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A hearing this week that would’ve allowed for the review of evidence and testimony in lawsuits against Camp Mystic never came to be, and lawyers for the Hill Country girls camp where children and counselors died in last summer’s flooding were absent from the courtroom.
Texas will soon have a new attorney general, with a pair of Democrats and Republicans vying to represent their party in November, but the issues they’re talking up in the runoffs might not be the ones that matter most at the ballot box.
And the Black Austin Matters podcast is back with a new season. We’ll chat with the show’s hosts about what they’ve learned and how they’re continuing to amplify the voices on their show.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
The full transcript of this episode of Austin Signal is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.
Jerry Quijano [00:00:08] A hearing this week that would have allowed for the review of evidence and testimony in lawsuits against Camp Mystic never came to be, and lawyers for the Hill Country Girls Camp where children and counselors died in last summer’s flooding were absent from the courtroom. We’re going to have more, and Texas will soon have a new attorney general with a pair of Democrats and Republicans vying to represent their party in November, but the issues they’re talking up in the runoffs might not be the ones that matter most at the ballot box. We’ve got more coming up on today’s show.
KUT Announcer: Laurie Gallardo [00:00:37] The Austin Signal is a production of KUT News, hosted by Jerry Quijano.
Jerry Quijano [00:00:42] And the Black Austin Matters podcast is back with a new season. We’re going to chat with the show’s hosts about what they’ve learned and how they’re continuing to amplify the voices on their show. Those stories and a whole lot more coming up next right here on Austin Signal. Howdy out there. You are tuned in. This is Austin Signal coming to you from listener-powered public radio KUT News. I’m your host Jerry Keconal. It is Thursday, May 14th. Thank you for making us part of your day. It’s an ozone action day today for the Austin area with weather expected to make it easier for ground-level ozone pollution to accumulate that makes air quality potentially unhealthy for sensitive groups. There’s a reason it’s called an Ozone Action Day. That’s because there are things everyone can do to protect the air quality, things like avoiding the use of gas-powered engines, whether it be your car or a lawnmower. Thanks for tuning in. A hearing yesterday on the lawsuits against Camp Mystic took a turn when attorneys for the camp withdrew and then refiled a motion for arbitration just hours before the hearing was set to begin. Also of note, The lead defense attorney for Camp Mystic was absent from the courtroom. KUT News, Williamson County reporter Kaylee Hunt was at the hearing. She is joining us now for an update. Howdy, Kaylee.
Kailey Hunt [00:02:10] Hey Jerry!
Jerry Quijano [00:02:11] So can you please lay out what yesterday’s hearing was supposed to be about this was related to the civil suit against Camp Mystic?
Kailey Hunt [00:02:18] That’s right, yeah. This is related to five civil lawsuits, they’re wrongful death lawsuits that were filed by parents and families of the 27 girls that died at Camp Mystic during last year’s catastrophic flooding. So yeah, so Camp Mystique is requesting that a Travis County judge allow them to settle these lawsuits in private without a jury trial through arbitration. The families do not want this. And so that’s. That’s what yesterday’s hearing was supposed to be about. The judge was prepared to rule on that.
Jerry Quijano [00:02:52] And you’ve been following several hearings over the last few weeks in regards to Camp Mystic. This one was different because at the last minute Camp Mystice withdrew and then refiled its arbitration motion. Do we know why this happened? And how did that ultimately end up affecting the hearing?
Kailey Hunt [00:03:06] That’s right. Yeah, we we’re not really exactly sure why that happened. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, who is overseeing the cases, said, you know, it wasn’t really necessarily an issue that they that they repealed their their motion. But it’s the fact that they filed immediately afterwards a nearly identical motion requesting the same thing. And so, she was like, I don’t know if this is maybe a delay tactic. If not, she’s not pleased. I can tell you that.
Jerry Quijano [00:03:37] Well, the defense’s lead attorney was also not present for the hearing. I’m not sure that that also gains any kind of favorable view. Do we know why they were absent from the courtroom?
Kailey Hunt [00:03:47] Yeah, Michael Watts, who is representing Camp Mystic, pro bono, actually, he’s the lead lawyer in the cases. Yeah, he was out of the country in Italy for a friend’s wedding. He told several media outlets in statements. So yeah, he also was not present. And going forward, Judge Gamble said that every party that is involved in these lawsuits needs to have an attorney present at hearings.
