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Nearly all of CapMetro’s fixed-route bus service could shut down if its workers strike. And 99.5% of workers voted in favor of that strike. Negotiators return to the bargaining table today.
The recent national outbreak of cyclospora is raising concerns and questions. Austin Public Health says it’s not a major local concern — yet.
A new film documents the fight to save North American bats from a devastating disease called white-nose syndrome. We’ll hear from the film’s director and bat researcher about their project and connecting the bats with their audiences.
And: Another summer reading recommendation for your KUT bingo challenge.
Headlines mentioned in today’s episode…
— Vice President JD Vance is reportedly in town to do a taping with podcast host Joe Rogan. The Statesman confirmed that Air Force 2 landed this morning at Austin Bergstrom International Airport after Politico’s initial report.
—- The City of Austin has opened applications for public art projects across the city with budgets for the projects ranging from $90,000 to $300,000.
— Flood risk increases for the Austin area this week with up to 6 inches of rain possible in spots of town.
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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] But nearly all of CapMetro’s fixed-route bus service could shut down if its workers strike, and more than 99% of workers voted in favor of that strike. The two sides are back at the bargaining table today, we’ve got the latest. And the recent national outbreak of cyclosporas raising concerns and questions will tell you how local entities are reacting. More about those stories coming up on today’s show.
KUT Announcer: Laurie Gallardo [00:00:31] The Austin Signal is a production of KUT News, hosted by Jerry Quijano.
Jerry Quijano [00:00:37] A new film documents the fight to save North American bats from a devastating disease called White Nose Syndrome. We’ll hear from the film’s director and bat researcher about their project and connecting bats with their audiences. Plus, another summer reading recommendation for your KUT bingo card. That is up next. It’s right here on Austin Signal. Howdy out there, you are listening to Austin Signal. I’m your host, Jerry Keconnell. Thank you for being with us. It is Tuesday, July 14th, and you are listen to community-powered public radio. This is KUT News. When Austin tech entrepreneur, Joshua Baer died in a plane crash last month, there were naturally a lot of questions. A report from the National Transportation Safety Board says pilots noticed a quote, unusual vibration. Before crashing while trying to make an emergency landing on a highway in Laredo. Then the 911 calls started. KUT’s Gabriel Velazquez-Neda has the story.
Gabriel Velzquez Neira [00:01:47] That night, a streak of fire could be seen across Laredo sky, both of the plane’s engines had gone out. As they tried to land, it hit a truck on the highway. KUT obtained the 911 calls that came in through a public records request. Now, a warning to listeners, the audio can be distressing to listen to. One woman called saying the plane flew right over her car and had barely missed her.
911 Call [00:02:10] No, I was down there, he passed me over the plane, but I couldn’t speak.
Gabriel Velzquez Neira [00:02:15] Another woman said she thought it was a comet.
911 Call [00:02:17] Yo pensé que era un juez, porque se me iba a caer a mí y otra, porque tenía luz verde.
Gabriel Velzquez Neira [00:02:21] The driver of the truck the plane crashed into was unable to call, but an emergency crash detection feature on their phone called 911 for them. The operator tried to talk to the owner of the device for five minutes.
911 Call [00:02:35] Come on! Help! Go, go, go! Come in here! What’s going on, sir?
Gabriel Velzquez Neira [00:02:40] Finally, on a separate call, the driver was able to contact 911.
911 Call [00:02:44] Where are you sir? In the plane I got hit by a plane.
Gabriel Velzquez Neira [00:02:49] NetJets, the company that operated the plane that crashed, says the preliminary findings do not determine probable cause. The National Transportation Safety Board says a final report of the crash will be released in about a year, once the investigation is completed. I’m Gabriel Velázquez-Neda in Austin.
Jerry Quijano [00:03:12] Union leaders say virtually all of CapMetro’s fixed-route bus service would shut down if workers strike. Members of the amalgamated transit union voted 99.5% to authorize a walkout over pay, benefits, and what they say are training problems already affecting service. Both sides return to the bargaining table today. KUT’s Nathan Bernier reports on why workers are willing to stage what could be the first CapMeto bus strike since 2008.
