On this episode we celebrate the 54th anniversary of the creation of Hip-Hop with Austin legend (and future Hall of Famer) Tee Double. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about hip-hop unique to both Confucius and Fresh’s childhood. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that counter culture in Austin is non-existent.
education
How Texas farmers are looking to revive cotton demand
New details are emerging about the first year of Texas’ school voucher program. We’ll explain who received the vouchers and why critics still have questions.
Texas cotton-growers are facing rising costs and falling demand. Our own Michael Marks looks at a new effort to revive one of the state’s signature crops.
Austin Sketch Fest returns for its 17th year, featuring headlining acts like Saturday Night Live’s Andrew Dismukes. We’ll hear why organizers say sketch comedy is having a moment in Texas.
Even after July’s heavy rains, Jacob’s Well still isn’t flowing like it used to. Texas Standard’s Laura Rice explains why the beloved Texas swimming hole remains closed.
And it’s Friday, so we’ll wrap up the week with our Texas politics roundup.
Texas A&M professors sue over race and gender teaching rules
Texas A&M professors are suing the university system over restrictions on teaching about race and gender identity. We’ll discuss the legal challenge.
Some Latino voters in Texas who supported Donald Trump in 2024 say they’re reconsidering that decision ahead of this year’s midterm elections. We’ll hear what’s driving the shift.
The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis. Why donations have dropped to a four-year summer low, and how Texans can help.
And, the story of Roy Velásquez, the Austin businessman who built a taxi company that served communities shut out by segregation, is now inspiring a new children’s book.
Gov. Abbott pauses new Texas data centers for state audit
A look at why Sen. John Cornyn decided to back President Trump’s choice for Attorney General, Todd Blanche, after all — and what’s next.
Also, why Gov. Greg Abbott has hit the brakes on any new data center projects for now.
Plus, the late U.S. Rep. Kay Granger’s enduring legacy.
And plans are underway in Austin for a new housing development for victims of human trafficking and children fleeing domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Plus, how Texans are coping a year after cuts to the SNAP food program.
And why San Antonio is pushing for more dog parks.
Texas backtracks after wrongly flagging voters as noncitizens
A voter purge is being rolled back in Texas after some eligible voters were wrongly flagged as potential noncitizens. We’ll discuss what happened and what it means ahead of the midterms.
Also, for recent college graduates across Texas, the job market can be a difficult reality check. We’ll look at why landing that first job is proving tougher than many expected.
Plus, back-to-school shopping comes with sticker shock. A look at what’s driving up the cost of notebooks, backpacks and other classroom essentials — and how families are coping.
Also, as immigration arrests increase, South Texas communities are turning to neighborhood warning networks to track ICE activity. We’ll hear how those systems work and the legal questions they raise.
Activists call for better mental health resources in wake of teen’s shooting by police
Plans for high-voltage transmission lines have hit a snag after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and his allies this morning called for a halt to the proposal. The power lines are meant to help meet growing energy demand in West Texas, but the plan faced fierce opposition this week at a public hearing at the state capitol.
Fallout continues after Austin Police fatally shot unarmed teenager Anthoneil Williams II. Activists gathered at city hall this week demanding better mental health resources.
Music and film collide next week at the 6th Sound Unseen Austin Film Festival. We’ll talk with the festival’s director about what’s in store.
Plus, some of the best art to experience this weekend.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
What to know as Delta-8 ban goes into effect Friday
A ban on Delta-8 products takes effect tomorrow and Austin police say possessing certain products could now be a felony. We’ll explain why the law is changing, what it means for consumers and how local businesses are preparing.
One new affordable housing development in East Austin is moving forward with just one parking space. It’s possible because of the city’s Affordability Unlocked program, which allows developers to bypass certain building requirements.
Plus, KUTX Artist of the Month, Quentin, joins us to talk about her musical journey, the inspiration behind her new album “TOMGIRL,” her favorite songs and what’s next for her career.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Activists call for Garza to prosecute officers in teen’s shooting death
Activists are demanding that Travis County District Attorney José Garza prosecute three Austin police officers who fatally shot a 17-year-old last week. We’ll have more on that.
Midland ISD in West Texas announced it would be suing the state over the recapture school finance system also known as Robin Hood. Will Austin ISD follow?
Plus, data centers are popping up everywhere — including right here in Texas. But what is a data center? We’ve got the start to a special series on data centers on today’s show.
It’s been 60 years since the tower shooting at the University of Texas at Austin. The Texas Standard takes a look at how events unfolded in their documentary “Out of The Blue.”
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Delta-8 possession will soon be a state jail felony
There’s the possibility of a CapMetro strike shutting down virtually all fixed-route bus service in Austin, but how much control does the agency have over negotiations?
Texas is banning Delta-8 THC and a broad class of similar cannabis compounds starting Friday. These products have been sold for years in Texas. More about what’s set to take effect.
The latest on Austin’s cyclospora cases as the search for a contamination source continues.
Austin City Council Woman Vanessa Fuentes returned to City Hall this week after pregnancy leave and announcing a cancer diagnosis. We talk with her about her journey.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Floods delay Corpus Christi water emergency until 2028
Heavy rains replenished reservoirs and helped Corpus Christi delay a water emergency. We’ll explore how city leaders will use the extra time.
Also ahead: Concerns over data centers cross party lines in rural parts of the state. Democrats are using the issue to win over some Republican voters.
