Central Texas top stories for August 15, 2025. The Texas Education Agency this morning released A-through-F grades for every school in the state, here’s how AISD is doing. The Austin City Council yesterday adopted a $6.3 billion dollar budget and called for a property tax rate increase that will require voter approval. An exhibit honoring decades of people who died from AIDS-related illness is coming to Austin. Officials say everyone with injuries is in stable condition after a Leander ISD school bus rolled over this week.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 14, 2025: The investigation into the Leander ISD bus rollover continues
Central Texas top stories for August 14, 2025. After hours of public testimony and debate, the Austin City Council decided to hold off on adopting next year’s budget. School in Leander ISD will be in session as usual today after a school bus rolled over yesterday. After Monday’s fatal shooting at a North Austin Target, advocates are highlighting the need to restrict firearms through “red flag laws.” Tomorrow is the last the of the Texas Legislature’s current special session, but lawmakers will be called back into another special session the same day. More Central Texas school districts are going back to class today.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 13, 2025: APD points to failures in the mental health system after deadly shooting at North Austin Target
Central Texas top stories for August 13, 2025. APD Chief Lisa Davis points to the mental health system after a shooting at a Target in North Austin that left three dead. The Austin City Council could adopt its next budget today. With the deadline approaching, advocates say students without legal status are scrambling to find a way to pay for the first installment for the fall semester at UT Austin. September 4th is the official deadline to apply for FEMA assistance after the July floods. The Texas Senate passed a bill aimed at cracking down on abortion pill prescribers and manufacturers. More Central Texas school districts go back to school today, watch out for traffic.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 12, 2025: AISD released a list of schools to help the school consolidation process
Central Texas top stories for August 12, 2025. The motive is still not clear in the shooting Monday afternoon in the parking lot of a Target in North Austin. The Austin Independent School District has released a list of schools to help decide which ones should close and how school boundaries should be redrawn. Travis County’s public hospital district Central Health will lay out its proposed budget for county commissioners today. Texas House Democrats are into their second week out of state, protesting a Republican redistricting plan, but they say they are willing to come back and attend the special legislative session. Some Central Texas school districts start school today, watch out for more traffic.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 11, 2025: The City of Austin is set to adopt its next budget this week
Central Texas top stories for August 11, 2025. After weeks of debate, the City of Austin is set to adopt its next budget this week. Students at 76 schools across the Austin Independent School District will get free breakfast and lunch this school year, but federal funding cuts mean the program faces an uncertain future. Starting today, city crews will replace water-filled barricades on East Sixth Street with pre-cast concrete barriers.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 25, 2025: Austin is dedicating more money to preventing and responding hate crimes
Central Texas top stories for July 25, 2025. The Texas state legislature kicked off a series of hearings on redistricting; advocates and elected officials held a rally outside the Capitol. Austin is dedicating more money to preventing and responding hate crimes. A new hotel and convention center is coming to Austin near the Circuit of the Americas track. A gas rate increase was postponed by Austin City Council. Lake Travis is open once more. Residents look for sentimental items among the debris from the flood of the July 5th weekend.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 24, 2025: UT Austin is asking some students for proof of “lawful presence.” Advocates worry this could have ripple effects.
Central Texas top stories for July 24, 2025. The Texas House and Senate’s new special committees on flood relief and preparedness met for the first time yesterday. Austin’s city council could vote today on a measure aimed at addressing a critical shortage of air traffic controllers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. UT Austin is asking certain students to show proof of quote “lawful presence” by today. Tomorrow is the last day to volunteer with flood recovery through Travis County’s Volunteer Reception Center.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 23, 2025: Austin voters could decide this November whether to increase property taxes
Central Texas top stories for July 23, 2025. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has backed 16 bills for the legislature’s special session. Williamson County partnered with the Central Texas Community Foundation to launch the ‘WilCo CARES’ fund to provide direct financial assistance to people affected by the flooding. Travis County’s Flood Resource Recovery Center is moving to Travis County Community Center in Jonestown. Austin voters could decide this November whether to increase property taxes. As Austin continues to iron out its budget for next year, funding homeless services is top of mind for many.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 22, 2025: Texas lawmakers kicked off a special legislative session yesterday, redistricting is on the table
Central Texas top stories for July 22, 2025. Texas lawmakers kicked off a special legislative session yesterday, here’s what you need to know. The number of people missing after deadly floods in Texas dropped dramatically over the weekend, here’s why. Activists in Kyle are calling on City officials to get rid of license plate readers.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 21, 2025: Texas Gas Service wants to raise Austin’s rates for the third time in the last year
