Central Texas top stories for March 13, 2025. It’s unclear if Catholic Charities of Central Texas will ever resume its refugee resettlement program. Elon Musk’s SpaceX will receive a $17.3 million grant from the state of Texas. Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that could significantly speed up the time it takes to evict a renter. The Austin area could hit record-breaking high temperatures today.
Bastrop
The beating heart of Elon Musk’s business empire is growing in Texas
Fifteen hundred miles from Washington, DC, Elon Musk has been quietly growing his business empire outside of Austin. His Texas footprint could rapidly grow this year, as he moves X’s HQ and expands his SpaceX Starlink facility’s size in rural Central Texas.
Cracking the mystery of sea turtles’ ‘lost years’
A new survey gives some strong indications what Texans make of the 47th president and what that portends for Texas Sen. John Cornyn’s re-election prospects.
Apple and Microsoft have followed Google in renaming the Gulf of Mexico on their maps after a Trump executive order. Tech journalist Omar Gallaga explains what’s behind the change, and whether it fits into a broader shift in Silicon Valley.
For decades, scientists have struggled to track young sea turtles between hatching and adulthood. Now, researchers may have some answers.
And: Elon Musk is making headlines in D.C. – but back in Texas, he’s been quietly growing his business empire outside of Austin.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for February 11, 2025: A new policy from the NIH will significantly reduce research funding for UT Austin.
Central Texas top stories for February 11, 2025. The funding UT Austin receives for biomedical research is significantly reduced under a new policy from the National Institutes of Health. The City of Austin is looking at changing its parking rules for the first time in more than 15 years. Propositions to decriminalize marijuana possession in Bastrop and Lockhart are not being honored. Egg prices continue to rise as poultry flocks are affected by avian flu. The Lockhart school board is asking voters to approve a bond to fund the construction of a new middle school.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 10, 2025: New rules could be on the way for short term rentals in Austin.
Central Texas top stories for February 10, 2025. New rules could be on the way for short term rentals like Air-bnb in Austin. The City of Lockhart is caught between state and local demands around law enforcement and marijuana possession. Lake Travis ISD School Board accepted the immediate resignation of superintendent Paul Norton. UT women’s basketball team beat No. 2 South Carolina. The second southbound MoPac exit to Steck Avenue will be closed for up to three months starting today.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 7, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 7, 2024. It might take a few more days to know if Austin Mayor Kirk watson will head to a runoff in his bid for reelection. Austin City Council District 6 member-elect Krista Laine says she’s not surprised by her win over MacKenzie Kelly. The re-election of former President Donald Trump could have major repercussions for the U.S. energy industry. Rent prices in the Austin area continue to fall.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for November 6, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 6, 2024. Reactions to the Presidential Election result in Travis County. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson may be headed for a runoff. One of the three races for a place in the Austin City Council is heading to a runoff. One Austin ISD race is heading to a runoff. And a couple of races in Hays County are undecided. Republican victories in several races in Williamson County. Voters in Manor have approved a higher tax rate to generate more revenue for the school district. San Marcos CISD voters approved a tax rate increase to generate more money for that district. Two more Austin-area cities have voted to decriminalize possessing small amounts of marijuana. Austin area homeowners are being asked to confirm their homestead exemption.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 5, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 5, 2024. It’s election day! Thousands of people are expected to head to the polls today across Central Texas. The biggest statewide race this Election Day in Texas is the U.S. Senate race. A group of Texas OBGYNs are speaking out against the state’s abortion ban following the deaths of two women. Crews remained on site overnight to patrol the wildfire in Bastrop.
Why Texans can’t put abortion – or other citizen-led initiatives – on the ballot
We’ll have the latest details the 400-acre Hudson Fire in Bastrop County, which has prompted the voluntary evacuation of about 65 homes.
On this day before elections, what we’re hearing about early turnout numbers.
Twenty-six states, including California, have citizen-led ballot initiatives – but Texas doesn’t. The Standard’s Sarah Asch brings us the history of a political tug-of-war.
