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A recent study from UT Dallas measuring affordability, neighborhood connectedness and unease about AI usage showed that North Texans are "less connected and less happy." Timothy Bray, project director for the North Texas Quality of Life Initiative and director of the Institute for Urban Policy Research at UT Dallas, said the survey’s guiding question was: “What does it take to make North Texas a place to call home?” He joins us to elaborate on the survey results.

Texas politicians are leading a push to kill the separation of church and state. Robert Downen is a senior writer for Texas Monthly who reported recently about how the movement, led by Lt Governor Dan Patrick, is gaining steam nationwide, and he joins us to talk about it. Plus, a Waxahachie couple has made a name for themselves with their collection of what they call "odd-ball things." Bruce and Julie Webb have operated the Webb Gallery in Waxahachie since 1994. Our video team paid a visit to their space for an episode of KERA's Arts Docs series.

Ron and Miranda breakdown the day's top headlines. Also, public school students who have special needs are entitled to special support from their school district. But some Fort Worth ISD parents say getting that support for their kids has become a full-time job. Fort Worth Report education editor Jacob Sanchez heard from them about what the district can do better, and he joins us to break it all down.

To get you ready for the day ahead, we gathered a panel of KERA politics reporters to talk us through what's to come. Penelope Rivera covers Tarrant County, Dylan Duke covers the city of Dallas and Caroline Love covers Collin County. They join us to break it all down. We'll also hear from North Texas voters about the issues that are most important to them. And who will run the state for the next four years, incumbent Republican Greg Abbott or Democrat Gina Hinojosa? The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey reports on what’s shaping that decision.

You don't have to look very far to see the influence of chef Tiffany Derry in North Texas -- from Roots Southern Table to Radici Wood-Fired Grill, and beyond. She is known by national audiences as one of Bravo's Top Chef's, host of the Food Network's Worst Cooks in America and a judge on MasterChef. She joins us to talk about expanding her Roots Chicken Shak concept to help aspiring restaurateurs become successful business owners.

The Cowboys lose a heartbreaker to the Arizona Cardinals in overtime. NTX Now executive producer Stephen Becker joins us to talk through what happened. Also, the week ahead on Think with Krys Boyd.

Dallas Wings CEO Greg Bibb joins us to talk about the future of the franchise -- including a move to the AAC next season.

Ken Paxton and James Talarico are nearing the end of a tight race for the the state's open U.S. Senate seat. KERA’s Caroline Love reports they’re vying for a role that may have limited capacity to make an impact. Plus, in North Texas, roughly 1.8 million people voted across Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. Tarrant County, long considered a political battleground for Texas, had more than half a million early voters. KERA's Penelope Rivera has more on what this county symbolizes for Texas. Also, this year, the U.S. Census Bureau declared that Fort Worth is officially the 10th largest city in America, just one spot behind Dallas. That has local leaders thinking about transportation. The Trinity Metro public transit agency just broke ground on a new TexRail stop in the Near Southside. Trinity Metro CEO Rich Andreski sat down with us to explain what he hopes to see next after this milestone.

Miranda and Ron run through some of the top stories of the week. Plus, this week we've been taking a closer look at increased food insecurity in North Texas. Jeff Finkelstein is the director of development for Grace Bridge Food Bank, and he was listening. He reached out to say the volunteers at Grace Bridge are seeing that need firsthand as they serve families throughout more rural communities in Collin, Denton and Grayson counties. He joins us along with Grace Bridge President and CEO Carter Morris.

A North Texas duo, Julie Fisk and Rebekah Black, have been digging into listener-submitted paranormal experiences on their podcast, Haunted AF, since 2019. They joined us recently in our studio to talk about some of their spooky experiences around North Texas.

Jess Hardin is the Texas bureau chief for The Real Deal, a national real estate publication. She investigated conditions at what she calls the worst apartment complexes in North Texas, and identified what they have in common. Plus, the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas recently released its State of the Texas Girl Report. Texas ranks 41st nationally in girls’ overall well-being and last in physical well-being. That raises questions about how we’re preparing girls to become the region’s future employees, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Jennifer Bartkowski is CEO of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, and she joins us to talk about ideas for improving the lives of girls.

