ATXplained

May 30, 2024

Black houses are so hot right now in Austin. But are they hotter? (archive episode)

Does the color of your house make a difference in how energy efficient it is? We try to find out.

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May 16, 2024

Is Steiner Ranch really full of swingers?

Some neighborhoods around Austin have their own reputation. Most of them are probably not all that accurate.

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May 2, 2024

Where have Austin’s Indigenous people gone? (archive episode)

We spend a lot of time in Austin talking about how many new people move here. But most of us don’t talk much about the people who came before us — way before us.  If you’ve ever taken a walk along Shoal Creek or gone to Barton Springs on a hot summer day, you’re doing […]

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April 18, 2024

Why do bluebonnets grow so well along MoPac?

If you’ve ever been jealous of the lush, beautiful patches of wildflowers along Austin’s highways, this story is for you.

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April 4, 2024

Does Austin have a rat problem? Maybe. But this reporter sure does.

Audrey McGlinchy on the prevalence, psychology and behavior of what are maybe humans’ most vexing pest.

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March 21, 2024

How does Thomas J. Henry make any money when he spends so much on ads all over Austin?

He’s everywhere: TV, radio, billboards, YouTube. What’s the marketing strategy for this personal injury lawyer?

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March 7, 2024

A tower has loomed in Austin’s Clarksville neighborhood for 72 years. What does it do?

At one point, this tower was Austin’s main communication link to the outside world. Decades later, is it a landmark — or an eyesore — for the neighborhood?

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December 15, 2023

Why are some Austin sidewalks red?

There’s your standard gray sidewalk, of course. But what on Earth does a red sidewalk mean?

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