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Ken Paxton’s Senate runoff win reshapes Texas GOP landscape

Ken Paxton handily beat longtime incumbent John Cornyn in the Republican runoff for Senate. So, what’s that mean come November?

We’re also unpacking big primary runoff races from across the state on both sides of the aisle. What do the results tell us about what Texas voters are prioritizing?

And did you vote in the primary runoffs? Congratulations, you may have added time to your life. The link between voting and living longer.

The Trump administration just changed the way people should apply for green cards. They’re now supposed to leave the U.S. to do so. We’ll unpack the impacts.

Plus, Mark Duplass and his wife Katie Aselton made a new movie about a married couple. We get a little personal in our conversation about “Magic Hour.”

A preview of key races for primary runoff Election Day

Across the Lone Star State, Memorial Day observances and events are scheduled.
Meanwhile, voters in Texas are making their lists and checking them twice with primary runoff day set for tomorrow. We’ll get you up to speed on the statewide races to watch.

Plus, we’ll hear about a new app from the folks at Texas Parks and Wildlife. We’ll also learn about the women who’ve played an oversized, but often less-acknowledged, role in conservation.

Program at state prison in Austin helps shelter dogs get adopted

The Austin Independent School District expects a $181 million deficit in next school year’s budget — but it still hasn’t released a proposal for what cuts will be made.

Austin revised its rules on how city police can interact with federal immigration agents — and city leaders are divided on what the change actually means.

The Austin Animal Center is often overcrowded. But a new program at the Travis Unit state prison is getting dogs there training and socialization to help them get adopted.

And a look back at an iconic performance 41years ago at the Armadillo World Headquarters.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Latino community divided on renaming Cesar Chavez Street

Early voting is underway for Tuesday’s primary runoffs, and we have a look at two races on some Central Texans’ ballots: state House District 49 and Hays County judge.

Austin is working to rename Cesar Chavez Street after accusations of sexual abuse and assault. But some are struggling with those changes.

Some good news and some bad news about a ranking of Austin’s parks. We’ve got more from a new report, including who rivals the city’s parks.

And: A sneak peek at tomorrow night’s ATXplained Live!

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Immigration in Central Texas — an Austin Signal special broadcast

Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have been on the rise during the second Trump administration.

And while enforcement in some parts of the U.S. has been messy and public, operations here in Texas are being carried out with a quieter, systematic approach. Today we’re taking a closer look at the situation here in Austin and Central Texas.

We’re bringing you a one-hour special sharing the experience of a UT student who was detained by ICE; talking about the potential health effects felt by targeted communities; and the story of a family’s fight to free their father from detention.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Stay on the Train: Why You Need Stocks in Retirement

Carl Stuart and Jimmy Maas discuss essential retirement planning strategies and emphasize the critical role of painting stock market exposure through a diversified portfolio, as well as practical debt management and saving strategies.

Hemp rulings reshape what’s legal in Texas

A cloud of confusion over rulings involving THC and smokable hemp in Texas: What’s legal, what’s not, and why now?
In this midterm election year, a test of efforts to expand legal protections and access to voting for Texans with visual impairments. We’ll hear why researchers say barriers are still common.
Thousands nationwide are exonerated as laws banning “junk science” take hold. But in Texas, the state’s top criminal court has blocked defendants from using the state’s junk science law to get a new trial.
And new developments in the Strait of Hormuz. Any signs of relief for Texans feeling the pinch at the pumps?

Lawmakers hear from Camp Mystic investigators

It’s day two of a special legislative hearing on the Camp Mystic tragedy. Investigators told lawmakers this week that camp operators were “complacent” when it came to safety protocols at the summer camp.

Lindsey Wilson, director of the city’s Equity and Inclusion office, shares details about the Fair Housing and Economic Mobility Conference taking place Wednesday, April 29.

Kendall Antonelli of Antonelli’s Cheese Shop stops by and introduces us to some of her favorite cheeses.

And: Learn how some of the city’s top chefs are partnering up with the students of Austin ISD’s culinary arts and hospitality program.

AISD under investigation for Pride Week celebration

The Austin Independent School District is being investigated by the Texas Education Agency for celebrating its annual Pride Week.

Attorney general is a powerful role; governors, senators and even vice presidents got their start as AG. Is Ken Paxton next?

Have you ever wanted a handy one-stop guide to everything Austin? KUT’s Field Guide is bringing you even more ways to know the city.

And an update on Athena’s surviving owlet, and why he might’ve been left for dead.

UT Austin announces $750 million gift for new Dell Medical Center

It’s been almost two months since a deadly shooting on West Sixth Street left three people dead, including one UT Austin student. Now a new scholarship to help underprivileged students advance their education has been created in honor of Savitha Shanmugasundaram’s life.

