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KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

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Austin’s $25 million Long Center contract draws scrutiny

A $25 million contract between the City of Austin and the Long Center is under scrutiny over how the public money is being spent. The contracts and the fees inside it are tied to the city’ cultural arts grants program, raising questions about transparency and oversight. We’ll dig into the details of the contract and the future between the two sides.

Texas Republicans have revived anti-Muslim messaging in races across the state as early voting begins tomorrow. It’s a change in messaging from elections over the past decade or so. We’ll look at why that’s the case and what it could mean for elections in Texas.

Real love means working through the good, the bad, and the funny. It’s all explored in the mockumentary “Tying Knots” from an Austin filmmaker that’s premiering this week.

Parents of missing Austinite file lawsuit against Camp Mystic

The parents of an 8-year-old Austinite still missing after last July’s flooding in Texas have filed a lawsuit against Camp Mystic. It’s the fifth such lawsuit against the camp in the Hill Country where campers and counselors drowned in the floodwaters. We’ll have more about that lawsuit.

Early voting in the primaries gets going next week and folks in southeast Travis County will elect a new leader for the first time in decades. We’ll hear about the candidates running for Precinct 4 commissioner.

It’s Black History Month all February long, and our sister station KUTX has been highlighting Black music history in Austin. We’ll hear about a historic music venue on the East side of town that dates back to World War II.

The fight to protect Austin’s first Black cemetery: We’ll delve into the history at the heart of Bethany Cemetery.

Plus, an update on the future of Austin’s Convention Center.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 29, 2025: Barton Springs’ historic bathhouse begins to reopen after renovations

Central Texas top stories for October 29, 2025. A campaign against Prop Q is misrepresenting how much property owners bill go up if it’s approved. Barton Springs Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse is now partially reopened, and people can access showers and bathrooms. Whooping cough is likely spreading at an AISD campus. Frontier Airlines is adding limited time service to New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras next year. 

KUT Morning Newscast for October 27, 2025: Tens of thousands of Travis County voters are in suspense

Central Texas top stories for October 27, 2025. It’s the second week of early voting in the November 4th election, and less than 5 percent of registered voters have cast a ballot. Tens of thousands of Travis County voters are in suspense. Data centers in the Austin area are placing considerable strain on the state’s electric grid. AISD is still hearing feedback from the community on its school consolidation plan; there’s a virtual meeting tonight. The Longhorns beat Mississippi State in overtime on Saturday.  

KUT Morning Newscast for October 6, 2025: A lawsuit against a homeless service provider in South Austin is heading to court today

Central Texas top stories for October 6, 2025. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says the Sunrise Community Church is a danger to neighbors and nearby Joslin Elementary School. Today is the last day for Texans to register to vote in the election this fall. The Longhorns fell to the Florida Gators this weekend. The southbound main lanes of I-35 at State Highway 29 in Georgetown will continue to be closed at night through Thursday.   

A century of redistricting fights in Texas

The high-stakes battle over redistricting continues. Why Democratic Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins took the risk and left the state.
Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to remove Democratic lawmakers from their seats for leaving during a special session, but can he legally do that?
The history of partisan gerrymandering in the Lone Star State.
Why Texas has become a professional services hub attracting top talent and creating new jobs.
And: Remembering a Texas treasure – conjunto legend Flaco Jiménez.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.

You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org

KUT Morning Newscast for June 27, 2025: AISD will head into the next fiscal year with a $20 million budget deficit

Central Texas top stories for June 27, 2025. The Austin Independent School District’s board of trustees approved next year’s budget; after making cuts, there’s a $20 million budget deficit. The board also approved the turnaround plans for AISD’s middle schools. Personal cell phones are not allowed in AISD classrooms anymore. Williamson County will go back to using paper ballots starting with this fall election.

Corpus Christi’s water future looks uncertain as Tesla builds nearby refinery

The House has passed a bill mandating the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms. If the Senate signs off, Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to make it law.

A 2023 law expanded polling place requirements – but many small counties couldn’t keep up. Now a new bill that rolls back those mandates is headed to the governor.

Water insecurity is a problem around Corpus Christi – and that’s before a new Tesla plant coming in that will require more of it. What you need to know.

Plus: The eyes of the world are on Fort Worth for its annual Van Cliburn Piano Competition.

