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

Hays County

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

After Prop Q fallout, Austin cuts $95 million from budget

The City of Austin cut $95 million from its budget, shrinking funding to parks, homelessness services and more after voters rejected Prop Q. We’ll get into how these cuts may impact you.

With recent rain and an overnight flood watch in Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties, many residents are reminded of the July 4 floods and the ongoing efforts to rebuild.

Plus, art groups seeking affordable studio space find sanctuary in a downtown Austin church. We’ve got more on how they secured the space and what that means for the arts community.

Also, Jason Mellard shares a new story from the archive of Texas music history.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 21, 2025: Austin wasn’t warned that state police would be clearing homeless camps on city land, mayor says

Central Texas top stories for October 21, 2025. Voter turnout on the first day of Early Voting in Travis County was on the light side. Governor Greg Abbott says he’s using state police to clear homeless encampments across Austin. Capital Metro swore in its second-ever police chief this week. Hays County Commissioners voted today to make changes to polling locations to make them more accessible.

This podcast is made at KUT Public Media Studios. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org. 

KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 16, 2025: Abbott orders the Texas National Guard to Austin ahead of ‘No Kings’ protest

Central Texas top stories for October 16, 2025. Governor Greg Abbott is sending National Guard troops to Austin ahead of the No Kings Day protest on Saturday. Some voters may have trouble casting a ballot on Monday as the state’s new voter registration system experiences snags. The Hays County Commissioners Court has voted to end all of its contracts with Flock, a company that operates automatic license plate readers. Travis County residents have one more week to weigh in on the next 10 years of county parks and trails. The League of Women Voters of Texas is coming out in support of Proposition 4 on the upcoming ballot. Extreme Drought has returned to the Austin area.

This podcast is made at KUT Public Media Studios. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 16, 2025: The City of Austin has a new initiative to create healthy and safe environments for kids

Central Texas top stories for October 16, 2025. The City of Austin is launching a new initiative aimed at creating healthy and safe environments for kids. Hays County will no longer be using license plate readers from security company Flock Safety. During this fall’s election Texans will be deciding on 17 amendments to the state’s constitution. A wildfire continues burning in Burnet County between Inks Lake State Park and Burnet. AISD is holding its second virtual meeting tonight to hear feedback on the school consolidation plan.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 18, 2025: U.S. Justice Department launches investigation into city of Austin employment practices

Central Texas top stories for September 18, 2025. The Department of Justice announced today that it’s investigating the City of Austin’s hiring practices. The Moody Foundation is donating $150 million to Huston-Tillotson University. Two men are being sought after an assault against a transgender woman and a bystander who intervened at the Barton Springs spillway. Severe drought has returned to parts of Travis and Hays counties.

This podcast is made at KUT Public Media Studios. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

KUT Morning Newscast for August 26, 2025: The Texas Longhorns football team starts the new season this week

Central Texas top stories for August 26, 2025. The Austin City Council resumes its regular workload this week after passing a new budget. The deadline to apply for financial aid from the Travis County Cares Fund after July floods has been extended. The Texas Longhorns football team starts the new season this week. Delta Airlines is adding three non-stop flights out of Austin. A boil water notice is in effect for parts of eastern Hays County. 

KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 30, 2025: Travis County is raising property taxes to pay for flood damage repairs

Central Texas top stories for July 30, 2025. Travis County is using its emergency authority to raise property taxes to pay to repair damage caused by this month’s flooding. Austin is in the homestretch of its budget season. Austin Police are asking for help from the public as they try to find a man accused of attacking a trans woman. Hays County has confirmed its first human case of West Nile virus this season. We’re starting to see afternoon high temperatures befitting the historically hottest part of the summer.

This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org. 

KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 29, 2025: The Texas Senate had another hearing on redrawing congressional districts

Central Texas top stories for July 29, 2025. The Texas Senate had another in a series of hearings today on redrawing congressional districts at the behest of President Trump. Hays County is looking to make the most of its water supply. Tesla says it’s struck a deal with Samsung to produce semiconductor chips at the South Korean company’s forthcoming plant in Taylor. East Austin has a new pocket park. Humidity has been so low this afternoon that the heat index has been lower than the air temperature in the Austin area.

