Central Texas top stories for February 13, 2025. Around a hundred demonstrators gathered on the UT Austin campus Wednesday afternoon to protest reported sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on campus. Say so far, City of Austin programs have not been affected by federal and state orders related to freezing grants and loans, but some programs could be affected in the future. Austin City Council might change to mailing parking tickets. A new child care facility is looking to help lower costs in the Austin area.
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KUT Morning Newscast for February 12, 2025: KUT’s third season of “The Disconnect” is now available.
Central Texas top stories for February 12, 2025. SIMS foundation, an Austin nonprofit that provides low to no-cost mental health care to musicians, say they’re restarting services, but musicians still have questions. A lunar lander manufactured by Firefly in the Austin area is making its way to the moon, now the company is expanding operations in town. Certain brands of cans of tuna have been recalled by Tri-Union Seafoods, in Texas that includes the H-E-B label and Genova.
Why El Paso Mexican food hits different
In this bonus episode of the Tacos of Texas podcast, Mando Rayo, taco journalist joins the Texas Standard, to talk about El Paso’s unique flavors.
The programming featured in this bonus episode was originally aired on the Texas Standard in February, 2024.
As we gear up for the next season of Tacos of Texas, we want to hear from listeners like you! Visit kut.org/tacosurvey to send us your thoughts about what you’d like to hear on the next season of the show. And stay tuned for Season CINCO of Tacos of Texas.
¡Vamos!
This Is My Thing: Community Singing!
During Covid lockdown, Sarah Bentley discovered the world of community singing. For the last few years, she’s found connection and a creative outlet through leading singing circles.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 11, 2025: Egg prices are impacting local businesses.
Central Texas top stories for February 11, 2025. Local businesses talk about how the rise in egg prices is affecting their bottom line. In some Texas cities, residents have voted to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession, but cities have kept enforcing the law despite those election results. Austin is now hiring for lifeguard positions.
A year after the Smokehouse Creek Fire, recovery is still underway
Concerns are growing about a measles outbreak in West Texas as some legislators push to rollback vaccination requirements.
It appears the threat of cutbacks from the federal government may already be having an effect on health services for veterans.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted targeted enforcement actions in Austin last month, and Hispanic business owners say the impact has been immediate.
And: Nearly one year ago, downed power lines sparked wildfires that ultimately burned more than 1 million acres in the Texas Panhandle. The recovery effort is ongoing today.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 10, 2025: New rules could be on the way for short term rentals in Austin.
Central Texas top stories for February 10, 2025. New rules could be on the way for short term rentals like Air-bnb in Austin. The City of Lockhart is caught between state and local demands around law enforcement and marijuana possession. Lake Travis ISD School Board accepted the immediate resignation of superintendent Paul Norton. UT women’s basketball team beat No. 2 South Carolina. The second southbound MoPac exit to Steck Avenue will be closed for up to three months starting today.
Did Beyonce Get What She Deserved?
Was Beyonce winning the AOTY a little too late? We also pay homage to hip-hop producer/executive Irv Gotti who passed away last week.
Local Hispanic business owners are feeling the impacts of the recent immigration raids in Austin.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted “targeted enforcement actions” in the Austin area last month.
‘It impacts all of us’: A Day Without Immigrants
Earlier this week, folks in several industries participated in an event called “A Day Without Immigrants.” The focus was to highlight the contributions immigrants make every day, including to the economy.
Mando Rayo, taco journalist and host of the Tacos of Texas podcast spoke with Texas Standard about the protest and the contributions of the immigrant workforce. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 7, 2025: Study shows Texans support certain exceptions to Texas’ abortion ban.
Central Texas top stories for February 7, 2025. A new study shows Texans support certain exceptions to Texas’ near-total ban on abortion. The city of Austin is trying to revamp 6th Street, here’s what local businesses have to say. A federal bankruptcy judge this week denied a deal for a new auction of the Infowars media platform, owned by Austin-based conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 6, 2025: Texas senate passes bill creating school voucher-like program.
Central Texas top stories for February 6, 2025. Texas senate passes bill creating school voucher-like program, it’s not the turn of the House to vote on it. Leaner ISD announced staff cuts for next school year. Two out of three teachers providing an arts education in Texas don’t have a fine arts certification. Austin is planning to expand its sobering center to help people with alcoholism or substance-abuse. Flag football is coming to the Austin area.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 5, 2025: Self-driving cars available for ride services in Austin soon.
Central Texas top stories for February 5, 2025. Self-driving cars will offer ride-hailing services to the public later this year in Austin. The city of Austin plans on renovating regulations on short-term rentals. It will be another warm day in the Austin area.
Central Texas top stories for February 4, 2025: Texas Senate to begin debate on school vouchers.
Central Texas top stories for February 4, 2025. The Texas Senate is set to begin the debate on school vouchers today. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is calling for a “Texas-sized investment” to secure the state’s water supply. Here’s how tariffs could impact your economy. We hit record high temperatures yesterday.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 3, 2025
Central Texas top stories for February 3, 2025. Gov. Greg Abbott gave his state of the state address yesterday, here are the details. Texas lawmakers are proposing increasing school safety funding by hundreds of millions of dollars, AISD says it might not be enough to comply with security measures. An abandoned rail line in Austin is being converted into a trail for pedestrians and cyclists. APD is increasing security after vehicle break-ins at parks and greenbelts.
Is a Jay-Z feature still worth it?
On this episode Fresh and Confucius discuss the difference between podcasting and radio and if a Jay-Z feature is still worth it to artists.
KUT Morning Newscast for January 31, 2025
Central Texas top stories for January 31, 2025. The City of Austin will look into changing the way it responds to mental health emergencies. The Mexican Consul General says at least 39 people from Mexico who are in the U.S. without legal status were detained in the Austin area over the last week. $42 million were approved for more affordable housing in Austin.
Texas secures land for a new state park
A bird flu outbreak noted early in Texas is now a national issue, and concerns are rising about what the federal government plans to do.
From property taxes to THC and more, Lt Gov. Dan Patrick outlines the first batch of 40 legislative priorities for the current Texas legislative session.
Why a fight over mass transit it Dallas could wind up a matter for state lawmakers to untangle.
And: The state has finalized the purchase of a 2,000-acre tract along the Colorado River in Burnet County, next to Colorado Bend State Park.
KUT Morning Newscast for January 30, 2025
Central Texas top stories for January 30, 2025. Advocates say recent immigration enforcement is sowing fear among undocumented migrants in the Austin area. Despite the rain, Jacob’s Well is unlikely to open for swimming this summer.
Texans weigh in on how to spend the state’s $24 billion surplus
If Texans were in charge of the state’s budget, how would they spend the money? A new survey from the Hobby School of Public Affairs sheds light on priorities.
We know many state lawmakers are prioritizing a school voucher effort that would give money for private education directly to families – and the proposal has moved forward in the Senate.
Some Texas business are already feeling indirect impacts of deportation efforts.
And: With Texas attracting more data centers, -what’s being done to ensure the energy grid can handle it?