Central Texas top stories for September 24, 2024. Austin ISD’s plan to build apartments is moving forward. Travis County approved its highest budget in its history. Williamson County has formed partnerships with Austin-based non-profits to address the county’s growing homeless population. The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Hays County Buda is raising its property tax rate and other fees. Senator Ted Cruz and his challenger, Congressman Colin Allred, have agreed to face off in a debate next month.
Austin ISD
KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 11, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 11, 2024. Austin ISD’s annual “leveling” will move teachers from under-enrolled schools to those with more students than expected. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has new marching orders for the state Senate. City leaders in Georgetown are looking at ways to regulate the area’s growing number of short-term rental properties. The ACLU has filed briefs in an ongoing lawsuit over books removed from the Llano County library. The City of Austin is looking for artists to work their magic on a few spots around town. Jacob’s Well is not doing well. The Austin Community College Board has adopted a new tax rate for the next fiscal year. Energy prices are falling. The Texas Volleyball team wraps up a three-game homestand tonight against Houston.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 27, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 27, 2024. The City of Austin is facing a lawsuit after police shot a man in his home four times in April. The Austin Independent School District is moving forward with plans to install solar panels at fourteen campuses. A new class action lawsuit seeks to block the City of Austin from collecting all property taxes until it kills the tax increase approved by voters to fund Project Connect. Appointments for updated COVID-19 vaccines are now available at some Austin pharmacies. Williamson County Commissioners have adopted a budget of $635 million ahead of the new fiscal year on October 1st. Gas prices jumped up overnight in the Austin area. Local meteorologists are saying they’re confident that the worst of the summer heat is behind us.
Central Texas top stories for August 21, 2024.
Austin Pets Alive is expanding its efforts to move animals from under-resourced shelters in Texas to out-of-state foster and adoptive homes. Manor ISD’s school board decided this week to ask voters to approve a new tax rate in November. An Austin ISD trustee who represents voters across the entire district, Noelita Lugo, is not running for reelection in November. The City of Austin has put out a help-wanted sign for artists.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 20, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 20, 2024. The Austin area is under an Excessive Heat Warning until tomorrow night. The Austin ISD school board is asking voters to approve a new tax rate in November. There’s one last candidate for Austin mayor. The Austin City Council is facing another lawsuit from the environmental nonprofit Save Our Springs Alliance. The City of San Marcos is looking to reallocate some federal COVID relief funds that are set to run out soon. Travis County is now under a burn ban.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 20, 2024
Here are the top stories from the KUT Newsroom for the morning of August 20th. The Austin ISD school board will ask voters to approve new funding for the district. Austinites waste lots of food, and yet, we also have too many people who are food insecure. The Taylor ISD needs to build more schools or it will run out of room for students as the area continues its explosive growth. And it’s the first day of school in Austin! Please watch out while driving to and from work today.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 19, 2024. This week could be the hottest week of the year. Austin ISD’s school board is considering whether to ask voters to approve a new tax rate in November. Thousands of people in the Austin Independent School District head back to campus tomorrow. Taylor ISD could run out of room for its students by 2030 unless new school facilities are built. Gas prices have been trending down.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 8, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 8, 2024. Heat advisory extended until tomorrow evening. The Austin ISD school board is weighing whether to ask voters to approve a new property tax rate in November. Round Rock is surveying roads to prioritize repairs. Enforcement in school zones is starting back up. It’s another Ozone Action Day in the Austin area.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 6, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 6, 2024. The Austin ISD superintendent has placed the district’s chief financial officer on leave. The Texas State Teachers Association says many educators are thinking about leaving the field. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has declared an Ozone Action Day for tomorrow. Austinite Gabby Thomas won a gold medal today in the women’s 200-meter final at the Paris Olympic games. Martin Pool is closed after Sunday’s thunderstorm damaged its power pole.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 30, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 30, 2024. Austin ISD is looking for ways to cut its spending. Travis County is putting together its next budget. The Austin Fire Department is calling for 25 new cadets and a shorter work schedule to improve firefighters’ mental health. Advanced manufacturing is dominating economic development in Williamson County. Facebook parent company Meta has agreed to a 1.4 billion dollar settlement of a lawsuit filed by the State of Texas. This week we’re paying for the rain and below-normal temperatures of last week.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 23, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 23, 2024. The two finalists in the running to be the next Austin Police Chief are meeting with the public in Austin today. Booster guidance for the summer surge of COVID-19. Del Valle ISD is looking for a new superintendent and accepting applications for about another month. The Austin school board is considering whether to call a tax rate election in November to generate more revenue for the district. People in Georgetown may soon see an increase in their monthly water bill. A new online exhibit is providing a way for Tejano community groups in Austin to have their voices heard. Below-normal temperatures and rain in Austin this week.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 10, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 10, 2024. Austin ISD is one step closer to building housing on one of its properties. A lawsuit to remove Travis County’s district attorney is likely to be thrown out. Federal and state officials feud over Hurricane Beryl. Seven people graduated this week from the Hays County Pretrial Diversion Program. Austin Public Library eliminated the $120 dollar fee to get a library card for people who live just outside of the city limits. The City of Hutto will move into Stage 2 of its water conservation plan starting Friday.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 21, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 21, 2024. The Texas Medical Board has adopted a final rule intended to guide doctors in navigating the emergency medical exception to state abortion law. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking for another shot at throwing out Austin’s marijuana laws. The Austin ISD school board has adopted a budget for the next school year that includes a 78-million-dollar deficit. A former Hays County corrections officer no longer faces criminal charges in an incident in which he fatally shot a fleeing inmate. Leander is looking at using more artificial turf to cut down on the amount of water used for landscaping. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will get new baggage screening equipment soon. Austin Community College is seeing a big increase in enrollment for its upcoming semester.
