austin

Ultramarathoner prepares for run across Texas

Americans are pretty evenly divided on the issue of gun rights versus regulated ownership. How might it show up at the polls?

The number of migrants trying to cross the border with Mexico into the U.S. is down quite a bit. A look at why.

We’ll also introduce you to an endurance runner preparing to make his way from El Paso to Galveston. His goal is to draw attention to a cause.

The first spacewalk involving private citizens instead of astronauts is in the books. How we got here and what’s ahead.

Plus, recalling the journey to erect the Tejano Monument at the state capitol.
And why Texas lawmakers are working across the aisle to reverse a death penalty case.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 19, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 19, 2024. The Austin City Council could vote next week to keep a temporary homeless shelter open longer than originally planned. Leaders from Austin Water are set to give an update today on plans to better conserve the city’s water supply. Law enforcement officials are increasing security at the Williamson County Justice Center after discovering an alleged plot to kill a local judge. Today Austinites can hear from the city council candidates for district four, here are the details. Barton Springs pool is open again!

KUT Morning Newscast for September 18, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 18, 2024. Travis County filed a federal lawsuit accusing state leaders of violating the National Voter Registration Act. Austin has seen a rise in its older population over the last decade, that’s according to a new Census survey. Travis County Commissioners postponed a vote on the budget for Central Health. Barton Springs pool will open tomorrow. The Austin History Center is hosting conversations with the community to celebrate Hispanic/Latino Heritage month.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 17, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 17, 2024. Texas high school students will need to rank in the top five percent of their graduating class to be automatically admitted to UT Austin starting with the fall 2026 semester. Hays County Commissioners are set to vote on a new budget today. Texas is changing its rules for annual vehicle inspections, get the details here. The Austin Police Department is cracking down on aggressive driving, speeding, and other traffic violations in one part of the city.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 16, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 16, 2024. Homes in Austin are selling for a bit more than they did last year. Uber says it will start using self-driving cars in Austin and Atlanta early next year. A nonprofit focused on supporting children and families has given tens of thousands of dollars to the AISD. This year has not been great for bat viewing in Austin, but that doesn’t mean it has been a bad year for the bats. The Texas Longhorns are now number one in the Associated Press Top 25 college football poll.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 13, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 13, 2024. A larger percentage of Austin renters are living in housing they can’t afford, according to new Census data. Travis County staff are making sure ballots are accurate and voting equipment is working properly for the November election, they are encouraging residents to come see the process for themselves. Hays County voters will decide on a major bond for road improvements this November. Starting in March, British Airways will fly from Austin to London Heathrow twice a day. The Austin based theater group Proyecto Teatro got selected to be part of the Encuentro 2024 festival in Los Angeles.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 12, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 12, 2024. Texas is one of six states that saw increases in the uninsured rate among children, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Diplomatic officials from the United States and South Korea were in Williamson County yesterday to discuss local economic development. Austin could make changes today to its noise regulations.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 11, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 11, 2024. State officials are considering whether to approve a new reading curriculum for elementary school students that includes Bible stories. Rent prices in Austin have continued to fall, even as rents in other large cities are going up. A mosquito infected with West Nile Virus was found in San Marcos last week, the mosquito season continues. Officials are honoring firefighters who were part of 9/11 rescue teams.

This Is My Thing: Vintage Railroading!

