Texas Senate

‘Mistaco’ teaches kids how tacos can make everything better

Houston’s affordable housing project has winners and losers – and the winners are not the renters. Digging into a new investigation from the Houston Chronicle.
Changes in funding for refugee resettlement programs have nonprofits scrambling to figure out how to continue to help.
Matthew McConaughey and industry reps push for Texas lawmakers to beef up the state’s film incentive fund.
Texas topped TCU in the women’s NCAA tournament to reach the Final Four. What to expect from the Longhorns.
Plus: A new children’s book by Texan Eliza Kinkz explores how tacos can make everything better.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 2, 2025: The City of Austin is working with a non-profit to help improve access to housing.

Central Texas top stories for April 2, 2025. A new nonprofit is using City of Austin money to help house people experiencing homelessness. The Texas Senate passed a bill that would require people to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote in state elections. The deadline to vote in May’s local elections is tomorrow. Researchers at NASA are working with an Austin-area company to better understand sever weather patterns on Earth.

KUT Morning Newscast for April 4, 2025: Texas advances to women’s Final Four for first time in over two decades.

Central Texas top stories for April 4, 2025. City leaders are working on shortening emergency response times. A new report by the City Auditor shows the City of Austin still faces challenges to prepare for extreme heat. Texas women’s basketball team made it to the Final Four of NCAA for the first time in over two decades after beating TCU last night. A panel of Texas Senators discussed yesterday a proposal to revitalize the state’s film incentive program.

KUT Morning Newscast for March 18, 2025: A crash on I-35 that killed five people last week is now under federal investigation.

Central Texas top stories for March 18, 2025. The Texas A&M Forest Service says the Crabapple fire in Gillespie County is now 85% contained and has burned just over 9,700 acres. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the deadly crash on I-35 that killed five people in North Austin last week. After years of pushback from doctors, patients and advocacy groups, SB31 aims to clarify the medical exception to Texas’ abortion law. The median sales price of a home in Austin hit 564-thousand dollars last month, that’s up compared to the same time last year.

KUT Morning Newscast for February 6, 2025: Texas senate passes bill creating school voucher-like program.

Central Texas top stories for February 6, 2025. Texas senate passes bill creating school voucher-like program, it’s not the turn of the House to vote on it. Leaner ISD announced staff cuts for next school year. Two out of three teachers providing an arts education in Texas don’t have a fine arts certification. Austin is planning to expand its sobering center to help people with alcoholism or substance-abuse. Flag football is coming to the Austin area.

How women’s pro basketball traces its roots to Houston

Tonight, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Colin Allred face off in their one and only debate. We’ll have a preview of what to expect.
A new tool gives Texas high school students a look at universities that will accept them before they fill out an application.
In the next part of our series on the history of the Texas Farm Workers Union, a look at the group’s 1,600-mile march to Washington, D.C.
How volunteer amateur radio operators have helped during recent hurricanes.
And: Remembering the pioneering professional women’s basketball team the Houston Angels.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 10, 2024

Central Texas top stories for October 10, 2024. Austinites will vote for a mayor this fall, here’s the latest campaign finance data for that race. Groups in Texas are urging state lawmakers to prioritize affordable childcare in the next legislative session. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath says attendance rates for public schools dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic and still haven’t bounced back. Hays County voters will decide this fall whether to pass a major bond for road improvements.

After attempted Trump assassination, a look at politically motivated violence in the US

We’re taking a closer look at the implications of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, and a Texas perspective on the future of politics and democracy:
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was in the crowd at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday and shares a firsthand account.
The assassination attempt comes during one of the most politically volatile moments in our American history, but this is far from the first time political violence has threatened democracy. Presidential historian and professor Jeffrey Engel of Southern Methodist University on whether this may further galvanize divisions or lead to a shift in political rhetoric and rancor.
Also: State lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the slow power restoration process in the Houston region, where 264,000 remain without electricity a week after Hurricane Beryl hit.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 13, 2023

Central Texas top stories for October 13, 2023. School voucher bill passes Texas Senate. APD on alert in response to threats to Jewish community. Austin ISD Special Education meeting. Protest in San Marcos against local airline. Clear skies for Saturday’s eclipse.

Part 4: Coverage of closing arguments of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton impeachment trial

(Part 4 of 4)

The Texas Senate impeachment trial of suspended state Attorney General Ken Paxton gaveled in for closing arguments on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. This is an archive of live Texas Newsroom coverage.

Part 4 is the dismissal from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and final analysis.

This coverage features Texas Standard host David Brown, Texas Standard managing producer Laura Rice, Texas Newsroom political reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, KUT Austin managing editor Ben Philpott, Texas Monthly senior editor Alexandra Samuels, Texas Standard social media editor Wells Dunbar, Texas Standard reporter Michael Marks, and UT-Arlington political science professor Mark Hand.

Part 3: Coverage of closing arguments of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton impeachment trial

(Part 3 of 4)

The Texas Senate impeachment trial of suspended state Attorney General Ken Paxton gaveled in for closing arguments on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. This is an archive of live Texas Newsroom coverage.

Part 3 begins with analysis and then turns to the closing arguments from House impeachment managers Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Kerrville) and Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano.)

This coverage features Texas Standard host David Brown, Texas Standard managing producer Laura Rice, Texas Newsroom political reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, KUT Austin managing editor Ben Philpott, Texas Monthly senior editor Alexandra Samuels, and Texas Standard social media editor Wells Dunbar.

Part 2: Coverage of closing arguments of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton impeachment trial

(Part 2 of 4)

The Texas Senate impeachment trial of suspended state Attorney General Ken Paxton gaveled in for closing arguments on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. This is an archive of live Texas Newsroom coverage.

Part 2 is the closing arguments from Paxton’s defense lawyers Tony Buzbee and Dan Cogdell.

This coverage features Texas Standard host David Brown, Texas Standard managing producer Laura Rice, Texas Newsroom political reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, KUT Austin managing editor Ben Philpott, Texas Monthly senior editor Alexandra Samuels, University of Texas School of Law lecturer Mike Golden, and Texas Standard social media editor Wells Dunbar.

Part 1: Coverage of closing arguments of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton impeachment trial

(Part 1 of 4)

The Texas Senate impeachment trial of suspended state Attorney General Ken Paxton gaveled in for closing arguments on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. This is an archive of live Texas Newsroom coverage.

Part 1 includes opening analysis, an explanation of procedure, the reading of the articles of impeachment, and the first part of closing arguments by House impeachment manager Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Kerrville).

This coverage features Texas Standard host David Brown, Texas Standard managing producer Laura Rice, Texas Newsroom political reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, KUT Austin managing editor Ben Philpott, Texas Monthly senior editor Alexandra Samuels, University of Texas School of Law lecturer Mike Golden, and Texas Standard social media editor Wells Dunbar.

Part 5: Coverage of first day of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton impeachment trial

(Part 5 of 5)

Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 marked the beginning of the Texas Senate impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives in May and suspended shortly after from his duties as AG.

There are, in total, 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton. They include seven counts of disregarding his official duties, three counts of making false statements in official records, two counts each of constitutional bribery and obstruction of justice. He’s also accused of misapplying and misappropriating public resources, conspiracy or attempted conspiracy, dereliction of duty, unfitness for office, and abusing the public trust.