Jerry Quijano [00:04:15] Okay, what did the plaintiffs have to say about all of this?
Kailey Hunt [00:04:18] Well, like the judge, they were obviously not very pleased. Several of them accused Camp Mystic of basically doing this to delay the decision, maybe thinking that they wouldn’t have a favorable outcome. And then some attorneys even said that by doing this, pulling this tactic, that Camp Mystic should basically forfeit. You know, its ability to settle through arbitration privately, just because of the disrespect, the litigation disrespect. And so yeah, they were not pleased. And I will, I want to point out too, you know, when we showed up to the courtroom, we went to the ceremonial courtroom because so many people had showed up for this hearing, including several members of the families, the parents of the girls who were involved in these civil lawsuits. So they had traveled from out of town.
Jerry Quijano [00:05:17] Well, you have been following these hearings that have been happening in the past few weeks, but you have following this story for a lot longer. And in fact, you are working on a podcast, you’re part of a podcast that is being worked on about this flood. It is in collaboration with our partners here in the Texas newsroom. Tell us a little bit about them.
Kailey Hunt [00:05:34] Yeah, you know, I’m really excited about this podcast. We’ve been working on it for, you know, months now at this point. And basically, it’s about the July 4th weekend floods. We go into a little bit of what happened and how things happened. But then, you, know, really I think the important part is that we’re talking with folks who are affected and following them as this year has kind of progressed. Just the recovery efforts and all the grief that they’re going through and just these efforts to rebuild their lives. And so I think, you know, it’s really important that we highlight these stories and I’m super excited for folks to be able to listen.
Jerry Quijano [00:06:17] Yeah, it’s important work and we’re really glad that you have been doing it. Do we know when that show might be premiering?
Kailey Hunt [00:06:22] Yes, yeah, next month. June 24th, we’re gonna have two episodes premiere and be on the lookout for a trailer dropping soon. We should have that out soon.
Jerry Quijano [00:06:32] OK, and we’ll definitely feature it here as well on Austin Signal. We have been speaking with Kaylee Hunt. She is KUT’s Williamson County reporter. Kaylee, thank you.
Kailey Hunt [00:06:40] Thanks, Jerry.
Jerry Quijano [00:06:48] Two Democrats and two Republicans have until the end of the month to convince their party’s voters that they should be the next Texas Attorney General. KERA’s Caroline Love reports that the issues in the runoff election are likely to resonate in November’s general election and beyond.
Caroline Love [00:07:04] Right now, the Democrats and Republicans are running in separate races, in very different campaigns. Take the Republicans. State Senator Mays Middleton and Congressman Chip Roy are campaigning on who’s the most MAGA candidate. Here’s Middletown at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
State Senator Mays Middleton [00:07:22] We need someone in that office like me who will use every resource and tool to back up President Trump.
Caroline Love [00:07:31] And here’s Roy on CBS Evening News.
Congressman Chip Roy [00:07:34] My opponent is trying to buy the brand MAGA. Some of us have been out there earning that brand and earning the stripes of someone who’s been in court.
Caroline Love [00:07:43] Then there’s the Democrats. State Senator Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are trying to convince voters it’s time for something different. Jaworsky says Paxton was more concerned with pursuing a partisan agenda than representing Texans.
Joe Jaworski [00:08:00] Is what Paxton has punted on, and so it has cost Texans a genuine office of government.
Caroline Love [00:08:09] A Democrat hasn’t been elected to statewide office in Texas in over 30 years, but Johnson says voters are tired of the Paxton model.
Nathan Johnson [00:08:18] Everybody wants government to function at this point and he does not represent functioning government
Caroline Love [00:08:23] Before any of the candidates can make their case about what the AG should or shouldn’t do, they need to earn their party’s nomination. None of them have run a successful statewide campaign. That means many Texans may not know who they are. Joshua Blank says name recognition with voters is important. He’s the research director of the Texas Politics Project at UT Austin.
Joshua Blank [00:08:46] And for a lot of voters, if they come into the voting booth and recognize one of five names on a ballot, there’s a good chance they’re going to vote for that one name.
