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KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

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“There is this sense of helplessness,” UT Professor talks about faculty fears following his tenure denial

Extended Interview: UT Austin professor Chaar López, a scholar on border surveillance, was denied tenure without a stated reason, despite positive reviews and recommendations. He talks about what this means for his future, and the chilling effect it has had on faculty across the country. At the core of the conversation, the loss of academic freedom and changes to education in the state and what he sees as a “growing spiral of censorship and control and demands for obedience that are concerning and troubling.”

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

UT president unexpectedly denies tenure for border surveillance scholar

UT Austin professor Chaar López, a scholar on border surveillance, was denied tenure without a stated reason, despite positive reviews and recommendations. What this means for his future, and what experts have to say about his case.

Tiny Sounds Collective is supporting independent bands by booking all-ages shows in nontraditional spaces. The idea is built on a budget-free, do-it-yourself philosophy.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Texas foster care rulings strengthen parental rights

Policies in Texas over when children should be removed from their parents are shifting. What do experts say about the changes?
Ken Paxton just lost a step in the first major case against an alleged violator of Texas’ abortion ban. We’ll dig into what the ruling may indicate about the law.
There have long been talks about connecting parts of Texas by rail, but a route between Austin and San Antonio is unlikely to happen anytime soon. We’ll explore why.
Oil prices are down but gas prices aren’t likely to fall as quickly. A look at the factors at play behind the pump.
Plus, why it matters that father figures are involved in reading programs.

City Council approves financial agreement for Dog’s Head development

More than 12,000 homes and apartments, along with millions of square feet in office, retail and industrial space, could be coming to a large undeveloped piece of land just north of the Austin airport. We’ll have the latest on the Dog’s Head development.

Rainbow crosswalks and Black Artists Matter slogans may have been erased from Austin roads, but what are community members thinking of doing to replace them?

Next week, KUT News is launching a reporting project on data centers here in Central Texas. We’ll get a preview.

And it’s Friday, so we’ll check in with KUT Arts Desk Editor Stephanie Federico about what’s going on over the weekend.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

School finance lawsuit heads to court

Midland ISD claims the way schools are funded has turned them into the state’s tax collector — in violation of the Texas constitution. We’ll dig into what this means and why it matters way beyond Midland.
Recent flooding in South Texas brings something dangerous to the surface: Breakaway buoys in the Rio Grande.
In a dystopian future, a young woman tries to make sense of her world, piecing together fragments of the not-so-distant past. A conversation with Texas-based author Mary Helen Specht about her new novel, “Mudlark.”

San Antonio seeks psychedelic therapy trials for veterans

As cleanup continues after massive rains in the Hill Country, a storm from the east threatens the Texas Gulf Coast.
An update on Tropical Storm Bertha: After making landfall in Louisiana, the storm headed back into the gulf. Forecasters fear it could loop back into South Texas.
Texas’ World Cup summer has come and gone — almost. In Houston, an early accounting of the impact.
San Antonio — a center for research on soldiers and PTSD, and how it could become central to research on some unconventional therapies.
Plus, brisket prices gotcha down? Tri-tips and other tips from Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn.

Company behind fast-tracked Dog’s Head project revealed

We now know which Fortune 100 company is behind the Dog’s Head project in East Austin. The venture moved through the Austin City Council with some urgency this year. We’ll have more on the week’s developments.

The city is also set to begin construction on a years-long major project in Northeast Austin. We’ll dig into what’s happening at the site of the old Home Depot at St. Johns.

No summer BBQ is complete without the perfect playlist. We’ve got the best tunes of July from our sister station KUTX. And if tranquility is more your jam, we’ve got more books to dive into.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

New book recounts fishermen’s Gulf of Mexico survival story

President Trump is trying to renegotiate trade agreements with our nearest neighbors —again. Why is Canada so upset?
Much has been made over the political leanings of the Texas Rio Grande Valley. How are things looking for Senate candidates James Talarico and Ken Paxton in the run-up to November?
An iconic LGBT night spot is facing a shutdown threat — so what happened to the San Antonio mayor’s promises to help keep it open?
Plus, we’ll introduce you to a Kerrville couple rebuilding once again after a second year of extreme flooding.
And bestselling author Michael J. Tougias recalls a harrowing true story set in the Texas gulf with his new book “In Deep Water.”

Austin elementary teacher released after nearly 300 days in ICE detention

A fifth-grade teacher in the Austin district told his students at the start of last school year that he would need to miss a day for an errand. Roberto López Falcón never made it back to those students, spending nearly 300 days in ICE detention before being released.

There’s plenty of ways to have some THC in Texas, including a surge of canned beverages, but what are the benefits to a canned high? And how much demand is there for these products?

We’re got an excerpt from the latest episode of the “Black Austin Matters” podcast.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

John Cornyn donors hesitate to back Ken Paxton

Torrential rain and flash flooding have swelled lakes in the Hill Country, forcing authorities to open floodgates.
Also, why many major donors who supported Sen. John Cornyn are not backing Ken Paxton.
Also, how Texas became a leader in semiconductor chip exports — and why the industry is now booming.
Plus, a fashion show in Dallas puts models with disabilities at the center of the runway.
And black-tailed prairie dogs are back at the Fort Worth Nature Center. We’ll have details on Prairie Dog Town and a new viewing deck.

Climate scientists have predicted greater flooding in Texas for decades

The Texas Hill Country has been impacted by torrential rains and devastating flooding for the second July in a row. Climate scientists have predicted this very thing for many years now.

