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

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Tim Duncan’s story comes home to Texas screens

As the federal government shutdown drags on, the impact grows worse. From food benefits to trade, what it means for the Lone Star State.

Texas does not have regulations for police pursuits, and some end in deadly crashes. What can we learn from Minnesota, where accountability rules offer a potential model for reform.

Immigrants with college degrees often still struggle to find work that matches their training, but adult education programs across Texas are helping these professionals reconnect with their fields. The Standard’s Sarah Asch reports.

A new documentary premiering at the Austin Film Festival spotlights the life of Spurs great Tim Duncan.

Uneven ICE notifications raise concerns

Some local law enforcement offices in Texas get a heads-up when ICE is coming to town, but others don’t. We’ll dig into why.
There’s new evidence that, no surprise, the online world isn’t always so great for today’s teens. Advice from tech expert Omar Gallaga on making it safer.
Gov. Greg Abbott has a new challenger for the 2026 election. What we expect out of a campaign from Austin Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
Taco journalist Mando Rayo shares what he’s learned from a few women in the culinary world.
A conversation with author Bryan Washington about his new novel, “Palaver,” about a man living in Tokyo, estranged from his family in Houston.

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.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 12, 2025: Austin Police identified the suspect in the shooting near Zilker Park

Central Texas top stories for September 12, 2025. Austin Police have identified 30-year-old Brandon Thompson as the suspect in the shooting of two people near Zilker Park this week. The 183 North Project is running months behind schedule. The Austin City Council has approved new rules for short-term rentals like Airbnb. Central Health has given initial approval to a new budget and tax rate.

New state law will give farmers a heads-up on pests and diseases

The fight over redistricting has shifted from the Capitol to the courthouse, but plenty of serious work is still on the table when legislators return to their offices Tuesday. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins with a look at what’s left on the agenda.
A new law in effect today creates a statewide alert system for pests and diseases that affect plants and wildlife. The Standard’s Michael Marks has the story.
And: The Standard continues celebrating 10 years on the air with a look back at some memorable animal stories.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.

You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org

Why police are ditching a popular gun

Redistricting seems like the entire political conversation in Texas right now, so it’s probably no surprise it’s influencing the U.S. Senate race.
Texas received millions in federal funding for adult education programs, but it was uncertain and came several weeks late.
What are the impacts of programs that give money, with no strings attached, to people and families identified with high needs? We’ll dig into a study of such a program in Texas.
A Houston police officer is suing a gun manufacturer. He’s one of many saying his Sig Sauer P320 discharged without him pulling the trigger.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.

You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org

Virtual public school enrollment surges

Gov. Greg Abbott threatens a concurrent second special session with a Democratic walkout still underway. Is there any end in sight?
Details from a new release of materials withheld by Uvalde County and the Uvalde school district in the wake of the 2022 Robb Elementary school shooting.
What’s behind a massive growth in virtual schooling in Texas?
W.F. Strong meditates on what welcomes Texans back home after a long time away.
And: The scene at Voz de la Paloma, a women’s mariachi competition in honor of a San Antonio ranchera icon.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.

You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org

KUT Morning Newscast for July 17, 2025: The LCRA closed all floodgates to dams after releasing storm runoff from recent heavy rains

Central Texas top stories for July 17, 2025. The Lower Colorado River Authority finished closing all floodgates at all dams along the Highland Lakes last night. State lawmakers will begin a special legislative session next week; one of Gov. Greg Abbotts priorities is police personnel transparency. The City of Kyle’s Mayor announced he’ll be stepping down from his position. More people can now use SNAP to buy hot and ready to eat meals

In wake of Hill Country floods, how to talk to kids about tragedy

A week after the Hill Country floods, the president and first lady will visit Kerr County as the search for the missing continues and storms are in the forecast for the weekend.
Talking to kids about tragedy: A Dallas-based pediatric psychologist on how to deal with their questions and their anxieties.
Gov. Greg Abbott has added flood response to the call for the upcoming special session of the Legislature, along with another new item – mid-decade redistricting.
Plus: The week in Texas politics with The Texas Tribune.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.

