Central Texas top stories for April 18, 2024. Austin will restart a program that gives public cash to low-income families. Advocates and families of imprisoned Texans are calling on the state to provide AC in prisons ahead of another hot summer. The City of Austin will keep the Marshalling Yard open for another eight months. Healthcare worker shortage task force. The Austin area could get some severe weather tonight.
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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.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for April 17, 2024
Central Texas top stories for April 17, 2024. What the next regular session of the Texas Legislature could mean for the state’s power grid. More lawsuits have been filed in the deadly Hays CISD bus crash. Texas State University needs more housing for students. The City of Austin wants to give more resources to re-envisioning how sexual assault cases are investigated. We are seeing another spike in prices at the gas pumps. The 47th annual O. Henry Museum Pun Off World Championships are coming up next month.
KUT Morning Newscast for April 17, 2024
Central Texas top stories for April 17, 2024. The City of Austin is bracing for a budget shortfall this year and beyond. Travis County commissioners renamed the Justice and Public Safety Division to the Department of Innovative Justice and Program Analysis. The Biden Administration’s 6.4 billion dollar investment in Samsung is expected to bring more than 20 thousand jobs to Central Texas.
How are global and local changes impacting the Austin Music Scene?
How is climate change impacting Austin’s Music Scene? What about skyrocketing ticket prices? Or changes in AI and tech? How are new laws in Texas affecting women and LGBTQIA+ people in the music ecosystem? These are some of the questions that hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen will explore in Season 5 of Pause/Play. In the first episode, they look at how COVID has shifted some people’s relationship with live music, plus they give you a season overview.
In this episode you’ll hear from neuropsychotherapist Bella Rockman, Lawrence Boone from the Far Out Lounge and Stage, Meteorologist David Yeomans, Jammy Violet from Pelvis Wrestly, Austin musician Caleb de Caspar, Adrienne Lake from Daydream Believer Austin and Frontgate Tickets founder Mellie Price.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for April 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for April 16, 2024. Austin is facing a budget shortfall. San Marcos water restrictions may be changing soon. UT Austin President Jay Hartzell on staff layoffs to comply with a new state law banning DEI initiatives at public universities. “Bike lane bounty” initiative hits a snag. All Things Wild takes in a duck with a missing bill. Changes to Zilker Park’s weekend parking fee.
Lisa B. Thompson and Nadine Mozon
In this bonus episode, Rich talks to his co-host Lisa B. Thompson, award-winning playwright and Black cultural studies scholar about her new show, “The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body.” They are joined by Nadine Mozon, an associate professor, actor, writer, poet and dramatist who will star in Lisa’s show. Lisa and Nadine talk about the show, their creative processes and what their art means to them. “The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body” will run at the Vortex from April 12- May 4.
Revisiting the exploits of a notorious Texas jewel thief
As Texas eclipse watchers bask in the afterglow, we’re checking in on one event that was forced to end festivities early due to inclement weather.
A quarterly report offers a look at the health of Texas’ oil and gas industry. Energy analyst Matt Smith breaks it down.
The new book “The King of Diamonds” by Rena Pederson follows the trail of an elusive jewel thief who made off with millions by slipping into the homes of Dallas’ wealthiest residents.
Sea turtle nesting season is underway on South Padre Island. How many hatchlings are expected this year?
Plus: We’ll delve into the benefits of couples sleeping separately.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for April 8, 2024
Central Texas top stories for April 8, 2024. Severe weather possible in Central Texas tonight through Wednesday. Central Texans catch a break from breaks in the clouds during total solar eclipse. Folks travel to Hill Country from far and near to experience totality. Austin-area kids learn about, experience eclipse at school. Mobile mammogram service returns to Austin area.
What you should know about polling going into election season
After a prolonged legal back-and-forth that ultimately saw it paused again, Texas Senate Bill 4 returned to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday. We’ll have the latest on where the immigration law stands.
You’ve likely heard the poll numbers in the presidential race. Do you trust them? Some tips on following the many surveys we’ll be hearing as November approaches.
How community colleges are likely to play a growing role in the future of work in Texas.
And: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued to stop a light-rail initiative in Austin.
State approves Boca Chica State Park land swap with SpaceX
A Texas electricity company acknowledges its role in the largest wildfire in state history, a Panhandle blaze still only partially contained. We’ll hear more from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Despite objections from Brownsville and Rio Grande Valley residents, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department voted to move forward with a plan to swap land within Boca Chica State Park to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Tech expert Omar Gallaga has an update on the Facebook/Meta outages shutting down services for many on Super Tuesday.
