austin

City Council approves financial agreement for Dog’s Head development

More than 12,000 homes and apartments, along with millions of square feet in office, retail and industrial space, could be coming to a large undeveloped piece of land just north of the Austin airport. We’ll have the latest on the Dog’s Head development.

Rainbow crosswalks and Black Artists Matter slogans may have been erased from Austin roads, but what are community members thinking of doing to replace them?

Next week, KUT News is launching a reporting project on data centers here in Central Texas. We’ll get a preview.

And it’s Friday, so we’ll check in with KUT Arts Desk Editor Stephanie Federico about what’s going on over the weekend.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Austin school district is closing another school

The Austin Independent School District plans to close another campus, Paredes Middle School, as the district faces the possibility of further state intervention.

The Austin City Council has been voting in secret on certain matters related to Austin Energy, and it’s been happening longer than you might think. The revelation is tied back to this summer’s purchase of a billion dollar natural gas power plant.

Have you ever wondered what happens to our pets when they die? Not in like some, metaphysical, trippy way — but like, literally? The story of a Pflugerville pet cemetery.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Copa Mundial

Hosts Juan Diego Garcia and Jimmy Maas chat with Austin FC captain Ilie Sánchez about Spain winning the World Cup, the Barcelona way and how that’s transferred to the national team. We also talk about Austin FC’s prospects for the season with an interim coach, little pressure, and even still some team goals within reach.

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

Company behind fast-tracked Dog’s Head project revealed

We now know which Fortune 100 company is behind the Dog’s Head project in East Austin. The venture moved through the Austin City Council with some urgency this year. We’ll have more on the week’s developments.

The city is also set to begin construction on a years-long major project in Northeast Austin. We’ll dig into what’s happening at the site of the old Home Depot at St. Johns.

No summer BBQ is complete without the perfect playlist. We’ve got the best tunes of July from our sister station KUTX. And if tranquility is more your jam, we’ve got more books to dive into.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

New book recounts fishermen’s Gulf of Mexico survival story

President Trump is trying to renegotiate trade agreements with our nearest neighbors —again. Why is Canada so upset?
Much has been made over the political leanings of the Texas Rio Grande Valley. How are things looking for Senate candidates James Talarico and Ken Paxton in the run-up to November?
An iconic LGBT night spot is facing a shutdown threat — so what happened to the San Antonio mayor’s promises to help keep it open?
Plus, we’ll introduce you to a Kerrville couple rebuilding once again after a second year of extreme flooding.
And bestselling author Michael J. Tougias recalls a harrowing true story set in the Texas gulf with his new book “In Deep Water.”

Austin elementary teacher released after nearly 300 days in ICE detention

A fifth-grade teacher in the Austin district told his students at the start of last school year that he would need to miss a day for an errand. Roberto López Falcón never made it back to those students, spending nearly 300 days in ICE detention before being released.

There’s plenty of ways to have some THC in Texas, including a surge of canned beverages, but what are the benefits to a canned high? And how much demand is there for these products?

We’re got an excerpt from the latest episode of the “Black Austin Matters” podcast.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Climate scientists have predicted greater flooding in Texas for decades

The Texas Hill Country has been impacted by torrential rains and devastating flooding for the second July in a row. Climate scientists have predicted this very thing for many years now.

The Austin school district has charged thousands of dollars for public information requests in the past year from parents, policy experts and journalists. Critics of the costs are worried that this leaves the community in the dark on decision-making.

We talk about mythology in media with Austin author Ponle Oluwole, who’s just published his debut novel, “Àyànmó.”

The World Cup may be over, but there’s still plenty of soccer on home soil coming over the next year.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Tracye McDaniel, pt. 2 (Ep. 34, 2026)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. concludes his conversation with Tracye McDaniel, president of TIP Strategies, Inc and a trusted advisor to CEOs, non-profits, and public and private organizations and businesses. Formerly president and chief executive of the Texas Economic Development Corporation and TexasOne, she brings a global perspective to local business strategies.

Do Rappers Owe Their Communities?

On this episode we talk about Jay Z’s three night residency at Yankee Stadium and what it means for his overall legacy. We also discuss if rappers owe the communities they come out of or social issues in general. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about Aaliyah, Barry White, The Notorious B.I.G. and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that the city of Austin sometimes forces artists to conform to stay booked and busy.

The latest on flooding in the Hill Country

We’re continuing to monitor the flooding situation in the Texas Hill Country that’s killed at least two people and led to more than 200 rescues. We’ll bring you the latest and hear from a reporter out in Kerrville.

Ten Austin ISD schools are shuttered for good as part of the district’s plan to deal with a budget deficit, but what’s to come of those closed campuses?

The rain will be clearing soon and there’s plenty happening this weekend in Austin, including a KUT book swap on Saturday.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

An update from Kerrville after floods again rattle region

There are two confirmed fatalities in Texas’ Hill Country as rescues continue and precipitation finally begins to taper off. We’ll have an update on the flooding across Texas from Lucio Vasquez of the Texas Newsroom standing by in Kerrville.

Rising food prices aren’t just making it tougher for more Texas families, but also for pantries and food banks trying to bridge the gap. We’ll hear what they’re up against.

There’s a new competitor in the hemp beverage business — but as demand grows here in Texas, so does pressure for greater regulation.

Plus, the week in Texas politics.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org

1 dead as flash flood emergencies issued in Texas Hill Country

Floodwaters rose overnight in the Texas Hill Country, killing at least one person. We have the latest updates from the scene in Kerr County and speak with Travis County Judge Andy Brown about response operations locally.

