Austin Signal

August 21, 2026

Austin-San Antonio passenger rail, No Wrong Door program, Weekend arts events

A passenger rail link between Austin and San Antonio is now being presented with two very different paths forward. Union Pacific says its freight railroad still doesn’t have capacity to do it — and the other option comes with a price tag exceeding $13 billion. A new city initiative, No Wrong Door, is looking to […]

Listen

August 20, 2026

City Council term limits, Big Bend border plan protest, Austin Sketch Fest

Austin City Council members are usually limited to two four-year terms, but a few folks have attempted to represent their district for a third time. Now Paige Ellis is vying to do the same. Conservation advocates were in Austin this week, voicing opposition to border construction in the Big Bend region. Former state officeholders and […]

Listen

August 19, 2026

First day back for AISD, data center regulations, Longhorn Football preview

Students and staff in the Austin Independent School District are back in class this week. 10 campuses in the district closed their doors for good over the summer, but one school had to open back up to serve students from a damaged school. We’ll tell you why.We’ve been reporting on and learning more about data […]

Listen

August 18, 2026

New city 911 office, Austin fire chief retiring, Goth culture in Texas

The city’s system of 911 call-takers will be moving from the Austin Police Department into a standalone office in an effort to improve response times. The City Council approved the move as part of the city’s $6.6 billion budget — though not everyone agrees on the plan. Austin’s Fire Chief Joel G. Baker is retiring […]

Listen

August 17, 2026

Reaction to AISD school ratings, Giant Adirondack chair, Books set in Austin

Classes start tomorrow in the Austin Independent School District, fresh off news last week that two of its middle schools registered a fifth failing state accountability rating. That has opened the door to possible state intervention, but some folks are asking that the positive gains Austin schools have made also be considered in the whatever […]

Listen

August 14, 2026

UT curriculum changes, Cesar Chavez Street input, Restaurant inspection scores

UT Austin wants to change the assigned classes required of future undergraduates. It’s the first such change in more than two decades. The city of Austin is gathering feedback about the possibility of renaming Cesar Chavez Street after the labor leader was accused of sexual assault. How you can make your voice heard. Have you […]

Listen

August 13, 2026

Two Austin schools receive fifth failing ratings, opening door to state takeover

Two struggling Austin middle schools have received a fifth consecutive failing accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency, opening the door to a state takeover of all the schools in the district. Houston ISD, the biggest school district in Texas, has been under state mandate for a few years. How it’s going so far. The […]

Listen

August 12, 2026

Could Austin land an NHL franchise?

The city of Austin is nearing decision time on its upcoming fiscal budget. The first draft called for cuts to public health programs, parks and other services. The City Council has spent weeks shaping the version that’ll soon be approved. Proponents of data centers say they can be a boon to the areas they’re built […]

Listen