On this episode we discuss the back and forth between radio personality Mero in NYC and popular streamer Akademiks and what it means for the new age of media. We also discuss Jay-Z’s recent interview with GQ magazine and what stuck out the most to us. Hip-Hop Facts this week includes facts about Jay-Z, Teddy Riley, the late DJ AM, and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is sure to get people talking so tune in to find out what it is.
Election
Corpus Christi water crisis collides with mayor recall effort
As Corpus Christi scrambles to keep from running out of water, a complication arises: A petition to recall Mayor Paulette Guajardo.
After last year’s deadly July 4 Hill Country floods, plans to reopen Camp Mystic are tearing friends apart.
A confusing and chaotic primary in Central Texas’ Williamson County leads election officials to look back to the future.
Plus, how to defend against a parasite moving north from Mexico that could devastate Texas ranches? Researchers testing a new idea to combat the New World screwworm: Virtual fences.
AISD campus transforms into affordable housing for teachers
Affordable housing is top of mind for many Austinites, but especially for educators working in our local schools. Now, a former AISD elementary campus is being transformed into housing — with some units set aside specifically for teachers. Acacia Coronado from the Austin Current takes a closer look at the East Austin project.
Brown water is flowing from the taps in one Austin-area suburb. We’ll hear what residents say they wish they knew before moving in, and how they’re working to warn others.
We’ve had a very warm spring this year and we’re not even close to the peak of summer temperatures. The heat isn’t unusual, but it’s arriving at a time when Austin’s energy utility has sharply increased shutoffs for nonpayment.
Back in 1928, a city plan excluded Black residents from certain parts of Austin–including the city’s first public park, Pease Park. One group is working to reclaim that history and reshape the narrative. We’ll talk to the founders of the RISE Project on today’s show.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
History of Texas prison bands lives on through rare recordings
Time has run out for what many thought would be a game-changing endorsement in the GOP runoff for a U.S. Senate seat. President Trump has yet to weigh in on the race between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton.
On the Democratic side of the aforementioned Senate race: What may be a difficult battle ahead for James Talarico, hoping to win more support from fellow Democrats.
A federal judge orders an extension for school voucher applications.
Gov. Greg Abbott announces steps to help with a water crisis in the Coastal Bend.
The rediscovery of music recordings from a Texas prison.
And a race to the bottom that could wreck the NBA.
How Corpus Christi could be on the brink of a water disaster
Corpus Christi, a major Texas port city, could run out of water as early as next year. What’s behind the looming crisis?
We’ll track how the war in Iran is affecting prices at the pump and what to expect next.
Will the national Democratic Party spend more money in Texas after James Talarico and other candidate’s strong showing in the primary election?
Plus, pan dulce: A new masterclass teaches home cooks how to bake the beloved sweet bread.
More background on Buford’s shooting suspect released
We’re learning more about the alleged shooter in Sunday morning’s deadly incident at a West Sixth Street bar. The suspect had no prior interactions with police in Austin, but that wasn’t true for other agencies in Texas. We’ll share more about that history, and why it wasn’t enough to keep him from legally acquiring firearms.
The Texas Department of Transportation has not started construction on a new boardwalk along Lady Bird Lake. TxDOT pledged $25 million for the project as part of the expansion of I-35. Now it’s warning the City of Austin to accept its terms or lose the project altogether. We’ll have more from a KUT News investigation.
We’ve got a little Austin music history for your day.
And this group of women in Austin have a shared interest in skateboarding. We’ll hear more about their story.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
UT students hold vigil for victims of Buford’s shooting
We are continuing to follow developments after Sunday’s shooting at Buford’s that killed three people.
We’ll hear the latest update from the Austin Police Department that just wrapped up in the last hour…we have an update on the number of people shot and victims still in hospital, and there was a vigil last night on the University of Texas campus to honor the victims at least two are confirmed UT students.