Nathan Bernier [00:03:44] People board a cat metro bus more than 60,000 times a day on average. But even though the driver behind the wheel is wearing a cat-metro uniform, they’re actually employed by a contractor called Keolis. Same for the mechanics who keep those busses running. Brenda Jackson grew up in Austin, watching her mom go to work in one of those uniforms.
Brenda Jackson [00:04:05] I’m from a transit family so my mom was a bus operator, my aunt was a bus operator and I’ve kind of followed behind their footsteps.
Nathan Bernier [00:04:13] Jackson drove a cat metro bus for 25 years, then a couple years ago she started training new recruits. Not only do they need to learn how to drive a 40 foot long or even 60 foot long bus safely, but they also need to keep themselves safe.
Brenda Jackson [00:04:29] Over the course of the last several years, it has gotten more strenuous out there. The operators are being spat on, they’re being cursed at, they’re having things thrown at them. They feel unsafe at times.
Nathan Bernier [00:04:43] Jackson says she’s not getting enough time to train operators so they’re equipped with all the skills they need. One of the problems, she says, is they often don’t even have a real bus to practice on.
Brenda Jackson [00:04:54] They need more training time, they need more access to busses, they need more things to help them do their jobs properly.
Nathan Bernier [00:05:03] The mechanics responsible for keeping those busses on the road say they’re not getting enough training time either.
Mathew Smith [00:05:10] Training is a huge, huge issue, huge issue.
Nathan Bernier [00:05:13] Matthew Smith has been a mechanic with Cap Metro for 23 years.
Mathew Smith [00:05:17] All the guys that I’ve come up with when I was younger in this business, they’re all gone now. And when I look around my shop, I’ve got a lot of new faces. Never looked at a diesel engine before. Never took a giant tire off of a bus before. And then sometimes I have to go tell management don’t let that bus leave the yard because of what I saw get done.
Nathan Bernier [00:05:41] Apart from training, CapMetro workers are also asking for better pay. Daryl Soerels has been a bus operator with CapMeto for 24 years.
Daryl Soerels [00:05:48] About 75 to 80 percent of us, including myself, we can’t afford to live in Austin. And I’m born and raised in Austin, looking at how expensive Austin is, I can’t even move back to my city I was born and raise in.
Nathan Bernier [00:06:04] Jackson, Smith, and Sorrells are all elected leaders with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091. It represents about 1,400 CapMetro employees. And virtually all those members, 99.5 percent, voted to authorize a strike. ATU local president Brent Payne has been negotiating with Kiolis, but he says CapMeto controls the person.
Brent Payne [00:06:25] I’m not really dealing with Kiolis economically, I’m dealing with them more or less on how their employees are treated and benefit levels. Kiolis is given a set amount through Capital Metro and then they invoice Capital Metro monthly. Capital Metro determines the amount of money that Kiolis pays us.
Daryl Soerels [00:06:43] Test test test
Brent Payne [00:06:44] We’re just about to get started, thanks. So let me call the meeting of the Cap Metro Transit Authority Board of Directors.
Nathan Bernier [00:06:52] When CapMetro’s board approved the contract with Kiolis in 2023, transit agency officials described an unusual payment model to simplify negotiations over wages and benefits. Andy Skabowski is CapMeto’s Chief Operating Officer.
Andy Skabowski [00:07:06] In our model we have a certain amount of past true cost that’s a part of the contract. Those past true costs are for items such as wages or benefits and so when you go into negotiations to set that wage rate moving forward in another contract negotiation, what Cap Metro does is provide for the service provider the floor, meaning this is what we expect as a good wage rate for our workforce, this is the benefit levels and so the That part of negotiations would sometimes can be a little bit contentious. That doesn’t occur because cat Metro is setting that level. And is that a, is that a typical model in the industry? Or no, we have a very unique model here.
Nathan Bernier [00:07:46] Nearly three years later, wages and benefits remain some of the biggest unresolved issues. The ATU did raise concerns at the time about what it called Kiolis’s history of anti-union conduct. But Kiolis of North America CEO David Scoury
David Scoury [00:08:01] reassured the board. What we seek to do and are determined to do is to create that environment where we work openly, transparently, find common ground and have a really mature, productive relationship with unions.
Nathan Bernier [00:08:13] Keolis declined an interview with KUT News and would not answer specific questions about training, maintenance, or the economics of the current negotiations. In a statement, the company said, it’s bargaining in good faith. Cat Metro also declined an interviewee and did not answer questions about whether it has set a budget limit or would have to approve the cost of a new union agreement. The transit agency says negotiations are between Keolis and the union. A strike by Kiolis workers would not automatically shut down every Cap Metro service. Cap Metro Access, Cap Metro Pickup, and the Red Line are all operated by different companies, so those would keep running. But the fixed-route bus service at the center of this labor dispute accounts for tens of thousands of boardings every day, and for most of those Cap Metro riders, taking the bus is not a choice. A 2023 survey of riders found 85% of respondents had no household vehicle available for the trip they were taking. In a statement emailed to KUT News, Cat Metro said it had established procedures and contingency plans for service disruptions. The agency would not explain what those plans are, or whether Cat Metro was taking steps to warn customers that their service could be disrupted. A lot of people who rely on the bus have no idea a strike is even a possibility. Thomas Vargo was waiting at the South Congress Transit Center.
Thomas Vargo [00:09:41] And actually, this is the first time I’m hearing about this. So this is actually kind of got me a little nervous. So not being informed definitely affects me in a really bad way. Like if I’m trying to get to a job or whatnot, I’m not making it. That threatens my livelihood. That’s where it’s at on that. They need to let people know.
Nathan Bernier [00:10:00] For now, both sides are still talking. The ATU and Kiolis are expected to resume negotiations later today. But if the labor talks break off or if they can’t reach a deal, the Union says it’s prepared to have all its members walk off the job. I’m Nathan Bernier in Austin.
Jerry Quijano [00:10:23] There have been a significant amount of headlines lately with the term, and I hope you’ll forgive me here, explosive diarrhea. This is because of the recent national cyclospora outbreak, the parasite of which lives on fruits and vegetables and wrecks havoc on your gastrointestinal tract for weeks. But just because it’s making headlines, how worried should we be here in town? Well, for more about that, we’re speaking with Olivia Aldridge. She is KUT’s healthcare reporter. Olivia, great to see you.
Olivia Aldridge [00:10:50] Good to see you, Jerry.
Jerry Quijano [00:10:52] So here in Texas, there are cases of cyclospora that have been detected already. How worried should we be?
Olivia Aldridge [00:10:58] Yeah, it’s actually kind of nuanced. There have been cases in Texas. The department of state health services is reporting 68 lab, lab confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis that are thought to be domestically contracted. That means that they aren’t tied to like travel to Mexico, which is often how people in Texas get this. This is probably an undercount because it’s actually pretty hard to get this illness confirmed. It requires a stool test for one thing. For another it can take weeks for symptoms to show up and a lot of folks just might not suspect that that’s what they have by the time they get sick. However, if you compare Texas to say like Michigan where there are thousands of cases it doesn’t appear we’re dealing with that degree of outbreak here at this point and in Austin specifically there have actually been less than 10 cases confirmed by Austin Public Health which they’re saying is actually really consistent with what they’d see in a normal summer.
Jerry Quijano [00:11:52] How exactly is this disease spread? Is it contagious?
Olivia Aldridge [00:11:58] It’s not contagious. So you essentially get this by eating produce or drinking water that’s contaminated, I’m sorry to say with human fecal matter. So typically the source is going to be a farm somewhere in the food supply system where health and safety standards or the water they’re using is compromised in some way. And often this will be another country that we’re importing veggies from. That’s why the best way to protect yourself is to wash your produce well or cook your veggies.
Jerry Quijano [00:12:23] Okay, the cyclospora outbreak is generating a lot of headlines, it even has gotten HEB to comment. What do they have to say?
