Central Texas top stories for July 23, 2025. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has backed 16 bills for the legislature’s special session. Williamson County partnered with the Central Texas Community Foundation to launch the ‘WilCo CARES’ fund to provide direct financial assistance to people affected by the flooding. Travis County’s Flood Resource Recovery Center is moving to Travis County Community Center in Jonestown. Austin voters could decide this November whether to increase property taxes. As Austin continues to iron out its budget for next year, funding homeless services is top of mind for many.
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KUT Morning Newscast for July 22, 2025: Texas lawmakers kicked off a special legislative session yesterday, redistricting is on the table
Central Texas top stories for July 22, 2025. Texas lawmakers kicked off a special legislative session yesterday, here’s what you need to know. The number of people missing after deadly floods in Texas dropped dramatically over the weekend, here’s why. Activists in Kyle are calling on City officials to get rid of license plate readers.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 21, 2025: A proposed Austin city budget would reduce the number of firefighters responding to calls. Firefighters disagree with this approach
Central Texas top stories for July 21, 2025. Traces of measles have been detected in Austin wastewater. The City of Austin is looking to cut overtime for firefighters as a way to save money in the new budget. The Austin City Council is expected to weigh in on a plan from Texas Gas Service to increase rates in Austin. Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez is retiring at the end of her term. The men serving as interim UT Austin president and interim UT System Chancellor have been named the sole finalists for those positions. Texas Fury, an all-girls flag football team made-up of athletes from the Austin area, won the High School Girls division of the NFL Flag Championship over the weekend. Former Austin City Council member Bill Spelman has died.
This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. 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 July 21, 2025: Texas Gas Service wants to raise Austin’s rates for the third time in the last year
Central Texas top stories for July 21, 2025. Texas lawmakers start a 30-day special session today, among the items on the list are redistricting, disaster relief and preparedness. Texas Gas Service, the for-profit utility that supplies Austin homes and businesses with natural gas, has announced plans to increase gas rates by almost ten percent on average. Hays County is set to continue building new roads even after a judge ruled killed a bond passed by voters in November. There’s a new Disaster Recovery Center in Burnet for people affected by floods earlier this month.
Your List Is Stupid
On this episode we discuss how a recent local list, in regards to hip-hop, was a horrible idea to release. We also discuss Nicki Minaj’s latest tirade against Sza and others. Hip-hop facts we discuss the anniversary of Slim Thug’s debut album and who was originally supposed to produce the Thriller album. Unpopular opinion is about it being nothing wrong with being a hometown hero.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 18, 2025: As Texans start to rebuild after the floods, many face the reality of being uninsured
Central Texas top stories for July 18, 2025. It’s been two weeks since catastrophic floods hit Central Texas, killing more than 130 people. Congressman Greg Casar says a federal audit into staffing shortages at the National Weather Service is coming. Governor Greg Abbott has started the process to get Travis County added to a federal disaster declaration for flooding over the July 4th weekend. The City of Marble Falls is no longer under a boil water notice. The Recycled Reads store in North Central Austin is set to close in March as part of the city’s proposed 2026 budget.
This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 18, 2025: Study finds Austin police response times continue to lag
Central Texas top stories for July 18, 2025. Austin police response times continue to lag, according to a new study out this week. The recovery process for the Sandy Creek neighborhood after the floods will take some time. The LCRA is asking people to be careful when visiting the Highland Lakes. Federal funding cuts are forcing Austin area school districts to make tough decisions ahead of the school year.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 17, 2025: The LCRA closed all floodgates to dams after releasing storm runoff from recent heavy rains
Central Texas top stories for July 17, 2025. The Lower Colorado River Authority finished closing all floodgates at all dams along the Highland Lakes last night. State lawmakers will begin a special legislative session next week; one of Gov. Greg Abbotts priorities is police personnel transparency. The City of Kyle’s Mayor announced he’ll be stepping down from his position. More people can now use SNAP to buy hot and ready to eat meals
Austin has dozens of low water crossings that flood during heavy rains. The city has been fixing them, but very slowly
At the current pace, it would take two-hundred years for all the city’s low-water crossings to be repaired. KUT’s Nathan Bernier reports on why these fixes could take generations.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 16, 2025: A church is offering help and hope to Kerrville’s Hispanic and immigrant community after the floods
Central Texas top stories for July 16, 2025. The Austin city manager’s $6.3 billion budget proposal includes enough cuts to get rid of a $33 million shortfall.The City of Kyle’s Mayor has announced that he’ll be stepping down from his position in November. The average cost of rent in the Austin area was down eight percent last month. Marble Falls is under a boil water notice due to recent flooding in the area.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 16, 2025: Williamson County issues vouchers to assist with the cleanup after floods
Central Texas top stories for July 16, 2025. Williamson County officials say they have shifted to clean-up and recovery mode after deadly flooding swept through the area on July 5th. Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is hosting an Emergency Preparedness Pop-up event today where people can learn what to do before and after a disaster. In a state where natural disasters are common, emergency alerts are meant to break through the noise but often get buried under other notifications. Rent prices in the Austin area fell 8 percent in June. The Austin area HIV Planning Council is hearing feedback tonight from people living with HIV or AIDS.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 15, 2025: The Lower Colorado River Authority opened floodgates at Lake Buchanan this week for the first time since 2019
Central Texas top stories for July 15, 2025. The Lower Colorado River Authority has one gate open at Buchanan Dam, sending water down into Lake Travis. Catastrophic flooding in Austin would have happened again if not for that system of up-river lakes and dams. Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax is proposing a $6.3 billion budget. Women over the age of 40 can get free mammograms at Ascension Seton Primary Care through July 25th.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 15, 2025: Austin City Manager proposed a $6.3 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year
Central Texas top stories for July 15, 2025. The Austin area is still under a Flood Watch until 1 p.m. today. Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax released a proposed budget of $6.3 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. AISD is working on a plan to close certain campuses to reduce its multimillion-dollar budget deficit. Travis County opened a Volunteer Reception Center for those who want to help people affected by the July 4th weekend floods in the Austin area. Lake Travi is now 83 percent full, four feet above its average for the month of July.
