Austin Signal

October 16, 2026

Families ask to close schools to avoid AISD takeover, City Council District 5 race, UT vs. Florida

Volunteers have collected enough signatures to request that the state close Burnet and Webb middle schools, in an attempt to stop a state takeover of Austin Independent School District. We’ll discuss what’s next. As election season gets underway, we’re taking a look at some key local races, including City Council District 5, where incumbent Ryan Alter is […]

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October 15, 2026

Taylor strikes deal on nearby data center, Austin’s changing demographics, Ensenada ATX

The city of Taylor has made a deal with developers on a proposed data center in an unincorporated part of Williamson County. Officials say the city can impose regulations on the development, but neighbors aren’t sure about what comes next. The median age of the Austin area’s population skews young, but that is changing, and fast. […]

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October 14, 2026

Petition to close Austin schools, APD’s use of force, Reuse on the Runway

Some parents at two Austin middle schools are running out of time in their effort to get the schools closed, a move to try and avoid a state takeover of the entire Austin Independent School District. Austin Police characterize the fatal shooting this summer of an unarmed teen as a likely “suicide by police.” But some […]

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October 13, 2026

Austin bond preview, Residences between San Antonio and Austin, New cookbook from Nixta owners

With early voting around the corner, you might be focused on the races for U.S. senator and governor, but several important local votes are happening — including a nearly $300 million bond proposition to help local libraries and parks. Austin and San Antonio are growing closer together every day. We’ll get an update on home […]

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October 12, 2026

Voter registration update, The politics of Zilker’s grass, Barton Springs bathhouse renovation

Early voting starts in just one week, and local officials are furiously working to make sure everyone who has registered to vote is ready to go. A wrongful death lawsuit against Camp Mystic has been allowed to proceed after an initial pause while the camp began to work its way through bankruptcy court. What’s better […]

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October 9, 2026

Live from ACL: 25 years of the festival, Running for the perfect spot, The cost of eating at the park

The second weekend of the Austin City Limits music festival is underway, and the Austin Signal team is coming to you live from Zilker Park with a one-hour special jam-packed full of goodies. We chat with the frontman of Cure for Paranoia, the winner of this year’s NPR Tiny Desk Contest, about the whirlwind year […]

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October 8, 2026

Voter registration backlog, No Wrong Door program, Jess Williamson at ACL

We’re just over a week away from the start of early voting, and Texas registrars are still working to process thousands of voter applications. The latest from Travis County’s effort to address the backlog.A new city initiative has a goal of connecting folks experiencing chronic homelessness with long-term supports, but some advocates are concerned about […]

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October 7, 2026

AISD under comptroller review, NPR Senior Podcast Challenge, Almost Heaven at ACL

The Austin school district is one of four in the state that’s under review by the Texas comptroller for how it spent taxpayer money last year. It’s happening as many districts in the state, including Austin, are working to balance their budgets. We’ll dig into what we know so far.NPR has mined grade-school and college students for […]

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