Central Texas top stories for June 2, 2025. Austin Energy says power has been restored to all customers after last week’s storm that left thousands without power. Local health care experts and nonprofits say a federal budget reconciliation bill would put more than 36,000 people in Austin at risk of losing Medicaid. Today the Texas legislature’s 2025 session is coming to a close. The legislature passed a bipartisan bill to let Texas state agencies determine remote-work policies, it heads to the governor’s desk. The season is over for the UT Baseball team. UT’s Softball team will play in the Women’s College World Series semifinals today.
Austin Energy
KUT Afternoon Newscast for May 30, 2025: Austin youth choir finds its voice through community at inaugural performance
Central Texas top stories for May 30, 2025. More than 7,400 Austin Energy customers are still without power. CommUnity Care has a new CEO. A bill that originally proposed making it easier to evict renters in Texas has been pared back significantly and is nearing final approval. The Pano Youth Choir is open to anyone in sixth through 12th grade — regardless of experience.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for May 29, 2025: City of Austin crews are in full recovery mode after last night’s storm that killed one person
Central Texas top stories for May 29, 2025. The National Weather Service says it was a microburst during the storm yesterday evening that knocked down so many trees and power lines. Last night’s storm killed one person, flooded roads and businesses, and left tens of thousands of people without power. Room Service Vintage is one of many local businesses damaged by last night’s storm. There’s some improvement in drought conditions in Central Texas. Texas lawmakers are staring down a deadline to get bills passed before the session ends Monday.
KUT Morning Newscast for May 29, 2025: One person dead and multiple water rescues after last night’s storm.
Central Texas top stories for May 29, 2025. Last night’s storms left one person dead and extensive damage across the city of Austin. Thousands of Austin Energy customers are without power this morning due to last night’s storm. Two bills in the Texas legislature that could have brought Austin’s light-rail plans to a halt appear to be dead. A bill restricting how much land builders can set aside for homes in new neighborhoods looks poised to pass the Texas legislature.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for April 7, 2025: Federal funding cuts could impact Austin’s flood risk mitigation plans.
Central Texas top stories for April 7, 2025. Austin Energy is warning about fraudulent phone calls. The Trump administration is clawing back millions in federal dollars that would have helped to address flood risks in Austin. We started this week with temperatures dipping into the 30s in Austin.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 26, 2025: Burying Austin’s power lines would cost $50 billion and is next to impossible.
Central Texas top stories for March 26, 2025. A new commissioned study says burying Austin’s power lines would be next to impossible. Williamson County is looking for a new County Judge, commissioners have identified four candidates. Wildflowers are finally here, but there are fewer than usual.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 5, 2025: A fire in Hays County yesterday burned around 80 acres.
Central Texas top stories for March 5, 2025. By 4 a.m. this morning, the fire in Hays County had burned around 80 acres and was 45 percent contained. Strong winds left thousands of Austinites without power. Sixth street is restricting vehicle access during SXSW. Austin City manager, T.C. Broadnax is holding town hall meetings to hear input on the 2025-2026 budget.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for January 6, 2025
Central Texas top stories for January 6, 2025. It’s cold enough to drip your faucets overnight. How Austin is preparing for this week’s freezing temperatures. CapMetro is offering free rides to warming centers during this week’s cold weather. Texas has done away with safety inspections on non-commercial vehicles. Texas plays Ohio State Friday night for a spot in this year’s College Football National Championship game. Six Austin City Council members are being sworn into office today.
