March Madness

Baylor bets big on E-sports with first-ever program director and coach

A second child has died of measles in Texas as cases continue to rise. How this latest outbreak compares with that of the ’90s.
Baylor has just hired its first-ever E-sports director and coach: Adam Stanley of Brewton-Parker College, a small private college in Georgia and powerhouse in E-sports.
Hosting the Final Four of the college men’s basketball championship has been a big boon to San Antonio. We’ll hear more as the Houston Cougars get set for their championship game against Florida tonight at the Alamodome.
And: A homecoming for Texas actor and comedian Michael Yo as the Moontower Comedy Festival gets underway in Austin.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 7, 2025: A second child in Texas died from measles.  

Central Texas top stories for April 7, 2025. A bill that could shut down Austin’s Equity Office is one step closer to the Texas governor’s desk. The Trump administration’s cuts to funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture are affecting food banks across the country, including here in Austin. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Texas Sunday after a second child there died from measles. Austin Public Health is holding multiple free screenings and events this week. The NCAA women’s basketball championship game was played yesterday afternoon, without the Texas Longhorns who fell to South Carolina Friday Night. 

KUT Afternoon Newscast for April 4, 2025: Austin ISD could close Dobie Middle School to avoid a state takeover of the entire district.

Central Texas top stories for April 4, 2025. Authorities say dozens of people arrested in Hays County this week are connected to a Venezuelan gang. Austin ISD is considering closing Dobie Middle School because it has received too many failing grades from the state. The Texas women’s basketball team will play defending national champion South Carolina tonight for a spot in the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship game. Texas DPS says there may be delays in getting an emissions inspection right now. Several roads will be closed Sunday for the annual Statesman Cap10k.

Trump’s new tariffs could hit Texas businesses hard

One of Texas’ top economists weighs in on the impact of Trump’s tariffs, what looks like the end of a U.S.-led free trade era, and what it could add up to for Texas.
It looks like John Cornyn may have a serious challenger for his seat in the Senate: Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The latest AI trend has users generating images in the style of animator Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli works, sparking debates over copyright and artistic integrity.
Our March Madness bracket for the best song about Texas comes right down to the wire. Your vote could decide it all.
And: We’ll hear from Zell Miller III, Austin’s inaugural poet laureate.

A forgotten history of DeWitt County comes back to life

The man who’s admitted killing 23 in a racist mass shooting in El Paso in 2019 will be given a plea deal that does not include the death penalty. What’s behind that decision.
A federal judge temporarily prevents Texas A&M from enforcing a ban on campus drag performances, setting the stage for this week’s Draggieland.
A long-lost book detailing DeWitt County’s history before 1900 has resurfaced, more than a century after it was written in German.
And: A potentially deadly bird flu spotted early in Texas jumps species in the UK, prompting a warning from health officials.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for March 21, 2025: The Texas Legislature looks to clarify abortion exemptions.

Central Texas top stories for March 21, 2025. A bill aimed at clarifying the medical exception to the Texas abortion ban was filed this week in the state legislature. Arrivals from Houston and Dallas were halted at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport this morning. Leander is working to secure access to water for its growing population. Longhorn Women’s Basketball Team kicks off its NCAA tournament campaign this weekend.

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.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for March 19, 2025: What’s up with all the Red Flag Warnings?

Central Texas top stories for March 19, 2025. The Austin area is under a red flag warning again today. APD fired an officer after he pleaded guilty to an on-duty assault charge. State lawmakers heard testimony today on a bill that would put Austin under state oversight. The Texas men’s basketball team plays Xavier tonight for a chance to compete in the NCAA College Basketball Tournament.

West Odessa residents take water crisis into their own hands

A Houston-area midwife and two others have been arrested for allegedly performing illegal abortions, marking the first instance of criminal charges under Texas’ restrictive abortion law.
In West Odessa, the demand for water has outpaced the infrastructure. Now, a grassroots effort is underway to secure a more reliable water supply.
Dallas is working to make it easier and safer to ride a bicycle. Are there lessons for other urban areas?
And: the story behind the success of the faith-based indie studio that calls Austin home. We talk to the head of the Wonder Project.

