Last November, then-new Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis released a 100-day Action Plan called “Building Officer and Community Safety and Trust.” Earlier this year, before that 100-day marker, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked with Davis about her plans for the Department.
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Navy destroyer headed to the southern border region
A U.S. Navy destroyer armed with tomahawk missiles enroute to the gulf waters off the coast of Texas. What’s this all about?
Investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy of The Texas Newsroom with word that the Texas government appears to be maintaining a list of people asking for information about changing the sex on their driver’s licenses. Who’s compiling this list and what is it being used for?
Five years after the declaration of a pandemic, what’s happened with vaccination rates?
And an AI service used by millions for free is about to go behind a paywall.
Plus, why Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor is busy making his list and checking it twice.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 20, 2025: Austin has chosen its first-ever poet laureate.
Central Texas top stories for March 20, 2025. The city of Austin has a poet laureate for the first time ever. A state lawmaker wants to create the District of Austin, putting the city under state oversight. Firefly Aerospace concluded its first moon mission, and now we have images of the lunar sunset. Texas men basketball team is out of the NCAA after losing to Xavier.
The One With The Heartbeat
Austin FC home games can’t be complete without the pre-game heartbeat tradition. It’s become so iconic that the club used the heartbeat as inspiration for their new home jersey for this year. Hear about the origins of the tradition, the relationship between the teams front office and its supporters, and the role of a former Austin FC captain in the genesis of the tradition.
Texas’ fist women’s sports bar opens in Austin
As women’s sports gain more popularity, the first women’s sport bar in Texas is opening its doors. 1972 Pub is right across from UT’s campus in Austin and is committed to only showing women’s sports. The Texas Standard’s Sara Asch tells us fans are overjoyed.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 19, 2025: The state of Texas has been collecting information on trans people without their knowledge.
Central Texas top stories for March 19, 2025. A Red Flag Warning is in effect today for all of Central and South Texas until nine tonight, but what does that mean? The Crabapple fire north of Fredericksburg is now 90 percent contained. The City of Austin’s hosting an Emergency Preparedness pop-up today to help people prepare for wildfires and other weather-related hazards. For at least six months, the Texas DMV has been tracking drivers who have tried to change the sex listed on their driver’s licenses. Texas lawmakers are considering a bill to prohibit local governments from having guaranteed income programs.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 18, 2025: A crash on I-35 that killed five people last week is now under federal investigation.
Central Texas top stories for March 18, 2025. The Texas A&M Forest Service says the Crabapple fire in Gillespie County is now 85% contained and has burned just over 9,700 acres. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the deadly crash on I-35 that killed five people in North Austin last week. After years of pushback from doctors, patients and advocacy groups, SB31 aims to clarify the medical exception to Texas’ abortion law. The median sales price of a home in Austin hit 564-thousand dollars last month, that’s up compared to the same time last year.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 17, 2025: The Crabapple fire north of Fredericksburg has burned 9,500 acres.
Central Texas top stories for March 17, 2025. The Texas A&M Forest Service says the Crabapple fire north of Fredericksburg is 55% contained and has burned 9,500 acres. A new report from local public hospital district, Central Health, shows poverty is spreading to new areas of Travis County. A new report from a national housing organization finds Austin has few homes affordable to people earning very low incomes. Sixth Street reopens to vehicle traffic today. UT women’s basketball team earned a number one seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 14, 2025: Five people killed in 17-vehicle crash on I-35.
Central Texas top stories for March 14, 2025. Five people, including a child and an infant, were killed in a collision involving 17 vehicles on North I-35 near Parmer late last night. AISD might sell the former Rosedale Elementary School in Central Austin to cut costs and increase revenue in the face of a $110 million budget deficit. The Austin Police Department is working to fill hundreds of officer positions. A Red Flag warning will be in effect for parts of Central Texas today from noon to 9 p.m. UT men’s basketball team beat Texas A&M last in a double overtime game.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 13, 2025: Catholic Charities of Central Texas announced the suspension of its refugee resettlement program.
Central Texas top stories for March 13, 2025. It’s unclear if Catholic Charities of Central Texas will ever resume its refugee resettlement program. Elon Musk’s SpaceX will receive a $17.3 million grant from the state of Texas. Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that could significantly speed up the time it takes to evict a renter. The Austin area could hit record-breaking high temperatures today.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for March 12, 2025: The end of income-driven repayment plans could impact millions of student loan borrowers across the country.
Central Texas top stories for March 12, 2025. The Austin area is under a Red Flag Warning over the next several hours. Experts are encouraging people to “harden” their homes against fires. The City of Austin is looking to hire former federal employees who recently lost their jobs. Dozens of students gathered on UT campus today in support of Mahmoud Khalil. The future of income-driven repayment plans for student loans is in doubt.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 12, 2025: Parts of Central Texas will be under a Red Flag Warning today.
Central Texas top stories for March 12, 2025. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Hill Country from noon to 9 p.m. today, in Austin it starts at 4 p.m. Travis County is applying for a grant that would go toward helping elderly residents “harden” their homes against wildfires.
What is light-rail?
Austin’s transportation system is getting a big upgrade. But is light-rail better than a bus? KUT’s Nathan Bernier breaks it all down. You can leave your comment on the projects detailed impact study at ATPTX.org.
This Is My Thing: Ceramics!
Michael Young dabbled in ceramic making back in the 1980s, then after a 35-year hiatus, he returned to the hobby. Now his dining room is a ceramics studio and he spends his time trying to create perfect polyhedrons from clay.
Is Jermaine Dupri out of touch?
On this episode we discuss legendary producer/artist Jermaine Dupri’s comments on artists not wanting to be independent. We also discuss the recent Austin Music Awards and some criticisms levied at them from local artists.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for March 7, 2025: South by Southwest festival-goers could get rewarded for making responsible choices.
Central Texas top stories for March 7, 2025. Festival-goers who park downtown could have their parking tickets waived. A program that dispatches mental health professionals to certain 911 calls is getting a boost from Austin City Council. Scientists throughout the country are rallying today in protest of Trump administration policies impacting research. The city of Kyle plans to add more parkland. Southwest Airlines is closing a base for flight attendants in Austin this July.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 6, 2025: Low humidity today will result in near critical fire weather conditions in the Austin area.
Central Texas top stories for March 6, 2025. The National Weather Service says wind gusts as high as 30 miles per hour and low humidity will create near critical fire weather conditions today. The Lower Colorado River Authority is entering tougher drought restrictions. As the city of Austin works to redevelop some of its buildings, works of art housed inside them could be destroyed.
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.
Why Texas is so vulnerable to tariff impacts
Texas is in the crosshairs as tariffs against Mexico and Canada take hold. Why, what it means, and could short-term pain add up to long-term gain?
At the state capitol, a bill aimed at raising wages for workers who care for people with disabilities. Why some fear it won’t be enough to stem a critical shortage of such workers in Texas.
“Office Space” may have been a funny movie filmed in Texas, but there’s nothing funny about what a glut of unused office space is doing to the state’s metros. How one city’s trying to deal with the repercussions.
Speaking of movies, oh the horror! Why so few of the scary variety get critical acclaim, despite a growing public appetite.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 4, 2025: A Red Flag Warning is in effect today in the Austin area.
Central Texas top stories for March 4, 2025. A Red Flag Warning is in effect today from 8AM until 9PM, Williamson and Travis County have a burn ban in effect. Capital Metro has rolled out a new system to pay your fare on the bus or train. Rent prices keep going down. An Austin-area space start-up has made history as the first private company to achieve a fully successful, soft-landing on the moon.