What does a day in the life of Austin, Texas sound like? A team of audio producers from KUT spent the last several months documenting a handful of days in the life of Austin. We spent 24 hours straight in one location, talking to anyone who’d talk to us. Their stories. Their struggles. Or whatever happened to be on their mind. We found that as big as Austin has gotten, standing still, it gets a little smaller.
austin
KUT Morning Newscast for October 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 16, 2024. Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, Congressman Colin Allred, squared off in a debate last night, listen to the details. Travis County is asking voters to approve a tax rate hike this November to expand access to childcare for low- and middle-income families. The median sales price of homes in the Austin area fell last month, but that was not the case inside the city limits. Austin had the highest temperature ever recorded in October.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 15, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 15, 2024. Ted Cruz and Colin Allred face off tonight in their only debate ahead of the fall election. Voters will decide this fall whether to approve a new tax rate for AISD. The city of Austin could purchase a building to serve as its new public safety headquarters. Work is underway to tear down a historic building on the University of Texas campus despite activists pushing for preservation. Lisa Davis was officially sworn in as Austin’s Police Chief.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 14, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 14, 2024. Airport officials say travelers should expect long lines at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. About 30 AISD schools and facilities will serve as polling sites on election day. A local group is asking Hays County voters to reject the bond for road improvements. Travis County is considering joining Austin’s food plan to avoid food waste. Travis County is holding a job fair today.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 11, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 11, 2024. Five new parks will be added to parts of Austin with less access to green space. The city department that oversees new construction in Austin will begin using artificial intelligence. Austin’s 32nd annual Art from the Streets event returns this weekend. ACL’s second weekend kicks off today.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 10, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 10, 2024. Austinites will vote for a mayor this fall, here’s the latest campaign finance data for that race. Groups in Texas are urging state lawmakers to prioritize affordable childcare in the next legislative session. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath says attendance rates for public schools dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic and still haven’t bounced back. Hays County voters will decide this fall whether to pass a major bond for road improvements.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 9, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 8, 2024. Travis County seems to have as many people registered to vote as last presidential election. Austin ISD is asking voters to increase taxes to help pay down a budget deficit and provide some staff raises. Hays County voters will decide this fall whether to pass a major bond for road improvements. Travis County Commissioners want to join a City of Austin plan to reduce road deaths in the area.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 8, 2024
The Austin Airport worker’s union has avoided a strike by securing a wage hike. Texas OBGYNs say best practices are hindered by restrictive state abortion law, many have considered leaving Texas. Fewer Monarch butterflies have been spotted in Texas so far this fall, a bad sign for their annual migration. A malfunction at Austin’s Longhorn Dam caused Lady Bird Lake to start draining on Monday. City says the problem has been fixed.
Dewi Smith
Lisa and Rich talk with community connector, voter motivator and conduit of curiosity Dewi Smith, highlighting the importance of being an educated voter. Dewi also shares her origin story, educational journey, devotion to the community, and commitment to rallying voters for this upcoming election.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 2, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 2, 2024. The deadline to register to vote is this coming Monday, October 7th. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin’s only clinic for women struggling with drug addiction shut down, a non-profit hopes to fill the gap. Last year, Williamson County officials funded an effort to help detect breast cancer early, hear the latest updates.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 27, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 27, 2024. The Austin City Council has rejected a proposed rate hike from Texas Gas Service. AISD is working on a place to reduce its spending by tens of millions of dollars, here’s an update. Unhoused Austinites staying at the ARCH or 8th Street shelters will soon have access to a free career training course from Austin Community College. Travis County residents can get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered for free today and tomorrow, here are the details.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 26, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 26, 2024. The Austin City Council may vote today on a proposed rate hike for gas service in the city. Starting October 1st, Austin will require multifamily housing complexes to offer compost service. Hays County is looking for input on a new park being built in San Marcos. Luz de Atabey is one of the 50 local organizations that was awarded the City of Austin’s FACE Grant.
A North Texas city has paused all new development
Princeton, a Dallas suburb, has quadrupled in population since 2010. Recently, city leaders paused all new residential development to let infrastructure catch up.
The latest in our series on the intersection of religion and politics: students from two schools in Abilene with a diversity of perspectives and a strong desire to bridge the political divide.
A standoff is brewing between Southwest Airlines and the San Antonio International Airport over terminal expansion plans.
Also: exploring Houston’s role in the renewable energy transition – the focus of a new podcast premiering today.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 25, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 25, 2024. Travis County approved a new budget and tax rate for Central Health. Advocates respond to the tentative deal between Austin’s police union and the city. Capital Metro’s board of directors has voted to spend 3-million dollars on hundreds of bus benches. Tonight is the next Austin City Council Candidate panel, it’s for district 2.
Abilene Christian University gets green light for nuclear reactor research
In Texas’ 2024 elections, long shot candidates are facing uphill battles in heavily gerrymandered districts. Why these candidates are running.
Why federal regulators are giving researchers the green light to build a nuclear reactor at Abilene Christian University.
The state is paying more for mental health services. But private psychiatric hospitals say they’re not getting a fair share when it comes to funding.
A new book by Texas historian H.W. Brands explores a divided America before World War II – and what we can learn now.
And: the changing role of the church in the lives of Black voters and what it might mean for this presidential election.
This Is My Thing: LEGO!
Ben Rollman has loved LEGO since he was a kid. After a brief ‘Dark Age’ away from the hobby, he started back up as an adult and is now a bigger LEGO fan than ever.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 24, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 24, 2024. Travis County’s budget for next year includes a new law enforcement department, it is set to be approved today. The City of Austin and the Austin Police Association have reached a tentative contract agreement that includes a 28% pay increase. The Austin Independent School District is moving forward with an effort to build housing. The FDA is re-launching a program for people to order free COVID-19 tests.
Researchers relocate coral to Texas coast in conservation project
The Matterhorn Express pipeline, a 580-mile project set to go online soon, will transport natural gas from a terminal in West Texas to Katy, near Houston. We’ll hear what it could add up to for Texas and for energy prices more broadly.
A proposed liquified natural gas terminal in the Rio Grande Valley is stirring debate among local Indigenous tribes.
In Corpus Christi, researchers are pitching in for “Operation Coral Rescue,” an attempt to save endangered reefs from the ravages of warmer oceans.
Voting in Texas means having the right ID. Need to update that driver’s license? Many Texans might be surprised it’s not quite as easy as it sounds.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 23, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 23, 2024. Austin’s police official Christopher Taylor goes back to trail for a second time for another on-duty shooting. Travis County Commissioners are set to approve a nearly $2 billion dollar budget. Central Texas school districts have seen an uptick in violent threats. Texans who have federal student loans in default can sign up for a temporary relief program. UT Austin’s police chief, Eve Stephens, resigned Friday. Texas Longhorns remain no. 1 on the AP college football poll.
Proposed school curriculum with Bible stories nears vote
A possible government shutdown looming with an Oct. 1 deadline. With the backdrop of elections, how might this story unfold? UT-Austin political science professor Sean Theriault talks about a perennial issue of government funding and where its headed.
Bible stories in the classroom? The Texas Education Agency is getting a lot of feedback and blowback over a new curriculum.
Mando Rayo of the Tacos of Texas podcast introduces us to a James Beard award winner in the Rio Grande Valley named the best chef in Texas.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, a look at some of the artists shaping the sounds of Texas.
Also, the week in politics, Typewriter Rodeo and more.