Also: What comes next for death row inmate Robert Roberson and how his case may be affecting attitudes in Texas toward the death penalty.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 4, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 4, 2024. Crews continue working to contain a wildfire in Bastrop County. Election Day is tomorrow, millions of Texans cast their ballots during early voting. In Travis County, about half of registered voters cast their ballots during early voting. Conflicts over LGBTQ student rights, lessons about race and book bans are costing public schools a lot of money. Georgetown is finding ways to increase the city’s water supply. Trains in San Marcos are sounding their horns again.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 11, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 11, 2024. Steiner Ranch finished a second evacuation route in case of an emergency. Activists in Bastrop are joining other Texas cities to try to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession. Cedar Park officials are looking at changing the city’s housing and subdivision regulations. More Longhorns than ever are participating in this year’s Olympics.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 5, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 5, 2024. Travis County District Attorney José Garza’s office has filed a legal challenge to Governor Greg Abbott’s pardon of Daniel Perry, who shot a BLM protester. EMS crews have been seeing a rise in heat related illnesses ahead of the summer. Officials urge people to continue to save water as we look at another hot, dry summer. The Texas Longhorns will face the Oklahoma Sooners tonight in game one of the Women’s College World Series Championship.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 4, 2024
Central Texas top stories for June 4, 2024. ACC Board of Trustees is considering how much to increase employee pay next year, a local union is pushing for more. People in San Marcos will hear train horns for the first time since 2015. The intersection of MoPac and Bee Cave Road may see big changes. Austin Water is asking Austinites in the southwest area to save water this Friday.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 3, 2023
Central Texas top stories for August 3, 2023. Wildfire update. Heat protections special session. COVID cases rising in Austin. Short-term-rental ruling. College Possible expanding. Lone Star Tick. Austin art education grants.
As Texas leads the nation in ‘family annihilation’ cases, what can be done?
Ken Paxton, the impeached attorney general, is headed for a Houston courtroom today on his 2015 securities fraud charges.
An update on wildfires across the state as firefighters brace for another tough day of heat and wind. We’ll hear where the fire threat is greatest and what to do to prepare.
Since 2020, Texas has emerged as the epicenter of “family annihilation” cases, in which someone kills at least two kinds of family members.
A new documentary traces the careers of two of Texas’ most famous musical siblings: Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
And commentator WF Strong on what “Lonesome Dove “got right and wrong.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 18, 2022
Central Texas top stories for November 18, 2022. Austin ISD interim superintendent applications. Bastrop County wastewater request. Freedom of speech at UT. Texas maternal mortality report. APD intoxicated driver policy.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 13, 2022
Central Texas top stories for October 13, 2022. Austin Energy rates. High wildfire risk. Single use plastic. Travis County affordable housing. Elon Musk wastewater. Austin art grants.
Texas Standard: January 21, 2022
What, exactly, does Governor Abbott’s newly unveiled “Parental Bill of Rights” really mean for Texas public schools? Also, many renters in Hays county brace themselves as federal dollars for a covid rent relief program disappear. Those stories, the week in politics, and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 3, 2021
An early end to the special session at the capitol but the work far from over. Next up redrawing the political maps of Texas. As lawmakers gavel out a second special session, where do we stand and what comes next? A closer look with the editor of the quorum report. Also the search for a new permanent home for the battleship Texas as a piece of history battles the ravages of time. And 10 years after the most destructive fire in Texas history. What happened and what’s happened since. Plus the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 30, 2021
To declare a disaster or to not declare a disaster? That is the question before counties along the border. The disaster declarations are part of a bigger plan from Governor Abbott that includes his wall. We’ll talk about that in light of his visit to the border with former president Trump. We’ll also look at how Abbott ending federal unemployment benefits also ends state benefits for some Texans. And Bastrop is growing. We’ll look at the plans for a new state of the art film studio. And speaking of growth, Lubbock has a plan for its growth over the next 20 years. Will communities often forgotten be included this time? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard: