politics

Facing deficit, Austin ISD to cut educator salaries

The Austin Independent School District is set to cut more than 200 educator salaries as they work to address a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. District officials have also identified other ways to reduce the deficit, including cuts to the central office and projected revenue from real estate sales.

The City of Austin has given the green light to almost a million dollars in taxpayer money toward a lawsuit alleging city and state police raided the wrong home in South Austin. We’ll hear more about the lawyers they’re using in this case and others.

Three young brothers in TX who play mariachi music were detained by ICE back in February as a part of President Trump’s immigration crack down. The brothers got out 2 weeks later, and country music super star Kasey Musgraves heard their story and invited the boys on the Texas leg of her new tour. We’ll hear more about their story.

Austin Psych Fest kicks off today and there are plenty of local acts to catch over the weekend. We’ve got the names you’ll want to keep your eyes and ears on.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

What to know about hantavirus

After three deaths on a cruise ship, fears over hantavirus are going viral online. A top Texas epidemiologist shares what science says.
The race for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas is getting a lot of attention as current Attorney General Ken Paxton tries to take the seat of a fellow Republican. But what about the seat he’s vacating? How much do you know about who’s in the running?
Wind power: One of the biggest stories of Texas energy in recent years. But now, wind is set to take second place to something else.
Plus, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and poetry from the Typewriter Rodeo.

Austin considers new contract with Texas Gas Service

The Austin City Council is considering a vote to renew its contract with a for-profit utility that provides natural gas to the city, despite long-standing dissatisfaction locally with gas rates.

The IHOP near downtown Austin has finally been sold at auction. The pancake purveyor has remained steady despite rampant development all around it. Why it finally happened.

We’re nearing the end of the school year, and some students in Austin ISD won’t be back on their campus next year amid school closures. We’ll hear about Bedichek Middle School’s final track and field competition.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Austin Police response times ticking upward, even as calls go down

Austin’s SAFE Alliance will no longer provide exams for sexual assault survivors because of a funding shortfall. Other programs could also be on the chopping block. We’ll talk about how others are planning to assist.

A swift local police response to the March shooting at Buford’s on Sixth Street was commended in the days after the tragedy. But overall, reaction times from Austin Police are trending upward — even though fewer calls are coming in.

Ruben Ramos, better known to his fans as El Gato Negro, has a new album coming out this week. The project is produced by Carrie Rodriguez and revisits music from the early years of Ramos’ career.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Infowars site shuts down amid tussle with The Onion

A group of civil rights organizations filed a new lawsuit this week seeking to stop parts of the law that would let state police arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. We’ll have more about the law and why it’s been paused.

Infowars, long home to Austin-based conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, shut down quietly over the weekend. It’s the latest in what’s been a years-long back-and-forth with the satirical publication The Onion over the property.

An Austin Shakespeare company is starting a new era after losing their home theatre.

Also, the sounds and impacts from Austin’s music scene go far beyond the city limits.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Latin Heat w/ DJ Manny Mo

On this episode, we speak with, friend of the show, DJ Manny Mo about the rise of latin music in the last few years. We also talk about the latest fall out from Ticketmaster. Hip-hop facts include facts about Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Jamiroquai and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is about how Drake isn’t too big to fail as an artist.

Mando Rayo shares some taco hot takes

The inaugural KUT Festival is happening this weekend in Austin. It was scheduled to take place on the UT campus, but now a majority of the events are taking place elsewhere. More about the changes and the back-and-forth between UT and KUT leadership.

Beef prices are sticking near record-high prices, an issue that’s been exacerbated by severe drought in some of the country’s main cattle producing regions. That’s forced some Texans to great creative about how they get their meat.

Austinites have many preferences and takes on their tacos. What’s your taco hot take? Tacos of Texas podcast host Mando Rayo has some to share.

Questions about self-driving vehicles during emergencies

It’s been almost two months since a deadly shooting outside a bar on West Sixth Street, and local officials are looking at the emergency response to that tragedy, including concerns about autonomous vehicles.

Here in Texas, one of the country’s largest legal cannabis markets is fighting for its life, with exceptions allowing the sale of smokeable hemp slated to expire this week.

This year, the Austin Film Society’s Doc Days Film festival is highlighting the effects of Space X on the South Texas Coast, looking at collective action by UPS workers, the work to return ancestral remains to native lands, and much more.

There’s been some changes to this weekend’s inaugural KUT Fest. It’s still going forward, just in a few different locations.

Lawmakers hear from Camp Mystic investigators

It’s day two of a special legislative hearing on the Camp Mystic tragedy. Investigators told lawmakers this week that camp operators were “complacent” when it came to safety protocols at the summer camp.

Lindsey Wilson, director of the city’s Equity and Inclusion office, shares details about the Fair Housing and Economic Mobility Conference taking place Wednesday, April 29.

Kendall Antonelli of Antonelli’s Cheese Shop stops by and introduces us to some of her favorite cheeses.

And: Learn how some of the city’s top chefs are partnering up with the students of Austin ISD’s culinary arts and hospitality program.

AISD under investigation for Pride Week celebration

The Austin Independent School District is being investigated by the Texas Education Agency for celebrating its annual Pride Week.

Attorney general is a powerful role; governors, senators and even vice presidents got their start as AG. Is Ken Paxton next?

Have you ever wanted a handy one-stop guide to everything Austin? KUT’s Field Guide is bringing you even more ways to know the city.

And an update on Athena’s surviving owlet, and why he might’ve been left for dead.