KUT Morning Newscast for January 6, 2025
Central Texas top stories for January 6, 2025. We have a cold week ahead and Austin Energy says it’s prepared for winter weather. Austin’s overnight cold weather shelters will be open through Thursday. Vehicle safety inspections are now a thing of the past in Texas for non-commercial vehicles, here’s what you need to know. The Longhorns will play Ohio State this Friday night at the Cotton Bowl, a trip to this year’s national championship football game is on the line.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for December 12, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 12, 2024. It’s flu season. The City of Austin has a plan to fund The Marshalling Yard through September of next year. The Austin City Council is set to vote today on a new Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan for Austin Energy. Austin Water is conducting a prescribed burn today along the I-35 corridor. Austin Community College is celebrating a record number of graduates today during its Fall Commencement Ceremony. Hays CISD is considering a nearly $1 billion bond that would go to voters in May.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 22, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 22, 2024. High turnout for early voting in Travis, Hays and Williamson Counties. Voter turnout remains strong on the second day of early voting. Austin ISD officials say approving Proposition A is critical to giving teachers raises and keeping them in the district. The latest on the cleanup efforts for a train derailment in East Austin.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 3, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 3, 2024. Texas sent the third-largest U.S. contingent to the 2024 Paralympic Games. A judge’s ruling could mean a dramatic shift in how Austin releases information related to police misconduct. Barton Springs Pool is now expected to be closed for several weeks. Austin Energy is now using Artificial Intelligence to help detect and respond to wildfires. Travis County is looking to hire over 100 people at a job fair tomorrow. A streak of cooler than normal weather continues in the Austin area.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 22, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 22, 2024. We are under another Excessive Heat Warning. About 15 thousand people were without power for several hours yesterday. Cooling Centers for people experiencing homelessness. Kealing Middle School will officially start the new school year on Monday, nearly one week after the rest of the district. The Texas Women’s Soccer team takes on Southern Methodist University tonight in Dallas. Gas prices are still getting lower.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 9, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 9, 2024. Much of the Austin area is still under a Heat Advisory until this evening at 8:00. The Austin area is seeing a continued decline in the average cost of rent. Austin Energy is going ahead with plans to upgrade the dam that forms Lake Walter E. Long. Animal rights advocates are calling for the Austin Aquarium to shut down. A new Buc-ee’s is coming to our area. Some kids in Kyle are getting free haircuts ahead of the school year. The annual sales-tax free weekend is happening now through Sunday. Gas prices in Austin buck the statewide trend.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 16, 2024. How Austin’s mayoral candidates stack up in terms of fundraising. Travis County’s Emergency Services Districts are getting $5 million for new radios and other communication equipment. Austin Energy has backed away from a plan to look at selling part of its utility to a private entity. The city of Austin has named two finalists in the search for its next police chief. The Animal Advisory Commission is recommending that the City of Austin permit all companion animals to enter the city’s cooling shelters. Relief from triple digit temperatures inbound. The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance after the severe weather in late April through early June has been extended.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 5, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 5, 2024. Austin plans to have a labor contract with Austin Police by the end of the summer. Austin Community College is dedicating nearly 13 million dollars to helping current students get across the finish line. Austin Energy projects could impact traffic on South Lamar. Hurricane Beryl’s impact on Austin’s weather. San Marcos’ ban is not working so far. Gas prices have been holding steady heading into the long holiday weekend.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 25, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 25, 2024. Heat Advisory extended until Wednesday evening. Austin Energy looking at another rate increase. Hays CISD latest local school district to operate on budget deficit. Travis Co considering helping with high childcare costs. Georgetown weighing incentives for electricity conservation.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 25, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 25, 2024. There’s a heat advisory into effect today. The application process for Austin Energy’s “Medically Vulnerable Registry: has left hundreds of people waiting. The family of Joshua Wright, a man killed by a former Hays County Corrections Officer in 2022, plans to take their case to civil court. Taylor native Fred Kerley is going to the summer Olympics in Paris.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 19, 2024. Impact of Tropical Storm Alberto. An effort by state grid operators to bolster the Texas power supply going into this summer has failed. Austin Energy wants to enroll more people in its Customer Assistance Program. Round Rock ISD has found a way to approve a balanced budget for the school year ahead despite many districts in the area facing budget deficits. Juneteenth celebrations continue in Austin today.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for May 3, 2024
Central Texas top stories for May 3, 2024. UT Austin is gearing up for what could be the largest pro-Palestinian demonstration in recent weeks. APD said the outbreak of overdoses in Travis County this week is believed to have been caused primarily by crack cocaine laced with fentanyl. How should Austin Energy ensure electric reliability for its customers into the future while reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Flights from Austin to Montreal started today on Air Canada. The City of Austin is creating its own poet laureate program. Austin FC faces the Vancouver Whitecaps this weekend. The Pecan Street Festival is happening this weekend.