Deep In The Heart Of (A Transforming) Texas

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Long before he was president, Lyndon Johnson taught in Cotulla, Texas. He is pictured here with students in 1928. Courtesy of LBJ Library hide caption

itoggle caption Courtesy of LBJ Library

LBJ Carried Poor Texas Town With Him In Civil Rights Fight

April 11, 2014 • Lyndon Johnson taught in the South Texas town of Cotulla in 1928. Even as president, he always remembered the grinding poverty of his students.

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South Texas Oil Brings Boom — As Well As Pollution's 'Toxic Soup'

April 11, 2014 • While the South Texas oil boom has meant a flood of cash and people to formerly impoverished communities, there have also been serious repercussions — namely, rampant air pollution.

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This nighttime NASA satellite image from 2012 shows lights from drilling sites and natural gas flaring along the Eagle Ford Shale. NASA hide caption

itoggle caption NASA

Drilling Frenzy Fuels Sudden Growth In Small Texas Town

April 10, 2014 • The boom has brought unexpected prosperity — and many new problems — to Cotulla. It's in the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale area, which has quickly become the nation's No. 2 oil-producing region.

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Courtesy of O. Rufus Lovett

The Picture Show

Scenes And Sorrows: A Portrait Of Weeping Mary

April 2, 2014 • The rural Texas town was established as a "freedom colony" with land given to former slaves after the Civil War. O. Rufus Lovett photographed Weeping Mary and its residents for 11 years.

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Bicycles and pedicabs along a dedicated bike lane in Austin, Texas. Elise Hu/NPR hide caption

itoggle caption Elise Hu/NPR

Cycling's Catching On In Texas, For A Very Texas Reason

April 2, 2014 • Texans overwhelmingly choose cars and trucks for their commutes, but in cities like Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, policy leaders have incentives to support cycling. They say it's good for business.

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A Penny For A Native's Thoughts On Dime Box, Texas

April 1, 2014 • Texas is a treasure of unusual town names. The quest continues to hear the stories behind some of them — including the tiny central Texas town of Dime Box. Bonnie Langham discusses her hometown.

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Students participate in orchestra practice at Dr. John Folks Middle School in suburban San Antonio. The school is brand new and was built with explosive growth in mind — the student population is expected to double to 1,200 within five years. Melissa Block/NPR hide caption

itoggle caption Melissa Block/NPR

As Texas Gets More Diverse, Educators Grab The Bull By The Horns

April 1, 2014 • Hispanics now make up 38 percent of Texas residents. One demographer says the state's future is tied to the success of its growing minority population. Schools may be part of the solution.

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Kermit — located near the Texas/New Mexico border — was named after President Theodore Roosevelt's son. Matthew Rutledge/Flickr hide caption

itoggle caption Matthew Rutledge/Flickr

QUIZ: The Strange Town Names Of Texas

March 31, 2014 • Kermit, Texas, (pop. 5,708) is just one of many oddly named towns in Texas. Can you identify them all?

Take It From A Local: The Tale Of How Turkey, Texas, Got Its Name

March 31, 2014 • There is no shortage of colorful town names in Texas. We explore the story behind one of them — Turkey, Texas — with a local named Don Turner, a volunteer at the Bob Wills Museum.

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In The Midst Of A Boom, Dallas Outgrows Some Old Notions

March 31, 2014 • Outdated stereotypes may have some thinking that Dallas is just a town of cowboys, highways and football. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings corrects the record, describing the city's lively arts and culture.

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Soldiers participate in physical therapy while using a prosthetic brace called the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis (IDEO), which allows them to use and strengthen severely injured legs. John Moore/Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption John Moore/Getty Images