Central Texas top stories for July 21, 2025. Texas lawmakers start a 30-day special session today, among the items on the list are redistricting, disaster relief and preparedness. Texas Gas Service, the for-profit utility that supplies Austin homes and businesses with natural gas, has announced plans to increase gas rates by almost ten percent on average. Hays County is set to continue building new roads even after a judge ruled killed a bond passed by voters in November. There’s a new Disaster Recovery Center in Burnet for people affected by floods earlier this month.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 18, 2025: Study finds Austin police response times continue to lag
Central Texas top stories for July 18, 2025. Austin police response times continue to lag, according to a new study out this week. The recovery process for the Sandy Creek neighborhood after the floods will take some time. The LCRA is asking people to be careful when visiting the Highland Lakes. Federal funding cuts are forcing Austin area school districts to make tough decisions ahead of the school year.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 17, 2025: The LCRA closed all floodgates to dams after releasing storm runoff from recent heavy rains
Central Texas top stories for July 17, 2025. The Lower Colorado River Authority finished closing all floodgates at all dams along the Highland Lakes last night. State lawmakers will begin a special legislative session next week; one of Gov. Greg Abbotts priorities is police personnel transparency. The City of Kyle’s Mayor announced he’ll be stepping down from his position. More people can now use SNAP to buy hot and ready to eat meals
KUT Morning Newscast for July 16, 2025: Williamson County issues vouchers to assist with the cleanup after floods
Central Texas top stories for July 16, 2025. Williamson County officials say they have shifted to clean-up and recovery mode after deadly flooding swept through the area on July 5th. Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is hosting an Emergency Preparedness Pop-up event today where people can learn what to do before and after a disaster. In a state where natural disasters are common, emergency alerts are meant to break through the noise but often get buried under other notifications. Rent prices in the Austin area fell 8 percent in June. The Austin area HIV Planning Council is hearing feedback tonight from people living with HIV or AIDS.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 15, 2025: Austin City Manager proposed a $6.3 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year
Central Texas top stories for July 15, 2025. The Austin area is still under a Flood Watch until 1 p.m. today. Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax released a proposed budget of $6.3 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. AISD is working on a plan to close certain campuses to reduce its multimillion-dollar budget deficit. Travis County opened a Volunteer Reception Center for those who want to help people affected by the July 4th weekend floods in the Austin area. Lake Travi is now 83 percent full, four feet above its average for the month of July.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 14, 2025: Leander vigil honors flood victims as community grapples with grief
Central Texas top stories for July 14, 2025. A flood watch is still in effect for Central Texas until 9 tonight. A candlelight vigil in Leander this weekend helped people grapple with the grief caused by deadly floods in Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend. Congregants from churches across Kerrville, in Central Texas, are preparing for a lengthy recovery. Austin firefighters say they have no confidence in Chief Joel Baker over flood response. The Austin Independent School District is hosting four workshops this week on its plan to consolidate campuses to save money; the first one is tonight.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 11, 2025: Cedar Park residents hold a vigil for the flood victims from the Austin area
Central Texas top stories for July 11, 2025. Texas House and Senate established flood and disaster committees ahead of the special session. Cedar Park residents held a vigil to honor the lives lost in the Austin area floods last week. The Central Texas Food Bank opened satellite sites to help those affected by flooding. Education advocates are relieved several changes to a federal student aid program did not make it in the final version President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
KUT Morning Newscast for July 10, 2025: After deadly flooding in Central Texas, questions are raised about the region’s emergency notification systems
Central Texas top stories for July 10, 2025. As recovery efforts continue after flooding in the Texas Hill Country, officials in Kerr County have yet to answer questions about how the emergency alert system was used. The aftermath of deadly flooding in the Austin-area has raised questions about how effective the region’s notification systems are. Two of the state’s best-known brands, both born in Kerrville, are showing their support for Hill Country flood victims. Elon Musk narrowly wins fight against neighbors over Austin-area home. A program that assesses Austin’s air for biological threats will continue after federal funding uncertainty put it at risk. KUT’s Olivia Aldridge reports.
What can unite the DA’s office and APD? ‘Trying to take bad people off the street.’
Travis County District Attorney’s office and the Austin Police Department have butted heads for years over which crimes get prosecuted. In a joint interview with KUT News, Police Chief Lisa Davis and DA José Garza said they’re prioritizing violent crimes — and pushing staff to better cooperate with each other. Andrew Weber reports.
After years of dysfunction, Austin Police and the Travis County DA say they’re trying to mend fences
District Attorney José Garza campaigned on a promise to prosecute police officers — whom he now must work with to prosecute other crimes. KUT’s Andrew Weber reports on how the Austin Police and Travis County District Attorney’s office are trying to work together.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 3, 2025: A report from Zillow says Austin is the most affordable city for renters
Central Texas top stories for July 3, 2025. The Austin Independent School District is holding workshops to get feedback on its campus consolidation process. Zillow recently named Austin the most affordable major city for renters. The city of Manor doesn’t have its own emergency room or hospital, but that’s set to change soon. Some City of Austin offices and facilities will be closed tomorrow for the July 4th holiday.