Introducing Rhizome, Laredo’s unique art project and community collaboration

The Texas Medical Board has offered a wide definition of emergency medical exemptions to the state’s strict ban on abortion.
Health care is also at the center of a massive cyberattack that’s been crippling insurance payments, but consumer information is very likely involved.
Police high-speed chases can be extremely dangerous for the general public, not just the vehicles involved. What we’ve learned in a deep dive into the data for North Texas chases.
The price at the pump has been going up again and global uncertainties could affect that further.
And we’ll take a trip to Laredo to explore Rhizome, a community art project, and hear from artist Crystal Wagner.

KUT Morning Newscast for March 25, 2024

Central Texas top stories for March 25, 2024. School is canceled today at Tom Green Elementary School after Friday’s bus crash. Austin is hosting a town hall with City Manager candidates. The Texas Women’s basketball team is through to the sweet 16. Total solar eclipse. Austin is relaunching its annual Warrant Amnesty Program.

What you should know about polling going into election season

After a prolonged legal back-and-forth that ultimately saw it paused again, Texas Senate Bill 4 returned to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday. We’ll have the latest on where the immigration law stands.
You’ve likely heard the poll numbers in the presidential race. Do you trust them? Some tips on following the many surveys we’ll be hearing as November approaches.
How community colleges are likely to play a growing role in the future of work in Texas.
And: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued to stop a light-rail initiative in Austin.

KUT Morning Newscast for March 27, 2023

Central Texas top stories for March 27, 2023. Austin ISD superintendent search. Zilker Park parking fees. Texas Observer shutting down. Free mammograms. NASCAR at COTA. UT Men’s Basketball eliminated. Austin FC.

KUT Morning Newscast for March 21, 2023

Central Texas top stories for March 21, 2023. Buried power lines. Williamson County federal relief funds. Dripping Springs ISD schools over capacity. UT Women’s Basketball eliminated.

Breaking down the saga at the Dallas Zoo

School vouchers, now styled as school choice, are back before state lawmakers. They have been rejected in the past, but will this year be different? Senate Bill 8 would provide Texas parents with an education account, taxpayer money that could be used to send students to private school. And the bill has special features designed to win over traditionally reluctant rural Republicans.

The Houston Independent School district braces for the implications of a state takeover.

Jamie Landers of the Dallas Morning News has put together a fuller picture of what happened with a string of crimes at the Dallas Zoo.

And seven Texas teams are spicing up March Madness on the men’s side.

KUT Morning Newscast for March 13, 2023

Central Texas top stories for March 13, 2023. Austin ISD special education backlog. Travis County Expunction Expo. Williamson County Essay Contest. UT Men’s and Women’s Basketball.

Texas Standard: March 14, 2022

The awful images of war and civilians caught and killed in the crossfire. As concerns about war crimes mount, what are the options? A Texas-based specialist in international law on the potential for war crimes trials over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We’ll explore the question what is a war crime and how would allegations be prosecuted? Also, what exactly is gender affirming care? A Texas board certified Pediatrician explains. And a celebration for the winningest coach in NBA history. Plus a look at who’s who from Texas in the March Madness brackets and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: March 24, 2021

Everyone over 16 in Texas will be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine come Monday, but will there be enough doses to go around? Also, a new chapter begins in the fight against COVID-19 in Texas. We’ll have the latest on the push to get everyone over 16 vaccinated in Texas as soon as possible, and what if anything is being done to protect vulnerable populations. Plus a bill in the Texas legislature that could shut down an iconic Texas swimming hole sparks protests in the Texas capitol city. And branding Madness. Why is the march madness label reserved for men, but off limits to women as the college basketball playoffs move forward? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: March 15, 2018

20 billion dollars in debt: a Texas-based giant in the entertainment industry files for bankruptcy, we’ll explain. Also, big pushback against Putin a day after the UK announces sanctions against Russia, the US issues sanctions of its own over election interference. We’ll have the latest. And Texans getting sandbagged by callers claiming to be from the IRS. How a Texas company is fighting back. And from a magazine known for its progressive politics: a call to drop the turn Texas blue narrative. We’ll hear the thinking behind it. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard: