Areas around Austin, San Antonio and North Texas set records for the first day of early voting this week. But the story was different in El Paso.
A Democrat won a state House seat in Collin County last election cycle – but Republicans think they can flip it back.
What it means that decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana possession is on the ballot in more Texas cities.
A look at the impact of the ongoing IV fluid shortage on Texas hospitals.
And: We’ll ask whether it matters than an elected official in Harris County hasn’t clocked into work in about four years.
music
New exhibit showcases never-before-seen Freddy Fender artifacts
Schools and public libraries are often the focus of book bans. But what can we learn from a list of books prohibited in state prisons?
We’re celebrating the contributions of Hispanic Texans, including one who credits a librarian for helping him rise to became a leader in academia.
The infamous nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island could come back online to support a big tech company’s artificial intelligence operations.
And: The hometown of Freddy Fender will soon honor the trailblazing Tejano musician in a first-of-its-kind exhibit at the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum.
Texas Extra: Remembering DJ Steve Crosno
The El Paso radio and TV disc jockey made a lasting impact on the city’s music scene and contributed to the mixing of cultures that still makes far west Texas so special. This is an extended interview about an effort to document Crosno’s impact before his death in 2006.
Proposed school curriculum with Bible stories nears vote
A possible government shutdown looming with an Oct. 1 deadline. With the backdrop of elections, how might this story unfold? UT-Austin political science professor Sean Theriault talks about a perennial issue of government funding and where its headed.
Bible stories in the classroom? The Texas Education Agency is getting a lot of feedback and blowback over a new curriculum.
Mando Rayo of the Tacos of Texas podcast introduces us to a James Beard award winner in the Rio Grande Valley named the best chef in Texas.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, a look at some of the artists shaping the sounds of Texas.
Also, the week in politics, Typewriter Rodeo and more.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 12, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 12, 2024. Texas is one of six states that saw increases in the uninsured rate among children, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Diplomatic officials from the United States and South Korea were in Williamson County yesterday to discuss local economic development. Austin could make changes today to its noise regulations.
Alamo Trust battles to keep Ferris wheel out of historic neighborhood
Rick Perry, the longest-serving governor in Texas history, is returning to the Capitol as an adviser for House Speaker Dade Phelan. What it means for Texas politics.
Five years after a mass shooting in Odessa, a new sculpture rises in hopes of helping the city heal.
Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the State Fair of Texas and the city of Dallas over a gun ban at the fair.
A fast-spreading disease is threatening grape harvests and vineyards across the state.
And: The Alamo Trust is working to block the construction of a proposed Ferris wheel near the historic site.
Don’t Austin My Lockhart: How Austin musicians seeking affordability are impacting surrounding towns
We’re looking at what happens to small towns like Lockhart when a bunch of Austin musicians seeking affordable places to live move there.
You’ll hear from musician Emily Gimble, musician and co-owner of Fiddler’s Green Jenn Miori Hodges, co-founders Courthouse Nights and Rach and Rhodes presents Rachel Lingvai and Will Rhodes, musician Pierson Saxon and founders of Duett’s in Martindale, Texas Ryan and Katie Grametbaur.
‘The Stadium’ reconsiders the role of our modern arenas
The Democratic National Convention kicked off with an emotional evening and Texans among the featured speakers.
A jury found that the parents of the accused gunman in the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting were not responsible for his actions.
Highway lanes are shrinking in Austin. It’s part of national trend – but what does it mean for safety?
Why an effort to ban books in a Rio Grande Valley high school library failed.
Also: A new book from historian Frank Guridy delves into why sports stadiums are more than places to cheer on your favorite team.
An Austin Artist’s Guide to Success: Part 2
The latest episode of Pause/Play is part two of an Austin Artist’s Guide to Success. You’ll hear from many people in the everchanging Austin music scene about their tips and tricks for making it here.
You’ll hear about the role of streaming in an artist’s career, what makes a great artist and advice from people within the industry.
Featuring advice from:
- Little City Sounds music consultant project manager Lisa Machac
- Howdy Gals co-founder and booker Belicia Luevano
- Rap singer, songwriter, vocalist and entrepreneur Anastasia Hera
- Songwriter, producer, and performer Dayglow
- Singer and songwriter Mama Duke
- KUT The Breaks podcast host Fresh
- KUTX music director Rick McNulty
- KUTX Program Director Matt Reilly
- Austin Chronicle Music and Culture editor Cy White
- Hip hop artist, producer and creative solutionist J Soulja
Tips for insurance and tree care as Texas recovers from Beryl
More than 1 million Texans are still without power in the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s sweep across Southeast and East Texas. Brent Taylor of the Houston Office of Emergency Management joins with the latest on damage assessments, ongoing outages and the growing concerns about heat.
