Central Texas top stories for September 18, 2025. News organizations fight to unseal Texas AG Ken Paxton’s divorce case records. A new audit finds the City of Austin is falling behind on its “zero waste” goals. Austin severs ties with a nonprofit that runs two downtown homeless shelters. ACC has a new partnership to help students find affordable housing. Leander ISD is considering closing some schools amid a budget deficit. Austin FC beat Minnesota last night, they move to advance to the U.S. Open Cup Final.
budget deficit
KUT Morning Newscast for July 14, 2025: Leander vigil honors flood victims as community grapples with grief
Central Texas top stories for July 14, 2025. A flood watch is still in effect for Central Texas until 9 tonight. A candlelight vigil in Leander this weekend helped people grapple with the grief caused by deadly floods in Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend. Congregants from churches across Kerrville, in Central Texas, are preparing for a lengthy recovery. Austin firefighters say they have no confidence in Chief Joel Baker over flood response. The Austin Independent School District is hosting four workshops this week on its plan to consolidate campuses to save money; the first one is tonight.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 27, 2025: AISD will head into the next fiscal year with a $20 million budget deficit
Central Texas top stories for June 27, 2025. The Austin Independent School District’s board of trustees approved next year’s budget; after making cuts, there’s a $20 million budget deficit. The board also approved the turnaround plans for AISD’s middle schools. Personal cell phones are not allowed in AISD classrooms anymore. Williamson County will go back to using paper ballots starting with this fall election.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 20, 2025: AISD cuts central office staff by 20% to reduce budget deficit
Central Texas top stories for June 20, 2025. The Austin Independent School District will cut 20% of its central office staff. The city of Austin is training Austinites so they can issue parking tickets on their own. Advocates are warning that potential cuts to federal financial aid will make it harder for low-income students in Texas to access higher education. There’s still time to submit feedback for the 2026 General Obligation Bonds.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 16, 2025: Thousands join ‘No Kings’ protest in Austin. An arrest was made after a threat against Texas lawmakers.
Central Texas top stories for June 16, 2025. The “No Kings” protest in Austin on Saturday remained peaceful. The Texas Department of Public Safety made one arrest earlier in the day related to threats against state lawmakers who were expected to speak. AISD will receive millions of dollars in new funding as a result of state legislation passed this year, but officials worry it might not be enough. Starting today Austinites might see Cap Metro’s new Transit Police officers at stations and on board of transit services. Georgetown is considering changes to its rules on where people can sit and lie down in public.
KUT Morning Newscast for April 18, 2025: AISD says school funding boost doesn’t make up for inflation
Central Texas top stories for April 18, 2025. The president of AISD’s Board of Trustees says the funding boost provided by HB2 does not make up for inflation. Republicans in Williamson County are divided over the possibility of a new toll road along Ronald Reagan Boulevard. A raccoon picked up in San Marcos has tested positive for rabies. Travis County parks will be open this weekend.
KUT Morning Newscast for April 9, 2025: The City of Austin is facing a $33 million shortfall for next fiscal year.
Central Texas top stories for April 9, 2025. Texas Attorney General Republican Ken Paxton has announced he’s running for U.S. Senate. The City of Austin’s facing a $33 million budget deficit for the next fiscal year; it might ask voters for help. Austin’s City Council has only a few weeks to decide where to build parks over I-35. Rent prices in Austin have continued to fall for almost two years. A new program in Hays County will connect people caught driving while intoxicated with treatment instead of sending them to jail.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 25, 2025: Public health leaders say it’s a good time to check your measles vaccination status.
Central Texas top stories for February 25, 2025. After a possible measles exposure in Hays County, health leaders say it’s a good time to check your vaccination status. Round Rock ISD is working to balance its budget. UT women’s basketball team is number one on the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Legislation in the statehouse would increase salaries for teachers for the first time in years, but some educators aren’t convinced.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 14, 2025: AISD says its projected budget deficit has grown to $110 million.
Central Texas top stories for February 14, 2025. The Austin Independent School District says its projected budget deficit has grown by nearly 20-million-dollars. A Texas judge ruled a New York doctor has to stop providing abortion care to people in Texas via telemedicine. Now it is illegal to park in a bike lane in Austin. Ascension Seton’s annual Austin Marathon takes place this Sunday, expect road closures starting today.
KUT Morning Newscast for December 11, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 11, 2024. A federal judge ruled Infowars won’t be sold to The Onion after all. AISD is taking feedback on its plan to cut tens of millions of dollars in spending over the next three years, they’re not the only Texas district operating under a budget deficit. The City of Austin is working to educate residents on how to prepare for severe weather. Here’s what you need to know about Cedar Fever.
KUT Morning Newscast for December 10, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 10, 2024. Today is the last day of early voting in the local runoff elections. Texas is struggling to get people out of jails and into mental health treatment. Eanes ISD is considering combining two elementary schools to save money. San Marcos are looking to combine the city’s bus routes with those serving Texas State University. Cold shelters in Austin will open today.
KUT Morning Newscast for December 9, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 09, 2024. Tomorrow is the last day of early voting for the December 14th runoff election. AISD is asking the public for feedback on its plan to eliminate its 92-million-dollar budget deficit over the next three years. The City of Austin is considering a new rule that would require certain businesses to display information about mental health and firearm safety. Austin City Council will vote on a plan to generate electricity in Austin into the future. The Longhorns came up short in the SEC game on Saturday, but they’re fifth seed in this year’s expanded College Football Playoff. An asteroid has been named after a UT professor.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 27, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 27, 2024. The Austin City Council has rejected a proposed rate hike from Texas Gas Service. AISD is working on a place to reduce its spending by tens of millions of dollars, here’s an update. Unhoused Austinites staying at the ARCH or 8th Street shelters will soon have access to a free career training course from Austin Community College. Travis County residents can get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered for free today and tomorrow, here are the details.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 9, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 9, 2024. National Weather Service extends local heat advisory for third straight day. Austin Pride and Festival takes to downtown this weekend. The AISD school board moves closer to deciding whether to ask voters to approve a new tax rate in November to help plug funding gaps, while the district works to fill its teacher vacancies ahead of the new school year. The annual Texas sales tax holiday takes place this weekend. RFK Jr. will appear on Texas ballots this fall.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 23, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 23, 2024. Today Austinites will get to meet the two finalists in the running to be Austin’s next police chief. Travis County Commissioners are about to put two new members on a board that manages affordable housing in the area. Capital Metro will continue to do business with the company that provides on-demand transit services MetroAccess and Pickup. The Austin Independent School District is heading into the new school year with a 78-million-dollar budget deficit, but that could change.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 18, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 18, 2024. Home prices in Austin are down compared to last year. A federal court in Texas dismissed a lawsuit challenging the admissions process at U-T Austin. A new national study ranks Texas 50th for women’s health outcomes. Austin area school districts are heading into the next school year with a budget deficit. Austin FC lost its chance to win the Copa Tejas for the third time in a row.