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‘It impacts all of us’: A Day Without Immigrants 

Earlier this week, folks in several industries participated in an event called “A Day Without Immigrants.” The focus was to highlight the contributions immigrants make every day, including to the economy. 

Mando Rayo, taco journalist and host of the Tacos of Texas podcast spoke with Texas Standard about the protest and the contributions of the immigrant workforce. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.

KUT Morning Newscast for February 7, 2025: Study shows Texans support certain exceptions to Texas’ abortion ban. 

Central Texas top stories for February 7, 2025. A new study shows Texans support certain exceptions to Texas’ near-total ban on abortion. The city of Austin is trying to revamp 6th Street, here’s what local businesses have to say. A federal bankruptcy judge this week denied a deal for a new auction of the Infowars media platform, owned by Austin-based conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. 

KUT Morning Newscast for February 6, 2025: Texas senate passes bill creating school voucher-like program.

Central Texas top stories for February 6, 2025. Texas senate passes bill creating school voucher-like program, it’s not the turn of the House to vote on it. Leaner ISD announced staff cuts for next school year. Two out of three teachers providing an arts education in Texas don’t have a fine arts certification. Austin is planning to expand its sobering center to help people with alcoholism or substance-abuse. Flag football is coming to the Austin area.

KUT Morning Newscast for February 3, 2025

Central Texas top stories for February 3, 2025. Gov. Greg Abbott gave his state of the state address yesterday, here are the details. Texas lawmakers are proposing increasing school safety funding by hundreds of millions of dollars, AISD says it might not be enough to comply with security measures. An abandoned rail line in Austin is being converted into a trail for pedestrians and cyclists. APD is increasing security after vehicle break-ins at parks and greenbelts. 

Is a Jay-Z feature still worth it?

On this episode Fresh and Confucius discuss the difference between podcasting and radio and if a Jay-Z feature is still worth it to artists.

KUT Morning Newscast for January 31, 2025

Central Texas top stories for January 31, 2025.  The City of Austin will look into changing the way it responds to mental health emergencies. The Mexican Consul General says at least 39 people from Mexico who are in the U.S. without legal status were detained in the Austin area over the last week. $42 million were approved for more affordable housing in Austin.

Texas secures land for a new state park

A bird flu outbreak noted early in Texas is now a national issue, and concerns are rising about what the federal government plans to do.

From property taxes to THC and more, Lt Gov. Dan Patrick outlines the first batch of 40 legislative priorities for the current Texas legislative session.

Why a fight over mass transit it Dallas could wind up a matter for state lawmakers to untangle.

And: The state has finalized the purchase of a 2,000-acre tract along the Colorado River in Burnet County, next to Colorado Bend State Park.

KUT Morning Newscast for January 30, 2025

Central Texas top stories for January 30, 2025. Advocates say recent immigration enforcement is sowing fear among undocumented migrants in the Austin area. Despite the rain, Jacob’s Well is unlikely to open for swimming this summer.

Texans weigh in on how to spend the state’s $24 billion surplus

If Texans were in charge of the state’s budget, how would they spend the money? A new survey from the Hobby School of Public Affairs sheds light on priorities.

We know many state lawmakers are prioritizing a school voucher effort that would give money for private education directly to families – and the proposal has moved forward in the Senate.

Some Texas business are already feeling indirect impacts of deportation efforts.

And: With Texas attracting more data centers, -what’s being done to ensure the energy grid can handle it?

KUT Morning Newscast for January 29, 2025

Central Texas top stories for January 29, 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested undocumented migrants in Austin and across the country in recent days, that includes people without criminal backgrounds. A federal judge temporarily paused a funding freeze put in place by Trump’s administration, the freeze could affect local non-profits. A temporary fix was made to Longhorn Dam after a gate got stuck, dropping Lady Bird Lake water level by two feet.

Abbott wants feds to cover Texas’ border costs

Gov. Greg Abbott wants the federal government to reimburse the state for more than $11 billion spent on Operation Lone Star, and some lawmakers from both sides of the aisle support the request.

Texas leads the nation in wind energy jobs, but a White House executive order to pause new wind projects has some in the industry concerned.

As the Trump administration ramps up deportations of unauthorized immigrants, many farmers are bracing for the impact on agriculture.

Luring Buc-ee’s beyond Texas: Cities across the U.S. are offering the company tax breaks and other big incentives.

And: New state data shows a growing number of minors are traveling out of state for abortions.

Reflections from three Holocaust survivors in Texas

President Trump’s long-promised deportation raids get underway in Texas and in other parts of the country. Today, what we know about the weekend operations and what we’re learning.

On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Texas Standard’s Sarah Asch brings us the voices and memories of survivors living in Texas.

And: The Texas Senate has unveiled a bill to create a school voucher plan. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey gets us caught up on the plan ahead of a public hearing on Tuesday.

Frenemies?

What is the issue between old friends, and artists, Jim Jones and Cam’ron? Also we discuss rappers cozying up to Trump’s new presidency.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for January 24, 2025

Central Texas top stories for January 24, 2025. We don’t have a freeze in the forecast for Austin for the first time in almost a week. The city of Lockhart is not codifying an amendment approved by voters to decriminalize marijuana. Austin is no longer the city in Texas with the highest rent prices.

Will Corpus Christi’s water restrictions be enough to stem emergency?

A dramatic move at the Texas Capitol upends a decades-long tradition of power sharing as conservative Republicans succeed in banning Democrats from chairing legislative committees.

The end of the CBP One program for asylum-seekers following President Donald Trump’s inauguration has left many with questions about their future.

And: Growing demand and industrial expansion have left Corpus Christi facing a water emergency.

KUT Morning Newscast for January 22, 2025

Central Texas top stories for January 22, 2025. The winter storm is behind us, but cold weather lingers as Austin sees the coldest temperatures registered this winter. Reproductive rights activists are considering how to move their cause forward in Texas. The median sales price of a home in Austin rose last month.