Central Texas top stories for October 3, 2024. The Texas Secretary of State expresses confidence in the state’s election system. A new study finds an overwhelming majority of Texans support increasing state funding for public schools. Travis County is set to launch its mental health diversion program on Monday. Higher than normal temperatures expected for ACL weekend one. Drought has returned to the Austin area. You can hear from the contenders running to be Austin’s mayor in a panel tonight at city hall.
Kirk Watson
KUT Afternoon Newscast for January 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for January 19, 2024. Art Acevedo returns to Austin. How San Marcos animal shelters are navigating this weekend’s cold temperatures. Austin ISD’s superintendent finalist on facilities issues in the district. Former Austin city council member Kathy Tovo is running for Austin mayor. Texas Rangers visit Round Rock as champions. 3M Half Marathon is this Sunday. Longhorns Basketball.
Smart Growth or Dumb Growth?
(Episode 4) When a new mayor came to power, he found what he thought would be a compromise — a way to bring new businesses and build housing for all the people coming to Austin without threatening the city’s ecological gems. It turned out to be more complicated than that.
KUT Morning Newscast for December 15, 2022
Central Texas top stories for December 15, 2022. Austin ISD interim superintendent. Runoff election result. Texas Monthly gives Austin “Bum Steer” award. UT Volleyball NCAA semi-final.
Remembering former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach
The Biden Administration is moving to address growing numbers of migrants at the border. We’ll hear from the Secretary of Homeland Security. Also the results of the mayoral runoff in Texas’ capitol city: a former mayor and state senator returning to city hall. And with 4 students killed and another rescued Hays ISD engaged in a major campaign to alert students about the dangers of fentanyl. Also a bill to bag big cats held in private hands: The Big Cat Safety Act wins bipartisan support in Congress. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
KUT Morning Newscast for December 6, 2022
Central Texas top stories for December 6, 2022. Austin Mayor runoff election debate. Runoff early voting turnout. T-CAD ransomware attack. Austin rent prices. School shooting false alarm. Austin ISD superintendent search continues. Christmas tree debate.
Oral arguments begin in United States v. Texas
A migrant camp sheltering an estimated 1,000 or so people has been torn down by police in Juarez Mexico. We’ll have details. Other stories we’re tracking: the U.S. supreme court hearing a case brought by Texas and Louisiana challenging the Biden Administrations policies of prioritizing deportations. Also a bill that would guarantee federal recognition of a marriage between any two people, regardless of sex, race, or ethnicity. We’ll hear about the implications and what the bill does and doesn’t do. And a safety plan to prevent tragedies like the deaths at a Travis Scott concert in Houston last November, does it go far enough? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Demand for mental health care continues to soar
Psychologists are seeing a surge in demand for mental health treatment. How can they meet a growing need? 60% of the nation’s psychologists are too busy to take on new patients. We’ll tell you how they’re trying to meet the post-pandemic demand. Plus there’s a runoff in Austin’s mayoral election. We’ll hear from both candidates on why they should lead the capital city, starting today with Kirk Watson. And we’ll go back in time in south Texas, when Vaqueros roped and ranged through the desert scrub. All that plus a World Cup update and the latest headlines today on the Texas Standard:
Why Was I-35 Designed As A Double-Decker Through Central Austin?
Interstate Highway 35 is many things to many people. It is a vital thoroughfare for commerce and shipping. It is also an economic and social barrier through much of Austin. And nearly from its construction, it has been a source of frustration for drivers stuck in its traffic. I-35 has inspired a number of questions and even legends about its design and those who made it.