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.
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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.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 10, 2025: After deadly flooding in Central Texas, questions are raised about the region’s emergency notification systems
Central Texas top stories for July 10, 2025. As recovery efforts continue after flooding in the Texas Hill Country, officials in Kerr County have yet to answer questions about how the emergency alert system was used. The aftermath of deadly flooding in the Austin-area has raised questions about how effective the region’s notification systems are. Two of the state’s best-known brands, both born in Kerrville, are showing their support for Hill Country flood victims. Elon Musk narrowly wins fight against neighbors over Austin-area home. A program that assesses Austin’s air for biological threats will continue after federal funding uncertainty put it at risk. KUT’s Olivia Aldridge reports.
What can unite the DA’s office and APD? ‘Trying to take bad people off the street.’
Travis County District Attorney’s office and the Austin Police Department have butted heads for years over which crimes get prosecuted. In a joint interview with KUT News, Police Chief Lisa Davis and DA José Garza said they’re prioritizing violent crimes — and pushing staff to better cooperate with each other. Andrew Weber reports.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 3, 2025: A report from Zillow says Austin is the most affordable city for renters
Central Texas top stories for July 3, 2025. The Austin Independent School District is holding workshops to get feedback on its campus consolidation process. Zillow recently named Austin the most affordable major city for renters. The city of Manor doesn’t have its own emergency room or hospital, but that’s set to change soon. Some City of Austin offices and facilities will be closed tomorrow for the July 4th holiday.
China Smith
In the latest episode of Black Austin Matters, Lisa and Rich chat with Ballet Afrique founder and contemporary dancer China Smith.
China takes us on a joyful stroll down memory lane, sharing what she loved about growing up in Austin and why her community means so much to her. She talks about how her time in the Bay Area shaped her, the music that moves her, and why movement is so important for our physical, emotional, and spiritual health — no dance skills required!
She also emphasizes the importance of taking care of your body and shares her passion for a vegan lifestyle.
Austin’s first LGBTQ+ couples to marry celebrate their 10th anniversaries
A decade after the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage, Austin lovebirds returned to the spot where they became husbands and wives. KUT’s Katy McAfee was there and talked to couples who got married ten years ago.
Wealthy families are buying homes to get in-state tuition at Texas universities
Texas lets out-of-state students buy homes to get in-state tuition. KUT’s Audrey McGlinchy says the law has fed a growing industry of families buying condos in cash, holding onto them for a couple years and then selling to the next out-of-state family.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 2, 2025: The Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center could be relocating soon
Central Texas top stories for July 2, 2025. Advocacy groups say efforts to support migrant children and students learning English could be in peril because of delay in federal funding. The Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center in Austin could be relocating soon. Austin didn’t see any 100-degree days during June; it’s the first time since 2019. A watercraft ban is in effect on Lake Austin starting tomorrow afternoon.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 1, 2025: Report shows racial disparities in how Austinites are affected by chronic diseases.
Central Texas top stories for July 1, 2025. Texas Democrat Colin Allred announced he’s running for U.S. Senate in 2026. A new report from Austin Public Health shows racial disparities in how residents are affected by chronic diseases. Williamson County is getting more than a million dollars in state funding to launch a new program aimed at keeping kids out of the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. The Burnet Fire Department continues working to put out a fire at a tire recycling facility that started yesterday. Austinites can register for the 2025 CityWorks Academy to learn more about city government.
Summer Jam 2025!
On this episode we discuss the line up for this years Summer Jam showcase happening at Stubbs BBQ. We also discuss if Houston has moved past its former DJ Screw influenced sound. Hip-hop facts includes The Fugees, Ghostface Killah and Redman. Unpopular Opinion this week is about how genres are always changing and growing.
Weighing how much of an inheritance to put in a home, explaining minimum distributions from IRAs, and more on Social Security disbursements
Carl helps several callers and texters, like one trying to figure out what percentage of an inheritance to invest in markets and in her Austin home, what happens when the federal government requires minimum distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), and weighing how long to wait to take Social Security benefits — and more.