Caroline Love [00:08:55] As a member of Congress, Roy had more name recognition than Middleton. He was ahead in the polls before the primary election. That changed after Middletons campaign peppered the airwaves with commercials dubbing him Magamaze.
Congressman Chip Roy [00:09:09] And award-winning Trump champion, MAGA Mays Middleton. President Trump called Middlton’s conservative voting record second to none.
Caroline Love [00:09:16] Middleton ended up outperforming the polls and got the most votes in the primary. Ads may not buy an election.
Joshua Blank [00:09:23] But what they can do is get you a seat at the table by making people know who you are.
Caroline Love [00:09:27] That’s Thomas Gray. He’s a political science professor at UT Dallas. Middleton has spent millions of dollars on his campaign, and so has Roy. Political science professor, Kel Jillson from Southern Methodist University says the Democrats haven’t reached that level of fundraising.
Kel Jilson [00:09:46] A Democrat that far down the ballot is usually going around the state with a tin cup trying to raise lunch money.
Caroline Love [00:09:54] Johnson says he doesn’t need as much money as Middleton or Roy to run his campaign.
Nathan Johnson [00:09:59] I need to hit a threshold where I can communicate with everybody in Texas who I am and who they are. After that, they’re just buying the same votes or turning off the same people over and over again.
Caroline Love [00:10:10] Early voting for the runoff starts Monday, and election day is May 26. And whoever voters choose as their nominee will have to convince an entire state of voters Texas needs another Kim Paxton or something new. I’m Caroline Love in Dallas.
Jerry Quijano [00:10:28] We are coming up on a break here on Austin Signal. But before that, a reminder, tomorrow we have a one hour long Austin Signal special. We’re gonna be focusing on the impacts of immigration enforcement here in central Texas. You will hear from reporters, experts, and those most affected by the new and evolving policies. That’s tomorrow live from one to 2 p.m. Here on the Austin Signal and wherever you listen to the show. This is Austin Signal, welcome back. Black Austin Matters, the podcast from KUT KUTX Studios is back with another season of stories highlighting black community and culture here in Central Texas. The show’s hosts, Lisa B. Thompson and Richard J. Reddick are joining us now. Thank you for being on Austin Signal.
Lisa B. Thompson [00:11:18] Thank you for having us, I’m so happy!
Jerry Quijano [00:11:20] Yeah, it’s exciting to be in the signal. So I’m gonna ask, I’m just gonna dive right in. What new things have you learned about your community while you have been making this show for the past four or so years?
Lisa B. Thompson [00:11:31] That’s a great question. Just how different the black community is. We’re a very diverse, I can use that word, diverse community. And I really enjoy getting to know folks who’ve been here, mostly generational folks and those that have come in the last decade or so, and also learned that we are a eclectic and brilliant and caring group. Yes, the crew at
Richard J. Reddick [00:12:02] of folks. I would say it is the fact that there’s so many dimensions to what folks are doing in the city. And we often talk about, you know, coming in with this idea that, oh, Austin’s black population is declining. In a lot of ways, the population is thriving and it’s also growing in different spaces. So, so many people we talk to are actually maybe native to East Austin, but live in Pflugerville, in Round Rock, you. So we talk about the diaspora of black Austinites, not just in the city, but also in the surrounding areas. So, and I’m just humbled and honored to be in the same city as these folks, like just so much talent and creativity and good vibes, you know.
Jerry Quijano [00:12:47] Well, no community that we report on here at KUT is a monolith, but what are some of the through lines that you have found in these stories that you’ve heard from these black aus…
Richard J. Reddick [00:12:58] You know, I think there is this idea that gentrification has had quite an effect on the community. So many times we talk to folks who, you know, maybe grew up on the East Side or went to church on the east side, would have educated in East Austin and shout out to Charleston High School. But over time, they’ve moved away or the parts of the community they used to recall are no longer there. So that’s been a pretty consistent theme for folks. And the folks who’ve moved here. Sort of post gentrification, even lament that. They will talk about, I knew there used to be this here, it’s no longer here, but we’ve tried to create something in its space.