UT Austin has announced a new Dell Medical Center and research campus following a $750 million gift from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation — one that makes the Dells UT’s first-ever billion-dollar donors.

And, the satirical media outlet The Onion says they’ve acquired Infowars, the Austin-based source for decades of conspiracy theories.

Plus: The Indie Meme Film Festival is back for its 11th year. We’ll hear more about what’s coming to town.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Gov. Abbott threatens Austin funding over ICE policy

Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to cut off more than $2 million in state grants for the City of Austin because of police policies on cooperating with federal immigration authorities. This follows Attorney General Ken Paxton launching an investigation into the same policies.

City of Austin leaders got their first peek at the budget forecast for the next fiscal year. Now, city leaders must decide which programs could lose their funding as the city attempts to make up a deficit of millions.

Austinites have plenty of entertainment to choose from this weekend with the Fusebox Festival and Austin Reggae Fest. We’ll tell you about the performances you don’t want to miss.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Camp Mystic ordered to preserve damaged cabins

Water use for Tesla’s Giga Texas out far beyond East Austin jumped more than 200 million gallons in two years. That’s raising concerns about whether Austin can fulfill its long-term water conservation strategy as plans for a new semiconductor plant could push demand even higher. Sam Stark, Austin Current’s government reporter joins us to talk about this.

A state district judge has ordered Camp Mystic not to alter, demolish, repair or remove structures affected by floodwaters that killed 27 people at the girls’ camp last summer.

This week in Texas music history: Mattie’s Ballroom opens amid East Texas Oil Boom.

Fusebox Festival continues through the weekend, and the Austin Symphony is doing something new: teaming up with an indie rock band.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Parents of missing Camp Mystic girl push to prevent camp’s reopening

The parents of a girl still missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp where 27 people died during last summer’s deadly floods in the Texas Hill Country, are asking a judge to prevent the camp from reopening this summer. We’ll have the latest from the Travis County court room.

A private disagreement between local officials broke out into the open this week when Austin Mayor Kirk Watson let it be known he opposes a decision by the agency building the city’s light-rail system.

And, a documentary explores the ‘83 Texas Baseball championship team.

Plus, an Austin exhibit is bringing stories of local overdose victims into the light with pencil-drawn portraits.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Smokable hemp products legal again in Texas — for now

It’s legal again for Texas businesses to sell smokable forms of hemp. New state rules that went into effect in March had effectively outlawed these sales, while raising fees on the businesses who carry them. We’ll delve into the state of the Texas hemp market.

The state board of education gave preliminary approval to a mandatory list of books that all Texas public schools will teach starting in 2030. Critics of the list say it lacks diversity and emphasizes Christianity.

Plus, what’s the story behind the freaky sculpture hanging in the Barton Creek Greenbelt? That’s the exact question someone asked us for our ATXplained project.

Bigger buildings on the way for industrial projects

Vacancies for industrial buildings in the greater Austin region are near the highest levels of any place in the country. It could be that companies thinking of moving to Austin aren’t finding buildings big enough to accommodate them.

Spring fever, oak and mold pollen, and now another strain of coronavirus — all about the latest variant and the complications it brings.

Half a century ago incarcerated Texans formed bands and recorded their music inside of state prisons. That music was shared recently with a wider audience.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Debate grows over César Chávez Day and public memorials in Texas

Revelations over César Chávez’s reported history of sexual abuse has led to an immediate response across Texas. We’ll break it down.

Texas is home to two of America’s four strategic oil reserves. We’ll dive into why the Gulf Coast was the right place for this storage — beyond its oil and gas infrastructure.

We’ll take a trip to Brownsville for the Final Four — in college chess that is.
And we’ll bring you a story about a Texas-led discovery in South Korea: A new dinosaur species, the Doolysaurus — and it’s really cute.

We’ll also check in on the BBQ World Cup competition drawing interest across Texas for its huge, promised payout.

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

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

Four accused in yogurt shop murders now exonerated

The four men wrongly accused in Austin’s yogurt shop murders were exonerated today in a Travis County courthouse. More than three decades on their records have been cleared. We’ll hear from family members who attended today’s hearing.

The University of Texas Board of Regents has approved a policy limiting from classrooms “controversial topics.” What the new policy says and the plan for putting it into effect.

And, music news with KUTX’s Maile Carballo.

Plus, Spurs basketball is back at the Moody Center tonight and it’s a much different version of the team that’s visited Austin the past few years. The reason for the change and the possibility of a championship this season coming up.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

New Jersey

Songwriter Lindsey Mackin, frontwoman of Austin band Annabelle Chairlegs talks with Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia about the group’s new album, her roots in “Soccer Town USA” (Kearny, NJ), and the power of the cowbell. Also, we talk what’s new for Austin FC with team president Andy Loughnane. The kickoff episode of the 2026 season for Austin FC and ¡Vamos Verde!

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.