Jennifer Stayton

Central Texas top stories for May 20, 2024. The Austin Independent School District is still trying to make a dent in its growing budget deficit. A new initiative in Texas would help teens get better access to mental health services in their communities. And there may be a small silver lining to the big problem of leaky water pipes in Austin.

The City of Austin’s historic preservation plan dates back to 1981. But an effort is underway to change who participates in that planning and what gets preserved. People can give their input on a draft of the city’s new Equity-Based Preservation Plan through May 31st. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton recently talked with the city’s Planning Department Program Manager Cara Bertron and two members of the working group that helped draft the plan: historian Julia Brookins and architect JuanRaymon Rubio. They talked at Austin’s Parque Zaragoza, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, about why the city’s current plan needs a reboot.

Marian Henley is a cartoonist, artist and author who lives in Austin. She was raped twice in her life. Once at the age of 19. The second time at the age of 35. Later on, Henley adopted a son. In her recent graphic memoir “Finding the Light: A Mother’s Journey from Trauma to Healing,” she chronicles sharing that information with her son – and how it impacted both of their lives. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked with Marian Henley recently about her journey – beginning with how, and why, she told her son. ( A note: this interview includes discussion of a work that deals with sexual assault).

Henley will be speaking about her graphic memoir Thursday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m. at BookPeople in Austin.

Lisa B. Thompson has been working on “The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body” as a 2023-2024 Texas Performing Arts Artist in Residence. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked with Thompson ahead of the April 12th premier at the Vortex in Austin, Texas about the themes of the work – including her desire to focus on middle-aged and older Black women.

Central Texas top stories for April 12, 2024. The Austin City Council could soon extend the contract for the Marshalling Yard – a temporary homeless shelter in Southeast Austin. Advocates for ethnic studies classes in Texas public schools urge the State Board of Education to approve an American Indian-Native Studies course.

This week’s total solar eclipse was really spectacular – even with the cloudy skies. It turns out even a beautiful, natural phenomenon like the eclipse is not immune from conspiracy theories and disinformation. Why are some people eager to embrace information that is wrong – and sometimes really reluctant to let it go? KUT’s Jennifer Stayton put that question recently over Zoom to Central Texas neuropsychotherapist Bella J. Rockman, MA, LPC, LCDC-i. She says a mix of factors is at play- especially when it comes to politics:

Central Texas top stories for April 9, 2024. Cloudy skies didn’t keep hundreds of thousands from experiencing Monday’s total solar eclipse. Austin Independent School District students were among those impressed by the rare event. Austinites who qualify can still get help filing their federal income taxes before next week’s deadline.

Central Texas top stories for April 5, 2024. The Austin City Council makes official the hiring of a new City Manager. Get ready for clogged roads before, during and after Monday’s total solar eclipse. And a long-planned pedestrian bridge at the east end of the Butler Trail around Lady Bird Lake can finally go ahead.

Violence has been flaring in Haiti as gangs have attacked government facilities after elections were delayed. There is still no ceasefire agreement in the Israel-Hamas war. Concerns persist about potential Russian aggression in Europe two years after the invasion of Ukraine. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed or even hopeless in the face of multiple ongoing wars. The Reverend John Dear has devoted his adult life to nonviolence and is the author of the new book The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence. He talked with KUT about his life’s work – starting with what the word “nonviolence” means to him.

Central Texas top stories for February 9, 2024. State-appointed monitors say AISD is making significant progress in improving its special ed services. Ongoing APD staffing shortages mean the City of Austin is paying millions more in overtime than before. Marking the start of the Lunar New Year.

Central Texas top stories for February 8, 2024. The Austin-Round Rock area unemployment rate stays super low. The Austin City Council gets a final report on improving Austin Water’s performance. Central Texas likely won’t meet new, stricter EPA standards for potentially deadly fine particulate matter.

Calls to investigate a recent stabbing near the UT-Austin campus as a hate crime. Austin ISD warns of a scam involving fake AISD police officers. Austin’s policy over decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana has changed how officers prioritize patrols.

Central Texas top stories for February 6, 2024. Austin Police promise to better serve people with disabilities. Free tax help for eligible people in Travis and Williamson counties. The City of San Marcos wants more input on its long-term development plan.

Central Texas top stories for February 5, 2024. Today is the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming Texas primaries. Travis County backs out of a deal for a review of local homeless service programs. Texas state officials and the world’s largest investment firm meet this week to talk about the state’s electric grid.

Central Texas top stories for February 2, 2024. New rules for euthanizing dogs at the Austin Animal Center with a bite history. Austin-area high school students get ready to vote for the first time. A new hospital option in North Austin.

Central Texas top stories for January 26, 2024. The Austin Independent School District names a permanent superintendent. The City of Austin announces work on another affordable housing complex. What an upcoming Supreme Court case about policing people experiencing homelessness could mean for Austin and Texas.

Central Texas top stories for January 15, 2024. Freezing rain for Central Texas Monday morning. Frigid temperatures will stay put a few days. How Austin ISD decides when to cancel or delay school. Dealing with PTSD from the February 2021 destructive and deadly winter storm.

Austin has a new Youth Poet Laureate. 17-year-old Brandee Benson is a senior at Westwood High School in the Round Rock Independent School District. The Austin Public Library Foundation and the National Youth Poet Laureate Program led by Urban Word run the program to support young writers and leaders involved in their community, the arts, social justice and diversity, and education. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked over Zoom late last year with Benson about what first sparked her interest in poetry.

Central Texas top stories for December 20, 2023. Travis County Democrats and Republicans agree on rules for the March 2024 primary election. Texas Civil Rights groups sue over the state’s new immigration law. And the Austin Independent School District is trying to help students to have reliable internet at home.

The upcoming holidays (Thanksgiving is next week) may have some people stressing over family gatherings and interactions. But according to some in the mental health community, there is a way to start addressing some of the problems that can surface around that. It is work called “reparenting.” The practice has origins in psychotherapeutic work. But as Central Texas neuropsychotherapist Bella J. Rockman LPC, MA told KUT’s Jennifer Stayton over Zoom, it can work in or out of a clinical setting.