Less than 3 weeks until early voting in Texas and already some numbers are in: registration shatters records. Jeremy Wallace of the Houston Chronicle with more on voter registration records being set, what it tells us and what it doesn’t when it comes to the election outcomes. Also decriminalizing homelessness: one year on after a change in laws in the Texas capitol city. How much of a difference is it making, and are other Texas cities following suit? And far fewer cars on Texas roadways, why aren’t traffic fatalities far fewer as well? Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
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KUT Weekend – September 18, 2020
Governor Abbott allows restaurants, retail businesses and offices to increase to 75% capacity on Monday. Plus, the challenges of being a UT professor and parent of two toddlers during the pandemic. And a local indigenous tribe seeks to reclaim remains from the University of Texas. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
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Trailer: Pause/Play on the Austin music scene
“Pause/Play” will tell the pandemic stories of artists, venues, venue staff, festivals, sound technicians, music non-profits and more. What has the shutdown been like for them so far? What help have they received in order to survive? What adaptations have they been making, and what do they see as the future for Austin Music?
Texas Standard: September 4, 2020
After major cuts in the budget for police in the capitol city, Texas’ governor warns of a possible takeover of policing by the DPS. That story and more on the Texas Standard.
Children are dying- so says a federal judge warning Texas isn’t doing enough to protect kids in foster care. The latest from Bob Garrett of the Dallas Morning News.
A border wall–about to fall? A new engineering report warns a three mile section built in south Texas could tumble, as a legal fight to bring it down rages on.
Also the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and more.
Texas Standard: September 2, 2020
It is the first detailed look at the impact of the pandemic on state services and it includes a billion dollars in cutbacks. A thick document detailing how hard COVID-19 will hit Texas’ budgetary bottom line, the biggest hit to social services. Asher Price of the Austin American Statesman got the story and he joins us. Also, a Texas state senator demanding congress step forward to help find out why so many apparent killings at Fort Hood. And does a Texas city really hold the nation’s top spot in a jump in crime? A Politifact check and more today on the Texas Standard:
KUT Weekend – August 28, 2020
Thousands of Hurricane Laura evacuees take shelter in Austin. Plus, why is the Austin housing market booming during a pandemic? And Austin’s Latino community loses two giants but their legacy lives on. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
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Armadillo Bonus: Springsteen, Zappa, & More
Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters, the music venue that helped put Austin on the musical map. In this bonus episode, hear first-hand stories of some of the most memorable Armadillo shows: An unknown kid from Jersey named Bruce Springsteen plays for hours–and the show cost one dollar. Jerry Lee Lewis destroys the Armadillo’s piano. Joan Armatrading shows the power of musical discovery. And Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart bring the “weird” to Austin.
KUT Weekend – August 21, 2020
Texas leaders threaten to punish Austin for cutting police funding. Plus, how COVID-19 has devastated the local hotel industry. And what it’s like to play in a high school marching band during a pandemic. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
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Armadillo Bonus: Punk Rock and New Wave
Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters, the music venue that helped put Austin on the musical map. In this bonus episode, hear how the Armadillo became the unlikely home for punk rock and new wave in Austin: Joe Ely blows away the Clash. The Ramones put their bodies on the line. The Runaways inspire an Austin musician to form one of the most popular bands of all time. Hardcore punk gets a Texas flavor. And the Armadillo crowd won’t let the Police leave until they play their entire set–again.
Back Home To The Armadillo
In August of 1970, a music venue opened on the corner of Barton Springs Road and South First in Austin, Texas. The building was an old National Guard armory—no air conditioning, no seating, just a giant cavernous space that frankly, was not well suited for music. Yet this local eyesore would go on to change the identity of Austin, culturally, politically, and artistically. Its reverberations would be felt far and wide, helping turn Austin into the Live Music Capital of the World. This is the story of how that happened. This is the story of the Armadillo World Headquarters.
Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this historic music venue. Hear an hour-long oral history featuring staff, musicians, and fans. They trace the Armadillo’s immense impact as a music incubator, community gathering space, and home to hundreds of life-altering concerts: Willie Nelson to Frank Zappa. The Runaways to the Ramones. Freddie King to the Clash. You’ll learn why 50 years later, the Armadillo World Headquarters is still a beacon for Austin’s past, present, and future.
Texas Standard: August 13, 2020
Defunding the police: It’s gone from a phrase on a protest sign to a real discussion as cities finalize their budgets, we’ll have the latest. Also, Hispanic communities have been especially hit hard by the Coronavirus. But why? We’ll dig in. Plus a contact tracing technology experiment of sorts in a perhaps unlikely venue: the GOP convention. What it might mean for the general population. And one of the darlings of Sundance this year was a documentary about a bunch of Texas boys. We’ll have the story. That plus more on schools and COVID-19, today on the Texas Standard:
Armadillo Bonus: Blues, Jazz, and Funk
Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters, the music venue that helped put Austin on the musical map. In this bonus episode, hear first-hand stories about the blues, jazz, and funk greats that made the Armadillo such a live music destination: the supernatural abilities of Freddie King and B.B. King, the Pointer Sisters in their funk heyday, and the raucous welcome given to jazz icon Count Basie.
KUT Weekend – August 7, 2020
The Austin school district delays the start of the school year because of COVID-19. Plus, local election officials in Texas scrambling to find places to put polling places during the pandemic. And a flea market that brought cultures together for decades could be closed forever. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
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Armadillo Bonus: Cosmic Country, Artwork, & More
Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters, the music venue that helped put Austin on the musical map. In this bonus episode, hear how Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings turned the Armadillo into a cosmic country destination. Plus, first-hand stories about the iconic artwork, Leon Russell’s home base, a particularly memorable John Prine show, and seeing the Austin Ballet at the Armadillo–complete with a pitcher of beer.
KUT Weekend – July 31, 2020
The relatively broad self-defense laws in Texas. Plus, what it’s like to have COVID-19 in Texas without health insurance. And a spontaneous bike ride to trace Austin’s Black history draws hundreds. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
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Trailer: Back Home To The Armadillo
Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters music venue. Starting August 17th, you can hear an hour-long oral history covering the Armadillo’s musical legacy, from blues and the birth of cosmic country to the punk rock explosion. You’ll learn why 50 years later, the Armadillo World Headquarters is still a beacon for Austin’s past, present, and future.
Texas Standard: July 24, 2020
Storm clouds gathering along the Texas coast as a tropical depression bears down on the Lone Star State. We’ll have more on the weather situation and what south Texas should be prepared for this weekend. Also as schools scramble to assemble reopening plans, high school football teams prepare to return to the field. We’ll have the latest. Plus, a cyber truck factory cruises into Texas, the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and much more today on the Texas Standard:
KUT Weekend – July 24, 2020
It took a statewide order, but wearing a mask in Austin isn’t weird anymore. Plus, how COVID-19 precautions have left homeless Austinites with fewer places to escape the heat. And ICE detainees in Texas are 15 times more likely to have COVID-19 than the general public. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
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Texas Standard: July 22, 2020
The state’s largest school district has plans to start the year online and could extend that a little more. Houston ISD’s interim superintendent joins us to talk about the weight of planning this school year. We’ll also hear from teachers who are frankly afraid for themselves and their families, but also love being in the classroom. And a Texas law expert joins us to parse out exactly what’s going on with federal agents arresting people in Portland. Plus a harrowing story about COVID-19 and Texas ICE detention centers. That and more today on the Texas Standard:
KUT Weekend – July 17, 2020
Austin is turning the convention center into a field hospital for COVID-19 patients. Plus, Austin’s city council losing faith in the police chief they hired unanimously. And the economic turbulence facing Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
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