On this episode we interview Austin rap legend, actual educator/teacher, Bavu Blakes about his upbringing from Garland to Austin, his early rap career (with a shout out to John E. Dee!) and his path to education. Hip-Hop Facts this week include facts about James Blake, En Vogue, Lil Wayne and more.
politics
Webb parents discuss school’s future, Medical care for detainees, Insanity plea in 2023 shooting spree
Parents from Webb Middle School, one of the failing schools putting the Austin district at risk of a takeover, met with the superintendent to discuss their future. But many questions remain surrounding an option to petition for closure of the school to avoid state intervention.
Wilber Garces Perez was quickly discharged from an Austin hospital after he was shot by an ICE agent. It’s raised questions about medical standards for detainees.
Shane James, accused of killing six people in 2023 in a shooting spree that started in San Antonio and ended in Austin,intends to file an insanity plea, according to court filings.
A federal judge has ruled in UT Austin’s favor in a court case that arose from the university’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests in 2024.
Texas voter registration backlog leaves thousands of applications unprocessed
Tens of thousands of unprocessed voter registrations were never forwarded to county officials for processing, leading to chaos and questions.
If you registered to vote through the DPS, such as when you were updating your driver’s license, you may want to check with county officials who are now working through a backlog of forms they should have received long ago. We’ll talk to the reporter who broke this huge story on the eve of midterms.
A veteran lawmaker long called a fixture of Houston’s Third Ward has passed away. We’ll have a closer look at the impact of Garnet Coleman.
Plus, the push to remove Flock cameras in a major Texas city.
Wilber Garces Perez’s life in Austin, Light-rail agency scraps office plan
Friends and family of Wilber Garces Perez, the man shot by an ICE officer in Austin, say he’s spent his time focused on family, work and soccer since coming to the United States from Venezuela in 2024. We’ve got more from the people who know him best.
The agency building Austin’s light-rail system is scrapping a controversial plan to relocate to a high-rise overlooking Lady Bird Lake. How taxpayer dollars are being spent as efforts to build a 10-mile light-rail system ramp up.
An owlet that was saved from an abandoned nest at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has been released back to the wild. How the owl beat the odds.
Paprika was the only Austin restaurant featured on a prestigious list of the best eats in the country. We’ll chat with the owner and chef leading the outfit.
Why Texas became a magnet for massive data centers
Last year’s tragedy at Camp Mystic moves into the realm of criminal investigation, with search warrant requests by the Texas Rangers.
As many Texas communities try to push back on more data centers, they often find local officials can’t do much. How did Texas find itself in this position?
What new studies are revealing about the connection between AI and what robots will do, even against instructions. Our go-to tech expert Omar Gallaga joins us with the rather unsettling low-down.
Promises, promises: In Texas’ closely-watched U.S. Senate race, both Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton are making pledges to help ease the burden on Texan’s pocketbooks. But what can a senator really do? We’ll have a reality check.
Latest on ICE shooting, Camp Mystic investigation, AC in state prisons
A judge has set a hearing for the end of this month in the case of Wilber Garces Perez, the man who was shot by an ICE officer in Austin on Sunday. Austin police have released a pair of videos showing a before-and-after perspective of the incident.
Camp Mystic is under investigation by the Texas Rangers, who may be pursuing criminal charges against the camp after 28 people died during flooding last summer.
Texas must install air conditioning at all of its state prisons by the end of 2029. The ruling from a federal judge caps a yearslong lawsuit over dangerous heat in the state’s prisons.
And: In case you didn’t get enough music after HAAM Day, we’ve got the songs from September that you need to know.
The latest on the ICE shooting in Austin
A shooting involving immigration enforcement is under investigation in Austin — and it’s sparked protests.
Also, a federal judge has ordered Texas to air condition every state prison by the end of 2029. We’ll look at the years-long fight over extreme heat behind bars.
Houston’s new homeless services center in East Downtown has been open for about three and a half months. We’ll hear how the facility is helping people move from the streets into housing.
