Parks

How much would Prop Q cost homeowners in Austin?

Prop Q has brought out early voters in numbers that are higher than usual for an off-year election. The proposed tax rate increase, Austin officials say, would raise money to improve local parks, safety and homelessness. How much would that cost that homeowners? KUT government accountability reporter Andrew Weber breaks it down ahead of Election Day.

Meanwhile, the city is facing a deadline to remove painted crosswalks and street murals or risk losing state and federal money for future transportation projects. KUT’s Nathan Bernier has an update on which artwork could be affected.

Plus, ATXplained Live is tomorrow! Get into the spirit with a story about the man who used to recite poetry before Austin concerts.

KUT Morning Newscast for June 25, 2025: ACC sues the DOJ to challenge the end of the Texas Dream Act

Central Texas top stories for June 25, 2025. The Austin Community College District’s Board of Trustees joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenging the end of the Texas Dream Act. The Austin Independent School District is asking the public for feedback on the criteria it’s using to evaluate campuses for potential closure. Georgetown’s City Council approved new ordinances that restrict the use of public spaces, despite concerns about possible impacts to unhoused individuals. A Travis County Judge ruled that a $440 road bond package approved by Hays County voters in November is now void. The George Washington Carver Genealogy Center is teaching people how to track down their family history.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 9, 2025: The City of Austin is facing a $33 million shortfall for next fiscal year.

Central Texas top stories for April 9, 2025. Texas Attorney General Republican Ken Paxton has announced he’s running for U.S. Senate. The City of Austin’s facing a $33 million budget deficit for the next fiscal year; it might ask voters for help. Austin’s City Council has only a few weeks to decide where to build parks over I-35. Rent prices in Austin have continued to fall for almost two years. A new program in Hays County will connect people caught driving while intoxicated with treatment instead of sending them to jail.

A year of travel across Texas

Every corner of Texas holds a certain kind of unique magic. We’re hitting the road, exploring hidden history and checking out plans for some new trails.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 11, 2024

Central Texas top stories for October 11, 2024. Five new parks will be added to parts of Austin with less access to green space. The city department that oversees new construction in Austin will begin using artificial intelligence. Austin’s 32nd annual Art from the Streets event returns this weekend. ACL’s second weekend kicks off today.

KUT Morning Newscast for August 13, 2024

Central Texas top stories for August 13, 2024. As the summer heat keeps rolling, worker’s rights advocates and a local congressman are calling for action on proposed rules to limit heat exhaustion. Austin City Council members are considering hiring 16 new full time park employees. A Travis County judge has temporarily blocked the Texas Education Agency from releasing A-through-F accountability ratings. Many districts in central Texas are going back to school today. Texas State University will offer classes in Central Mexico. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is warning people not to dump aquarium pets into local waters.

KUT Morning Newscast for August 12, 2024

Central Texas top stories for August 12, 2024. Another hot week ahead for Austin and Central Texas. Austin Community College receives $7.5 million grant to expand and develop new training programs for semiconductor manufacturing. Texas lawmakers kick off two days of hearings on educational issues. The city of Austin is looking to include $50 million in next budget to increase parkland in the city. Texas Longhorn athletes earn 16 medals at Paris Olympic games, including 6 gold.

Looking ahead to the eclipse day weather forecast

A Texas public health expert explains what bird flu means after a case of the illness was found in a worker on a dairy farm.
The effort to expand high-speed broadband in North Texas slows down as a company doing the work pulls out.
Could clouds obscure eclipse day in Texas? We’ll take a look at the latest forecast for next Monday.
Exploring Texas parks that are off the beaten path … and away from crowds.
Plus, one of the fiercest wildcats in the world is only eight inches tall. A Texas-based wildlife center is working to save the black-footed cat.

The Texas discovery of a new, dog-sized dinosaur

After months of stalemate, are the Texas House and Senate finally making progress on school spending?

For millions of years, the bones of a tiny dinosaur lay undisturbed in what are now the shores of Lake Grapevine. We’ll learn about a new species.

El Paso residents are concerned about the growing number of high-speed chases in their city.

And: Are city parks set to decline? A new law could make it tougher for urban areas to procure parkland.

KUT Morning Newscast for May 23, 2023

Central Texas top stories for May 22, 2023. AISD and UT team up to train STEM teachers. Old education buildings in Austin rebuilt and reused. Housing bills in the state Senate.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for July 28, 2022

Central Texas top stories for July 28, 2022. Wildfires in Central Texas. Jacob’s Well flow stops. Point in time counts resuming. San Marcos marijuana decriminalization. MoveOutATX begins. PanAm Park renaming postponed. Gas prices. 183 flyover closure.

Texas Standard: March 2, 2020

Despite big spending by the candidates in Texas including rally’s, robo calls and door to door canvassing, many Texas democrats say they’re still not sure who’ll they’ll vote for tomorrow. We’ll hear how they’re doing the political math. Plus, fear fueling a major price drop in a clash between the Texas energy industry and the coronavirus. All of that and then some today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 8, 2019

U.S. Soldiers coming home, but what are they leaving behind? We’ll have a closer look at the decision to get U.S. troops out of northern Syria and why that matters. Also, China calls foul: how Houston found itself at the center of an international incident over Hong Kong. And word from Corpus Christi that the Selena festival is being cancelled in her hometown. Plus the first Latina to create produce write and star in her own sitcom tells her story of coming of age in the Rio Grande Valley, she calls it her mixtape memoir. All of that and then some today on the Texas Standard:

What’s The Story Behind The Different Tags On Trees Around Austin?

You can’t not notice the trees that line the paths on Austin’s many hike and bike trails. But have you ever noticed a fair amount of them are numbered?

What’s The Deal With The Abandoned Home Depot On St. John’s?

The city bought this property 8 years ago, but since then, it’s just been vacant.

Texas Standard: August 7, 2017

Leaks at the White House are nothing new. Every president’s dealt with information getting out they’d rather not disclose, we’ll have the latest. Plus the Farm Bill: it’s a massive piece of legislation that guides the nation’s food and agricultural supply. And a Texan will be tasked with helping a new version pass in 2018. Plus today’s rain across many parts of the state is highlighting the flooding challenges facing Houston – and the many flood-related deaths. And Texas has yet another tropical disease making a comeback in parts of the state. The source of a rise in cases of typhus. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: July 26, 2017

A new transgender ban for the US Military? A presidential proclamation on social media this morning sparks a scramble for answers, we’ll explore. Also, the mayor of Corpus Christi tells us he’s got a question for the man he voted to be governor: why the assault on cities? We’ll talk to mayor Joe mcComb as he and more than a dozen of his mayoral colleagues from across the state get ready to meet with Governor Abbott. Plus, file under not fake news: is Snopes, the original fact checking site of the world wide web, in danger of going dark? And what do Texas cities sound like? Our commentator on the greatest songs about Texas towns and a whole lot more, today on the Texas Standard: