tea

Reflecting on the Aggie bonfire tragedy, 25 years later

The Texas State Board of Education could soon approve a curriculum that includes Bible stories and doesn’t spend as much time on slavery.
It’s been 25 years since one of the darkest moments in Texas A&M history. Reflecting on the impact of the Aggie bonfire collapse.
Families in America today can look a lot different than what’s long been considered “normal.” The podcast “Refamulating explores why it’s important to re-think family.
A Black-owned bookstore in North Texas is closing one chapter, but its owner says even after very challenging times, the story isn’t over.
Plus: Why Faith Family Academy, a dominant team in girls basketball, won’t be allowed in the state playoffs.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 17, 2024

Central Texas top stories for October 17, 2024. Austin and Travis County are issuing disaster declarations in response to the growing risk of wildfire. Three candidates running for a seat on the Railroad Commission of Texas met at a forum last night. The Texas Education Agency has released updated instructional materials the State Board of Education is scheduled to review and vote on next month. This Monday is set to be the busiest day ever at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 13, 2024

Central Texas top stories for August 13, 2024. More school districts have students returning this week. The trial of a former Williamson County Sheriff and attorney charged with evidence tampering is underway in Travis County. A Travis County judge has blocked the Texas Education Agency from releasing its school ratings for the second year in a row. More triple-digit days ahead. We’re a little more than two weeks away from the start of the Longhorn football season.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for June 13, 2024

Central Texas top stories for June 13, 2024. The Texas power grid is getting new reliability standards. There’s new information about the evidence tampering case against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody. The Texas Education Agency has released standardized testing results that show high schoolers’ proficiency in math has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. A Cedar Park church’s Pride flag keeps getting stolen. A look into the decision to dismiss Texas Attorney General’s lawsuit against Austin over its voter-approved ordinance decriminalizing low-level marijuana possession. Dripping Springs is bringing in a sixth elementary school in fall 2025. New maps from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows a mixed bag. 

KUT Afternoon Newscast for March 14, 2024

Central Texas top stories for March 14, 2024. TEA places IDEA Public Schools under conservatorship. Activists protest at Austin City Hall calling for better investments in homeless and tenant stabilization programs. Georgetown I-S-D’s aerospace engineering program is one of twelve  nationwide to be selected for an aviation workforce development grant. Guidance for abortion providers.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for December 22, 2023

Central Texas top stories for December 22, 2023. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the City of Austin are ending their partnership this weekend. Texas led the country in employment growth over the last year. Texas education officials are sharing guidance on how to comply with House Bill 3.  Georgetown ISD buys land near East View High School.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 18, 2023

Central Texas top stories for April 18, 2023. Austin ISD request review of conservatorship decision. Austin on trial for trying to build a house. West fertilizer plant explosion 10 year anniversary. Austin City Council DPS partnership update. Leander ISD bond meeting.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 17, 2023

Central Texas top stories for April 17, 2023. Home Appraisals. Austin ISD Special Ed takeover appeal deadline is today. Travis County bond planning. School bonds in the upcoming election. Austin airport parking rates.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 10, 2023

Central Texas top stories for April 10, 2023. Abbott seeking pardon of Daniel Perry. DPS partnership update. Austin ISD Special Education takeover appeal. Manor ISD Superintendent finalist. Austin emergency communications revamp. Monarch Butterflies on the decline. Austin FC. USWNT at Q2.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 4, 2023

Central Texas top stories for April 4, 2023. Austin ISD may appeal the TEA special education takeover. Georgetown ISD Superintendent retiring. The Austin Public Library is growing. Texas State University phone scams.

The state’s appointing conservators to oversee Austin’s school district

The Texas Education Agency wants to appoint a management team to help Austin ISD address “systemic issues” in serving students with disabilities, less than a month after the state announced a takeover of Houston ISD.

Some real fish tales out of San Angelo: We’ll tell you about the lake where anglers are catching tons of monster fish.

We’ll hear about the Country Music Television Awards’ Texas debut, the first time the ceremony has been held outside Nashville.

