Texas came up more than once during President Trump’s State of the Union speech. We’ll have an analysis of what he mentioned and what he left out.
Camp Mystic is facing troubles in court after the way it handled deadly flooding in July. But a comment from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick could spell even further challenges.
After the deaths of two men in detention at a tent facility in Fort Bliss, we’re learning more about the kinds of medical emergencies happening at the camp in El Paso.
Evidence one Texas police department is doing more to crack down on dangerous driving.
And a resurgence of protest music amid immigration crackdowns — we’ll hear from Texas musicians.
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Why bats in Austin may be living rent-free in your apartment
Early voting for the upcoming primaries in Texas begins next month. Up in Williamson County, things are going to be a little different this election cycle. Voters there will no longer be able to vote at any polling site on Election Day. We’ll talk about why that is, and the impacts it could have.
Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement have continued in the Austin area this week. Demonstrators gathered outside Austin City Hall on Tuesday. We’ll hear more from those who took part.
Plus, bats have long found a cozy home here in Austin, but they’re not just nestling up under the South Congress bridge.
And living, dying and grief is the subject of a short film premiering this weekend in Austin.
‘No Kings’ rally draws 20,000 protesters in Austin
A Travis County judge has signed off on a local disaster declaration to give the county access to resources and respond quickly to wildfires when and if they pop up this season. KUT’s Luz Moreno-Lozano joins us to talk preparedness.
An estimated 20,000 people attended Austin’s ‘No Kings’ rally on Saturday as part of planned demonstrations against the Trump administration nationwide. We’ll hear from a few who attended.
Plus: A wrapup of Formula 1 in Austin and looking ahead to Austin FC in the MLS playoffs.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 20, 2025: Today is the first day of early voting in the November 4th election
Central Texas top stories for October 20, 2025. Today is the first day of early voting in the November 4th election. This year, ballots in Texas will also have 17 proposed amendments to the Texas constitution. Organizers of Austin’s local “No Kings Day” event estimated that some 20 thousand people came out to protest this weekend. Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed that a UT professor was dismissed from his administrative duties due to “ideological differences.” The U-S Grand Prix will continue in Austin through at least 2034. Today could be one of the busiest days at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The Longhorns beat Kentucky 16 to 13 on Saturday.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 20, 2025: Eviction filings in the Austin area are the highest they’ve been in five years
Central Texas top stories for August 20, 2025. Eviction filings in the Austin area are the highest they’ve been in five years. Hays CISD is putting a tax rate election on the ballot this fall. The Texas Capitol will go back to regular activates today after it was evacuated yesterday evening. The Texas Senate passed a bill that would require government buildings to only allow people to use bathrooms that align with the gender that was assigned to them at birth. There’s an emergency preparedness pop-up event happening today.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 18, 2025: Thousands rally at Texas Capitol against Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan
Central Texas top stories for August 18, 2025. More than five thousand people took to the Capitol in Austin this weekend to protest President Trump and the Texas Legislature’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts to give Republicans more seats in the U.S. House. Starting tomorrow Austin’s streets will get busier with AISD going back to class. The Austin City Council adopted a $6.3 million dollar budget and now voters have to decide if they want to pay more property taxes. The man suspected of killing three people outside a Target in North Austin last week has an extensive criminal history. The City of Georgetown’s asking residents to give feedback on the one-point-three billion dollar proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
Sugar Land acquires historic district tied to city’s roots in the sugar industry
A new Texas law requires posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. We’ll look at the looming legal battle.
Where do Texans stand on how well state legislators are doing their jobs? What about how well the president is doing his job? A new poll by the Texas Politics Project offers a look.
The Mexican flag, long flown at restaurants and at cultural events, is more recently making a prominent appearance in protests. We’ll talk about perspectives on symbolism and cultural expression.
And: Once a company town built around sugar production, Sugar Land is now seeking to preserve its complex history with the city’s acquisition of the Imperial Historic District.
Texans rally statewide on ‘No Kings Day’ to oppose Trump polices
Texas-based historian and author Jeremi Suri joins with the latest about the military back-and-forth between Iran and Israel, threatening to become an even larger all-out war, and what that could mean on the home front – including Texas’ role as the world’s energy capital.
Protests against president Trump’s second administration reach a new high water mark with thousands turning out at events across Texas and the rest of the country over the weekend.
And: LBJ Foundation CEO and presidential historian Mark Updegrove draws leadership lessons from seven American presidents in his new book.
Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
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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.