Some folks like to watch trains or photograph trains or build model trains, but for Marc Opperman only the real thing will do. His love of trains led him to become a student conductor on a real, functioning vintage train.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 10, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 10, 2024. Travis County Commissioners today will get a first look at an audit of Central Health. Austin-Travis County medics saw fewer opioid overdoses over the summer. The Austin city council will consider amending its noise ordinance. The City of Georgetown is encouraging residents to conserve water.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 9, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 9, 2024. A new poll finds nearly 80 percent of Texas teachers have seriously thought about leaving the job in the last year. The Austin City Council is considering a resolution that would eliminate the use of harmful chemicals that firefighters are exposed to when they’re on a call. A civil trial started today in federal court in Austin claiming intimidation and harassment by the “Trump Train” in 2020. Travis County employees are set to get a 5 percent raise next year, but some say it’s not enough to keep up with their workload. TxDOT has announced a major environmental study to look at expanding the bridge from Corpus Christi to Padre Island. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office will be ramping up enforcement on US Highway 290 along a stretch between Cedar Valley and Dripping Springs. Sally Duval is highlighting a platform of marijuana legalization. Tropical Storm Francine is expected to make landfall on the Upper Gulf Coast as a hurricane later this week.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 9, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 9, 2024.The Austin City Council this week is considering a plan to phase out forever chemicals used in firefighting. A poll shows 78 percent of Texas public school teachers say they have seriously considered leaving their job in the last year. Testing data shows students in Texas are still struggling with math post-pandemic, a Central Texas district is trying to help. A UT poll shows an uptick of support for Democrats. The Longhorns are now #2 in the AP Top 25 College Football Poll.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 6, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 6, 2024. Travis County officials are responding to a recent announcement from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who says more than a million people have been taken off state’s voter rolls since 202. Travis County is trying to revive efforts to fund a passenger rail from Austin to San Antonio. The City of Leander and its firefighters are one step closer to establishing their first-ever collective bargaining agreement. The City of Austin will receive a $10.5 million dollar grant to reduce fatal and serious pedestrian injuries.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 5, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 5, 2024. Rents in the Austin area have been falling for almost a year and a half. Round Rock ISD is asking voters to pass bonds to help fund construction and renovation projects. ABIA will have jet bridges with air conditioning. Austin FC is looking to divert tons of trash from landfills.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 4, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 4, 2024. Austinites will have a chance to meet the candidates running for the city council in November. Lake Travis ISD has rolled out new parental controls for its online library catalog. Austin Independent School District students who are caught with e-cigarettes on campus will have to take an anti-vaping course. Llano got 6 inches of rain on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 3, 2024

Central Texas top stories for September 3, 2024. A new court handling lawsuits against the state is officially open. In 2016, Austin voters approved a bond package aimed at improving safety at busy intersections, hear about those projects. Dockless e-scooters have been around Austin since 2018, but a new audit finds the city is flying blind when it comes to crash data. The Capital Area Rural Transportation System, or CARTS, is expanding its on-demand ride-share service to Elgin and La Grange starting today. The Black Men’s Health Clinic in Austin will host a program for men to learn about breast cancer.

KUT Morning Newscast for August 30, 2024

Central Texas top stories for August 30, 2024. The City of Austin is pushing back on SB4. Travis County Commissioners approved six- point- three million dollars to offer legal counsel during people’s first appearance in front of a judge when accused of a crime. Austin Community College’s semiconductor training center has been awarded one-and-a-half million dollars in federal funding. If you’re traveling this weekend, make sure to plan ahead.

KUT Morning Newscast for August 29, 2024

Central Texas top stories for August 29, 2024. City leaders are set to decide today whether to pay two Austinites who were injured by police during protests in 2020. Texas Gas Service is proposing a rate hike for residential customers. Texas State University officials say they’re on track to see a record number of freshman enrolled this school year.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 28, 2024

Central Texas top stories for August 28, 2024. The City of Austin is having a tough time keeping employees. The city has a big chunk of money available for museums, cultural centers and other sites in Austin with a historic designation. A public hearing on a long-anticipated audit of Central Health was postponed this week. Affording a home is becoming increasingly difficult in Texas and across the U.S. according to the Texas Comptroller’s Office. For the election this fall, Travis County will have 41 Early Voting sites and 171 polling places on Election Day. A ruling is expected soon on whether the City of Austin can keep 13 amendments to the city charter on the fall ballot. Austin karaoke bar Ego’s is staying open.

Central Texas top stories for August 28, 2024.

Central Texas top stories for August 28, 2024. Travis County Commissioners Court is calling for help to keep the air clean. Williamson County adopted a budget to establish an office of death investigators. Kyle’s police force is working to recruit more employees. This is the last weekend to use the Zilker Shuttle for the season.