Liftoff for a mission set to answer cosmic mysteries. We’ll go over the main objectives and the West Texas connection for NASA’s new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
This summer, thousands of enlisted troops were forced out of a major Texas base over dangerous living conditions — the tip of the iceberg when it comes to barracks in disrepair.
Also, why some activists say a Lubbock library is breaking state law, and what Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is threatening to do.
Texas’ electricity free market helped boost renewables, but did it really make electricity cheaper as promised?
Plus, the Austinites hoping to bring back a love of Shakespeare.
Also, a trip out to Texas’ Goat Island.
politics
Austin writing data center rules, Great Austin Shake Off, Dolly Parton tributes
The Austin City Council has kicked off a long process focused on creating new rules and requirements for large-scale data centers. Some council members say it’s imperative to get a leg up, before any future construction takes hold.
The Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees is at risk of being taken over by state-selected appointees. So why would anyone be interested in running for a board seat? There are a few reasons.
When’s the last time you actually read work by William Shakespeare? A local group is working to bring the Bard’s word back to the masses with a competition called the Great Austin Shake Off.
Plus: The details on some some Dolly Parton tribute shows this weekend.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Texas-Minnesota extradition fight tests limits of federalism
Texas frees immigration officer Christian Castro, who is wanted for a shooting in Minnesota, raising critical legal and practical questions about federalism.
An attempt by the Trump administration to lower beef prices has many Texas ranchers upset.
Also, a look at what appears to be a groundbreaking new treatment in Texas for people with Parkinsons using ultrasound to stop tremors.
And as polls show Democrat James Talarico pulling ahead of his Republican rival, President Trump comes to Texas to boost support for Ken Paxton.
Plus, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and much more.
Evictions at Community First Village, KUTX artist of the month, Future Front Fest
Over the last five years, the Community First Village — which has drawn national attention as a new model to get people off the streets — has drastically increased the number of evictions filed against residents.
Paige Plaisance, KUTX’s Artist of the Month for August, melds a killer voice with the sounds of swampytonkin’.
The Future Front Festival is marking a decade of creating the the kind of diverse programming it wanted to see in the world.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Meta agrees to massive settlements over teen social media harms
Ottawa and Washington may seem distant to many Texans, but increasing rhetoric between the two has Texas in the crosshairs. We’ll examine how a trade war between allies could wind up costing Texas billions.
Other stories we’re tracking: A historic multibillion dollar settlement from Meta has been reached over the use of social media by young people. What changes, what doesn’t and what it may mean longer-term.
As smart glasses get smarter, tech expert Omar Gallaga focuses on the privacy concerns inspiring new apps.
Remember the Alamo? What about Gonzales? Filmmaker John Franklin Rinehart is making sure folks don’t forget.
Austin considers data center regulations, Dolly Parton’s guitar, New UIL heat rules
The Austin City Council is considering some regulations around data centers. That includes defining where they might be built, and how they’re categorized by size and demand on resources.
There are new rules for students participating in outdoor UIL competitions designed to protect kids from the brutal Texas heat. We’ll tell you what’s changing.
Some big names are on the way out of Austin FC. Who’s on the move and who’s available for tonight’s Leagues Cup match.
Dolly Parton gifted a rhinestoned guitar to Austin drag queen Brigitte Bandit. She can’t play it, but she can pretend — and she’s got a story for a lifetime.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
A Texas remembrance of Dolly Parton
Tens of thousands of acres are burning in West Texas. We’ll check in on containment efforts and the ongoing wildfire risk.
Republicans from all over the country will be gathering in Texas soon to drum up support for the November election. We’ll have a look at how the Texas GOP has evolved.
Chinese biotech firms have become a major force in the global pharmaceutical market. We’ll look at what Americans should know about where new medicine may be coming from.
Houston Police have been collaborating with ICE. We’ll share how the collaboration has impacted one man’s life.
And Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. We went looking for a Texan who could help us remember this icon of country music and beyond — and found a longtime collaborator and friend in Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson.
Father and son to be deported, city council lobbying, mother’s ICE detention
A father is choosing to self-deport to Mexico with his 5-year-old son after the pair was detained by ICE agents this month in North Austin. He’s making the decision to leave with his son, rather than risk losing custody of him.
The Austin City Council changed the way lobbying activities are reported this year, relying on self-reporting from lobbyists instead of city staff themselves. We’ll share some data on the interactions from the first quarter of the year.
The Tacos of Texas podcast is back with another season diving into the beloved food and the people who make them. We’ll go into the kitchen of an immigrant mother who shares the story of her detention by ICE agents.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
What’s behind the recent surge in food recalls?
Texas youth prisons go on lockdown after assaults on correctional staff, with one official saying young detainees are “becoming more violent and more aggressive.” We’ll hear about the effects of the lockdown and what happens next.
Why are we seeing a surge in food safety concerns and outbreaks of illness in Texas and other states? We’ll dive in and share some steps on staying safe.
With heat warnings in effect across much of the state, the University Interscholastic League makes heat safety guidelines mandatory.
Virtual public schools expand across Texas
How rising childcare costs and shrinking funds to help families is costing the state dearly, and why some fear a change at the federal level could make things worse.