Central Texans have plenty of questions about data centers and their future in the region. But how much do we know about what a data center is and does? KUT’s county reporters are diving in.

There’s a bevy of live music to support tonight in Austin.

We chat with the CEO of The Onion about the future of Infowars.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Emergencies, shelter-in-place orders go out in flood-wary Kerr County region

Life-threatening floods hit parts of the Texas Hill Country as the Guadalupe River swells and flood emergencies and warnings go out.

In the aftermath of shootings in Maine and Texas, a pause in ICE policy ends only hours after the change went into effect. We’ll have more from Houston’s historic East End on how the shooting has galvanized residents there.

Also, the death of a Dallas Cowboy was ruled a suicide by officials, sparking a deeper conversation into the role of CTE: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Religion and Texas culture: The new book ‘One State Under God’ by Joseph L. Locke untangles an unexpectedly deep, and often misunderstood connection.

Plus, the end of an era: After more than three decades, Sony pulls the plug on a format once popular with gamers.

And the state’s only legislatively authorized needle exchange program: Why efforts to expand it have stalled.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org

Sandy Creek residents find community after last July’s deadly flood

The onslaught of rain across Central Texas and other swaths of the state this week brings reminders of last summer’s floods. More than 100 people died, including nine people in the Sandy Creek neighborhood, where over 100 homes were damaged or destroyed. More about their community’s resilience in the face of tragedy.

Olamaie, one of the city’s first Michelin-starred restaurants, is shutting down this week after a dozen years in business — and it’s not the only award-winning Austin favorite that’s closing for good. We’ll talk about the difficulties and future of Austin’s eateries.

Plenty of free Austin music is happening this week with the return of Hot Summer Nights.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Flooding risks trigger disaster declarations for parts of state

More wet weather for portions of Texas’ flash flood alley: A look at the forecast and warning systems put in place since last year’s deadly storms.

Cities across Texas have responded to the issue of homelessness in a variety of ways. Is it worth considering a broader approach?

People in Texas have been working to send relief to earthquake-devastated Venezuela, but some have questions about how they can be sure the help is getting where it needs to be.

Ocelot kittens are hands-down adorable, but zoo officials in Texas are celebrating the birth of two for reasons beyond showing them off.

And journalist Pamela Colloff tells us about unraveling a Texas Gulf Coast man’s life of deceit for her new book, ‘Catch the Devil.’

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org

CapMetro workers authorize strike, say better training would improve bus service

Nearly all of CapMetro’s fixed-route bus service could shut down if its workers strike. And 99.5% of workers voted in favor of that strike. Negotiators return to the bargaining table today.

The recent national outbreak of cyclospora is raising concerns and questions. Austin Public Health says it’s not a major local concern — yet.

A new film documents the fight to save North American bats from a devastating disease called white-nose syndrome. We’ll hear from the film’s director and bat researcher about their project and connecting the bats with their audiences.

And: Another summer reading recommendation for your KUT bingo challenge.

Headlines mentioned in today’s episode…

— Vice President JD Vance is reportedly in town to do a taping with podcast host Joe Rogan. The Statesman confirmed that Air Force 2 landed this morning at Austin Bergstrom International Airport after Politico’s initial report.

—- The City of Austin has opened applications for public art projects across the city with budgets for the projects ranging from $90,000 to $300,000.

— Flood risk increases for the Austin area this week with up to 6 inches of rain possible in spots of town.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

A permit loophole for AI power plants

A legal battle over the deep discounts on water bills Corpus Christi gave major companies amid a looming water crisis.

Why some of the new power plants for data centers are using the same permits as dry cleaners and auto body shops that don’t require an environmental review.

A new effort to help more students in foster care get college degrees.

What rising beef prices mean for Texas restaurants, taco trucks and customers.

And: As the semifinals kick off, analysis on the big matches as the World Cup winds down.

Texans are losing millions in scams involving crypto kiosks

Supporters call it the most important housing legislation in decades, but what does the new housing law mean for everyday Texans?

In Texas’ closely watched U.S. Senate race, a challenge to what’s become conventional wisdom about Democratic nominee James Talarico and his appeal to Texas’ Black voters.

An apparent end to the ceasefire with Iran and where that leaves consumers in Texas.

Plus: They look like ATMs, but critics say Texas is behind the curve on banning them. Why cryptocurrency kiosks are getting a cold hard look.

Austin vigil honors Houston man killed by ICE

Austinites gathered over the weekend to mourn Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, the man fatally shot last week by an immigration officer in Houston.

We have new details about the June plane crash that killed Austin tech entrepreneur Joshua Baer. An update from the National Transportation Safety Board details how pilots noticed an “unusual vibration” early in the flight.

The boom of million-dollar homes in Austin is stretching well beyond the city limits.

Fireflies have been a staple of Texas summer nights, but if you’re thinking you don’t see as many lately, you’re not alone.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Summer Jam 2026! w/ Soto the Activist

On this episode we discuss our upcoming Hot Summer Nights showcase, Summer Jam, and we interview Austin hip-hop artist Soto the Activist, who is also performing there. We also discuss if 2pac was as big a star, alive, as he was in death. Hip-Hop facts include facts about DJ Jazzy Jeff, Lil Kim, Bow Wow and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that artists should stop announcing their retirements if they don’t truly mean it.