What do Texans need to keep in mind as they repair and rebuild? More on insurance considerations for those affected, plus guidance on caring for trees after a major storm.
Also: In recent years, Texas has lost more rural hospitals than any other state. Now mobile clinics are rolling out to provide vital medical services where they’re needed most.
An Austin Artist’s Guide to Success: Part 1
The latest episode of Pause/Play is an Austin Artist’s Guide to Success. You’ll hear from many people in the everchanging Austin music scene about their tips and tricks for making here.
You’ll hear about what people within the industry are looking for in an artist, what role authenticity plays, and how social media can impact a musician’s career.
Featuring advice from:
- Little City Sounds music consultant project manager Lisa Machac
- Howdy Gals co-founder and booker Belicia Luevano
- Singer, songwriter, rap artist, innovator and entrepreneur Anastasia Hera
- Songwriter, producer and performer Dayglow
- Singer and songwriter Mama Duke
- KUT The Breaks podcast host Fresh
- KUTX Music Director Rick McNulty
- KUTX Program Director Matt Reilly
- Austin Chronicle Music and Culture editor Cy White
- Hip-hop artist, producer and creative solutionist J Soulja
This Is My Thing: Ukulele!
A few years ago, six longtime friends — all retired — decided to form a ukulele band together. It wasn’t really planned, but after one of them decided to take up the instrument as a hobby, five more followed suit. Now they all meet up every week to catch up, chat, and play the ukulele together as the ‘Austin Ukuladies.’
Milk or meat? For modern cattle ranchers, the answer may be both
Texas is moving quickly toward primary day – but where are the debates? Why there’s been a decline in an election institution.
What the families of Uvalde victims are expecting as a grand jury examines law enforcement’s response to the Robb Elementary shooting.
Why Collin County seems to be playing an outsized role in Texas politics right now.
On Texas ranches, you’ve got dairy cows and bovine raised for beef. But the distinctions may be blurring. We’ll hear about a different sort of “cattle crossing.”
And concerns about the bestselling video game “Palworld,” which looks like “Pokémon” but plays like something much more grim.
The new season of Song Confessional starts Feb 7th!
The new season of the Song Confessional podcast arrives on Feb 7th! Walker Lukens and Zac Catanzaro travel around the world collecting anonymous confessions from everyday people and then give them to songwriters and bands who turn them into new original songs. This season features new songs from artists like Golden Dawn Arkestra, Woodbelly, Buffalo Hunt, Pigeon John, and more !
Bonus Episode: HT Jazz Collective
In this bonus episode, Lisa and Rich catch-up with the Huston-Tillotson Jazz Collective after their performance at ACL. They share how Huston-Tillotson has cultivated a space that makes them feel at home, what playing jazz means to them, and what inspires them.
Music Festivals
With temperatures (finally) cooling down, music festival season is ramping up across Texas. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Extra: 50 years after ‘Viva Terlingua’
The album was recorded in a rundown dancehall 50 years ago. Today it’s like hearing a time capsule. Some consider “Viva Terlingua” the quintessential Texas record. But why?
Texas Standard’s David Brown had a conversation about this on our program last week. But for on-air we had to cut out a lot of interesting details and detours. We saved the best ones and put it all together for you as a podcast extra. Check it out — it’s beautifully produced by Texas Standard director Leah Scarpelli.
Bavu Blakes
In the latest episode of Black Austin Matters, Bavu Blakes shares his inspiring journey growing up and being surrounded by Black excellence. He reflects on the influential role his parents played in shaping his path as a scholar and being the only Texas Longhorn in the family while everyone else in his household graduated from an HBCU. The Scholar Emcee also highlights the invaluable advice he received from his then college professor, John L. Hanson Jr., and the incredible experience of performing alongside hip-hop royalty.
Carbon capture is coming to the King Ranch
High winds, unrelenting heat and lots of dry vegetation are feeding a Stage 4 wildfire warning across the state.
As heat remains a major story in Texas, the electric grid has managed to hold out in a summer of record highs.
New technology advances mean that geothermal energy may soon become a bigger part of the nation’s energy generation mix.
Some recent major rulings on gun laws and where we stand in Texas.
And the Energy Department is financing two carbon capture projects, including one at the famed King Ranch in Kleberg County.
KUT Morning Newscast for July 21, 2023
Central Texas top stories for July 21, 2023. Abortion hearings over Texas law ends. Austin ISD plans to hire more school police officers. Austin reduces lot sizes for houses in order to increase affordability.