Central Texas top stories for December 19, 2024. Some of “Old Austin” businesses closed this year. The City of Kyle is warning residents to stay away from feral hogs. ABIA is expecting more travelers this weekend, be prepared.
ABIA
KUT Afternoon Newscast for December 11, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 11, 2024. The ballots are in from Early Voting in the runoff election for last month’s undecided races. The City of Austin is reworking the Live Music Fund. Bruce Elfant is retiring from his post as Travis County’s Voter Registrar and Tax Assessor-Collector. Austin’s airport is operating with about half as many air traffic controllers as it should. Texas State University’s class of 2020 will finally have an in-person commencement. A bankruptcy judge rejected The Onion’s auction bid to buy Infowars.
24 Hours at the Austin Airport
Nobody wants to be at the airport. At least not any longer than they have to. We spent 24 hours at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport— from 9 a.m. on May 6 to 9 a.m. on May 7 — to experience everything that happens there.
KUT Producers: Matt Largey, Greta Díaz González Vázquez, Maya Fawaz, Audrey McGlinchy, Stephanie Federico, Olivia Aldridge, Kailey Hunt, Nathan Bernier, Mose Buchele and Wynne Davis.
Production help from Hasina Shah, Sara Kinney and Tinu Thomas.
Graphic design by Maile Carballo.
Sonic logo design by Rene Chavez, Ezra Gomez and Simón Marulanda-Mesa
24 Hours in Austin is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 26, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 26, 2024. The City of Austin will be getting two federal grants to enhance the city’s mobile court program. A bill filed in the Texas House of Representatives would classify medications used in abortions as controlled substances. Expect heavy traffic getting to and through the airport during this Thanksgiving week. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport plans to build more lounges for customers who pay for the exclusive travel experience.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 21, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 21, 2024. It’s the first day of early voting for the November election and Travis County voters can cast a ballot at any of the county’s 42 polling locations. The Austin City Council this week could consider making local rules for where registered sex offenders can live. H-E-B plans to open a third store in San Marcos after reaching an agreement with the city. The Southeastern Conference is imposing a $250,000 fine on the University of Texas. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is encouraging travelers to show up early as officials anticipate about 40,000 departing passengers today.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 17, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 17, 2024. Austin and Travis County are issuing disaster declarations in response to the growing risk of wildfire. Three candidates running for a seat on the Railroad Commission of Texas met at a forum last night. The Texas Education Agency has released updated instructional materials the State Board of Education is scheduled to review and vote on next month. This Monday is set to be the busiest day ever at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 14, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 14, 2024. Airport officials say travelers should expect long lines at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. About 30 AISD schools and facilities will serve as polling sites on election day. A local group is asking Hays County voters to reject the bond for road improvements. Travis County is considering joining Austin’s food plan to avoid food waste. Travis County is holding a job fair today.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 8, 2024
The Austin Airport worker’s union has avoided a strike by securing a wage hike. Texas OBGYNs say best practices are hindered by restrictive state abortion law, many have considered leaving Texas. Fewer Monarch butterflies have been spotted in Texas so far this fall, a bad sign for their annual migration. A malfunction at Austin’s Longhorn Dam caused Lady Bird Lake to start draining on Monday. City says the problem has been fixed.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 27, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 27, 2024. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the City of Austin. Austin ISD voters will soon be deciding whether to approve a new tax rate that would generate millions of dollars in additional revenue for the district. Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium just became the first soccer-only stadium in the world to earn TRUE Gold certification. A big expansion of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is officially cleared for takeoff. You’ve got a chance tomorrow to get a first look at new plans for the future of I-35. Travis County wants to get the word out about a new scam call tactic.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 13, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 13, 2024. A larger percentage of Austin renters are living in housing they can’t afford, according to new Census data. Travis County staff are making sure ballots are accurate and voting equipment is working properly for the November election, they are encouraging residents to come see the process for themselves. Hays County voters will decide on a major bond for road improvements this November. Starting in March, British Airways will fly from Austin to London Heathrow twice a day. The Austin based theater group Proyecto Teatro got selected to be part of the Encuentro 2024 festival in Los Angeles.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 5, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 5, 2024. Rents in the Austin area have been falling for almost a year and a half. Round Rock ISD is asking voters to pass bonds to help fund construction and renovation projects. ABIA will have jet bridges with air conditioning. Austin FC is looking to divert tons of trash from landfills.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 30, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 30, 2024. The City of Austin is pushing back on SB4. Travis County Commissioners approved six- point- three million dollars to offer legal counsel during people’s first appearance in front of a judge when accused of a crime. Austin Community College’s semiconductor training center has been awarded one-and-a-half million dollars in federal funding. If you’re traveling this weekend, make sure to plan ahead.