Streaming Sucks: The good, the bad and the future of music platforms
We examine what streaming looks like now and what it could look like in the future. Walker Lukens explains how Song Confessional has found success with streaming. And Lauren Bruno talks about a possible alternative to streaming that she wants to build called Prosper XO.
Learn more about the Living Wage for Musicians Act.
Check out Prosper XO’s surveys
Let us know what you think about the future of streaming.
Pause/Play is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
Austin-area home for disabled Texans begins recovery after losing ‘office mom’ in flooding
Sherry Richardson, 64, was considered the “office mom” at Hope House, a long-term residential home for children and adults with disabilities in Liberty Hill.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 14, 2025: Leander vigil honors flood victims as community grapples with grief
Central Texas top stories for July 14, 2025. A flood watch is still in effect for Central Texas until 9 tonight. A candlelight vigil in Leander this weekend helped people grapple with the grief caused by deadly floods in Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend. Congregants from churches across Kerrville, in Central Texas, are preparing for a lengthy recovery. Austin firefighters say they have no confidence in Chief Joel Baker over flood response. The Austin Independent School District is hosting four workshops this week on its plan to consolidate campuses to save money; the first one is tonight.
Drawing pensions early, explaining interest rates and their relationship to treasury bonds, and managing multiple houses as investments
Carl Stuart talks to callers and texters about whether there are downsides to drawing a pension early, the relationship Federal Reserve interest rates have with U.S. “T-notes” or treasury bonds— and their effect on banking interest rates. He also talks about managing multiple houses as investments and other topics.
McKenna Michels: “Never Satified”
Austin’s McKenna Michels is just it. The singer-songwriter, who daylights as a childhood abuse and trauma advocate, has been featured on local television, has been asked to open for several global artists on their European tours, and she gets to hear her own music over the speakers when she’s shopping. And to peep her style, you know this girl is down to talk some Sir Gawain and The Wife of Bath. McKenna, can we please get a beer together?
Her music embodies the spirit of “full,” as showcased in her latest single “Never Satisfied.” There is no negative space, but there’s also no wasted space. Every layer is exciting and deserves an isolated listen, but the magic of all of the pieces fitting together is her amber-shaded jazz vocals. But don’t be fooled by the overwhelming joy — Michels is speaking earnestly from her heart about one of the most universal feelings we don’t like to be honest about: insecurity.
Michels brings her stage energy to her fans across the globe tomorrow at her birthday day show at the Pershing. The show starts at noon and will be livestreamed worldwide.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 11, 2025: Cedar Park residents hold a vigil for the flood victims from the Austin area
Central Texas top stories for July 11, 2025. Texas House and Senate established flood and disaster committees ahead of the special session. Cedar Park residents held a vigil to honor the lives lost in the Austin area floods last week. The Central Texas Food Bank opened satellite sites to help those affected by flooding. Education advocates are relieved several changes to a federal student aid program did not make it in the final version President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The All-Star One With Brad Stuver, Brandon Vázquez, and Andy Loughnane
Austin will host its first major league all-star game this month. Goalkeeper Brad Stuver talks about representing his squad at Q2 Stadium. Team president Andy Loughnane talks about what will be available for fans to do during MLS All-Star week and his brief career as a hockey referee. The team had to absorb some heavy news this week with striker Brandon Vázquez now out for the season due to a knee injury. In anticipation of his second All-Star game, he sat down with hosts Jimmy Maas and Juan Garcia before his injury. They chatted about his journey to the team, including many crossings of the border to train from his home in Southern California.