Easter

Audit of Austin’s $25 million contract with the Long Center reveals gaps in billing, transparency, oversight

A review of the city of Austin’s $25 million contract with the Long Center to disburse arts grants has exposed gaps in billing, transparency and oversight. City auditors said they raised concerns for years about weaknesses in the monitoring of city contracts. Andrea Ball from the Austin Current has the story.

A new program aims to bring Austin’s home-based side hustles out of the shadows of that crowded garage and into the light of day. It’s the latest effort from the city to create ways for micro business owners to thrive, not just survive.

Families across Texas that choose to celebrate Easter have varying traditions. For many, especially Mexican-American families, cascarones are a staple in children’s easter baskets. Austin Signal Managing Producer Kristen Cabrera takes us through what makes these eggs special.

Plus; The Texas women’s basketball team is back in the Final Four for the second year in a row. A pair of wins this weekend would give the Longhorns their second national championship — exactly 40 years after their first.

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KUT Afternoon Newscast for April 18, 2025: Texas lawmakers are targeting local prosecutors – again

Central Texas top stories for April 18, 2025. The Travis County Fire Marshal has determined the cause of the house explosion in Northwest Austin last weekend. A measure making its way through the Texas Legislature looks to give local district attorneys more oversight from the state. The Trump administration has revoked the visas of more than 200 international students at Texas colleges and universities. The Texas baseball and softball teams are back in action today. Several businesses will be closed this Sunday for Easter.

Bird flu is spreading across Texas wildlife

Bird flu is spreading fast among wildlife including foxes and raccoons in Panhandle counties.
Twenty-seven candidates are running to become the next mayor of San Antonio – the city’s biggest field in recent memory – as voters head to the polls next month.
Deployed Resources, a Texas company that grew into a contracting giant building tent shelters, is turning its focus to deportation.
Looking to buy a vehicle? What you should know about the car market amid tariff uncertainty.
And: The history of cascarones – colorful confetti eggs – a Texas Easter tradition.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 6, 2023

Central Texas top stories for April 6, 2023. Voter registration deadline. Whole Women’s Health. Williamson County Narcan availability. Reducing light pollution for Spring bird migrations. Easter Sunday at county parks.

Why many Texas cotton farmers are planting less this year

After a disastrous season for cotton production, could Texas lose its crown as top producer? Three Texans on the front lines talk about why some fear 2023 could be a tipping point.

The head of the University of Texas System Board of Regents puts a pause on new diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

With student debt forgiveness plans on hold, what are the implications for those struggling most to get out from under it?

Also tech expert Omar Gallaga on the rising price of social media verification and whether it pays to buy into the changes.

Belated Eggs

The Easter holiday has come and gone. But do you ever wonder if all those hidden eggs have really been found? Shelf-stable candy might not be a huge cause for concern. But those real eggs… That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Texas Standard: April 15, 2022

The business of border security. Who’s making millions, and who’s paying the price tag? An investigation by the Houston Chronicle takes a closer look. Also, new commercial checkpoints at the border set up by Governor Abbott now opening back up for business? We’ll have the latest. Plus presidential debates and their impartiality. How debatable? The GOP says Republicans running for president will have to sign a pledge not to participate with the Commission on Presidential Debates. Ricard Pineda of the University of Texas at El Paso talks about the implications. And Kristen Cabrera cracks open the story of an Easter tradition especially widespread in south Texas and northern Mexico. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: April 12, 2022

As evidence mounts of atrocities by Russian forces in Ukraine, the conversation shifts beyond war crimes to allegations of genocide. Ukraine says civilian killings constitute genocide. We’ll have a Texas expert on how and why that term is contentious, and what it could mean for the future. Also closer to home, with population growth in Texas, demand for concrete grows and Black and Hispanic communities in Houston disproportionately affected by concrete batch plants. We’ll have more on analysis by the Houston Chronicle. And federal dollars flowed to Texas landlords who pledged not to evict tenants during the pandemic. But many were evicted anyway. So what happens next? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Strand of Oaks: “Easter” [KUTX Pop-Up]

Singer-guitarist Timothy Showalter took the trauma of his early twenties and transformed it into his solo project Strand of Oaks while he was still in Pennsylvania but it’s open been since he moved down to Austin that his style has fully flourished. Following the release of his eighth album In Heaven back at the beginning of October, Showalter’s been touring America alongside Jason Isbell and embarks on an international tour beginning next February. But the latest from this three-time Studio 1A veteran is a pop-up session which Strand of Oaks graciously allowed our multimedia team to capture in Showalter’s own home, and even though we just got done with Thanksgiving, we’re confident that the set-opener “Easter” is perfect for a playlist of any season.

The Easter Egg We Didn’t Find

You boiled the egg, you dyed the egg, you hid the egg — and you didn’t find the egg for a week. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Texas Standard: March 27, 2018

A one on one debrief with the interim police chief of the Texas capitol city in the aftermath of the serial bomber, we’ll explore the latest details in the case. Also, Facebook is in meltdown mode with users leaving investigations opening and calls for regulation or more. What digital privacy protections exist for Texans? We’ll take a closer look. And first Colt’s bankruptcy, now Remington on the ropes. The result of blowback over gun violence, or something else going on with gunmakers? Also, in San Antonio, a new idea to get dogs on death row a second chance, we’ll explain. Plus the legend of the easter bunny: a Texas tradition? All that and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard: