Central Texas top stories for April 3, 2025. Local elections are happening on May 3, here’s what you need to know. More than 40 people, including minors, were arrested in Hays County earlier this week; officials believe they were part of Tren de Aragua. Local animal shelters and rescue organizations are getting ready for an influx of animals in the coming months.
Hays County
KUT Morning Newscast for March 6, 2025: Low humidity today will result in near critical fire weather conditions in the Austin area.
Central Texas top stories for March 6, 2025. The National Weather Service says wind gusts as high as 30 miles per hour and low humidity will create near critical fire weather conditions today. The Lower Colorado River Authority is entering tougher drought restrictions. As the city of Austin works to redevelop some of its buildings, works of art housed inside them could be destroyed.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for March 5, 2025: Wildfire alerts and evacuation orders caused confusion in Hays County.
Central Texas top stories for March 5, 2025. Hays county authorities are hoping to make improvements to its communication efforts. State employees in Texas could soon be required to head back into the office full-time. Austin ISD is partnering with the Dallas Cowboys to launch a flag football league for high school girls. Austin Police arrested 12 people in connection with car break-ins at city parks.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 5, 2025: A fire in Hays County yesterday burned around 80 acres.
Central Texas top stories for March 5, 2025. By 4 a.m. this morning, the fire in Hays County had burned around 80 acres and was 45 percent contained. Strong winds left thousands of Austinites without power. Sixth street is restricting vehicle access during SXSW. Austin City manager, T.C. Broadnax is holding town hall meetings to hear input on the 2025-2026 budget.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 25, 2025: Public health leaders say it’s a good time to check your measles vaccination status.
Central Texas top stories for February 25, 2025. After a possible measles exposure in Hays County, health leaders say it’s a good time to check your vaccination status. Round Rock ISD is working to balance its budget. UT women’s basketball team is number one on the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Legislation in the statehouse would increase salaries for teachers for the first time in years, but some educators aren’t convinced.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for February 19, 2025: This week’s cold weather is even colder than expected.
Central Texas top stories for February 19, 2025. An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect until noon tomorrow. Why the sudden drop in temperature impacted your car’s tire pressure. The Austin American-Statesman is being sold to Hearst. More than 200 acres of environmentally sensitive land in Southwest Travis County and North Hays County is now permanently safeguarded from development. UT Austin names Jim Davis as interim-president.
Why Texas’ paid parental leave plan isn’t working
It took a while, but the Texas House now ready to take action on some closely watched legislation. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom gets us up to speed on the week ahead under the pink dome.
A new study assesses the severity of water access problems in colonias, unincorporated communities with long-standing infrastructure issues.
What happens after an ICE raid? Cactus, Texas, still feels the impact.
In 2023, Texas lawmakers touted a business-friendly paid parental leave insurance program – but two years later, few businesses are offering it, and most new parents still can’t afford to take time off.
And: Lights, camera, Texas? How some big stars are teaming up to bring in more movie production.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 17, 2025: Food insecurity is growing in the Austin area, organizations are trying to help.
entral Texas top stories for February 17, 2025. As everyday expenses like groceries continue to rise, Hays County Food Bank is trying to help those in need. A construction is underway for an emergency food pantry in Bastrop. Round Rock city leaders are calling for drought-friendly landscaping in new developments. UT’s women’s basketball team beat LSU over the weekend.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for January 10, 2025
Central Texas top stories for January 10, 2025. Austin’s cold weather shelter response has improved. Groups in the San Marcos area are working to shelter unhoused residents during this week’s cold snap. Texas plays Ohio State tonight in the Cotton Bowl for a spot in this year’s college football national championship game. The Austin Animal Center is offering a free spay and neuter clinic to reduce overcrowding at shelters. The curtain is finally lifting on Austin’s long-planned light-rail system. Training buses will be traveling along new MetroRapid routes ahead of the launch in the Spring.
KUT Morning Newscast for December 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 16, 2024. Here are the results for this weekend’s runoff elections in Travis and Hays County. The City of Austin is working on a new plan to get information to people in case of a weather emergency.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for November 20, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 20, 2024. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson avoided a runoff this week by a slim margin. Hear from a couple of candidates still in the running for an Austin City Council seat this evening. Alex Jones is suing The Onion and families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre to block the takeover of Infowars. Hays County and Austin Pets Alive are building a pet resource center. ACC has announced plans to expand its advanced manufacturing curriculum online.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 6, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 6, 2024. Results for local elections in the Austin area. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson needs more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff, numbers are uncertain. Here’s what Autsinites decided on City Council. Travis County voters approved Proposition A to expand affordable childcare options in the county. Manor residents approved a new tax rate election to generate more revenue for the Manor Independent School District. Hays County voters have approved a 440-million-dollar bond for road improvements. Voters gave the Lockhart Independent School District a green light to join Austin Community College’s taxing district.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 5, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 5, 2024. It’s election day! Thousands of people are expected to head to the polls today across Central Texas. The biggest statewide race this Election Day in Texas is the U.S. Senate race. A group of Texas OBGYNs are speaking out against the state’s abortion ban following the deaths of two women. Crews remained on site overnight to patrol the wildfire in Bastrop.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 31, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 31, 2024. Tomorrow is the last day of early voting; some polling places will be open until 10 p.m. The City of Austin could expand homeownership support to more people. A small group of students held a pro-Palestinian protest on the UT campus. A team of veterinarians with Texas A&M returned home after helping with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. Manor ISD superintendent announced new security measures after a student was fatally stabbed. It looks like we’ll have some rain today.
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 Afternoon Newscast for October 29, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 29, 2024. Early Voting turnout in Travis County picked up again yesterday after a slower weekend. As the population grows in Central Texas counties, so does the number of registered voters. What an Austin Mayoral campaign cost the candidates. Voters in Lockhart are deciding whether to bring Austin Community College into the bounds of their school district. A student died today after being stabbed by another student at Manor Senior High School. Williamson County commissioners voted today to allocate some of their remaining federal COVID relief funding toward projects to improve the county’s justice system. Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance is expected in Austin tomorrow to make his own appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 29, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 29, 2024. We are one week away from the November election, if you are mailing in your ballot, you should do it soon. Austinites are asking the city to move ahead with a long-planned renovation of the Dougherty Arts Center. Residents in Northeast Travis County are voting on whether to cut a half cent sales tax from a local Emergency Service District, known as ESD two. Residents have filed a lawsuit against a bond for road improvements Hays County voters are deciding on this election.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 24, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 24, 2024. Strong turnout continues into the fourth day of Early Voting. The importance of races further down the ballot. Large swaths of Central Texas are now officially in Severe Drought. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is coming up this weekend. The Austin City Council is scheduled to vote on the new contract with the city’s police union during today’s meeting. Some Hays County residents are suing the County Judge and Commissioners for placing Prop A on the ballot in the current election. The Texas football team is on the road this weekend to face 25th ranked Vanderbilt.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 22, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 22, 2024. High turnout for early voting in Travis, Hays and Williamson Counties. Voter turnout remains strong on the second day of early voting. Austin ISD officials say approving Proposition A is critical to giving teachers raises and keeping them in the district. The latest on the cleanup efforts for a train derailment in East Austin.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 14, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 14, 2024. Airport officials say travelers should expect long lines at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. About 30 AISD schools and facilities will serve as polling sites on election day. A local group is asking Hays County voters to reject the bond for road improvements. Travis County is considering joining Austin’s food plan to avoid food waste. Travis County is holding a job fair today.