And Jonathan Van Ness is bringing his “Hot & Healed” comedy tour to Texas. He joins us to talk about queer joy, comedy, and how living in Austin has shaped his work.
Austin ICE shooting updates, Hispanic community reacts, Dog’s Head lawsuit
We’re learning more about Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, who was shot by an ICE officer on Sunday in North Austin. The 28-year-old from Venezuela is in custody at an ICE processing center in South Texas. His lawyer says a federal judge has granted an emergency order to stop his deportation.
Plus: reaction from Austin’s Hispanic community in response to the shooting.
A new lawsuit seeks to void the development and financing agreements for a 2,600-acre development known as Dog’s Head. What neighbors and environmental groups are asking for.
It’s HAAM Day in Austin, with live music happening all over the city all day long. Why they do for Austin’s musicians.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Texas prison program trains incarcerated women to transcribe braille
Do data centers help local economies? The largest one is under construction in West Texas and could provide some answers.
Also, we’ll get an update on the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin and take a look at the use of deadly force by ICE on city streets across the country.
Plus, the struggle to pay for childcare in Texas.
Texas Standard reporter Sarah Asch takes us to a Texas prison helping women learn a specialized job skill.
Plus, our Hispanic Heritage Moment spotlights a Latina astronaut who blazed a trail space.
Latest on Austin ICE shooting, AISD appeals failing ratings, HAAM Day Music Festival
A man was shot and injured on Sunday by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in North Austin, leading to protests through the evening. The 28-year-old is now being held in a ICE processing center. We spoke with some of the folks who were near the scene of the shooting.
The Austin Independent School District has appealed the two failing school scores that are threatening a state takeover of the entire district. It’s the latest move attempting to keep control of the district and its schools.
The Live Music Capital of the World will be jam-packed with live performances from dusk to dawn tomorrow in celebration of HAAM Day. Where to hear the music and what goes into planning a whole day of shows across the city.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
‘Deep in the Heart 2’ explores the rivers and aquifers that sustain Texas
Another ICE shooting in Texas, this time in the Texas capital city on Sunday.
Also, what could be an important week of speeches and negotiations in New York. UT’s Michael Mosser joins the Standard with more on what to look for, and what’s at stake at the UN general assembly gathering.
With much of the UN focused on current conflicts, we’ll hear how an expansion of the war between the U.S. and Iran is having ripple effects for Texas.
A lake in Abilene becomes the latest to get the state’s most severe rating for the infestation of invasive zebra mussels.
And Ethan Hawke narrates the new documentary “Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers” about the waterways and aquifers of the Lone Star State. We’ll talk with director Ben Masters.
Raps of Resistance w/ Earl Hopkins & Dr. Jeremy McCool
On this episode we interview authors Earl Hopkins and Dr. Jeremy McCool about their new book “Raps of Resistance: How Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Reignited a Hip-Hop Tradition”. Hip-Hop Facts this week include facts about Mac Miller, Prince, Kendrick Lamar and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is Austin doesn’t have a definitive culture.
Big Bend businesses push back against border wall construction
In the Big Bend region, local businesses are banding together to push back against border wall construction.
Growing food insecurity in rural areas is on par with some of the country’s biggest cities amid changes to federal nutrition programs.
In the fight against the spread of a destructive parasite, a look at what may be a gaping hole in the strategy. A new warning about the New World screwworm.
Concerns are growing that many in Generation Z may be literally gambling away their futures.
Plus, the return of the Texas Beachcomber, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and much more.
UT cutting ethnic studies majors, Nonprofit board diversity, Vanessa Gonzalez comedy special
UT Austin is set to eliminate at least four majors, including Mexican American & Latina/o Studies and women’s & gender studies. It’s the latest move following the consolidation of seven ethnic and gender studies departments earlier this year.
A new report found that 1 in 3 leaders of color serving on Central Texas nonprofit boards experience bias or exclusion. The ways to ensure that everyone is made welcome at the table.