You can support this podcast at supportthispodcast.org

KUT Morning Newscast for June 16, 2025: Thousands join ‘No Kings’ protest in Austin. An arrest was made after a threat against Texas lawmakers. 

Central Texas top stories for June 16, 2025. The “No Kings” protest in Austin on Saturday remained peaceful. The Texas Department of Public Safety made one arrest earlier in the day related to threats against state lawmakers who were expected to speak. AISD will receive millions of dollars in new funding as a result of state legislation passed this year, but officials worry it might not be enough. Starting today Austinites might see Cap Metro’s new Transit Police officers at stations and on board of transit services. Georgetown is considering changes to its rules on where people can sit and lie down in public. 

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.

How Texas schools fared in long-awaited TEA accountability grades

After lawsuits and a long delay, the Texas Education Agency releases rankings for schools in the Lone Star State. The school rankings are more than just an indicator of how well students are doing, they can have ripple effects on the schools themselves, as well as on housing prices and more. KERA’s Bill Zeeble joins us with what the report cards tell us.
After record levels of deaths connected to police car chases, what, if anything, do Texas lawmakers plan to do?
A historic theatre, once a hub for Mexican American entertainment, is coming back to life in San Antonio.
Plus, Texas breweries rebrand themselves as public spaces.

What are current struggles signaling for Texas-based Tesla?

The Legislature is considering bills that would lift restrictions on how Texas’ maternal mortality committee can investigate maternal deaths, including by reviewing abortion-related deaths.
Looking for a Tesla? Or trying to sell one? How politics appears to be reshaping the market for the Texas-based company long considered the leader in the electric vehicle space.
Also: Seismic activity in West Texas prompts regulators to put the brakes on the subsurface injection of wastewater. But one company appears to be flaunting the directive.

KUT Morning Newscast for February 3, 2025

Central Texas top stories for February 3, 2025. Gov. Greg Abbott gave his state of the state address yesterday, here are the details. Texas lawmakers are proposing increasing school safety funding by hundreds of millions of dollars, AISD says it might not be enough to comply with security measures. An abandoned rail line in Austin is being converted into a trail for pedestrians and cyclists. APD is increasing security after vehicle break-ins at parks and greenbelts. 

KUT Morning Newscast for November 11, 2024

Central Texas top stories for November 11, 2024. The Austin Mayor race outcome will come down to provisional ballots. Republicans will soon make up nearly 75 percent of intermediate appellate court justices in Texas. Texas lawmakers are looking at ways to further dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within higher education at the request of the Republican lieutenant governor. Here’s how Round Rock is protecting its residents from package theft. The University of Texas soccer team has won its first SEC Championship.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 18, 2024

Central Texas top stories for October 18, 2024. Austin and Travis County are issuing preemptive disaster declarations as dry, windy conditions increase the risk of wildfire. Texas lawmakers are looking at how social media affects children and the impact of a law they passed last year seeking to address this issue. More than a year after Austin voters approved a measure to make them public, the so-called “G-files” of police officers accused of misconduct are published. 

KUT Morning Newscast for October 7, 2024

Central Texas top stories for October 7, 2024. Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor is now facing sentencing after being found guilty of deadly conduct. Austin City Council members will take more time to look over the new labor contract for police officers. Austin City Council will consider a plan this week to help recruit people for public safety jobs.

Blue Chip Program provides mental health resources for law enforcement officers in Texas

The Supreme Court, in the waning hours of this term, issues orders on social media and federal corruption laws. Some of the most contentious cases on the court’s docket remain undecided, though we’re expecting several rulings in the next 48 hours or so.
Sen. Ted Cruz is leading an effort to end tax on tips. Critics call it an election-year move to win over younger voters.
40 acres and a lie: what a new investigative report reveals about a well-known but often misunderstood Civil War-era reparation order.
Also: an effort to help law enforcement personnel in need of mental health support.

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