Central Texas top stories for December 18, 2024. Today is the deadline for enrolling in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act for coverage beginning January 1st. Austin ISD will vote on whether to renew a contract with the charter school network that operates Webb Middle School. Round Rock ISD is limiting who can challenge its library books and course materials. Central Health officials have been getting pressed by Travis County Commissioners about conflicts with CommUnityCare. A cold front this morning will keep temperatures down through the weekend.
Central Health
After its buyout, has Whataburger lost its spice?
There’s a fight to lead the Texas House of Representatives, and two names top the list. Yesterday we heard about Justin Burrows; today we’re taking a closer look at his challenger, David Cook, who the support of the House GOP caucus.
How one Central Texas school district is trying to do something about chronic absenteeism.
And: Whataburger has long been celebrated as a Texas fast food icon, but after its sale to a Chicago-based company, many claim it just isn’t what it used to be. Omar Gallaga explains.
KUT Morning Newscast for December 18, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 18, 2024. Travis County Commissioners pressed leaders of Central Health about conflicts with CommUnityCare. Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson has been subpoenaed to testify this Friday on his case. Round Rock is changing who can ban or restrict books in school. Lake Travis school superintendent was placed on paid leave after misconduct allegations.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 20, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 20, 2024. The City of Austin has to rethink the project to build caps on I-35. A conflict between two local health organizations came to a head yesterday when Central Health’s CEO fired the CEO of CommUnityCare. The State of Texas is offering land for Donald Trump’s upcoming administration to build its first mass deportation camp. The San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District is considering switching to a four-day school week. The National Weather Service says high – almost critical– fire weather conditions are expected today in most of Central Texas.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for November 8, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 8, 2024. A criminal justice nonprofit is dropping its challenge to Austin’s new labor contract with APD. Travis County voter turnout this year was down compared to 2020. Central Health broke ground today on the renovation of the old Sears building at the Hancock center. Austin ISD is celebrating the beginning of construction on the largest project funded by the 2022 school bond. Closures on Monday for Veterans Day.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 25, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 25, 2024. Travis County approved a new budget and tax rate for Central Health. Advocates respond to the tentative deal between Austin’s police union and the city. Capital Metro’s board of directors has voted to spend 3-million dollars on hundreds of bus benches. Tonight is the next Austin City Council Candidate panel, it’s for district 2.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 18, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 18, 2024. Travis County filed a federal lawsuit accusing state leaders of violating the National Voter Registration Act. Austin has seen a rise in its older population over the last decade, that’s according to a new Census survey. Travis County Commissioners postponed a vote on the budget for Central Health. Barton Springs pool will open tomorrow. The Austin History Center is hosting conversations with the community to celebrate Hispanic/Latino Heritage month.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 10, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 10, 2024. Travis County Commissioners today will get a first look at an audit of Central Health. Austin-Travis County medics saw fewer opioid overdoses over the summer. The Austin city council will consider amending its noise ordinance. The City of Georgetown is encouraging residents to conserve water.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 28, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 28, 2024. The City of Austin is having a tough time keeping employees. The city has a big chunk of money available for museums, cultural centers and other sites in Austin with a historic designation. A public hearing on a long-anticipated audit of Central Health was postponed this week. Affording a home is becoming increasingly difficult in Texas and across the U.S. according to the Texas Comptroller’s Office. For the election this fall, Travis County will have 41 Early Voting sites and 171 polling places on Election Day. A ruling is expected soon on whether the City of Austin can keep 13 amendments to the city charter on the fall ballot. Austin karaoke bar Ego’s is staying open.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 22, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 22, 2024. The City of Austin is facing a lawsuit over its efforts to pay for Austinites to travel outside of Texas for an abortion. Central Health leadership gave preliminary approval Wednesday evening to their next fiscal year budget, which will go before Travis County commissioners for a final vote next month. The city of Austin is accepting financial donations to replace sixteen bicycles that were stolen this past Sunday from the Lorraine “Grandma” Camacho Activity Center.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 8, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 8, 2024. Austin City Council members are set to finalize the city budget over the next week. Austin is set to open a record number of permanent supportive housing in the next couple of years. The Central Health board of managers vote on a proposed tax rate. The University Interscholastic League has announced new rules for outdoor activities to keep students safe in the heat. Lockhart voters will decide this fall whether to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession, and the National Weather Service expects triple-digit highs into next week.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 26, 2024
Central Texas top stories for July 26, 2024. Central Health hopes to hire a few hundred more staff in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Biden’s visit to Austin might cause traffic delays, plan accordingly. The Village at Western Oaks is getting 21 Little Free Libraries installed thanks to a city program. Austin FC will play against Mexican club Pumas at Q-2 Stadium tonight.
