atxplained

Plastic piles up as advanced recycling program in Houston struggles to get off the ground

Jefferson County, Texas, may not feel the brunt of Hurricane Francine but has prepared for any possible changes in the storm’s path.
Will last night’s presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump move the needle at all?
Campus libraries across Cy-Fair ISD are open only part of the time this year after trustees cut librarian positions in half.
An investigation into so-called “advanced recycling” in Houston reveals that hundreds of thousands of pounds of plastic waste have been piling up since 2022.
And: Elvis Presley wasn’t a Texan – but he owed the state a lot.

Texas athlete Ryan Medrano heads to his first Paralympic Games in Paris

Election Day is fast approaching, and controversies in Texas over who’s eligible to cast a ballot are picking up steam. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey has an update on Republican-led efforts to purge voter rolls and growing concerns about what could be a recipe for confusion come November.
As Texas public schools see enrollment numbers drop along with their budgets, an idea being tried by some districts in West Texas is garnering lots of attention – and apparently lots of money.
Texas is again well represented in Paris: We’re talking with El Paso fitness trainer Ryan Medrano, who’s running in the Paralympic Games this weekend.
Plus: the week in politics with The Texas Tribune and poetry from the Typewriter Rodeo.

Can you raise backyard chickens in Austin even if your HOA says you can’t?

When a person buys a property under an HOA, they’re agreeing to any rules the HOA enacts. But there are state laws that could change things.

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.

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?

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?

KUT Morning Newscast for December 29, 2023

Central Texas top stories for December 29, 2023. New Year’s Eve is a busy night for the sobering center. Christmas Bird Count. Longhorns are in New Orleans ahead of their first NCAA College Football Playoff appearance. Last games of the year for the Longhorn basketball teams. “Guardrail damage ahead” signs explained.

Why is Lala’s Little Nugget in Austin always decorated for Christmas?

No matter the season, the iconic Austin dive bar off Justin Lane is filled with snow globes, Christmas trees and strings of red and green lights. But the story behind how this decor came to be is always changing.

KUT Morning Newscast for June 14, 2023

Central Texas top stories for June 14, 2023. Heat advisory extended. Free rides to cooling centers. Childcare access report. Austin building code changes. Pollinator week. Flies in Austin.

What are the weirdest laws in Texas?

The Texas Legislature’s regular session is nearing an end. While some of the laws passed during these sessions are crucial to keep the state running, other laws have been a little more interesting.

‘Is Austin hiding their elderly?’ What’s the average age of its residents?

In a city with a reputation as being young, we got a question about where all of Austin’s older people are.

Who is ‘Moody,’ and why is everything in Austin named after them?

There’s the Moody College of Communication at UT, the Moody Rooftop at the Contemporary Austin, Moody Hall at St. Edwards University, Moody Bank, the Moody Pavilions at Laguna Gloria, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, and Moody Center. It can be a little confusing.

For mouth painter Jared Dunten, the trick is to just keep going

The process can leave him feeling “beat up,” but he still gets the thrill he felt when he painted for the first time after an accident left him paralyzed from the neck down.

How much of the stuff we put in the blue bin in Austin actually gets recycled?

Plastic in the U.S. is largely going unrecycled, but the city says that’s not so for the plastic we put in the blue bins.

Why is the two-step danced differently in Austin than in other parts of Texas?

Two-stepping originated from foxtrot and has been danced to country music in dancehalls around Austin for ages. Influenced by other music genres played in the region, people here have put their own spin on it.

KUT listeners Allyson Lipkin and Cristopher Juarez wanted to know why people in Austin and San Antonio dance the two-step differently than folks in the rest of Texas and the U.S. So, they reached out to KUT’s ATXplained project.

What’s the story behind the abandoned house by Dell Medical School?

One of the oldest homes still standing in Austin was once known as The Chateau. Its residents hosted legendary parties that were often safe spaces for gay people in the 1960s and ‘70s. Today, the home is boarded up — but there’s a new effort brewing to ensure it’s preserved.

These bills have little chance of being passed. Why do lawmakers file them?

How much confidence do you have in state government? The first post-election survey is out with a message for Texas lawmakers. We’ll have details. Other stories we’re tracking: In North Texas, reaction to the manslaughter conviction of a former Fort Worth Police officer charged with murder in the killing of Atatiana Jefferson. And why did the Texas Attorney General request gender change data from Texas drivers license records? Plus they are the champions Texas sweeps Louisville to take the NCAA Volleyball title. Also the legislative bills that seem to be going nowhere fast: why file them in the first place? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard: