s Rachel Cramer explores what happened to the “Monarch Highway.” Also, 60 years ago today "Star Trek" aired for the first time. North Texas fans of the show in all its iterations have a chance to celebrate on Saturday with Boldly Going to Garland, a film festival with episode and movie screenings, trivia competitions, a costume contest and more. Festival director Kelly Kitchens joined us to tell us all about it. 

According to a report this spring, North Texas is the No. 1 primary data center market in the world. These are large facilities that house the servers needed to power artificial intelligence. KERA's growth and infrastructure reporter Pablo Arauz Peña teamed up with our partners at the Fort Worth Report and the Denton Record-Chronicle to create a comprehensive map of the data centers in a city near you. Also, the 2026 Republican midterm convention is just around the corner, and some GOP leaders are calling it “truly historic.” For the first time in more than 40 years, it will be hosted in Dallas, a Democratic-leaning city as opposed to its more historically GOP-friendly neighbor Fort Worth. KERA's Penelope Rivera reports on why Republicans may have picked Dallas and what this symbolizes for Texas with the midterm elections in November. And so far, the Ross Fire burning west of Fort Worth has scorched more than 90 thousand acres of land as record-breaking drought conditions and extreme heat continue to plague North Texas. We also now know that the blaze was human caused. To get a little bit more information, we called the state agency that oversees wildfire response in Texas. 

Ron, Miranda and Bekah break down the week's top headlines.

The city of Dallas budget deficit has forced the Dallas Public Library system to make some difficult choices about the programs it offers. Adult learning programs, including classes that teach English as a second language, are on the chopping block. For volunteer English teacher Kathy Wooten, the loss hits especially hard. She joined us to talk about why the library should keep these classes. Also, are you ready for some football? Well, never fear, our friends John Fields and Brett Vito cover sports for the Denton Record-Chronicle and join us for a preview of what's in store this season. 

Inflation continues to rise above the federal reserve's 2% target. The Iran War, tariffs, a trade war with Canada are just a few things driving up the cost of gas, groceries, and other daily essentials. We talked to Gbenga Ajilore Chief Economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities about what's fueling inflation and what could be done to combat it. Plus, Ron moderated a panel in July about Dallas's economic vitality and future workforce. We walk through the highlights. And, while the U.S. Senate fight has drawn national attention, there’s another contest on the fall ballot that’s just as consequential for Texans — the race to succeed GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton as state attorney general.

The Northern District of Texas has long been a destination for conservative interest groups to file cases. Increasingly, the Justice Department is following suit. That has given one judge in particular a lot of influence over huge federal policy decisions. Reporter Mattathias Schwartz examined Reed O'Connor's court for The New York Times.

Miranda and Ron break down the day's top headlines. Plus, North Texas aviation pioneer Wally Funk notched a final career milestone when she went to space at 82 years old. It was the capstone to a lifetime of achievements. Funk died this summer and KERA's Andy Lusk learned more about her from loved ones at her celebration of life this week. 

If you want to insult someone, tell them their contributions to a conversation or a project are frivolous — silly or meaningless. Jehanne Dubrow is a poet, essayist, and professor of creative writing at the University of North Texas. She explores this concept in her new book, "Frivolity: A Defense." Plus, you don't have to break the bank to see a professional soccer match in North Texas. The women's soccer club Dallas Trinity FC is now in its third season in the Gainbridge Super League. KERA’s Alexsis Jones and Therese Powell take us inside the Cotton Bowl for a match. 

 Tuesday evening, the Dallas Police Department announced it would stop using 321 cameras, a decision made after state funding for the Flock program was halted by Gov. Abbott. KERA city hall reporter Megan Cardona joins us to break it all down. And in Wylie, a citizen-led campaign to end the city's contract with Flock turned out to be successful. Austin Gregory, who founded DeFlock Wylie, joins us to explain how this all unfolded. Plus, Tarrant County Commissioners voted yesterday to cut nearly a third of election day polling places. Penelope Rivera joins us to explain what this means. 

Next week's Republican midterm convention in Dallas takes place in the same city that helped give rise to the Bush political dynasty. George W. Bush and his family still live here in Preston Hollow. Still, as KERA’s Bill Zeeble reports, many policies championed by George Bush Sr. and George W. Bush are noticeably absent from today's GOP. Plus, Eugene Daniels is a Texas native, former White House Correspondents Association president and now co-host of The Weekend on MS NOW. He joins us to talk about key midterm races in Texas ahead of a MS Now event happening in Dallas later this month. 