Students could soon be taught Bible stories in public schools
You check in with your ID, find an empty booth and cast your ballot in secret. But have Texas voter transparency laws challenged that privacy?
Depending on where you live in Texas you might pay taxes to a local hospital system. Understanding how that works.
Storm chasers have enormous followings on social media, many copycats and, increasingly, even people riding along. It’s a growing industry of sorts, but is it a good idea?
A new docuseries coming to HBO, “Ren Faire,” follows what happens when the man who has presided over the Texas Renaissance Festival for 50 years retires.
And: A push for classical studies in Texas classrooms could also include more conversations about the Bible.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for May 24, 2024
Central Texas top stories for May 24, 2024. Heat advisory. City workers feeling the heat. Capital Metro will close two downtown MetroRail stations next year until 2026. A lawsuit accuses Central Health of improperly using taxpayer money. Austin FC to play three matches in a week. The Texas Softball team opens their Super Regional Series tonight at McCombs Field against Texas A&M.
Civics 101: What does Central Health do?
What do you think of when I say, “property taxes?” Maybe what you pay for Austin ISD pops up first. Maybe your city or county tax bill. But also on that list is a smaller portion for Central Health. As part of our “Civics 101” series here at KUT, which is bringing you stories about local institutions that keep everyday life running in Austin, KUT’s Olivia Aldridge tells us about Central Health, an organization that gets your tax dollars and might give you or your neighbor medical care.
KUT Morning Newscast for May 10, 2024
Central Texas top stories for May 10, 2024. Austin ISD faces a bigger budget deficit than originally anticipated. Central Health is being sued. Last night’s severe thunderstorms brought baseball-size hail to Central Texas. Hear from a Kyle traveling to Kyle for the gathering of the Kyle’s.
KUT Morning Newscast for May 9, 2024
Central Texas top stories for May 9, 2024. A man has been charged for illegally carrying a weapon during a pro-Palestinian portest at UT Austin last week. The head of the U-T System Board of Regents says divesting from Israel is “not an option.” Severe storms are possible for parts of Burnet, Travis, and Williamson counties today. The City of Austin has announced a survey to take residents’ input for the 2025 budget plan. A long-awaited hearing in a lawsuit brought by taxpayers against Central Health takes place today. Officials at ABIA want to build a new parking garage. Correction about arrests related to last week’s surge of overdoses.
KUT Morning Newscast for April 22, 2024
Central Texas top stories for April 22, 2024. A Travis County resident is attempting to remove District Attorney José Garza from office. Early voting starts today in the May fourth local elections. Elgin ISD’s $375 million bond package. The US Supreme Court will hear arguments this week on a case that could change policies banning behavior related to homelessness in Austin. A lawsuit alleges Travis County’s taxing hospital district Central Health has improperly provided money to Dell Medical School since 2014. The City of Austin is looking into how to close the $3.8 million gap in their budget.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for March 28, 2024
Central Texas top stories for March 28, 2024. U.S. oil and gas production decreased slightly in the first quarter of the year. Central Health has started planning for its 2025 fiscal year budget. Eclipse day at Eanes ISD. New rules for E-Scooters. Gas prices. Longhorn sports.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for January 23, 2024
Central Texas top stories for January 23, 2024. Acevedo decides against joining the City of Austin. The City of Austin issues an apology to sexual assault victims for the mishandling of cases by the Austin Police Department. Light rail update. Central Health announces a new clinic. Carmen Llanes Pulido announces her mayoral run. Kyle eclipse preparations. Longhorns basketball.