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KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

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US military sending troops to southern border

The U.S. military is sending around 1,500 active-duty troops to the country’s southern border, under orders from President Donald Trump. But what will they be doing, exactly, and what are the limits on what they can do?

Half a trillion dollars have been pledged for a new AI venture called Stargate, and the first project is a data center in Abilene.

And: Sherman, Texas, is experiencing a silicon rush, with two massive microchip factories under construction – one by Texas Instruments and another by Global Wafers.

A closer look at the country music Grammy nods

As lawmakers prepare to take up a school voucher-like plan, many state public schools are struggling with more cutbacks.
Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking an extension of a tuition freeze for public colleges and universities.
What the tiny town of Rockdale, Texas, could teach us about the energy transition and rising demand.
Mando Rayo of the Tacos of Texas podcast breaks down the state’s new Michelin-recognized restaurants.
And: What the Grammy nominations tell us about the changing landscape of country music – and why it’s sounding a lot more like an increasingly diverse Texas.

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 August 16, 2024

Central Texas top stories for August 16, 2024. Violent crime in Austin is down compared to last year. A new rule lowering the amount of land required to build a home in Austin goes into effect today. Travis County Constables want to hire more deputies to patrol what they call traffic “hot spots,” but the budget is tight. AISD says its chief financial officer, Ed Ramos, was reinstated Thursday. Travis County has seen a steady rise in new HIV diagnoses since 2020, they are launching a campaign to end the epidemic. There’s a new cooling center in Austin, it’s located in the Trinity Center on East 7th street. 

KUT Morning Newscast for August 14, 2024

Central Texas top stories for August 14, 2024. Travis County is asking voters to approve a tax rate hike this fall to expand affordable childcare programs. The Austin City Council meets this week to finalize a spending plan for the next year. A U.S. District Court Judge in Austin today will hear arguments that could determine the future of the Golden Cheeked Warbler. Hays County Commissioners yesterday approved putting a bond for roadway improvements on the November ballot. Taylor, Manor, Liberty Hill and other Central Texas school districts are starting classes today. 

KUT Morning Newscast for July 12, 2024

Central Texas top stories for July 12, 2024. The City of Austin’s proposed budget is out today, priorities include a long-term contract with the local police union. A local theater company and ACC’s Drama Department are launching a new festival to highlight children’s work. President Jose Biden’s visit may cause traffic delays on Monday. 

KUT Morning Newscast for August 7, 2023

Central Texas top stories for August 7, 2023. Oak Grove fire near San Marcos burns 400 acres. Excessive heat and red flag warnings issued for central Texas. Austin looks to its budget.

KUT Morning Newscast for August 4, 2023

Central Texas top stories for August 4, 2023. How heat can affect medications. CapMetro opens new money saving service. Updates on Central Texas wildfires

KUT Morning Newscast for July 28, 2023

Central Texas top stories for July 28, 2023. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces fraud charges. Possible active shooter incident cleared at Tesla factory. Austin previews city budget.

KUT Morning Newscast for June 23, 2023

Central Texas top stories for June 23, 2023. City of Austin budget planning. Possible hate crime investigation of killing in Cedar Park. DPS returns to patrol Austin.

What a banking slowdown in Texas means for the economy

The relationship between U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow is under scrutiny after a ProPublica investigation reporting that Thomas accepted lavish vacations and more from the GOP donor.

The Texas House has passed a sweeping budget that reveals a lot about support for some key issues including school vouchers, gun-related crimes and more.

And the Texas Standard’s Sean Saldana with what a new survey of bankers tells us about the state of Texas’ economy.

What’s in the Texas House budget

The opioid fentanyl has become a scourge for many communities. But where is it coming from? New court filings shed light on the fentanyl supply chain. We’ll tell you where it comes from, and how it’s being smuggled into Texas.

The Texas economy just keeps growing. How does this keep happening, and when will it ever stop?

What if Shakespeare was from the Valley? We kind of have an answer. We’ll hear from the professors who compiled pieces from writer’s who’ve reimagined some of the playwright’s works by setting them along the border.

Plus the latest on the Legislature, the Typewriter Rodeo, and breaking news from across the state.

What do Texans think about expanding legal gambling?

As Texas senators hold hearings on a new budget, they may get an earful from everyday Texans. Sergio Martínez-Beltrán of the Texas Newsroom shares his look at the week ahead in the Texas Legislature, and how you can weigh in on the budget.

Reducing property taxes is likely to be a big part of the discussion, but some say it’s high time to consider legalizing cannabis sales to offset property tax cuts.

Major casino companies are betting big on Texas. How do voters feel about that?

Also the King of Tacos, Mando Rayo, takes us on a tour of the Taco Mile.

Plan to prevent the next blackout heads to the Legislature

Historic job growth, but how sustainable? Economist Ray Perryman weighs in on the latest numbers.

As lawmakers prepare for bruising legislative battles ahead, one thing some Texas Republicans and Democrats agree on? Dislike of a new proposal to prevent future statewide power grid blackouts.

Watch your wallets online: our go-to tech expert Omar Gallaga with the latest on data breaches.

And high hopes in some quarters for changes to Texas cannabis laws.

This Texas label makes records the old-school way

Texas’ law against censoring political speech on social media is not in force for now, but that could change. Also: Truckers like to say they keep America rolling, but more are leaving the profession than ever – and it could have major ripple effects for everyone. Plus: A generation gap in high-tech, and a major difference in how sweeping layoffs are being felt. And: A Texas nonprofit founded to support voting restrictions tried to build a hospital in Ukraine; it has not gone as planned, and now red flags are going up.

How a ban on TikTok at UT-Austin affects journalists and other students

The Texas House and Senate release their spending roadmaps for the session, leaving tens of billions on the table unspent. It may be an understatement to say the state is awash in cash. Both chambers are now proposing unprecedented outlays. Bob Garret of the Dallas Morning News joins us to help with the numbers. Also pressure on Texas lawmakers to take more action on gun safety in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde. Also what health experts are learning about Long Covid and chronic fatigue. And Omar Gallaga discovers a de facto treasure trove for PC gamers. And time runs out for TikTok on many Texas campuses. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

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