Dolores Huerta, a pioneering labor organizer and civil rights icon who cofounded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez in the 1960s, died at 96, her family said in a statement Wednesday. Richard Gonzales of Sí Se Puede Committee of Tarrant County joins us to talk about her legacy. Plus, Dr. William Lawrence, retired dean of the Perkins School of Theology at SMU, joins us to talk about the split between Highland Park United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church.

Schools in the U.S. serve almost 30 million lunches every day. But with rising food costs, regulations and cuts to federal food benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, school kitchens are having to do more with less. Feeding Texas CEO Celia Cole joins us to talk about food insecurity among school-age children.

Ron breaks down the day's top headlines. Plus, four candidates are running to be the next Texas Comptroller who is basically the state's chief financial officer, accountant, auditor, and tax collector combined. A key issue in the race is the state's $1 Billion dollar school voucher program, which lawmakers could double in the next legislative session. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports the candidates are largely split on how to oversee that spending.

Denton is the Halloween capital of Texas, a title officially esteemed by the Texas legislature last year. The city celebrates Halloween all month long, transforming its downtown square into an interactive spooky exhibition that attracts about a million visitors to the area every year. Our video team paid a visit to Denton, where dozens of local artists have installations around downtown. Event organizers Josh Bryant and Delaney Smith Vaugh, as well as three artist duos who partnered up to create their Halloween haunts, joined them to explain how the month comes to be. Also, why do we like scary movies? Lance Lusk is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas who among many things specializes in film. He joins us to talk about how horror movies actually provide a safe space to process real-world fears.

Texas Democrats have a surprising target during these midterm elections: Collin County.It's where Texas Attorney General and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton got his political start. Texas Tribune Washington correspondent Gabby Birenbaum joins us to explain what's changed in Collin County. Plus, while it's definitely not the most talked about statewide race this year, the Texas Land Commissioner has a hand in everything from natural disaster recovery to helping fund the state's public schools. This year, Republican Dawn Buckingham is seeking a second term. The former state senator is the first woman to hold the job. Texas Public Radio's Brian Kirkpatrick looks at the incumbent's time in office and her Democratic challenger: Benjamin Flores, a newcomer to statewide politics.

Ron and Miranda breakdown the day's top headlines. Plus, inflation rose last month, and the latest federal data shows everyday food items are more expensive. That's an issue for Texas, which a study this summer showed is the most food insecure state in the country. All this week we're looking at food insecurity in North Texas. Today, KERA's Dylan Duke rides along with Minnie's Food Pantry in Plano to better understand the charities stepping in to help.

With Halloween on Saturday, this weekend offers plenty of opportunities to be scared. But if serenity is more your speed, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has you covered. Kurt Rongey from our sister station WRR101 spoke with the conductor of the orchestra about a program this weekend that matches music with masterworks from the Kimball Art Museum. Also, the historic Forest Theater in South Dallas celebrates its reopening this weekend. The nonprofit Forest Forward has led an estimated $80 million restoration and expansion project to bring the landmark back to life. KERA’s Zara Amaechi spoke with Forest Forward president and CEO Elizabeth Wattley about what it took to get here, and what the theater’s return could mean for South Dallas.

The Prairieland defendants lawyer up as America reacts to the shooting – and the shooting of a prominent conservative activist. Meanwhile, Trump’s Justice Department prepares the first terrorism case against “antifa.” But what is antifa? (NOTE: This episode contains the sound of gunfire and language inappropriate for children.)

In a little over a month, the Texas Supreme Court will hear arguments over whether a Dallas judge can temporarily block the city's ban on short-term rentals while a lawsuit challenging the regulations moves forward. We talk through the arguments in that lawsuit and what's at stake in this upcoming hearing with KERA's Dylan Duke. Plus, Texas families began receiving money from the state's new billion-dollar private school voucher program this summer, with another round of funding arriving earlier this month. Now, they're discovering how much they can buy beyond tuition. KERA's Sujata Dand takes a closer look at how the state oversees that spending. Also, KERA has been talking with North Texas voters ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election, and concerns about voting rights, transparency and access to information have been weighing on some of them. We hear from three North Texas residents who explain what worries them most about the voting process and why protecting the right to vote matters.