And what to look for from the state Legislature this week.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 3, 2023

Central Texas top stories for April 3, 2023. Texas Education Agency taking over Austin ISD Special Education. Lifeguard hiring audit. Travis County Expunction Expo. Fitzhugh concert venue pushback. Texas oil and gas report. Nursing workforce bill.

This West Texas town has been under a boil-water notice for nearly 5 years

State lawmakers heard hours of testimony on a bill that would restrict gender-affirming care for minors. Senate Bill 14 wouldn’t just end access to gender-affirming care for young Texans, it would also revoke the medical license of any doctor who provides it.

How Texas’ first family of oil and gas both regulates and profits from the energy industry.

And in far West Texas, the community of Toyah is dealing with a boil-water notice that seems like it will never end.

How to testify at the Texas Legislature

After the Texas Education Agency’s announcement that it will take over the Houston Independent School district, we’re taking a look at what previous state takeovers could signal for this one.

“Stand up and be heard” – that’s what we’re often told to do when the Legislature’s in session. But how does one do that, exactly? We’ll hear a step-by-step primer.

Our go-to tech expert Omar Gallaga shares some key takeaways from the tech side of South by Southwest.

Plus, the creators of “The Lady Bird Diaries” join us to talk about the new film.

Breaking down the saga at the Dallas Zoo

School vouchers, now styled as school choice, are back before state lawmakers. They have been rejected in the past, but will this year be different? Senate Bill 8 would provide Texas parents with an education account, taxpayer money that could be used to send students to private school. And the bill has special features designed to win over traditionally reluctant rural Republicans.

The Houston Independent School district braces for the implications of a state takeover.

Jamie Landers of the Dallas Morning News has put together a fuller picture of what happened with a string of crimes at the Dallas Zoo.

And seven Texas teams are spicing up March Madness on the men’s side.

KUT Morning Newscast for February 28, 2023

Central Texas top stories for February 28, 2023. Travis County Sheriff racial profiling report. Austin terrorism prevention grant. Texas Education Agency teacher vacancy report. Bluebonnet season.

The fight over preserving El Paso’s Castner Range

A San Antonio doctor says hospitals are facing a crisis as COVID-19, RSV and flu cases mount before in this holiday season. In Bexar county the wait for hospital beds on the rise, and some health experts are sounding an alarm as families gather for the holidays. We’ll hear the latest. Also a big OPEC meeting, a European ban on Russian oil and the ripple effects for Texas oil producers and consumers. And in a decades long effort to open up El Paso’s Castner Mountains what could be a tipping point for a regions that’s been losing a lot of natural land to developers. Those stories, the talk of Texas and and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: June 29, 2021

How much wall can a governor buy with $600,000 in donations? Our conversation ahead of the Abbott Trump border visit. Also, we’ll talk about topics involving the children of the state, the workers who care for our kids when they’re little, and the test scores kids get when they’re big. We now know how much those scores dropped after 2 years of school interruptions. And did you know your electricity could be disconnected starting today if your bill is unpaid? It’s rough but moratoriums are over. Plus how big tech may get restrained by Congress. All of that and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: April 13, 2021

Growing concerns among Texas education experts over how to measure the impact of the pandemic on learning. Big questions over what standardized testing tells us about education during the pandemic and just how much may be missing from the data. Also, what will college campuses in Texas look like in the fall? We’ll hear about the picture coming into focus. And planning a move to someplace less crowded? If it’s in Texas, you may want to double check the laws for landowners first. And the undiscovered musician joining the ranks of Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: March 4, 2021

The president calls it Neanderthal Thinking. But in places like Lubbock, Governor Abbott’s rollback of restrictions getting more mixed reviews. We’ll have more on the Governor’s lifting of COVID-19 restrictions effective next Wednesday. But what changes at school? Texas educators and parents asking questions. Also a shot in the arm for Texas teachers, we’ll hear more. Plus a new report on how failures in the state’s mental health system are leading to a cycle of misery for many. And an investigation in Dallas claims big banks are profiting from low-income apartments and illegal red-lining. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard: