Protests planned and hearing scheduled at the Capitol this week. The issue? Taxpayer money for private schooling. Blaise Gainey of the Texas Newsroom with the latest on what to expect this week at the Legislature.
Millions in federal funds to help legal immigrants is now being held up in D.C. How is this affecting services in Texas?
Prices at the pump – how are on again/off again tariffs having an impact on what we’re paying?
A new documentary debuts centering on the woman dubbed by the media as the “Uvalde Mom.”
Also, dismay among many Texans who work with fabric and crafts as a mainstay retailer unravels.
Donald Trump
Why Texas is so vulnerable to tariff impacts
Texas is in the crosshairs as tariffs against Mexico and Canada take hold. Why, what it means, and could short-term pain add up to long-term gain?
At the state capitol, a bill aimed at raising wages for workers who care for people with disabilities. Why some fear it won’t be enough to stem a critical shortage of such workers in Texas.
“Office Space” may have been a funny movie filmed in Texas, but there’s nothing funny about what a glut of unused office space is doing to the state’s metros. How one city’s trying to deal with the repercussions.
Speaking of movies, oh the horror! Why so few of the scary variety get critical acclaim, despite a growing public appetite.
A year after the Smokehouse Creek Fire
One year later, how are people in the Panhandle managing recovery after the biggest wildfire in Texas history?
The impact of DOGE cuts hits national parks in Texas, including a historical park in San Antonio. Jack Morgan of Texas Public Radio has more.
Capital Metro, Austin’s transit agency, saw its payment system collapse for about a month in 2024. We’ll hear what went wrong, and what’s happening now.
And: With egg prices going up, have you considered raising your own chickens? Lots of Texans have – but you might want to think twice.
What potential mass layoffs at the IRS could mean for your tax filing
Amid reports of mass layoffs at the IRS, what does the math look like for tax season?
More than a million Texas kids have been kicked off Medicaid rolls since 2023. What’s happening? We’ll talk with a reporter at Public Health Watch.
Texas school districts are racing to meet a deadline to move students getting special instruction for dyslexia onto full special education plans, a move many parents say is long overdue.
And: Is Houston in East Texas or Southeast Texas? Texas Monthly publishes its ultimate map of Texas’ regions. We’ll talk with the Texanist, David Courtney.
As Elon Musk veers right, some Tesla drivers in Texas are saying ‘hell no’
For years, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk was politically neutral or even leaned left. Now, he’s aligned himself with the conservative right and is also the face of the dramatic cuts being made by the Department of Government Efficiency. The Texas Newsroom’s Lauren McGaughy talked to Tesla drivers in Texas, some are feeling alienated.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 24, 2025: Hays County officials are warning about a possible measles exposure in Central Texas.
Central Texas top stories for February 24, 2025. Public health officials say declining vaccination rates are driving an outbreak of measles in West Texas. Now, Central Texas officials are warning about a possible measles exposure in San Marcos and San Antonio. Congressman Greg Casar held his first Austin town hall since President Donald Trump returned to office last month. The median sales price of a home in Austin is up slightly compared to this time last year
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.
‘Petflation’ is real, and a Texas lawmaker wants to help
How President Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum will impact a wide range of companies across the state.
Slashing federal grants that fund overhead for research labs will save some money but also hinder life-saving research.
Texans know the price of feeding your dog or cat has been rising. A state lawmaker wants to provide some relief by eliminating the sales tax on pet food.
Are electric cars inevitable? In his new book, Wall Street Journal reporter Mike Colias says yes.
And: 30 year’s after Selena’s death a new children’s books series pays tribute to the Tejano star’s life.
A year after the Smokehouse Creek Fire, recovery is still underway
Concerns are growing about a measles outbreak in West Texas as some legislators push to rollback vaccination requirements.
It appears the threat of cutbacks from the federal government may already be having an effect on health services for veterans.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted targeted enforcement actions in Austin last month, and Hispanic business owners say the impact has been immediate.
And: Nearly one year ago, downed power lines sparked wildfires that ultimately burned more than 1 million acres in the Texas Panhandle. The recovery effort is ongoing today.
Former leader of USAID speaks out against agency cuts
Reports of massive staffing cuts at USAID are rattling the federal bureaucracy and supporters of foreign aid. Andrew Natsios, a Texas A&M professor and a Republican who once served as a USAID administrator, joins the show with his take on the claims of waste and inefficiency at his former agency.
A new historical marker stands outside Rockport building that was once the art studio of Simon Michael – a painter who founded the Fulton School of Painting and played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s artistic community.
Plus: The Standard celebrates our 10th year on the air with a look back at our top 10 film & TV interviews.
Why does Keller ISD want to split in two?
