The sport of curling requires something that’s not easy to find in Texas: a very large sheet of ice. Nevertheless, curling is becoming more popular in the Lone Star State. For Dave Danenfelzer, a Wisconsinite by birth but a Texan for the past few decades, curling is a lifelong passion and a family tradition.
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KUT Morning Newscast for July 2, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 2, 2024. COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Austin. ACC Board of Trustees approved a new budget, it includes a 4.5% raise for all employees. The Austin Animal Center will temporarily close intakes until they have enough space for more animals. Saharan dust is back, here’s what you need to know.
Texas dance company brings a love story home to Shankleville
On the final day of its term, the U.S. Supreme Court sent the legal challenge to a Texas social media law back to a lower court and said Donald Trump has absolute immunity for official acts only. We’ll have the latest.
It may be up to Texas lawmakers to further clarify state rules around in vitro fertilization.
The latest on potential disruptions for energy and travel as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in the Caribbean.
Marijuana is not legal for recreational use in Texas – but tests show the products sold at smoke shops and gas stations is more like the real deal than meets the eye.
And the Standard’s Kristen Cabrera reports from East Texas on the homecoming of the enduring love story of Jim and Winnie Shankle – one that began on a plantation and ended with emancipation – told in the universal language of dance.
Morning Newscast for July 1, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 1, 2024. Construction starts today on a wishbone bridge that will connect the hike-and-bike trail around Lady Bird Lake. CapMetro’s bike sharing program will be temporarily out of service starting today, new bikes are on their way. The City of Austin will have to make decisions on which programs it will fund to make Lady Bird Lake safer.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 28, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 28, 2024. Activists are pushing back against a proposal to build a new juvenile detention center in Travis County. Fireworks can have unintended reactions on air quality. Round Rock will expand its on demand, ride-sharing program. Here’s how to take care of your dog during this hot summer.
Who owns Austin’s venues, how it’s changed, and why it matters.
20 years ago, most of Austin’s venues were independently and locally run. But over time, corporations like Live Nation and Oak View Group have entered Austin’s venue landscape. Discover how that happened, and what it means for our live music ecosystem.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 21, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 21, 2024. The Texas Medical Board has adopted a final rule intended to guide doctors in navigating the emergency medical exception to state abortion law. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking for another shot at throwing out Austin’s marijuana laws. The Austin ISD school board has adopted a budget for the next school year that includes a 78-million-dollar deficit. A former Hays County corrections officer no longer faces criminal charges in an incident in which he fatally shot a fleeing inmate. Leander is looking at using more artificial turf to cut down on the amount of water used for landscaping. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will get new baggage screening equipment soon. Austin Community College is seeing a big increase in enrollment for its upcoming semester.
Why are so many Central Texas school districts in a budget deficit?
The Austin ISD school board is expected to vote tonight to approve a budget for the next fiscal year. Like other districts throughout Central Texas, AISD is going to be millions of dollars in the hole, despite already identifying millions in spending cuts. KUT’s Becky Fogel reports on how so many districts ended up in the same budget deficit boat.
This Is My Thing: Ukulele!
A few years ago, six longtime friends — all retired — decided to form a ukulele band together. It wasn’t really planned, but after one of them decided to take up the instrument as a hobby, five more followed suit. Now they all meet up every week to catch up, chat, and play the ukulele together as the ‘Austin Ukuladies.’
KUT Morning Newscast for June 18, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 18, 2024. Austin’s 10-mile light rail system will have to wait; the trial will be taken up by the Third Court of Appeals. If your property in Travis County was damaged by this season’s storms, you might be eligible for a reduction on your property’s taxable value for 2024. Austin is making progress on providing shade to parks, playgrounds and pools. Artists will have affordable workspaces in Downtown Austin. A major E-sports competition is coming to the capital.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 17, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 17, 2024. A shooting at the Juneteenth celebration in Round Rock left two dead and 14 injured, police are asking for any information on the suspect. STAAR results show Texas students are struggling with math proficiency. A highly anticipated trial that could determine whether Austin can build a 10-mile light-rail system is likely to come to a halt today. Austin will have a new permanent supporting housing project. Road closures in San Marcos.
Ticketing through an Austin Lens
This episode of Pause/Play explores changes in ticketing through an Austin lens. You’ll hear from Mellie Price, one of the founders of Front Gate Tickets about the industry’s expansion onto the internet. Then you’ll hear from Stephen Parker, the executive director of the National Independent Venue Association about problems with service fees, secondary markets, and speculative ticketing. And you’ll learn about what some people are trying to do to fix these issues.
How one Austin neighborhood paved the way for a culture of central air conditioning
Seventy years ago, 21 families took part in an experiment in Austin. They were testing something most of us would say we can’t live without today. KUT’s Audrey McGlinchy has this story.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 7, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 7, 2024. Austin Water is asking Austinites in the southwest area of the city to conserve water today. Austin ISD needs to slash millions in costs and increase revenue to offset budget deficit. Bird flu detected in Austin wastewater but public health authority says risk of contracting the virus is still low. People in San Marcos are hearing train horns in the city for the first time since 2015 and reaction is mixed. Texas Softball comes up short of securing program’s first national championship.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 6, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 6, 2024. T.C. Broadnax talks to KUT’s Luz Moreno-Lozano about the search for the new chief for the Austin Police Department. Austin will offer two new locations for people who are experiencing homelessness to cool down this summer. Travis County is reevaluating how it funds Emergency Medical Services.
This Is My Thing: Flag Football!
Richard Samuel has had two great loves in his life: art and football. He played football as a kid, in college, and then professionally in Europe before getting a job as a coach. All the while, he pursued art as a hobby. Then one day he realized that he should flip it — he opened a gallery and became a full-time, professional artist. Now flag football is his most-loved hobby. Host Michael Lee talks to him about all that and more on the first episode of ‘This Is My Thing.’
Civics 101: What does a County Judge do?
There are a lot of moving parts and players in our local government systems. Sometimes it can be hard to know exactly what an elected officials job actually is. Take County Judge. As part of KUT’s Civics 101 coverage, we dive into that position with All Things Considered host Jerry Quijano and reporter Andrew Weber.
Civics 101: Who pays for highways?
Texas has a sprawling highway network with more than 200-thousand miles of lanes — almost the distance from Earth to the Moon. And those roads don’t come cheap. The Texas Department of Transportation outspends every other state, devoting about 18-billion dollars a year to highways.
Ever wonder who foots the bill?
All this week the KUT newsroom is focusing on stories that explain how parts of our local government work. To kick things off KUT’s Nathan Bernier takes a look at who pays for highways in Texas.
You can find all of our Civics 101 stories at KUT.org
KUT Afternoon Newscast for May 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for May 16, 2024. The City of Austin is moving closer to getting a permanent chief for the police department. Austin is now the 11th most populous city in America. Hays County is making plans for a new park in San Marcos. The Lake Travis ISD school board voted last night to form a public facility corporation. The H-E-B in Mueller is hosting a speed dating event tonight at 6:30. The final Big 12 series of the regular season begins tonight for the Texas Baseball team.
KUT Morning Newscast for May 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for May 16, 2024. Austin City Council could vote to reduce the amount of land needed to build a house. The City of Austin is searching for a new police chief. The City of Austin does not have enough money to finish road projects promised to voters when they approved a property tax increase in 2016. Travis County voters will decide whether to raise taxes to expand child care options for low income families. The City of Georgetown could use treated wastewater to meet its long-term water supply challenges. Austin to host the 2025 MLS All Star Game. Strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are possible this afternoon and evening in the Austin area.