Some immigrants thankful for those who protest in Austin, but worry arrests overshadow purpose
Many residents without legal status are staying away from anti-ICE protests because they don’t feel safe. KUT’s Greta Díaz González Vázquez tells us how they are feeling about other people protesting. More demonstrations are planned for the weekend.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 10, 2025: Hundreds march in downtown Austin to protest Trump immigration crackdown
Central Texas top stories for June 10, 2025. Law enforcement officers used an eye irritant to disperse people protesting the Trump’s administration’s mass deportation efforts. Some students expect their tuition and fees to be more than double after the Texas Dream Act was struck down last week. A bill lawmakers hope will make it harder to stop or stall new housing has been sent to the governor’s desk. Juneteenth celebrations start in Austin today. FACE grant applications are open until July 17th.
KUT Morning Newscast for May 2, 2025: Roughly 3,200 people experience homelessness in Austin on any given night.
Central Texas top stories for May 2, 2025. A tornado touched down in Burnet County yesterday, a house and a building were destroyed. Protesters marched down Congress Avenue in Austin yesterday to speak out against the Trump administration. The number of people experiencing homelessness in Austin and the surrounding counties has increased by about 36 percent, according to the latest point-in-time count. Voters will be going to the poles this weekend for the May 3 elections. The Austin Independent School District is working on plans to turn around three campuses that have received several failing grades in a row from the state.
Anti-Trump protests were held across Texas and nationwide over the weekend.
Protests were held across Texas and the nation as part of the 50501 Movement, a nationwide response to President Donald Trump’s policies. The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez tells us Texans took to the streets in multiple cities.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 31, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 31, 2024. Tomorrow is the last day of early voting; some polling places will be open until 10 p.m. The City of Austin could expand homeownership support to more people. A small group of students held a pro-Palestinian protest on the UT campus. A team of veterinarians with Texas A&M returned home after helping with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. Manor ISD superintendent announced new security measures after a student was fatally stabbed. It looks like we’ll have some rain today.
Lawmakers slam Texas Lottery for aiding jackpot scheme, prompting policy change
A new policy blocks transgender Texans from changing the sex on their driver’s licenses, unless it’s to fix a clerical error.
The game is up on a Texas lottery loophole that allowed some to buy up tickets en masse, guaranteeing a win. But the door could still be open for abuse.
A new poll on presidential politics in Texas shows Vice President Kamala Harris cutting into former President Donald Trump’s lead.
Midland officials have pushed to figure out how to address a multimillion-dollar deficit in the city’s firefighter pension, but recently efforts to stabilize the fund have slowed.
Plus: Are you in the market for a fitness tracker or a laptop for your kid? We’re talking to the experts and have some tips you should consider for adding them to your cart.
What’s ahead for U.S. gymnastics at the Olympics
A faculty committee at UT Austin found that university leaders violated their own rules when calling police to respond to protests over the war in Gaza at the end of the spring semester. Audrey McGlinchy of KUT News shares the latest.
Five years after the mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, a new memorial is unveiled to honor the 23 people killed.
Serious questions have been raised over a private contractor providing healthcare services to prison inmates in many states, including Texas.
And: Texas was well-represented at the men and women’s gymnastics team and all-around events at the Paris Olympics. A look at what’s ahead for the athletes.
The growing union drive in tech
Extreme weather brings flooding and evacuations to an area near the Trinity River. We’ll find out how folks are coping with all that water.
Police remove protestors trying to set up camp on the UT Austin campus.
A new book takes a look at the Republic of Texas – an armed secession movement in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. It happened nearly 30 years ago. Could we see it again?
Also, as union membership grows across the Lone Star State, what does that mean for tech workers and why they face challenges unionizing?
What does Drake’s A.I. Diss Song Mean for Rap?
Fresh defends Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which uses dupes of Snoop and Tupac’s voices. Plus hear Confucius’ take on the University of Texas’ response to a recent pro-Palestinian protest along with other headlines, and Hip-Hop Facts.
What’s next for pro-Palestine campus protests in Texas?
An even larger antiwar protest at the University of Texas at Austin takes place Thursday, now the official response to protesters taking center stage. Is a major constitutional battle looming over UT’s response to Wednesday’s campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war?
Why tiny rural Texas towns may be in the crosshairs for a new kind of cyberwar between the U.S. and its adversaries.
Historic Texas barbecue joints, fading into history? Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn with details.
Plus the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and much more.
What’s next after state troopers arrested dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters at UT-Austin
After protests over the Israel-Hamas war at Columbia, NYU and elsewhere, students at the University of Texas follow suit and were met by police in riot gear who arrested dozens. UT history and politics professor Jeremi Suri talks about what happened on campus yesterday and the lessons from an earlier wave of student protests nationwide.
A new report from state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon shows we’re looking at hotter temperatures, more extreme droughts and growing wildfire dangers.
And: A closer look at what comes next for TikTok after President Joe Biden signed a foreign aid package that includes a measure to ban the app if China-based parent company ByteDance fails to divest from it within a year.