The Austin school district has charged thousands of dollars for public information requests in the past year from parents, policy experts and journalists. Critics of the costs are worried that this leaves the community in the dark on decision-making.

We talk about mythology in media with Austin author Ponle Oluwole, who’s just published his debut novel, “Àyànmó.”

The World Cup may be over, but there’s still plenty of soccer on home soil coming over the next year.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Big Bend’s dark skies face a new threat

After a week of devastating floods in the Hill Country, it’s now about clean-up and recovery. We’ll have the latest from Kerrville and more.
There are two dead and hundreds rescued after floodwaters rose to record levels for a second time in as many years last week. Concerns are now about the effects downstream. In Uvalde, the flooding is testing the resilience of a community.
Also, with midterms just a few months away, Gov. Greg Abbott appoints Robert Howden to oversee elections across Texas as the new secretary of state.
Concerns are rising about how a border wall will affect the dark skies of far West Texas.
Also, a spotlight on the great Bob Wills.

Do Rappers Owe Their Communities?

On this episode we talk about Jay Z’s three night residency at Yankee Stadium and what it means for his overall legacy. We also discuss if rappers owe the communities they come out of or social issues in general. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about Aaliyah, Barry White, The Notorious B.I.G. and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that the city of Austin sometimes forces artists to conform to stay booked and busy.

The latest on flooding in the Hill Country

We’re continuing to monitor the flooding situation in the Texas Hill Country that’s killed at least two people and led to more than 200 rescues. We’ll bring you the latest and hear from a reporter out in Kerrville.

Ten Austin ISD schools are shuttered for good as part of the district’s plan to deal with a budget deficit, but what’s to come of those closed campuses?

The rain will be clearing soon and there’s plenty happening this weekend in Austin, including a KUT book swap on Saturday.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

1 dead as flash flood emergencies issued in Texas Hill Country

Floodwaters rose overnight in the Texas Hill Country, killing at least one person. We have the latest updates from the scene in Kerr County and speak with Travis County Judge Andy Brown about response operations locally.

Central Texans have plenty of questions about data centers and their future in the region. But how much do we know about what a data center is and does? KUT’s county reporters are diving in.

There’s a bevy of live music to support tonight in Austin.

We chat with the CEO of The Onion about the future of Infowars.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Emergencies, shelter-in-place orders go out in flood-wary Kerr County region

Life-threatening floods hit parts of the Texas Hill Country as the Guadalupe River swells and flood emergencies and warnings go out.


In the aftermath of shootings in Maine and Texas, a pause in ICE policy ends only hours after the change went into effect. We’ll have more from Houston’s historic East End on how the shooting has galvanized residents there.


Also, the death of a Dallas Cowboy was ruled a suicide by officials, sparking a deeper conversation into the role of CTE: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.


Religion and Texas culture: The new book ‘One State Under God’ by Joseph L. Locke untangles an unexpectedly deep, and often misunderstood connection.


Plus, the end of an era: After more than three decades, Sony pulls the plug on a format once popular with gamers.

And the state’s only legislatively authorized needle exchange program: Why efforts to expand it have stalled.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org

Sandy Creek residents find community after last July’s deadly flood

The onslaught of rain across Central Texas and other swaths of the state this week brings reminders of last summer’s floods. More than 100 people died, including nine people in the Sandy Creek neighborhood, where over 100 homes were damaged or destroyed. More about their community’s resilience in the face of tragedy.

Olamaie, one of the city’s first Michelin-starred restaurants, is shutting down this week after a dozen years in business — and it’s not the only award-winning Austin favorite that’s closing for good. We’ll talk about the difficulties and future of Austin’s eateries.

Plenty of free Austin music is happening this week with the return of Hot Summer Nights.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Flooding risks trigger disaster declarations for parts of state

More wet weather for portions of Texas’ flash flood alley: A look at the forecast and warning systems put in place since last year’s deadly storms.


Cities across Texas have responded to the issue of homelessness in a variety of ways. Is it worth considering a broader approach?


People in Texas have been working to send relief to earthquake-devastated Venezuela, but some have questions about how they can be sure the help is getting where it needs to be.


Ocelot kittens are hands-down adorable, but zoo officials in Texas are celebrating the birth of two for reasons beyond showing them off.


And journalist Pamela Colloff tells us about unraveling a Texas Gulf Coast man’s life of deceit for her new book, ‘Catch the Devil.’

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org

CapMetro workers authorize strike, say better training would improve bus service

Nearly all of CapMetro’s fixed-route bus service could shut down if its workers strike. And 99.5% of workers voted in favor of that strike. Negotiators return to the bargaining table today.

The recent national outbreak of cyclospora is raising concerns and questions. Austin Public Health says it’s not a major local concern — yet.

A new film documents the fight to save North American bats from a devastating disease called white-nose syndrome. We’ll hear from the film’s director and bat researcher about their project and connecting the bats with their audiences.

And: Another summer reading recommendation for your KUT bingo challenge.

Headlines mentioned in today’s episode…

— Vice President JD Vance is reportedly in town to do a taping with podcast host Joe Rogan. The Statesman confirmed that Air Force 2 landed this morning at Austin Bergstrom International Airport after Politico’s initial report.

—- The City of Austin has opened applications for public art projects across the city with budgets for the projects ranging from $90,000 to $300,000.

— Flood risk increases for the Austin area this week with up to 6 inches of rain possible in spots of town.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

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