The Trump administration’s tariffs on China have taken effect, while tariffs on Canada and Mexico are on hold for now – but the threat looms, along with uncertainly. We’ll break down what it means for the state.
Pete Hegseth, the new secretary of defense, visits the Texas/Mexico border. What he says about sending more troops.
When is a school district too big? Plans to split Keller ISD in two have led to an outcry.
And: Most state lawmakers won’t approve recreational marijuana or gambling, but what do Texans want? Details from a new survey.
Why did the Mavericks trade Luka Doncic?
With a de facto North American trade war set to begin tomorrow, Presidents Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico announce a one-month delay on tariffs in exchange for added troops at the border.
What we learned in Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of the State address, where he announced some unexpected priorities.
And: A surprise deal by the Dallas Mavericks to trade away star Luka Doncic is sending waves of disbelief among Dallas fans and pro basketball nationwide.
Texans weigh in on how to spend the state’s $24 billion surplus
If Texans were in charge of the state’s budget, how would they spend the money? A new survey from the Hobby School of Public Affairs sheds light on priorities.
We know many state lawmakers are prioritizing a school voucher effort that would give money for private education directly to families – and the proposal has moved forward in the Senate.
Some Texas business are already feeling indirect impacts of deportation efforts.
And: With Texas attracting more data centers, -what’s being done to ensure the energy grid can handle it?
KUT Morning Newscast for January 29, 2025
Central Texas top stories for January 29, 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested undocumented migrants in Austin and across the country in recent days, that includes people without criminal backgrounds. A federal judge temporarily paused a funding freeze put in place by Trump’s administration, the freeze could affect local non-profits. A temporary fix was made to Longhorn Dam after a gate got stuck, dropping Lady Bird Lake water level by two feet.
Health and Human Services Commission employees accused in data breach
Parts of Texas that seldom see snow may well see frozen precipitation blanketing beaches tomorrow. We’re keeping watch.
Seven employees of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission have been fired for improperly accessing, and in some cases, stealing, from the accounts of thousands of Texans receiving public assistance.
And: TikTok went dark for U.S. users on Saturday night, hours before a ban on the service was due to take effect. But on Sunday, the service returned, with a message crediting President-elect Trump, who said he would delay the ban. We’ll have the latest.
Cold snap grips West Texas and the borderlands
What possible cuts to Medicaid under the new Trump administration could mean in Texas, which already limits coverage.
A cold front is blowing through El Paso, bringing high winds and freezing temperatures.
Princeton’s growing pains have led to tension in its mayoral runoff election.
Most of those involved in high-speed chases by state troopers going after suspected smugglers are teens and young drivers. An interview with one of those behind the wheel.
And: We’ll take a look at the two Texas teams that made it into the college playoffs, the Texas Longhorns and the SMU Mustangs.
How might proposed tariffs on Mexico impact Texas?
Texas does more business with Mexico than any other nation, and with 25% tariff threats now on the table from President-elect Trump, what should we expect? We’ll take a closer look.
The Texas Public Utility Commission issues a report on CenterPoint Energy’s much-criticized response to Hurricane Beryl.
Squaring economic data points with how voters felt going into this year’s election.
An educational oasis for some students is out of reach for others. A warning about community college deserts.
KUT Morning Newscast for December 2, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 2, 2024. Early voting for runoff elections in Travis County starts today. President-elect Donald Trump’s plans on how to address homelessness might affect Austin’s long-term plans to get people to housing. The only clinic in Texas that exclusively serves uninsured children needs to find a new place. Here’s how to watch out for seasonal scams. The Longhorns will play to win the SEC championship. UT- Austin will host first and second rounds of the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship.
ArnieTex brings the flavors of South Texas to millions on YouTube
We’re taking a look at the Texans who have been picked for President-elect Trump’s new Cabinet.
How some Democratic candidates in parts of Texas won their races amid a big red wave.
There’s a demand for raw milk, despite its health risks, and more public officials are saying that folks should be able to have it if they want it.
After 13 years, UT and Texas A&M are back on the football field this holiday weekend. What to expect as the rivals meet again.
Plus: The Standard’s Kristen Cabrera goes behind the scenes with ArnieTex, a Rio Grande Valley grilling sensation with nearly a million YouTube subscribers.
WNBA expansion sparks hopes for Austin franchise
The president-elect says he might use the military to support mass deportations of migrants in the country without legal authorization. But there are considerable obstacles to such an effort, both legal and logistic.
A new trade policy with an accent on tariffs. How Texas might find itself in the crosshairs.
Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing to boost nuclear power in the Lone Star State.
With the WNBA set to add teams in San Francisco, Portland and Toronto, there’s speculation about a 16th team. Could Austin be next?
And: how to kickstart a Kickstarter campaign.