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s flooding the airwaves with ads. Meanwhile, striking silence from his Republican challenger. Is Ken Paxton just keeping his powder dry in the weeks before elections, or is this a harbinger of a political sea change in Texas?
Those stories, a surprise in virtual learning and more on today’s show.
City Council term limits, Big Bend border plan protest, Austin Sketch Fest
Austin City Council members are usually limited to two four-year terms, but a few folks have attempted to represent their district for a third time. Now Paige Ellis is vying to do the same.
Conservation advocates were in Austin this week, voicing opposition to border construction in the Big Bend region. Former state officeholders and parks and wildlife officials, and everyday Texans, took their protest to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
It’s the final weekend of Austin Sketch Fest, which has hosted many of today’s biggest comedy stars way back when they were just getting going.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Judge appoints monitor for migrant children detained in Texas
A federal judge orders answers to the question of why families are being held so long at a detention center in South Texas. We’ll have the story.
After a state takeover of schools in Houston, officials tout rising scores for schools, but are those grades being artificially inflated at the expense of students themselves? We’ll hear about an exclusive investigation by the Houston Chronicle.
Also, a city best known for the Alamo, a riverwalk and the Spurs is now gaining accolades for fungus.
Plus, BBQ beyond the brisket: Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn on the lesser-known champions of smoked chicken.
California/Texas surrogacy case tests abortion and parental rights
At what some have described as Texas’ flagship university, the University of Texas at Austin, a proposed change in core requirements for graduation. We’ll delve into why now and what it means.
In a North Texas city, some backyards are said to be disappearing with every new rainfall. We’ll hear about what’s happening in Arlington and what can be done.
Also, a surrogate mother comes to Texas, refusing to get an abortion as requested by the biological parents. Now, the courts are involved. We’ll have the backstory and what comes next.
And Minnesota officials sue Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the extradition of an ICE agent.
And Robert Earl Keen with an update on that road that goes on forever.
New developments in Big Bend border wall fight
Border construction in Big Bend National Park is paused — for now. We’ll have an overview of the damage done and what’s next.
Texas received billions from a federal program meant to help provide high-speed internet to underserved communities. But why is it pausing new projects?
Texas is home to the largest detention camp in the country. A year after the opening of the detention facility at Fort Bliss, calls to close it are intensifying.
Some Texans have been notified of high levels of radium in their water. We’ll look at why this happens and potential solutions.
Plus, the National Hockey League is considering another team in Texas. Will it be Austin or Houston?
Tacos de la Casa: Cooking with Joy. Hiding from ICE
In the season opener of Tacos of Texas, we step into two home kitchens and the women who run them. Denise Segura is a not so traditional Abuela from San Antonio. We’ll also make tacos with an immigrant mom who asked us not to use her name for safety reasons. We talk about home cooking and what it means to keep feeding their families, one taco a time.
Tacos of Texas is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Reaction to AISD school ratings, Giant Adirondack chair, Books set in Austin
Classes start tomorrow in the Austin Independent School District, fresh off news last week that two of its middle schools registered a fifth failing state accountability rating. That has opened the door to possible state intervention, but some folks are asking that the positive gains Austin schools have made also be considered in the whatever future decision is made for the district.
Students and families and staff are feeling all of the emotions of tomorrow’s first day of school. We’ll bring you their voices.
What’s the story behind the huge Adirondack chair outside an Austin church? ATXplained finds out.
Plus: A few novels set in Austin to add to your TBR list.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
State ratings put Austin schools at risk of Texas takeover
The report cards are in — not for students, but for Texas public schools, inching some districts closer to a state takeover. We’ll have details and more.
Paxton v. Roblox: Why the Texas attorney general — and Republican senate candidate —has put a popular gaming platform in his legal crosshairs.
Also, what some describe as a little like Bitcoin with a “Come-and-Take-It” attitude: Today, Texas financial regulators are set to lay out a case against what’s called the TEXITcoin.
And the story of Eddie Durham, the Texan some credit with inventing riff-based jazz. The San Marcos-born trombone player was perhaps better known as an electric guitar trailblazer.
How risks can be managed psychologically
Carl Stuart takes caller and text questions on emphasizing the importance of avoiding large losses, understanding market cycles, managing risk psychologically, and not letting taxes drive investment decisions.
UT curriculum changes, Cesar Chavez Street input, Restaurant inspection scores
UT Austin wants to change the assigned classes required of future undergraduates. It’s the first such change in more than two decades.
The city of Austin is gathering feedback about the possibility of renaming Cesar Chavez Street after the labor leader was accused of sexual assault. How you can make your voice heard.
Have you ever wondered how clean your favorite Austin restaurant really is? KUT has a new map where you can search for food inspection scores.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Two Austin schools receive fifth failing ratings, opening door to state takeover
Two struggling Austin middle schools have received a fifth consecutive failing accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency, opening the door to a state takeover of all the schools in the district. Houston ISD, the biggest school district in Texas, has been under state mandate for a few years. How it’s going so far.
The Austin City Council has adopted a budget of more than $6.5 billion. There were plenty of cuts, but a few late additions, too.
Plus, a preview of the new season 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