Lisa B. Thompson [00:13:36] Yeah, I’m also struck by just how the folks that we’re interviewing are happy to be seen in a certain way, and I’m happy to, I guess, provide a kind of a mic, you know, a mirror, a mic that’s shining a light on these parts of the community that sometimes people don’t think about. I think it’s important to not just focus on those that people consider to be famous and, you know, leaders, quote, unquote. But the quotidian, every day, the folks who are living their lives in this city are important. And I come from quotidian folks, those that aren’t going to be talked about when they’re gone in New York Times a bit, but have changed communities and raised families and made a culture. And as a person that moved to the East Side, when I came here, I definitely have respect for. What was there, and it is very much to me, mirrors what I experienced in San Francisco. The same thing happened. So I said, oh, I’ve already seen this movie before. And it’s gonna end this way, but there’s a way for us to capture what’s happening now. I think what we’ve created is a snapshot of Austin today in many ways.
Jerry Quijano [00:14:58] Tell us a little bit about how you’re bringing the stories that you’re bringing to the radio into the classroom. I love that.
Richard J. Reddick [00:15:04] Questions. So we have students who are like, well, fit my schedules. And so we have this eclectic mix again of students from all backgrounds, all walks of life. And it’s about the podcast. It’s about Black Austin. It’s About Finding Authentic Voice. It is also about their own projects and ideas. And we get to hear these pitches where they tell us what they would do a podcast on or who they would interview. And, we’ve actually had a couple of guests that have come from the student research that’s happened. And some of our favorite, Mama Duke is one, who’s season four. And it was like, what y’all been doing? How come y’al haven’t talked to Mama Duke yet? That’s so much fun. And I just want to give a shout out to our friend, Luke, Luke Stark, our student last year who- Surprised us. Yes, engineer from California. From Orange County. Grew up in England and kind of took the class because it kind of fit his schedule and wrote this beautiful article saying, This class opened my mind and helped me understand the community I’m in, and it’s got incredible value. We did not ask them to do that.
Lisa B. Thompson [00:16:09] No, it was shocking. So, I’m just, you never know how you touch students. And I know that for me, the teaching part of my world here is about giving back the way that I was poured into. So I think that if we can do a little bit of that ourselves, especially with this class and how them think about you have a voice. And so it’s pretty Wonderful.
Jerry Quijano [00:16:32] We have been speaking with Lisa B. Thompson and Richard J. Reddick. They are the hosts of Black Austin Matters. We’re gonna have a link to their latest episode in today’s show notes. Thank you for your time.
Lisa B. Thompson [00:16:42] Thank you for having us.
Jerry Quijano [00:16:50] After more than two decades waking up with Austinites in central Texans, KUT’s Jennifer Staton is finally getting to sleep in just a little bit. Jennifer is going to be stepping away from the morning edition host seat here at KUT, but you will still hear her familiar voice on our airwaves, and she’s going to be tackling a new project to boot. Jennifer is here with us now. Jen, it is great to have you. Congratulations on your new role, and congratulations on all your work.
Jennifer Stayton [00:17:16] Jerry, thank you so much, and I’m really happy to be here on Austin Six.
Jerry Quijano [00:17:20] So, you know, people are going to be, they’re certainly going to miss you on Morning Edition, waking up with you very, very early, but you’re still going to be in our airwaves. Tell us, what kind of move are you making?
Jennifer Stayton [00:17:29] Yeah, so, Jerry, I just want to say likewise. I will miss the early mornings, too, but after 22 years, I’m just ready for a little bit of a change and to sleep a little bit later. So I feel very, very fortunate that I’m going to stay at KUT. I will be sliding to a slightly later air shift. I’ll be on the air from 9 a.m. To noon, and occasionally slipping into host Austin Signal when you need a vacation, when you’re ready to take a break. Also, I am excited that KUT received a grant from the St. David’s Foundation, and the grant we received is to cover aging in Austin and all kinds of issues around that. So, some of my time will be on the air hosting and doing some special projects, and then some of time will work around this grant.
Jerry Quijano [00:18:11] You have spent a lot of time in the studio, not as much time maybe out in the field. I noticed that lately you’ve been doing some of your two ways out in the field getting some recordings. What are you excited about getting back into the field?