And later imagine your local box store parking lot as it’s own thriving ecosystem,and now think about how that might be conveyed as an art installation in cardboard.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Amid ethics probe, Rep. Tony Gonzales admits affair
South Texas lawmaker, Rep. Tony Gonzales, is facing a runoff and has now admitted to carrying out an affair with an aide who later died by suicide. Now a House committee is investigating the scandal.
How the primary election turned Tejano music star Bobby Pulido into a Democratic political contender in the general election.
The taco truck: A staple of life in Texas. Taco journalist Mando Rayo on why many working in those trucks are feeling more anxious right now.
A preview of the Texas Film Awards happening tonight.
And commentator W.F. Strong on a love of Texas authors and what may be untapped wealth on your shelf.
How the primaries played out amid Williamson County confusion
Election Night is over in Texas, but we’re still figuring out exactly what happened yesterday in Williamson County. Some voters waited in line for hours, only to be told they’d have to go to an entirely different polling site to vote. Others made an after-hours trip to cast a ballot, only to find out their vote may not be counted.
Our team of county reporters was covering the most important races in Central Texas. They join us in the studio with their latest reporting.
And the City of Austin is ending a rental assistance program; it’s a byproduct of a trimmed budget. We’ll have more about the help that’s going out for the last time and the future of other assistance programs.
The people of Austin have voted Soundfounder on KUTX Radio Show of the Year! The host of the show, Andrew Brown, is with us today on Austin Signal
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
After Texas primary night, attention turns to November
Excitement among Democrats, challenges for some incumbents and a few lingering legal questions after last night’s primary election.
The top-line race on both sides of the aisle was for U.S. Senate. Democrat Jasmine Crockett conceded Wednesday morning to fellow progressive James Talarico, but for the Republicans it’s incumbent John Cornyn versus Ken Paxton in a runoff.
How did Republican redistricting affect Texas congressional races? We’ll get a better answer in November, but we’ll dig into what we can learn from primaries.
Plus, a closer look at the results in other statewide races, from governor to attorney general.
Central Texas voters head to the polls on primary Election Day
We’re getting more information about the three victims from Sunday morning’s shooting at Buford’s. We’ll have the latest from the KUT newsroom.
It’s primary Election Day here in Texas. Four Austin-area Texas legislators are vying for the Democratic nomination of various positions. In addition to the statewide offices, there’s lots going on in the Central Texas area. KUT’s county reporters for Hays, Travis and Williamson counties are out in the field talking to voters. We’ll hear about the reasons they’re coming out to cast a ballot this Election Day.
Plus, Austin wouldn’t be Austin without its wacky cast of characters. Who’s the guy who used to write and read poems before concerts across town? We’ll have the answer from our ATXplained project.
Texans head to the polls on primary Election Day
It’s primary Election Day. We’ll check in with our reporters at polling places across the state.
A federal appeals court cleared the way for tariff refunds to begin, so what’s next and what should you do if you’re owed money?
Teachers are among those who caught hundreds of errors in the new religious curriculum introduced in Texas public schools. Now, the state is making corrections.
And why more Texans are choosing green burials.
A Central Texas voters’ guide as primary Election Day nears
There are still a few hours left to vote early ahead of Tuesday’s Texas party primaries. We’ll tell you what you need to know before heading to the polls to vote today or Election Day on Tuesday.
We’ll also have closer look at races for two Travis County Commissioner seats and go over what exactly commissioners do.
Also, the federal government is now challenging a court order to repatriate college student Any López Belloza, who was deported after trying to fly to Austin last year.
Huston-Tillotson’s group of jazz musicians with fresh roots on the east side of Austin have already gained national recognition.
And it’s going to get loud at Circuit of the Americas this weekend: NASCAR is in town.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Austin Police may be handing out more speeding tickets
We’ve all seen it: People speeding down Mopac or neighborhood streets in Austin. Maybe you’ve thought, “shouldn’t they be getting a speeding ticket?” Well, new data shows Austin Police may be handing out more of those.