Olivia Aldridge [00:12:30] Yeah, they say that none of their food suppliers have reported any issues with this as of today, though they continue to monitor the situation. They say their produce is safe to consume, but obviously still say that you should wash it before eating it.
Jerry Quijano [00:12:43] Okay, obviously. HEB is one level of authority, he also spoke with Austin Public Health, another level of authority. What did they have to say?
Olivia Aldridge [00:12:49] Yeah, the epidemiologist I spoke with this morning just emphasized that there really isn’t yet evidence of a major outbreak here. Different parts of the country can be getting their produce from different sources, right? So just because you see people online saying this is a huge issue in their area, it doesn’t mean we’re seeing the same thing yet necessarily.
Jerry Quijano [00:13:08] So ultimately, this is not really an excuse for me not to eat healthy. It’s just more, it needs to take extra standards to make sure the produce that I’m buying or the fruits that I am buying is clean before I consume it.
Olivia Aldridge [00:13:20] Yeah, I mean, if there’s one thing that’s really tough to effectively wash before eating, it’s leafy greens, maybe berries to some extent. But the epidemiologist I spoke with said she’s not really ready to tell people to give up kale just yet, because cases are still pretty low here.
Jerry Quijano [00:13:36] Okay, that is Olivia Aldridge. She is KUT’s healthcare reporter. We’ve got her link to her story and more about this at kut.org slash signal. Olivia, thank you. Thanks. And just a quick rundown of some headlines for today. Politico is reporting that Vice President J.D. Vance is in town to do a taping with the podcast host Joe Rogan. The statements confirm that Air Force Two landed this morning at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The city of Austin has opened applications for public art projects across the city, with budgets for the projects ranging from $90,000 to $300,000. Plus, we are keeping an eye on the inclement weather here in the Austin area and across Central Texas, so be sure to have multiple ways to stay weather aware, and keep it tuned in to KUT.org, the KUT app, and wherever you keep up with KUT for the latest. You’re listening to Austin Signal right here on community powered public radio. We will be back after this break.
Chelsey Zhu [00:15:02] You’re listening to Austin Signal. My name is Chelsea Zhu, and I am the engagement reporter here at KUT. We’re in the middle of the Field Guide to Austin Summer Reading Bingo Challenge. If you need a few book recommendations to check off boxes on your bingo card, here are two. Atmosphere, by Taylor Jenkins Reid, is a swoon-worthy, space-themed love story. This novel had me racing through the final pages to find out what happened to the characters I’d grown to love so much. It follows Joan Goodwin, a professor who trains to become a pioneering female astronaut at NASA in the 1980s. The premise is clearly exciting, but the book’s depth surprised me. It wades into complicated family dynamics and big questions about identity, purpose, Sacrifice. Plus, it’s set in Texas. The next book on my list is Heidi by Johanna Spiri. Maybe you’re like me and never read this childhood classic when you were younger, but I recently picked this up as part of a book club and I was surprised by how much I liked it. Heidi is the story of an orphan sent to live with her reclusive grandfather high up in the Swiss mountains. While there, she gradually transforms his life and the lives of the other villagers. It is a dated story, but the descriptions of the setting are captivating, full of wildflowers, fir trees, grazing goats. All really nice to daydream about in this Texas heat. To get your own bingo card and find out more about the KUT Field Guide to Austin Summer Reading Bingo Challenge, go to kut.org. Or click the link in today’s podcast show notes. I’m Chelsea Zhu and this is Austin Signal.
Jerry Quijano [00:16:54] The Invisible Mammal is a new film documenting the fight to save North American bats from a devastating disease called White Nose Syndrome. The film makes its Bat City premiere tonight at the Austin Film Society. The documentary’s director and bat researcher spoke with KUT on the film’s importance and connecting bats with their audience.
Kristen Tiasch [00:17:22] We basically landed on having the first three minutes of film just be this immersive experience to hear the sounds of their wings flapping, little chitters. I wanted people to feel that. You know, for people. Start out the film loving bats like right out of the gates. I’m Kristen Tiasch and I’m the director of The Invisible Mammal.
Winna Fredfrick [00:17:56] I’m Winna Fred Frick. I’m the chief scientist at Bat Conservation International. Winos syndrome first emerged in upstate New York now 20 years ago. It’s, I can’t believe that it’s been 20 years.
Kristen Tiasch [00:18:10] If you look really closely at her nose, she actually has white spots and a little bit flakiness of skin.
Winna Fredfrick [00:18:16] The way that White-Nose Syndrome kills bats is that it’s caused by a fungus that will stay around in the caves and mines where bats hibernate, so that causes them to wake up too often during winter and they burn up their fat reserves and die before spring.
Kristen Tiasch [00:18:35] 2019 the fungus that causes white nose syndrome is detected for the first time in California where I live. I think I had a Google alert set to like white nose syndrome and I think something came up in my Google alert feed about something called operation fat bat
Winna Fredfrick [00:18:53] idea was could we help bats get fat in the fall and also help them recover their body condition in the spring because we had research that showed that the bats that were surviving white-nose syndrome tended to be fatter at the start of hibernation.
Kristen Tiasch [00:19:10] And so I found an email address that was Dr. Fricks and I reached out to her and she invited me to follow the FatFat project. In the Michigan Upper Peninsula. Well, at least the bugs are coming. Thank you. You are a bat food. That’s what you are.
Winna Fredfrick [00:19:28] We built these UV light lures to create prey patches, so the idea of they had really easy access to food, they could put on, they don’t pack on pounds because they’re little animals, but they could gain the body condition needed to be able to tolerate the infection and survive. So we have the timer set to…
Kristen Tiasch [00:19:50] Turn on tonight at 7.52, off in the morning. It wasn’t until I arrived on set in Michigan Upper Peninsula, October, 2019. And I realized that the entire team, the operation FATBAT was women. That struck a chord with me. And so I knew at that point that I also was going to tell the story of women in science.
Winna Fredfrick [00:20:20] It was really special from my perspective that Kristin included my relationship with my son. Look at him, look at him all the way back there!
Winna Fredfrick [00:20:30] Big one, big one, Big Brown. I’m a big brown.
Winna Fredfrick [00:20:34] One of the things I’ve reflected on as a woman in science is that oftentimes we think about our professional success needs to be really defined and sort of separated from our personal lives. It flew right next to you. Do you have a bath bag for me? Yes, yes!
Winna Fredfrick [00:20:50] And so the idea that we’re whole people is an empowering story and I think can help women and men to realize that we can bring our whole selves to our work and to our lives.
Kristen Tiasch [00:21:04] By the end of the film, you also fall in love with the main characters in the film which were our scientists.
Winna Fredfrick [00:21:12] We actually, after the work that we did up in the UP of Michigan, we then implemented Project FatBat across basically the eastern seaboard and into Texas, and that research is still not yet published, but we had positive results, and it’s one of the solutions that we’re hoping to scale.
Jerry Quijano [00:21:39] That story was produced by Moe’s Bouchelle for KUT’s Artbeat. The Invisible Mammal is screening tonight at 6.30 out at AFS Cinema. It’s going to be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker Kristen Tieche and Winifred Frick. We’ve got a link in today’s podcast show notes and at KUT.org slash Artbeat Coming up this week here in Austin hot summer nights 2026 The free music festival in downtown is marking nine years of free shows. We’re gonna have more about that. And Summer Jam 2026 from our friends over at The Breaks. Got lots more arts coverage coming your way this week on Austin Signal. But that is it for today’s show. We are glad you tuned in. You can always find more about the stories we shared with you in the podcast show notes and at kut.org slash signal. Rayna Sevilla is our technical director. Alexandra Hart is our producer. And Kristen Cabrera is our managing producer. I’m your host, Jerry Quijano. Thank you for tuning in. Austin Signal will be back at the same time tomorrow. And we’ll talk to you then.
This transcript was transcribed by AI, and lightly edited by a human. Accuracy may vary. This text may be revised in the future.