Jennifer Stayton [00:18:21] Yeah, Jerry. So I’m excited. I mean, the topic of this aging project, we’re calling it the Longview Aging in Young Hip Austin. And there’s just so much to cover. I mean, if you sat down and started just thinking up some topics and trying to narrow it down, there’s a lot out there. And we’ve done some of that in some initial phases of planning for this. I’m talking about housing and transportation and health care and mental health, there are all kinds of things to report on about aging. So, I’m just excited to dig in and doing some planning and getting out in the community and talking to people and planning some events. Part of the project will be to do some community events, convene some conversations, some panels, some events, so I’m excited about that.
Jerry Quijano [00:19:03] Yeah, and it’s helpful to do events to have a good night’s rest, you know, and to be on the same kind of rhythm that everybody else is going to be on. And there’s so many other events that we do. We have an ATX plane coming up next week or one week from tonight, actually. Could you see yourself getting involved with other projects here around KUT as well?
Jennifer Stayton [00:19:20] Absolutely, Jerry. First of all, I’ll be excited to attend ATXplained in the audience, or maybe as an ATXplain storyteller one day. I usually have to miss it, as I’m going to have to miss this one, because it just lasts a little too long and I have to get up too early. So I’ll excited to watch ATXpain to maybe be on the stage with it one day, and we’ve hosted election nights together before, and those are great, but I tend to turn into a pumpkin when those run a little late. So election night things, other special projects and events in the evening that we either do now or that we’re planning and thinking about for the future. I’m looking forward to all of that.
Jerry Quijano [00:19:55] Yeah, we’ve gotten the chance to do lots of great events, and we did do one during the daytime, our election, excuse me, our eclipse coverage, which happened during about a good time for both of us. It was like right in the middle, right at the end of your shift, right in middle of my shift. So there’s been lots of things that we’ve got to do here at KUT. What are you most proud of here, of your work here at the KUT?
Jennifer Stayton [00:20:16] Oh, wow, Jerry, that is a really good question. You know, when I’ve been thinking back over 22 years, it’s hard to think about a specific interview or story or event just because it’s been a long time. I think one of the things I’m proud of is just the fact that we, and I say we deliberately because you hear my voice on the air, but that’s because… Literally a lot of people have done a lot of work to get to that point. So I would say one of the things I’m proud of is that we have created something that I think really makes a difference for people in their mornings, helps them start their day informed, educated, maybe had their thinking, you know, jostled around a little bit, entertained sometimes. Hopefully, you now, if we’ve got a… Heaven forbid a bad weather situation or bad traffic situation or breaking news that we’re helping people start their day in a way that’s valuable to them and their ones who are close to them, their families, their loved ones. So I think that’s what I’m most proud of is that I just I think we we have made and continue to make a difference for people.
Jerry Quijano [00:21:31] Well, I really have an admiration for the sacrifice that you make. I know it’s just one thing that you do, but my dad drives trucks overnight. He wakes up at 10 o’clock every night to go to work and it takes a certain kind of person to do that. And I think what I really enjoy is that there is a community that you’re serving and you know that it is a worthwhile sacrifice and we appreciate your sacrifice and look forward to. All the great things you’re going to do in the future right here on KUT. I’m looking forward to taking a vacation. I think, you know, I’m really excited for you, Jen, but I think that’s all I heard in our interview is you’re gonna get to take a vacation, which is really great. I’m lookin’ forward to that and lookin’ forward to what you do and running your future stories right here on Austin Signal. So congratulations again, Jen. We have been speaking with Jennifer Staten, 22-year host of Morning Edition here on KUT News. Jen will be moving to a later time slot here on air. And focusing on special events and reporting. Jen, thank you.
Jennifer Stayton [00:22:25] Jerry, thank you for the opportunity. I really enjoyed our conversation.
Jerry Quijano [00:22:30] And thank you for tuning in and spending part of your day here with us. We’re going to have more in the podcast show notes and at kut.org slash signal. Rayna Sevilla is our technical director. Alexandra Hart is our producer and Kristin Cabrera is our managing producer. I’m Jerry Quijano. Don’t forget. We have a one hour special tomorrow right here on Austin signal. We’ll talk to you then have a great day.
This transcript was transcribed by AI, and lightly edited by a human. Accuracy may vary. This text may be revised in the future.
