SCOTUS

Uranium mining poised for a comeback in South Texas

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about restrictions on gender-affirming care for young people. What a ruling could mean.
Texas elected officials will soon have to start disclosing more information about the properties they own – changes that could reveal more about Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent real estate transactions.
Houston-based Enron went very publicly kaput more than 20 years ago. Now, it’s back? We’ll take a closer look.
Uranium mining is ramping up again in South Texas, raising questions about the environmental and economic implications.
Plus: ChatGPT is known to have its limitations. What one of its blindspots tells us about artificial intelligence.

After nearly 50 years, food critic Pat Sharpe asks for the check

Texas leaders are among President-elect Trump’s biggest supporters. Are they being left off the list of Cabinet picks?
She’s traveled and tasted dishes from across the Lone Star State: After 50 years, Texas Monthly food critic Pat Sharpe is retiring and sharing what she’s learned on the job.
The details of a plan to turn an old golf course into a world-class arboretum in San Antonio.
And: An update on the results of a rural summit bringing residents, local officials and state lawmakers together.

Officials renew push for Texas-Mexico rail project

What to do with the waste generated by nuclear power plants? The Supreme Court will review a plan to store it in West Texas.
The latest financial reports are in for campaign fundraising throughout the state, and Republicans are focusing heavily on South Texas.
Meta is doubling down on efforts to appeal to Gen-Z and recently reached out to young influencers at an event in Austin called “Facebook IRL.”
The late Texas singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith is the subject of a new book. We’ll talk with author Brian T. Atkinson about her legacy and what he learned about her while writing.
And: Politicians on both sides of the border are advocating for a train connecting Austin with Monterrey, Mexico. What needs to happen for the plan to move forward.

Supreme Court kicks off new term with high-profile cases

A new term begins for the U.S. Supreme Court, with growing political pressure on the court. We’ll have a preview of what’s ahead and what it could mean for Texans.
As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, the U.S. State Department is urging American citizens in Lebanon to stay informed about available assistance.
The one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel falls between two of Judaism’s holiest days. As fighting intensifies between Israelis, Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran with growing numbers of civilians killed, a rabbi in Austin is trying to manage concerns and divides he’s encountered.

50 years on the road with Texas Highways

Hurricane Beryl bears down on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, raising red flags for Texas. Meteorologist Matt Lanza brings us the latest on the storm and what parts of Texas may be most affected.
The U.S. Supreme Court says it will take up a case involving Texas’ new law requiring adult-oriented sites to obtain age verification from users.
A milestone for any magazine, Texas Highways turns 50.
Border enforcement and the role of a one-time Texas Ranger in shaping how we view the issue today.
Plus, the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.

How the Texas Lottery helped a big spending group become surefire winners

Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett on Tuesday became the first Democrat on Capitol Hill to call for President Biden to abandon his re-election bid.
In several high-profile cases, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed rulings from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where Texas cases go on appeal.
Ever try your luck at the lottery? We’ll hear about an out-of-state scheme to win big by buying up the odds.
And soda’s unintentional pop: KUT’s Mose Buchele takes the lid off the mystery of exploding cans in hot cars.

Texas dance company brings a love story home to Shankleville

On the final day of its term, the U.S. Supreme Court sent the legal challenge to a Texas social media law back to a lower court and said Donald Trump has absolute immunity for official acts only. We’ll have the latest.

It may be up to Texas lawmakers to further clarify state rules around in vitro fertilization.

The latest on potential disruptions for energy and travel as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in the Caribbean.

Marijuana is not legal for recreational use in Texas – but tests show the products sold at smoke shops and gas stations is more like the real deal than meets the eye.

And the Standard’s Kristen Cabrera reports from East Texas on the homecoming of the enduring love story of Jim and Winnie Shankle – one that began on a plantation and ended with emancipation – told in the universal language of dance.

Former Uvalde school police chief indicted over failed shooting response

A grand jury investigating the failed police response to the Robb Elementary shooting has issued indictments against two law enforcement officers on the scene, including former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo.
Kathleen Dorothy Blackburn, author of the new book “Loose of Earth,” talks about her family’s search for faith healers as father died – and later, her effort to learn more about the so-called “forever chemicals” he was exposed to.
A look at the life and legacy of the incomparable Kinky Friedman, who died yesterday at his ranch outside Medina.
And: The week that was in politics includes multiple questions about the ethics of Texas lawmakers.

What to know about sunscreen this summer

The Supreme Court has dismissed a closely watched abortion case, paving the way for doctors to perform emergency abortions in Idaho.
How a tunnel system in Houston contributes to flooding – and the bipartisan effort to fix it.
We’ll have the latest from Consumer Reports on their sunscreen findings, from SPF ratings to new ingredients.
Women at a Texas prison allege they and others are suffering abuse at the hands of one guard. Texas Public Radio investigates.
Plus: Netflix House is coming to Dallas, and tech expert Omar Gallaga has the details on what to expect from the immersive experience.

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.

Supreme Court upholds domestic violence gun law in North Texas case

In an 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court has issued a major ruling on gun rights, effectively disarming domestic abusers.
A meeting today to consider the exceptions to the state’s near-total abortion ban: It’s an effort to deal with fears about prosecution cited by many Texas doctors.
The latest on what could be upcoming federal rules on heat protection for workers.
Elon Musk gets the green light to reincorporate Tesla in Texas – but he’s far from alone. How the move is a part of a larger shift to reincorporate in the Lone Star State and why.
A conversation with Tara López, whose new book “Chuco Punk: Sonic Insurgency in El Paso” examines the city’s punk scene from its beginning to the turn of the century.
And: the week in politics with The Texas Tribune.

