Central Texas top stories for March 07, 2024. Low turnout in March 5th primary. Austin-Bergstrom expects big crowds this week. Lake Travis ISD will be closed for the April 8th solar eclipse. San Marcos Buc-ee’s. Paxlovid.
Eclipse
A recap of Texas primary election night
The votes are in and counted across Texas. What do they add up to for the upcoming general election and the future of Texas politics?
Despite a crowded field, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred took a big victory in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary to challenge incumbent Ted Cruz in November.
Speaker of the House Dade Phelan, the politician considered by many to be the third most powerful person in state politics, is now in a runoff after retaliation from fellow Republicans.
And: Very low turnout means a handful of eligible Texas voters are picking state politicians.
Austin area braces for eclipse traffic surge
Some Central Texas roads could be jam packed with eclipse watchers on April 8th. That’s the first time in over a century the moon will completely block the sun in Texas. As KUT’s Nathan Bernier reports, no one knows exactly how bad traffic will be. But in 2017, a total eclipse caused historic gridlock.
The state’s only sugar mill is closing. What’s next for sugar cane farmers?
New laws – one from Texas – to regulate platforms like Facebook and TikTok are getting Supreme Court scrutiny today, with potentially profound implications.
Years of drought have devastated sugar growers in South Texas – so much so that the state’s only sugar mill is closing.
Austin’s I-35, the spine of the region’s roadway grid, is about to undergo the largest expansion since the highway opened in 1962. Nathan Bernier joins with a drill down into what it means.
And: We’ll learn about a device that can help blind and low-vision people experience the eclipse.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 26, 2024
Central Texas top stories for February 26, 2024. Two former Williamson County deputies are on trial today for the death of Javier Ambler while he was in their custody. Last week of early voting. CapMetro apologies for problems faced at the brand new McKalla station on Saturday. Bell County declared a local state of disaster for the April eclipse. Austin ISD is not the only Central Texas school district dealing with a budget shortfall. UT Tower gets a facelift.
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.
The science on why it’s fun to be scared
Recriminations over donations and demands for a high-level resignation: What’s behind the latest political fight between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan?
The Senate green-lights a voucher-like plan to provide public money for private school tuition. Matthew Watkins of the Texas Tribune joins us with more on the week in politics.
How to safely view Saturday’s annular eclipse over Texas.
Ken Burns returns with a new PBS series on the American Buffalo.
And: On Friday the 13th in this spookiest month, why so many folks love to get scared.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 13, 2023
Central Texas top stories for October 13, 2023. School voucher bill passes Texas Senate. APD on alert in response to threats to Jewish community. Austin ISD Special Education meeting. Protest in San Marcos against local airline. Clear skies for Saturday’s eclipse.
Celebrating a century of Texas state parks
Dozens of Texas school districts have sued to stop changes in the A-F grading system used to evaluate schools.
The manager of the state’s power grid is out with a new forecast for winter. How prepared is Texas for another statewide freeze like 2021?
Israel, Hamas and disinformation on social media: Tech expert Omar Gallaga joins us with more.
New numbers in the race for mayor of Texas’ biggest city.
And a new book written by longtime Texas conservationist George Bristol, “Texas State Parks: The First 100 Years,” tells the story of how the state’s parks began.
What you need to know about viewing the upcoming solar eclipses from Texas
Though Attorney General Ken Paxton has been acquitted on all impeachment charges, whistleblowers say they’re not giving up. Sergio Martínez-Beltrán of the Texas Newsroom shares more.
It’s rare for an eclipse to be visible at the same location within several years, much less a few months – but the skies over a portion of Texas will be ground zero for observing both an annular and a total solar eclipse.
At the Rescue Mission of El Paso, plenty of food is coming in – but it’s not to feed people experiencing homelessness. Instead, those people are feeding others. Texas monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn shares the mission of Hallelujah! BBQ.
The Texas Eclipse Festival is coming to Burnet next year
Wildfire evacuations in Central Texas this week and concerns about rising sea levels reshaping the Texas coastline.
The Texas Standard’s Sean Saldaña shares the latest unemployment numbers and what they tell us about the economic shape Texas is in.
A new alliance of automakers is going to take on Tesla’s charging standard.
A Texas-sized theme party is planned to welcome the total solar eclipse coming next year.
Plus the week in politics with the Texas Tribune.
Texas Standard: August 21, 2017
As demonstrators and counter protestors take sides in cities, how’s the showdown over confederate monuments playing out in small town Texas? We’ll have the latest. Also after declaring a phase out at the federal level, the return of private lockups. Texas seems to be a magnet. And water bottles in national parks, making an official comeback? We’ll hear what’s behind it. And help wanted: an aging population sparks a booming business in stay at home home health care across the lone star state. Plus facts and fiction surrounding a certain solar event: slip on those safety specs and turn up the volume because it’s Texas Standard time:
Texas Standard: August 18, 2017
In a place where there’s little water already, rising demand raising the stakes for everyone. We’re live from Marfa Public Radio today! Also, he may have hit a wall with congress, but President trump is moving fast to make a lasting mark on another front, and Texas is ground zero. Tilting the balance on the federal bench. And just a few miles from here they’re warming up the famous Mcdonald observatory telescopes as the US prepares for a rare solar eclipse. But why’s this one so special, and for researchers, what left to learn? And sine die for the special session, the week in Texas politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard: