KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts

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

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34 years later, police identify suspect in yogurt shop murders

For the families of the girls killed in one of Austin’s most notorious murders, justice seemed to be slipping away as more time passed. But now, almost 34 years later, a new break in the case of what’s known as the “Yogurt Shop Murders” yields the name of a suspect, identified through DNA.

KUT’s justice and accountability reporter Andrew Weber tells us how this decades-long cold case that captured the attention of the city – and the nation – was broken open once again.

We’ll get the latest on the case and look back at the impact to Austin when the crime first happened.

Levitation Fest hits Austin this weekend

Texas Republican lawmakers redrew the state’s congressional districts in a special session this summer, doing so at the desire of President Trump and leaving no questions about their reasoning: They were changing the maps to benefit their party. But the idea of gerrymandering hasn’t been limited to just Texas this year. KUT’s Mose Buchele will dive deeper.

While some are counting down to the Austin City Limits Music Festival, others are hitting up Levitation Fest this weekend. It’s the perfect weekend to hit the town before thousands of visitors take over the city.

Plus: more live music and movie recommendations that are worth leaving your couch for.

Texas A&M president resigns amid viral video controversy

Texas A&M President Mark Welsh is resigning after a week of turmoil over a viral video and a clash over gender identity content in the classroom.

What’s behind Texas’ redistricting push? KUT’s Mose Buchele reports on a political strategy started decades ago.

The flesh-eating new world screwworm, a parasite once eradicated from Texas, has been detected within striking distance of the border. What species may be most vulnerable.

The new documentary “When We Were Live” reflects on public access TV in Austin through rare archival footage and interviews with local producers.

Introducing: Austin Signal

Austin Signal keeps the community in-the-know on the latest news and stories from the Central Texas area. Hosted by KUT’s Jerry Quijano, listeners can tune in every weekday to hear stories and topics important to them.

Why ‘Don’t California My Texas’ isn’t the whole story

Are Democratic lawmakers on the verge of a walkout to stop Republicans from redistricting during the special session? We’ll have the latest.

We’re also tracking possible federal funding cuts to legal aid organizations that could leave thousands of Texans who can’t afford a lawyer without the help they need.

Going beyond armed security guards, some Texas schools are turning to drones to increase security.

The changing role of social media influencers was on display in the aftermath of the July 4 floods.

And: Are Texas lawmakers quietly taking cues on governing from California?

Houston archaeologists uncover tomb of ancient Maya ruler

The Trump administration releases billions of dollars in education grants it previously withheld. What it means as students head back to school.

How the U.S. military is responding to a new kind of warfare that uses small, inexpensive drones.

The story of a Cuban man who raised a family in Texas and spent years working for a school district near Abilene – and now is locked up in an ICE detention center.

A high school student’s plan to help schools coping with a shortage of mental health counselors.

And: A Houston husband-and-wife team of archaeologists have discovered the tomb of the ruler of the ancient Mayan city of Caracol, now in present-day Belize.

Black farmers in East Texas feel the sting of DEI cuts

A peek into the week ahead for the Texas Legislature’s special session: We’ll hear the latest on a much-talked-about possible walkout by Democrats.

A plan to relieve congestion in Austin was approved by voters years ago – but so far, there’s not much to show for it. Is Project Connect off the rails?

The rollback of USDA diversity programs is impacting East Texas, which is home to more Black farmers than anywhere else in the U.S.

Plus: A big deadline for tariffs with Mexico on the table. If a deal can’t be reached by Aug. 1, what could that mean for Texas?

Asleep at the Wheel celebrates 50 years with Texas tribute

A very busy Thursday for first responders and meteorologists with flood conditions and heavy dust for many Texans – and it’s expected to get worse before it gets better. We’ll have an update.


Houston, we have a problem, and it may be related to a spat between the president and the world’s wealthiest Texan.


The Dallas Fed offers an assessment of the Texas economy and the Standard’s Sean Saldana has the details.


Also, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel talks about a new album focused on his favorite subject: Texas.

Fort Worth considers shuttering 14 schools to cut costs

With just over a week to go at the Texas Legislature: what’s passed, what’s stalled, and where we stand.

Retailers track your every move to build shopper profiles and offer “personalized discounts.” But these loyalty perks may be more misleading than helpful.

Declining enrollment and tight budgets have school districts reevaluating their campuses. In Fort Worth, officials are proposing a five-year plan to close more than a dozen schools.

And: the week in politics with Jasper Scherer of The Texas Tribune.

As the clock winds down, Texas lawmakers scramble to pass key bills

A look at the behind-the-scenes dealmaking happening at the Texas Capitol with less than two weeks until lawmakers gavel out on June 2.

How proposed cuts to SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, would impact Texans.

Apple has a plan to make it possible to use your laptop, phone and even smartwatch with brain control. Tech reporter Omar Gallaga says it’s no gimmick and could bring serious accessibility benefits.

Plus: A new coach, a new star – and a bumpy takeoff for the Dallas Wings.

How one West Texas town built its own broadband lifeline

Texas lawmakers are considering a plan that could help prevent fentanyl overdoses in the state. Why it may not become law.

A decade after the deadly biker shootout in Waco that led to nine deaths and more than 100 arrests, some civil cases against the city are still moving forward.

Some Texas law enforcement agencies are getting rid of a gun they consider too risky for their officers – by selling them to civilians.

State and federal money has been set aside to connect rural Texans to the Internet. When the remote West Texas town of Monahans couldn’t get that help, they did it themselves.

And: Texas cities once again top a list of the fastest-growing in the U.S., led by Princeton, a suburb east of Frisco.

A special broadcast from El Paso

Today we’re broadcasting live from El Paso for a special edition of the Texas Standard.


We hear from some prominent El Pasoans – former Congressman Beto O’Rourke and former El Paso Mayor Dee Margo – on the city’s dynamic politics.


El Paso has become a leader in innovative water management. How the city is securing its future in the desert.


KTEP’s Aaron Montes visits a local academy training the future stars of lucha libre.
And: How bighorn sheep have returned to El Paso’s mountains after a century away.

How a Houston man spent 18 years in jail without a trial

How hot is it in Texas prisons? After many questions about deadly heat, a new discovery: the facts as presented may have been fake. Investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy of The Texas Newsroom with the discovery of falsified records in an ongoing scandal about heat-related deaths behind bars.


A Houston inmate jailed for 18 years who never got his day in court: How did that happen, and could there be more?


What do you get when you cross a mouse with a woolly mammoth? It’s no joke: A Texas company says it’s just the beginning.


Also, who owns Texas? The results of an investigation of land ownership.
And this week in Texas music history.

Rediscovering Texas farm worker history through photos

President Trump signs an order effectively dismantling the education department. What does it add up to for education in Texas?


The Las Vegas Sands Corp. folds, for now, on its push for a resort casino in Irving. We’ll hear why and what it says about the industry’s attempts to cash in on Texas.


Also, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune.


Plus, a new cookbook challenges the notion that you’ve got to have meat for traditional Mexican dishes.


And after our series on the Texas Farm Workers Union, a listener comes forward with photos – adding faces to an almost forgotten story.

Navy destroyer headed to the southern border region

A U.S. Navy destroyer armed with tomahawk missiles enroute to the gulf waters off the coast of Texas. What’s this all about?


Investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy of The Texas Newsroom with word that the Texas government appears to be maintaining a list of people asking for information about changing the sex on their driver’s licenses. Who’s compiling this list and what is it being used for?


Five years after the declaration of a pandemic, what’s happened with vaccination rates?


And an AI service used by millions for free is about to go behind a paywall.
Plus, why Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor is busy making his list and checking it twice.

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