Supreme Court rejects a Trump-era ban on bump stocks

The Supreme Court has struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks – devices that can be attached to a semiautomatic gun to make it fire more quickly – in a case brought by Michael Cargill, a U.S. Army veteran and owner of a gun store in Austin.
The State of Texas wants to replace the judge overseeing the lawsuit over its foster care system, Judge Janis Jack, saying she can’t be impartial.
There’s been a rash of near-misses between planes at busy airports. A new piece of equipment in Austin could help prevent that.
Plus: A new investigation finds that thousands of Texans live near oil and gas wells that could be leaking excess amounts of hydrogen sulfide, putting their health at risk.

Texas’ Jamestown Revival talk Tony-nominated score

The U.S. Supreme Court makes a key decision on abortion access, but is it the final word on the matter? The highest court in the land makes a unanimous decision on the abortion drug mifepristone, in a case that was originally filed in Amarillo.
The producers of the hit Broadway musical “The Outsiders” wanted someone outside the theatre world to score their play. Magnolia’s own Jamestown Revival stop by to talk about their Tony-nominated songs.
We’ve also got the latest intelligence on Apple bringing AI to its phones.

Inside San Antonio College’s hands-on mortuary science program

We’re taking a look at the remaining Supreme Court decisions this term, on gun rights, abortion, freedom of speech online, and homelessness, just to name a few.
Texas Democrats and Republicans build bipartisan consensus to tackle the state’s affordable housing crisis.
A petition drive in the Valley aims to change the McAllen city charter, to give voters more power in shaping policy.
San Antonio has a new funeral home, the only one in the country operating on a college campus.
And: saving the Texas tortoise and horned lizard – how a rancher and her dog are helping scientists find the elusive critters.

The buzz around the Bumble ad controversy

The border buoys case in court: Why the arguments surrounding Texas’ river barrier were not about immigration.
El Paso County residents are concerned a proposed highway expansion project could imperil the Rio Bosque – a marshy area along the Rio Grande that has been “re-wilded” to support native plants and wildlife.
What will soon be one of Texas’ biggest gas pipelines is raising both environmental and safety concerns from the residents along the path.
The new book “They Came for the Schools” takes us further into the story of the Carroll Independent School District’s battle over what’s on library shelves and in classrooms.
And: Austin-based dating app Bumble apologized this week for an ad campaign that some believed mocked the choice not to date, or to remain celibate. Tech expert Omar Gallaga shares more.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for April 22, 2024

Central Texas top stories for April 22, 2024. Early voting began today. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today on a case that could change policies banning behavior related to homelessness in Austin. Construction is kicking off inside Austin-Bergstrom International Airport as part of a quarter-billion-dollar expansion of the Barbara Jordan Terminal. The City of Austin wants to raise awareness about the threat of drink spiking. Gas prices level off. Austin FC won in Houston on Saturday.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 22, 2024

Central Texas top stories for April 22, 2024. A Travis County resident is attempting to remove District Attorney José Garza from office. Early voting starts today in the May fourth local elections. Elgin ISD’s $375 million bond package. The US Supreme Court will hear arguments this week on a case that could change policies banning behavior related to homelessness in Austin. A lawsuit alleges Travis County’s taxing hospital district Central Health has improperly provided money to Dell Medical School since 2014. The City of Austin is looking into how to close the $3.8 million gap in their budget.

Texas Eclipse Festival attendees with disabilities describe treacherous conditions

Landowners in southeast Texas say they should be able to sue the state over their flooded property, and the U.S. Supreme Court agrees. People in Winnie, Texas, say their land only started to flood after the state rebuilt part of nearby Interstate 10. Now, they can seek compensation for the damages.
Live music seems more expensive, but are musicians getting paid more? Not really. We’ll talk to someone trying to change that.
And the attorney general crusades against a media outlet on behalf of Elon Musk.

Austin to be hit as Tesla announces 14,000 layoffs

Are protest organizers responsible if a participant breaks the law? A court decision could have a chilling effect.
A new report on maternal health shows Black Texans are much more likely to die after giving birth than their white counterparts.
What layoffs at Tesla mean for jobs in Texas and the EV car market.
The Houston Dash celebrates a decade of women’s pro soccer. How the team and the league have grown over the years.
And: We’ll talk to comedian Jeff Hiller, who’s returning to his home state of Texas for the Moontower Comedy Festival.

An Indigenous perspective on the solar eclipse from a traditional healer

In a long-running securities fraud case against Ken Paxton, a deal has been reached that will let the attorney general avoid trial or an admission of guilt.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in what could be the most important case on reproductive rights since the Dobbs decision, this time on access to medication abortion.
Autonomous vehicles are getting a lot of bad press. Could smart roads pave the way to self-driving cars and trucks? A smart highway in Texas may put that to the test.
Marika Alvarado, who describes herself as a “direct descendant of generations of Medicine Women: traditional native healers of body, midwives and plant medicine,” shares her Indigenous perspective on the solar eclipse.
And: A UT San Antonio professor has dubbed the upcoming eclipse “the most profitable 22 minutes in Texas history.” Bulent Temel joins the show with more.