Austin’s Live Music Fund is about to grant another round of funding after two years of controversy and complaints over the how those funding decisions are made.
Speaking of music, you can’t pin down local band The Animeros to just one genre. They span beyond bolero, psychedelic, and cumbia, and their music will get you out on the dance floor. We’ll talk with a couple of band members from our sister station KUTX’s Artist of the Month.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
What’s driving Central Texas early voters to the polls
Early voting in the March 3 primary wraps up Friday. Turnout is trending upward across Central Texas, with more voters casting ballots in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties compared to previous primaries. We’ll taking a closer look at who’s showing up and what patterns are beginning to emerge at polling locations locally and across the state.
Questions about how ballots should be counted continue to spark debate. We’ll tell you about Republicans in one Texas county who are planning to hand count election day ballots.
We’ll also hear the story of the Texas musician known as the “Jimi Hendrix of the accordion.”
Plus, KUTX’s Ryan Wen stops by with the Austin music you need to know about.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Killing of cartel head ‘El Mencho’ touches off violence in Mexico
Gov. Greg Abbott is urging Texans in Mexico right now to follow shelter-in-place orders as violence sweeps much of that nation. We’ll have a report from Mexico City on the wave of coordinated retaliatory attacks and widespread uncertainty as wanted drug cartel leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes – known as “El Mencho” – is killed by Mexican special forces.
The start of a federal trial of nine people connected to a July 4 shooting outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.
Also, this week in Texas music history remembers virtuoso Esteban “Steve” Jordan, considered by many to be the “Jimi Hendrix of the accordion.”
Amid scandal, calls grow for Rep. Tony Gonzales to step down
After violence on the streets in parts of Mexico, things are returning to normal. But will it last? We’ll dig into the latest following the killing of cartel head “El Mencho” in Mexico.
Why turnout for early voting for the March primaries is exceeding expectations – especially for Democrats.
The growing calls for Congressman Tony Gonzales to step down and abandon his re-election campaign.
An inside look at the rural hospitals at risk of closing in West Texas.
And our bug lady answers kids’ questions about male and female insects.
Doula services growing, becoming accessible in Austin area
A growing body of evidence shows that doulas can improve health outcomes; especially for Black women, who have a maternal mortality rate 2.5 times higher than white women in Texas. Birth workers want their services to be accessible and understood by more folks. We’ll delve more into the practice.
And the Texas DREAM Act gave undocumented Texans the chance to attend college at the cost of in-state tuition. Now, Texas public universities are progressing through the first full academic semester under new tuition rules. We’ll hear from one UT Austin student about the adjustment and the future.
Plus, another Black History Month music profile.
Finally, we’ll round up a busy weekend of sports news across the Austin area.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Four accused of yogurt shop murders are officially exonerated
Four men accused in one of Austin’s most infamous murders have been declared officially innocent; two of them were convicted, one was sentenced to death. 34 years later, their records have been cleared. We’ll have more from Thursday’s exoneration hearing.
An Austin-area congressional seat is up for grabs for the first time in nearly a decade. We’re going to hear from voters in the 21st congressional district about what they want and don’t want from their next representative.
Plus, Austin FC kicks off their new season Saturday night at Q2 Stadium. We’ll go over the things to look out for on the pitch and what you can expect this season from the team and our podcast Vamos Verde.
And a rare corpse flower blooms at a carnivorous plant shop here in Austin.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
San Marcos residents sound off on proposed data center
The Austin Independent School District has regained control of its special education program. The Texas Education Agency assigned a pair of monitors to the program for the last three years as AISD worked to address a backlog of evaluations. We’ll have the latest from Austin’s school district.
A San Marcos City Council meeting went into the early morning hours today as council members decided on rezoning property to be sold for a data center. Hundreds of folks showed up to make their opinions known. Most were against the idea, others say these data centers are inevitable. We’ll have more from that meeting.
Plus, The VORTEX theater hosted Butch Prom over the weekend.
And, we’re going to hear The Hole Story from our friends over at KUTX.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org