Plus, comedian Vanessa Gonzalez has a new streaming comedy special that was filmed here in Austin. We’ll talk about her experience coming up in the city’s comedy scene and the East Austin event she’ll be at later this month.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he’s investigating that proposed data center in Taylor. KUT’s Kailey Hunt first reported this about the proposed data center last year and now she’s got the latest on this investigation.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Houston G20 energy summit confronts high oil and gasoline prices
As concerns grow over data centers in Texas, something is conspicuously missing: Reliable data on the impact. We’ll have a look at the search for real numbers.
A global conference on energy wraps in Houston as gas prices reach wallet-slimming levels across the Lone Star State. We’ll hear more on the G20 energy summit and ask about a possible disconnect.
Facebook’s parent company Meta claims to be doing more to protect children and privacy, but a new controversy is calling those claims into question.
Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn dishes on what to do when something’s off about the brisket.
Austin DeFlock movement, Hispanic Heritage Month at MACC, Central Health budget
You’ve probably heard something about the pushback against automated license plate readers. The biggest name in the game is Flock, and there’s a growing movement to “De-Flock” Austin and other cities in Central Texas. We’ll hear their reasoning.
Austin’s newly renovated Mexican American Cultural Center is gearing up to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. We’ll dive into more about the changes and upcoming events.
Plus, we’ve got a budget update for the local health district, Central Health — as well as a budget update from Hays County.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
UT students respond after Bo French targets them online
We assume the hundreds of new data centers popping up across Texas use quite a bit of water, but we’ll look at why we don’t know for sure.
Texas has a program to help expand access to preschool. But why do some providers say it’s having unintended consequences?
Republican candidate for the Texas railroad commission Bo French put dozens of UT students in an unexpected spotlight with a racist social media post. We’ll delve into what the students say about the experience.
A book first published in the 1940s offered a scathing social critique of the rich and powerful of Fort Worth. It caused a scandal and was quickly suppressed. Now, “The Inheritors” is getting new life.
Plus, as Netflix prepares to remake “Lonesome Dove,” we revisit some of our favorite moments from the 1989 series with W.F. Strong.
Hemp flower legality, Airbnb Austin investment, mail-in ballots ruling
For years, Texans could walk into their local smoke shop and buy cannabis flower that looked and smelled exactly like marijuana. It came from the very same plant but was legally sold as hemp. Stores in Texas can no longer sell these smokeable products, but can folks still have them on their person?
And the City of Austin is getting a $6 million investment from Airbnb to help fund affordable housing.
Plus, a big decision was handed down from the Supreme Court yesterday on mail-in ballots ahead of November’s midterm Election Day.
And a sneak peek of the latest episode of the Tacos of Texas podcast.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Dallas-raised, best-selling author R.F. Kuang talks new novel ‘Taipei Story’
Texas pulled smokable hemp out of stores but it’s still available in other forms. So, what does the law say now?
A North Texas community weathered a recent wildfire but still lacks basic resources for another emergency.
And there’s a rise in dangerous ectopic pregnancies and it varies by state. We’ll delve into what’s happening in Texas.
Dallas-raised, best-selling author R.F. Kuang talks about her new novel, “Taipei Story” and explores what it means to learn a language after losing a generational tie to it.
Plus, we kick of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrating an Olympic silver-medalist.
Central Health budget preview, Running in the heat, Can Longhorns go undefeated?
Thousands of people here in Travis County depend on Central Health for their wellness needs, particularly those who earn the least amount of money. County commissioners are meeting this week to discuss the upcoming budget. We’ll tell you what’s in it.
And, the dog days of summer are still with us halfway through September. That means folks are still choosing the treadmill over the trails, though that’s not the case for one group of running fools.
There’s a new No. 1 team in college football after an all-time comeback this weekend by the Texas Longhorns. The season is still young and there are plenty of tough games are left on the schedule — but can this team go undefeated and end a national championship drought of over two decades?
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org