Simply Lemonade

On this episode we discuss the tenth anniversary of Beyonce’s album “Lemonade” and its lasting legacy in music. We also discuss rappers needing to shut the hell up when it comes to problematic artists. Hip-hop facts this week include facts about Betty Wright, Bootylicious, Nick Cannon and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion might motive, or discourage, those looking for a high profile co-sign.

Kyle water bills skyrocket after rate hikes

Accessing reliable sources of water is becoming more difficult for some Central Texans — and more expensive. In Kyle, residents facing high water bills are carefully considering any way that they can limit their costs.

An Austin firefighter battling terminal endometrial cancer is eligible for workers’ compensation, but the decision this week granting her those benefits came after a long fight with the city.

Plus: We’ll chat about the work being done to bring together Central Texans of all religious backgrounds.

How a federal dispute briefly shut down El Paso airspace

Tens of thousands of DACA recipients are living in legal limbo in Texas under the threat of sudden deportation. We’ll look at the ripple effects in Texas and beyond.
At a Baptist university well known for its conservative values, twin events at Baylor between Turning Point USA and a progressive event called All Our Neighbors is raising questions and eyebrows.
A sudden shutdown of the airspace over El Paso back in February led to widespread confusion. We’ll hear about the inter-agency feuds that have given way to even more questions.
Also, the Austin firefighter in the spotlight for battling cancer as well as the Texas Capitol city over workers compensation benefits.
Plus, Texas beachcomber Jace Tunnell with a fish tale impossible to ignore.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support our work by becoming a sustaining member at supportthispodcast.org.

Highland Park archery club aiming for another national championship

Texas can force schools to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms following a ruling this week from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — but for now, the Austin school district does not have to comply because of ongoing litigation.

Highland Park Elementary School has become a powerhouse in the sport of archery, and they’re going after another national title.

Plus: Are there wild elk lurking in South Austin? ATXplained investigates.

Flooding leads to evacuations in Williamson County

Steady rain in the region over the last few days led to flooding in Williamson County, with some evacuations occurring. We’ll hear from residents impacted by the floods and how it differed from last summer’s flooding.

A Central Austin building that was home to a Sears store for decades has new life as a one-stop shop — but instead of lawnmowers and washing machines, folks can now have many of their health needs met. We’ll have more about the transformation.

Plus, Austin author Rebecca Bendheim’s new book “When You’re Brave Enough” is all about a mid-life reinvention… Or perhaps more of a middle-school reinvention.

UT Austin announces $750 million gift for new Dell Medical Center

It’s been almost two months since a deadly shooting on West Sixth Street left three people dead, including one UT Austin student. Now a new scholarship to help underprivileged students advance their education has been created in honor of Savitha Shanmugasundaram’s life.

UT Austin has announced a new Dell Medical Center and research campus following a $750 million gift from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation — one that makes the Dells UT’s first-ever billion-dollar donors.

And, the satirical media outlet The Onion says they’ve acquired Infowars, the Austin-based source for decades of conspiracy theories.

Plus: The Indie Meme Film Festival is back for its 11th year. We’ll hear more about what’s coming to town.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Texas to launch its own clinical trials of psychedelic drug

The state of Texas is poised to spend millions on psychedelic drug research. We’ll have the details about the clinical trials set for ibogaine.
Profits for Texas restaurants are plummeting as ICE conducts more immigration raids. We’ll hear what restaurant owners want the Trump administration to do.
A deadline to ensure digital materials are accessible for people with disabilities has been extended. We’ll have a look at why and what the delay means.
A new cancer center for patients who need care opens in rural Texas.
And Austin’s ‘Into Light’ portrait exhibit puts a face on the opioid crisis.

Belongings lost in homeless camp sweeps, despite city resolution

Austin’s unhoused folks say they lose everything when the city sweeps though their camps, despite a City Council resolution aiming to improve the sweeps and provide more notice ahead of time.

The City of Austin overpaid hundreds of employees to the tune of more than $1 million. Most employees expected having to pay the money back —but didn’t expect to face potential legal action for the city’s error. Andrea Ball of Austin Current joins us now to talk about this.

Gran Moreno, the KUTX Artist of the Month, has only one rule: There are no rules.

Plus: The latest on Athena, the resident owl at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and her 2026 owlets.

War with Iran hits Texas energy from two directions

The war in Iran and the big energy bottleneck presents implications for the Lone Star State. As we parse out the latest, we’ll have a closer look at the impact on oil and why one top analyst says despite record oil exports from Texas, we’re still not out of the woods.
There has been a lot of talk about cheap drones that are giving an edge to adversaries on the battlefield. Why is the U.S. lagging on using them?
A new study examines an educational experiment in Dallas, rewarding teachers for student performance. How effective is that approach, and should it be replicated statewide?
We’ll hear the results and the takeaway, plus the week in Texas music and much more.

Why the Spurs owe San Antonio millions after failed MLS bid

Texas Republican Tony Gonzales has begun the process of resigning amid accusations tied to sexual misconduct. What’s next for Texas’ 23rd congressional district?
There’s an annual ritual going on right now on parts of the Texas Gulf Coast. Why conservationists are celebrating the unusual display of the Attwater’s prairie-chicken.
The San Antonio Spurs are headed into the NBA playoffs, but its parent company is facing a challenge. Why Bexar County says it’s owed millions.
The Trump administration had a plan to help farmers hire foreign workers, but many say the idea to lower wages under the visa program is not the way.
Plus, we’ll introduce you to new novelist Rebecca Bendheim, and we’ll explore a bit of lesser-known Texas history.