Director Jeff Nichols returns to the big screen with ‘The Bikeriders’
Tropical Storm Alberto bears down on Mexico, bringing rain wind and stormy weather to South Texas. We’ll have an update on the latest.
Texas has the second largest population of Indian Americans in the U.S., many of them closely following the shifting political picture in New Delhi. We’ll hear reactions to a rare third term for India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi.
How the government’s trying to help veterans transition into entrepreneurs.
You might have heard of AI hallucinations, but there’s a new buzzword in town – understanding AI “slop.”
And: Austin-based writer-director Jeff Nichols joins the Standard with a look at his new movie, “The Bikeriders,” a time capsule of late 1960s Chicago and the rise of motorcycle clubs.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 18, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 18, 2024. Texas Supreme Court rules state electric grid regulators acted legally when they hiked energy rates during a blackout in February 2021. What Hays CISD is doing to tackle a budget deficit. A reward is being offered for information about the shooter that killed two people at a Juneteenth celebration in Round Rock. The University of Texas at Austin is laying off more than a dozen employees responsible for communication and marketing. Lynn Boswel is running for reelection to the Austin ISD board of trustees. The City of Austin is getting rid of some public pool fees this summer. Juneteenth celebrations. Rain expected for tomorrow.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 14, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 14, 2024. Texas elementary & middle school students are still struggling with math proficiency. Ascension malware attack is still impacting marketplace health insurance plans offered by the hospital system. Few people are getting tickets for blocking “the box.” Tomorrow is Election Day in Leander. Austin-born artist Suzy González is looking to showcase the city’s diversity in a future mural at the Austin History Center. Junteenth celebrations in the Austin area.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 7, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 7, 2024. Austin Public Health has found a second mosquito pool infected with West Nile Virus. Folks who get insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas could soon lose access to in-network benefits at Baylor Scott & White Health facilities. A near-miss between two large planes at Austin’s airport last year has prompted a series of recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board. Bird Flu has made its way into Austin wastewater. Austin School District officials say the number of special education evaluations they completed during the 2023-24 school year is up significantly from the year before. Leander runoff election. Texas Softball swept by Oklahoma in Women’s College World Series final.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 6, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 6, 2024. What to expect for this summer. Recent drought relief may be only temporary. New traffic signals have been installed at Fourth Street and the I-35 frontage roads. Austin ISD priorities for the next Texas legislative session. Taylor is looking for feedback on a new plan for its Justice Center Project. Longhorns need two straight victories to prevent Oklahoma four-peat. Leander’s Rouse Raiders in the UIL Baseball State Tournament 5A semi-finals.
KUT Morning Newscast for May 28, 2024
Central Texas top stories for May 28, 2024. It’s Election Day for primary runoff races across Texas. The Texas Republican party doubled-down on private school vouchers during the recent state convention. Austin ISD is providing Spanish interpretation at its high school graduation ceremonies. City leaders in Georgetown are preparing for another hot, dry summer. The National Weather Service says there’s an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms in the Austin area late this afternoon.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for May 10, 2024
Central Texas top stories for May 10, 2024. A UT Austin lecturer has been arrested and fired after allegedly confronting police during a pro-Palestinian protest. A severe storm passed through Hays County last night with damaging wind and very large hail. Weekend weather. The University of Texas is making a downpayment of more than 13 million dollars to cover I-35 from 15th Street to Dean Keeton. Austin ISD’s budget deficit is even larger than expected. Austin FC vs. FC Dallas.