Judge rules Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act was unlawful

A South Texas ruling prevents the deportation of some detainees. What it means for the Trump administration’s strategy.
Houston’s large Afghan population is closely watching efforts to unwind programs providing them legal status in the U.S. Why many say they can’t return to their home country.
Some Texans will be headed to the polls tomorrow for local elections. A preview of some of the biggest races and initiatives, including one that would create a new company town.
Efforts to change what people can buy with food stamps, or SNAP assistance, are underway on a couple of levels.
A remembrance as this week marks 50 years since the fall of Saigon.
And: A new way to enjoy Texas Monthly – with a new series on PBS.

KUT Morning Newscast for November 11, 2024

Central Texas top stories for November 11, 2024. The Austin Mayor race outcome will come down to provisional ballots. Republicans will soon make up nearly 75 percent of intermediate appellate court justices in Texas. Texas lawmakers are looking at ways to further dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within higher education at the request of the Republican lieutenant governor. Here’s how Round Rock is protecting its residents from package theft. The University of Texas soccer team has won its first SEC Championship.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 30, 2024

Central Texas top stories for October 30, 2024. Austin and Travis County have adopted a food plan to grow more food locally and send less to landfills. Here’s what you need to know about voting for a Railroad Commissioner. Voters in Lockhart will vote on whether to join the ACC taxing district. Hays County has significantly more registered voters than it did in the last presidential election.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 24, 2024

Central Texas top stories for October 18, 2024. Tomorrow is the last day to apply for a mail-in ballot. A non-profit has filed a lawsuit to block the Austin City Council from voting on a new labor contract with the city’s police union. The Austin City Council could approve spending $120 million dollars on new public safety headquarters. The City of Austin will consider requiring landlords to disclose rental fees.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 15, 2024

Central Texas top stories for October 15, 2024. Ted Cruz and Colin Allred face off tonight in their only debate ahead of the fall election. Voters will decide this fall whether to approve a new tax rate for AISD. The city of Austin could purchase a building to serve as its new public safety headquarters. Work is underway to tear down a historic building on the University of Texas campus despite activists pushing for preservation. Lisa Davis was officially sworn in as Austin’s Police Chief. 

KUT Morning Newscast for April 29, 2024

Central Texas top stories for April 29, 2024. Early voting in the May 4th local election ends tomorrow. Previewing the primary runoff election on May 28th. Organizers in San Marcos are planning a pro-Palestinian demonstration this afternoon at Texas State University. The City of Austin is set to open some seasonal pools today. H-E-B grocery store chain is recalling some three-ounce cups of its Creamy Creations ice cream because of potential metal.

KUT Morning Newscast for February 21, 2023

Central Texas top stories for February 21, 2023. Austin City Council to hear from Austin Energy. Disaster declaration expansion. Austin Police street racing investigation. Austin ISD superintendent search options. Austin ISD sex ed curriculum opt in. College polling sites. 

Texas Standard: August 22, 2022

Just eleven weeks till midterms and the numbers tell us what about how close the contest between Greg Abbott and Beto O’Rourke? That today on the Texas Standard.

Political analyst Mark Jones of Rice University with how the issues in the news cycle are affecting Texas polls in the run-up to November 8th.

A rise in violence in cities across the border with Mexico. Angela Kochera with the latest from Juarez, after a wave of killings there.

August, the hottest month in Texas? Maybe not this year. A change in the weather projected for the rest of August, though perhaps not wet enough to save some cattle ranchers. Those stories and a whole lot more.

Texas Standard : August 19, 2022

Three months from statewide midterm elections- but who’ll be running them if elections administrators keep leaving their jobs? That and more on the Texas Standard.
Concerns grow amid a high turnover of county election administrators and staff. We’ll hear from the Texas Secretary of State’s office.
How back to school in Texas has left many students caught in the crosshairs of the culture wars.
And with Tesla and SpaceX and a base of operations in Texas, Elon Musk is one of the nation’s most polarizing figures. Why some say it’s time to move on from his visions of the future.
Also, DACA ten years on- what’s next? The week in politics with the Texas Tribune and more.

Texas Standard: March 03, 2022

A state judge tells Texas it must stop its investigation of a family suspected of providing gender affirming medical care for their transgender teenager. President Biden’s weighing in on the matter too. Plus, legally mandated efforts to get Texas public school students back up to speed after pandemic disruptions; schools say they simply don’t have the tutors to do it. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 31, 2021

In a year that started out with redistricting as a top priority, Texans and the news from Texas in 2021 made national headlines as seldom, if ever, before. What happened? What didn’t? And why? Moreover, what do the events of the past year tell us about what may be to come in the Lone Star State in 2022? It’s a closeup look at the big stories and the forces behind major changes in Texas over the past 12 months on today’s year end edition of the Texas Standard:

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