Plus, the latest “Map the Meal Gap” study shows Texas has the largest number of residents coping with food insecurity. We’ll delve into the details.
And you’ve heard of the SAT and ACT… What about the CLT? Why supporters want this test included as an option to college entrance exams.
What is the KCC Fest? w/ Sunhi & Cherri
On this episode we interview artists Cherri and Sunhi (Sue-Knee) about their viewpoint on R&B in Austin and also their upcoming performances at the Kinky Coily Curly festival. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about Nas, Frank Ocean, Danny Bonaduce and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that all AI flyers aren’t that bad.
Texas foster care rulings strengthen parental rights
Policies in Texas over when children should be removed from their parents are shifting. What do experts say about the changes?
Ken Paxton just lost a step in the first major case against an alleged violator of Texas’ abortion ban. We’ll dig into what the ruling may indicate about the law.
There have long been talks about connecting parts of Texas by rail, but a route between Austin and San Antonio is unlikely to happen anytime soon. We’ll explore why.
Oil prices are down but gas prices aren’t likely to fall as quickly. A look at the factors at play behind the pump.
Plus, why it matters that father figures are involved in reading programs.
School finance lawsuit heads to court
Midland ISD claims the way schools are funded has turned them into the state’s tax collector — in violation of the Texas constitution. We’ll dig into what this means and why it matters way beyond Midland.
Recent flooding in South Texas brings something dangerous to the surface: Breakaway buoys in the Rio Grande.
In a dystopian future, a young woman tries to make sense of her world, piecing together fragments of the not-so-distant past. A conversation with Texas-based author Mary Helen Specht about her new novel, “Mudlark.”
Company behind fast-tracked Dog’s Head project revealed
We now know which Fortune 100 company is behind the Dog’s Head project in East Austin. The venture moved through the Austin City Council with some urgency this year. We’ll have more on the week’s developments.
The city is also set to begin construction on a years-long major project in Northeast Austin. We’ll dig into what’s happening at the site of the old Home Depot at St. Johns.
No summer BBQ is complete without the perfect playlist. We’ve got the best tunes of July from our sister station KUTX. And if tranquility is more your jam, we’ve got more books to dive into.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Austin elementary teacher released after nearly 300 days in ICE detention
A fifth-grade teacher in the Austin district told his students at the start of last school year that he would need to miss a day for an errand. Roberto López Falcón never made it back to those students, spending nearly 300 days in ICE detention before being released.
There’s plenty of ways to have some THC in Texas, including a surge of canned beverages, but what are the benefits to a canned high? And how much demand is there for these products?
We’re got an excerpt from the latest episode of the “Black Austin Matters” podcast.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Climate scientists have predicted greater flooding in Texas for decades
The Texas Hill Country has been impacted by torrential rains and devastating flooding for the second July in a row. Climate scientists have predicted this very thing for many years now.
The Austin school district has charged thousands of dollars for public information requests in the past year from parents, policy experts and journalists. Critics of the costs are worried that this leaves the community in the dark on decision-making.
We talk about mythology in media with Austin author Ponle Oluwole, who’s just published his debut novel, “Àyànmó.”
The World Cup may be over, but there’s still plenty of soccer on home soil coming over the next year.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Do Rappers Owe Their Communities?
On this episode we talk about Jay Z’s three night residency at Yankee Stadium and what it means for his overall legacy. We also discuss if rappers owe the communities they come out of or social issues in general. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about Aaliyah, Barry White, The Notorious B.I.G. and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that the city of Austin sometimes forces artists to conform to stay booked and busy.
The latest on flooding in the Hill Country
We’re continuing to monitor the flooding situation in the Texas Hill Country that’s killed at least two people and led to more than 200 rescues. We’ll bring you the latest and hear from a reporter out in Kerrville.
Ten Austin ISD schools are shuttered for good as part of the district’s plan to deal with a budget deficit, but what’s to come of those closed campuses?
The rain will be clearing soon and there’s plenty happening this weekend in Austin, including a KUT book swap on Saturday.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
1 dead as flash flood emergencies issued in Texas Hill Country
Floodwaters rose overnight in the Texas Hill Country, killing at least one person. We have the latest updates from the scene in Kerr County and speak with Travis County Judge Andy Brown about response operations locally.
Central Texans have plenty of questions about data centers and their future in the region. But how much do we know about what a data center is and does? KUT’s county reporters are diving in.
There’s a bevy of live music to support tonight in Austin.
We chat with the CEO of The Onion about the future of Infowars.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Emergencies, shelter-in-place orders go out in flood-wary Kerr County region
Life-threatening floods hit parts of the Texas Hill Country as the Guadalupe River swells and flood emergencies and warnings go out.
In the aftermath of shootings in Maine and Texas, a pause in ICE policy ends only hours after the change went into effect. We’ll have more from Houston’s historic East End on how the shooting has galvanized residents there.
Also, the death of a Dallas Cowboy was ruled a suicide by officials, sparking a deeper conversation into the role of CTE: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Religion and Texas culture: The new book ‘One State Under God’ by Joseph L. Locke untangles an unexpectedly deep, and often misunderstood connection.
Plus, the end of an era: After more than three decades, Sony pulls the plug on a format once popular with gamers.
And the state’s only legislatively authorized needle exchange program: Why efforts to expand it have stalled.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org