What Texas Democrats can look forward to as the DNC kicks off
Texas has the third-largest delegation at the Democratic National Convention. We’ll hear more about the four-day political spectacle getting underway in Chicago and what it could mean for the Lone Star State and the presidential race.
Conservative activists, led by the Houston-based group True the Vote, are submitting lists of names to county election officials all over Texas, claiming the listed people are illegally registered to vote.
More and more school districts in Texas taking cellphone bans seriously as students return to class.
Also: Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a special type of self-watering soil that can actually pull water from the air and slowly release nutrients to plants.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 19, 2024. AISD Board of Trustees is deciding tonight whether to call a tax rate election in November. Travis County residents are likely to see higher property tax bills this fall. A new 20-gate concourse at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is getting closer to becoming a reality. Today will be the hottest day of the summer so far.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 26, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 26, 2024. Central Health hopes to hire a few hundred more staff in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Biden’s visit to Austin might cause traffic delays, plan accordingly. The Village at Western Oaks is getting 21 Little Free Libraries installed thanks to a city program. Austin FC will play against Mexican club Pumas at Q-2 Stadium tonight.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 19, 2024. A global tech outage caused by Austin-based cyber security firm CrowdStrike caused delays today at some city and county offices. The impact of the tech outage on local hospital systems. Reactions to disruptions at ABIA. A person in Williamson County has tested positive West Nile virus.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 19, 2024. A global technology outage impacting Microsoft 365 apps and services is hitting locally: travelers are waiting for their flights at the ABIA. Some residents are expressing concerns about Williamson County’s plans to build a new, paved trail that would connect Leander and Round Rock. A nonprofit is helping high school students in the Austin area navigate the new process for FAFSA.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 18, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 18, 2024. Rent prices in the Austin area continue to fall. Local officials are drawing up Austin’s first ever “comprehensive food plan.” The Austin City Council is taking more time to consider a bond package that would address climate change in the community. The expansion of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is gaining altitude. The Austin City Council is looking further into the possibility of opening a public bank. The University of Texas received federal funding to build facilities in Austin for the U.S. Department of Defense. Major League Soccer’s summer transfer window begins today.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 17, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 17, 2024. “X”, formerly known as Twitter, will relocate its headquarters to Austin. Austin travelers flying Allegiant will have fewer options in January. Leander I-S-D officials say the district has plans to build a new vocational education center in Cedar Park. The city of Austin has named two finalists in the search for its next police chief. The Austin Area HIV Planning Council wants to hear feedback from the community to improve access to resources for people.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 12, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 12, 2024. The Austin City Council could adopt another record-breaking budget for 2025. APD substation plans for Williamson County. Skillpoint Alliance nonprofit is looking to address the region’s shortage of skilled manufacturing workers. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is gearing up to spend 45-million dollars on a new safety system that will direct how planes move around the Barbara Jordan Terminal. President Joe Biden will be in Austin on Monday to commemorate 60 years since the signing of the Civil Rights Act. A local theater company is partnering with the Austin Community College Drama Department to launch a new festival next month. The Willie Mae Kirk Branch of the Austin Public Library will be closed for renovations starting Saturday.