Ramped up immigration and deportation enforcement efforts by the Trump administration have changed life for Latinos in North Texas, with some worrying they may be targeted, even if they are U.S. citizens. Some have begun changing their regular behaviors to avoid any potential run-ins with ICE. Plus, Miranda and Ron breakdown the day's top headlines. 

Aristo Sham, gold medalist of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, makes his return to the Bass Hall to open the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-2027 season September 11-13. He catches us up on life since the competition win. Also, Fort Worth Star-Telegram food reporter Bud Kennedy discusses the intersection of food and politics reporting and how he juggles the two. 

KERA's nature correspondent and photographer Yfat Yossifer tells us about a camping site in North Texas you should check out. Plus, our friends at the Denton Record-Chronicle walk us through the paper's football guide for the season ahead.

Ron and Miranda breakdown the day's top headlines. Plus, we highlight a North Texas non-profit whose mission is to increase volunteerism and encourage giving back to the community by helping volunteers find the right charity.

Debra Tagg is president of BSF Advisory Group, a wealth management firm. She joins us to discuss a transfer of wealth and why women may be in control of more money in the coming years. 

In January, Texas had 1,600 pending Medicaid applications. In August, that number was more than 210,000. The wait for food assistance, or SNAP, also grew exponentially. KERA health reporter Abigail Ruhman joined us to talk through the data. Plus, with no delegates and no official nominating to do, what's the purpose of a midterm convention? KERA's James Hartley asked a variety of experts and political scientists. Also, some new Texas laws take effect today. Three of the most notable changes involve electronic repairs, residential solar sales and the use of gold and silver as money.

KERA's Penelope Rivera fills us in on a weekend press conference at which James Talarico and Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons discussed the new list of polling locations released by County Judge Tim O'Hare. She also previews of Tarrant County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. And the Fort Worth Report's Cecil Lenzen talks about a new report that shows voter fraud in Tarrant County is not as big of a deal as some politicians make it out to be. 

Shenita Cleveland is no stranger to community activism. If her name rings a bell, you may know her from her two runs for Congress in 2020 and 2022. But she's been gaining traction online recently, after she took to the streets... literally. She has become a pothole watchdog. We've come to call her Dallas's Pothole Vigilante. She joined us to talk more about her work getting city leaders to pay attention to the issue.

A new study found a blood test could identify cancer recurrence in women months before the standard follow up scan. But Austin-based oncologist and breast cancer specialist Dr. Debra Patt says there is a caveat. She talked through that with KERA's morning newscaster Sam Baker. Plus, Ron and Miranda breakdown the day's top headlines. 

President Donald Trump recently announced that beef from abroad would be tax-exempt and bought at 25 percent below market price. Some North Texas ranchers say that will "brutally" impact them. The Dallas Observer's Jordan Maddox spoke to some of those ranchers. She and Lauren Drewes Daniels joined us to talk through the impacts of this move. Also, what's coming up this week on Think? Krys Boyd joins North Texas Now for a preview.

Our friends at KXT spun vinyl live on air yesterday. We spoke with Benji McPhail and Jackson Wisdorf on the logistics of doing this special programming, as well as reflecting on some recent musician deaths. Plus, Miranda & Ron reflect on what they learned this week, and what they're looking forward to for next week. 

A trip to the grocery store has gotten a lot more expensive in recent years. Ground beef, tomatoes and coffee have all seen big spikes, and those higher prices can be especially hard on older adults with fixed incomes. Harvest Public Media contributor Nicole Grundmeier spoke with seniors about the tough choices they’re often forced to make. Plus, more than a million and half students started class at public high schools in Texas this month. The reality is, not all of them will graduate. For those who drop out, the GED can be a stepping stone to higher education or better job prospects. The Texas Standard’s Sarah Asch decided to dig into the history of the test and what it takes to pass it.

Ron, Miranda and Bekah run down the top stories from this week.

According to the National Weather Service, the Ross Fire currently burning in Palo Pinto and Jack counties is now the second largest wildfire in this region's recorded history. As of yesterday, no one has been injured, though livestock deaths have been reported, and the Worth Ranch Boy Scout Camp experienced catastrophic damage. The Fort Worth Report's Nicole Lopez tells us the latest on the fire's progress. Also, Jeffrey L. Hogan, Acting Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Irving, joins us to talk about recent fires his department has fought, how fighting structure fires differs from fighting wildfires and what people can do to be fire safe during dry seasons.