This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

KUT Morning Newscast for July 21, 2025: Texas Gas Service wants to raise Austin’s rates for the third time in the last year

Central Texas top stories for July 21, 2025. Texas lawmakers start a 30-day special session today, among the items on the list are redistricting, disaster relief and preparedness. Texas Gas Service, the for-profit utility that supplies Austin homes and businesses with natural gas, has announced plans to increase gas rates by almost ten percent on average. Hays County is set to continue building new roads even after a judge ruled killed a bond passed by voters in November. There’s a new Disaster Recovery Center in Burnet for people affected by floods earlier this month.  

KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 3, 2025: Hays County officials demand answers from law enforcement about raid near Dripping Springs

Central Texas top stories for July 3, 2025. It’s been three months since the arrests of more than 40 people authorities said were connected to a Venezuelan gang. It’s a busy day at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The Travis County Fire Marshal wants people to go to a professional fireworks show instead of lighting their own. Leander Police have unveiled a new “microchip scanning station” for lost pets. Starting tomorrow, parking at Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park will be limited through the holiday weekend.

KUT Morning Newscast for June 25, 2025: ACC sues the DOJ to challenge the end of the Texas Dream Act 

Central Texas top stories for June 25, 2025. The Austin Community College District’s Board of Trustees joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenging the end of the Texas Dream Act. The Austin Independent School District is asking the public for feedback on the criteria it’s using to evaluate campuses for potential closure. Georgetown’s City Council approved new ordinances that restrict the use of public spaces, despite concerns about possible impacts to unhoused individuals. A Travis County Judge ruled that a $440 road bond package approved by Hays County voters in November is now void. The George Washington Carver Genealogy Center is teaching people how to track down their family history.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 24, 2025: Travis County is eyeing several buildings downtown for a planned mental health diversion center

Central Texas top stories for June 24, 2025. A bill that failed this legislative session has thrown a wrench in Travis County’s plan to build a mental health diversion center for people accused of non-violent crimes. Governor Greg Abbott has called a special session of the Texas Legislature to address a number of the more than two-dozen bills he vetoed outright. The concrete truck driver arrested in the deadly Hays CISD school bus crash last year has pleaded guilty. A Travis County District Judge has ruled that a Hays County $440 million road bond approved by voters in November is now void.

KUT Morning Newscast for June 13, 2025: New flights are coming to ABIA 

Central Texas top stories for June 13, 2025. Frontier Airlines launched nonstop service to San Diego this week, just one of several changes to the flight schedule at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Two tornadoes touched down briefly in Hays County. Officials from the University Interscholastic League say they will continue to study a proposal to make girls’ flag football an official varsity sport in Texas. The City of Austin wants people’s feedback for a 2026 General Obligation Bond. Juneteenth celebrations ramp up at the Carver Museum this weekend. 

KUT Morning Newscast for June 11, 2025: Austin and Travis County leaders celebrate improvements in the response to the opioid crisis 

Central Texas top stories for June 11, 2025. Austin and Travis County leaders are celebrating improvements in the local response to the opioid crisis. Texas high school students this year did better in math and science on state standardized tests than they did in 2024. Hays County Commissioners voted unanimously to pass a resolution for the humane treatment of immigrants. The University Interscholastic League will hear a proposal to recognize girls flag football as an official sport. 

Data centers may start creating their own power plants

Gina Ortiz Jones made history over the weekend, becoming San Antonio’s first openly lesbian mayor and only the third woman to hold the office.
An assault case is exposing deeper failures in Texas group homes.
With the rise of data centers across Texas, a push for private power plants run by natural gas.
The new documentary “Sally” explores the private life of public space hero Sally Ride. We’ll talk to writer and director Cristina Costantini.
And: Diving into the history of Adolph Hofner, the Texas-born bandleader who popularized Czech music and made it swing.

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

You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org

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