And: Actor Thomas Haden Church on his latest film, “Accidental Texan,” a title that also describes his journey to the state.
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?
UTEP scientists spot bird not seen in decades
A unanimous decision from the U.S. Supreme Court reverses a challenge to Donald Trump’s eligibility to remain on primary ballots, just ahead of Super Tuesday.
The Texas Newsroom’s Rachel Osier Lindley shares an update on wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, where the biggest blaze in state history is only 15% contained.
We’ll have more on some key races to watch, from Abilene to Dallas County, as Texans prepare to go to the polls tomorrow.
And: The yellow-crested helmetshrike, a bird long feared extinct, was discovered by a team of scientists from the University of Texas at El Paso on an expedition to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A special broadcast from the Houston Rodeo
It’s considered by many to be the hub of Texas’ official sport. And no, you don’t need knowledge of football. We’re live from Rodeo Houston.
In a state known for doing things big, there’s no bigger rodeo in Texas than the one we’re at. This hour we’ll be rounding up the stories and sounds of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo which is kicking off this week in Texas’ biggest city – an event that’s seen as something of a centerpiece in the sport of rodeo.
It’s rich in Texas traditions and history and considered an A-list event in the Lone Star State each year. Why its drawing in millions, what accounts for its continued appeal, and what its popularity says about Texas today.
A small Texas town is holding a big Leap Year celebration
One person has died in the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Panhandle, which is now the largest wildfire in state history at an estimated 1,075,000 acres. We’ll get the latest update on the blaze.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are making simultaneous trips to the Texas-Mexico border today, a few days before Super Tuesday.
There are traditions associated with Leap Day in different cultures – and as it turns out, Texas has some of its own. The Standard’s Sarah Asch dives in.
And: There is a high-stakes global hunt for new places to mine lithium, and some investors have tabbed East Texas as one of the element’s potential hot spots.
A New Hope: Austin FC’s season opener w/ goalie Brad Stuver and singer Mélat
Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver talks to hosts Jimmy Maas and Juan Garcia about his pre-game ritual, his favorite date night spot in Austin, and how he makes sure that what happens on the field stays on the field.
Austin musician Mélat explains what it’s like to sing the national anthem at the season kickoff game — she’s done it three times! Plus she explains how she manifested a professional soccer team for our city.
Juan tells you why Austin FC is paying tribute to the Armadillo World Headquarters on their new away jersey.
And Jeremiah Bentley and Landon Cotham from the Moontower Soccer podcast talk about off-season trades and signings.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 27, 2024
Central Texas top stories for February 27, 2024. Local activists are asking the Department of Justice to investigate APD. Austin’s budget troubles. Latest plans for the downtown Health South development site. Dairy plant development lawsuit. Texas anti-abortion activists consider pushing for changes to the state’s IVF laws.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for February 22, 2024
Central Texas top stories for February 22, 2024. Reactions from the AT&T outage. The City of Austin will not move forward with a plan to conduct a comprehensive review of its homeless services and programs. New water rules to fight drought conditions. Sarkisian gets a raise.
Coral samples in Galveston could be key to keeping the species alive
On the eve of early voting, Alexandra Samuels of Texas Monthly and Mark Jones of the Baker Institute at Rice University share a closer look at some of the big contests Texas voters will see on their primary ballots.
We’ll hear about what happened when reporters for the Houston Chronicle began mapping where tickets are being issued to people experiencing homelessness there.
Amid mounting threats from climate change, scientists at Moody Gardens in Galveston are caring for 150 coral fragments from five species to keep them alive.
Anyone up for barbecue – for breakfast? BBQ journalist Daniel Vaughn has some prime tips.
New music exhibit features iconic items owned by Willie Nelson, Taylor Swift and more
A new law making it a state crime for migrants to enter Texas without authorization faces a major test in a federal courtroom. We’ll hear the latest.
In Houston ISD, the biggest school district in the state, officials appointed by the state are getting pushback over plans to expand school reforms.
A Texas presidential museum turns a spotlight on Taylor Swift’s guitar, Willie Nelson’s boots and hundreds of other artifacts to help tell the story of American music.
Plus: The week in politics with The Texas Tribune.