Today on Texas Standard: John Sharp explains why he is stepping down as Texas A&M chancellor

Here’s what’s coming up on Texas Standard on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Listen on your Texas Public Radio station or ask your smart speaker to play Texas Standard. Check back later today for updated news links and audio.

John Sharp explains why he is stepping down as Texas A&M chancellor

The longest-serving chancellor in the Texas A&M system is retiring. John Sharp earned his bachelor’s degree at A&M in 1972 before becoming a state legislator and comptroller. After assuming the top job in the A&M system in 2011, he was praised for boosting Texas A&M’s academic and athletic reputation.

Ahead of his retirement in 12 months’ time, Sharp joins the Standard today.

Texas residents can now ask if a company is using their data and provide what they are using

A new data privacy law went into effect in Texas on Monday. Patricia Ortiz of Houston Public Media reports that consumers can now request that companies delete information they have collected about them.

What does the Federal Reserve really know about interest rates?

The Federal Reserve has long operated under the theory that if you want to reduce inflation, the best way to do it is to raise interest rates. That theory was put to the test when inflation spiked to around 9% in 2022 and the Fed began raising rates.

While inflation has slowed, some parts of that theory may not hold up. Atlantic writer Rogé Karma says no one really knows how interest rates work. He joins Standard & Poor’s today.

Austin grill master who smokes meats with Egyptian flavors stars in Netflix’s ‘Barbecue Showdown’

Do you remember your first bite of Texas-style beef brisket? Kareem El-Ghayesh certainly does. In fact, that first bite was so inspiring that he moved from Egypt to the other side of the world to pursue his newfound passion for Texas-style barbecue in his home state.

Following the success of his KG BBQ food trailer, El-Ghayesh is now hoping to win over the judges on the new season of “Barbecue Showdown,” which premieres July 4 on Netflix. He joins The Standard with more news.

This photographer has been documenting the Cadillac Ranch for half a century.

Cadillac Ranch, as the famous installation west of Amarillo is known, was put together by a group of artists and architects called Ant Farm in 1974. For 50 years, people have stopped to look at or perhaps spray paint the cars on the side of the road.

Wyatt McSpadden has had the pleasure of photographing Cadillac Ranch from the beginning, and much of his work is now on display at the Amarillo Museum of Art’s “Cadillac Ranch at 50” exhibit. He joins us today with more details.

How out-of-state money alters Texas politics

Texas has long been a source of money for political candidates across the country, but it also attracts many wealthy and powerful donors from other states.

Where does out-of-state money in Texas politics come from and where does it go? Texas Monthly’s Alexandra Samuels joins the Standard with some answers.

All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom statewide roundup and Wells Dunbar with Talk of Texas.