Austin Energy

AISD campus transforms into affordable housing for teachers

Affordable housing is top of mind for many Austinites, but especially for educators working in our local schools. Now, a former AISD elementary campus is being transformed into housing — with some units set aside specifically for teachers. Acacia Coronado from the Austin Current takes a closer look at the East Austin project.


Brown water is flowing from the taps in one Austin-area suburb. We’ll hear what residents say they wish they knew before moving in, and how they’re working to warn others.


We’ve had a very warm spring this year and we’re not even close to the peak of summer temperatures. The heat isn’t unusual, but it’s arriving at a time when Austin’s energy utility has sharply increased shutoffs for nonpayment.

Back in 1928, a city plan excluded Black residents from certain parts of Austin–including the city’s first public park, Pease Park. One group is working to reclaim that history and reshape the narrative. We’ll talk to the founders of the RISE Project on today’s show.

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Austin Energy employee paid nearly $1 million to fake vendors before resigning, audit says

A former Austin Energy employee has been accused of defrauding the city utility of nearly $1 million over the course of six years by falsifying credit card payments to contractors and paying fake vendors that had addresses tied to him or his relatives.

The YMCA in downtown Austin wants to expand and renovate, adding housing, restaurants and office space – but some nearby residents are concerned about how the project could affect the neighborhood. We’ll hear about the proposal and next steps.

The Christmas season has arrived, but for a bar in North Austin, every day is Christmas. What’s the reason behind it?

KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 27, 2025: Austin Democrat Sarah Eckhardt announces she will run for Michael McCaul’s seat in Congress

Central Texas top stories for October 27, 2025. Travis County voters are turning out during early voting. State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, an Austin Democrat, announced today that she’s running for Congress. Austin ISD is inviting parents to give feedback on its plan to close 13 schools. Austin Energy has a new general manager.

This podcast is made at KUT Public Media Studios. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

KUT Morning Newscast for June 02, 2025: Power in Austin is fully restored after last week’s storms.

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.  

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 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.