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

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City of Austin paid out $143 million in overtime in 2025

Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota have caught the attention of the nation and the world in recent weeks. Meanwhile, such operations in Texas have been taking place at the same time. We’ll check in with folks from Elgin, just outside of Austin, to hear how it’s impacting them.

The City of Austin paid out more than $143 million dollars to its employees in 2025. Five city departments regularly account for the bulk of overtime spending. We’ll go over which departments they are.

Plus, a spot in East Austin is building community beyond its menu by bringing folks together with Chess and Doodle Nights. We hear more about the community garden that’s growing.

How the Austin area fared amid arctic front

An arctic cold front brought freezing precipitation to the Austin area over the weekend. Classes were cancelled today at UT Austin and most school districts in Central Texas. Still, the area made out much better this time than in ice storms of years past. We’ll have more about the situation locally and this week’s forecast.

The most high-profile candidates for the Texas Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race in November – U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico – debated each other in Georgetown over the weekend. We’ll recap the cases they made and the status of the race ahead of the March primary.

Plus, Annabelle Chairlegs is the KUTX Artist of the Month for January. Their new record “Waking Up” is out this Friday. We’ll chat with group lead Lindsey Mackin and hear from the band’s Studio 1A performance.

Trap Or Die

On this episode we discuss the recent conversation from some rappers about the “F The Streets” movement and if we think it’s legit or a marketing ploy. We also discuss our favorite albums from the sub-genre of hip-hop titled “trap rap” and agree that one album reins supreme. Hip-hop facts include facts about Will Smith, Christopher Nolan, The Gorillaz and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that your favorite rapper (Jay-Z, 50 Cent, etc.) might be an elitist.

The latest on the freeze heading towards Austin

The forecast continues to evolve as an arctic cold front heads towards the Austin area this weekend. Temperatures are forecast to remain below freezing starting Saturday night in Central Texas and could stay that way through Monday. We’ll have the latest forecasts and updates from city officials.

Austin Community College’s free tuition pilot program ballooned to nearly 10,000 students this academic year. We’ll look at the students who are being impacted and the things they’re learning about.

Huston-Tillotson University’s Jazz Orchestra is among the top bands in the country. We’ll hear about their competition last weekend in New York.

Plus, photojournalism collides with original songwriting in the new project “Witness.” We share a special sneak listen.

Arctic front bears down on Austin, Central Texas

An arctic cold front is approaching Austin and Central Texas. The National Weather Service has already issued an Extreme Cold Watch and a Winter Storm Warning for the weekend. We’ll have more about the latest forecasts and the ways for you to be prepared.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations have continued in Central Texas. KUT News has obtained video of one such incident in Kyle. As these operations increase, so does the concern for public safety amid reports of slack hiring practices and training regulations for ICE officers. Speaking with Austin Signal is Alain Stephens, investigative reporter for the Intercept covering gun violence, arms trafficking, and federal law enforcement.

Plus, it’s Hi, How Are You Day in Austin. We’ll share how you can celebrate.

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.

Alleged outside ties shut some area schools out of voucher program

Hundreds of private schools in Texas are being shut out of the state’s new school voucher program because of alleged ties to some organizations or foreign governments, and that includes dozens of schools in the Austin area. We’ll have more about the voucher program and its continuing rollout.

Plus, hobbies can lead to rewarding experiences, but carving out the time to invest in one can be tough. We’ll hear the story of a group of skaters in Austin that prioritizes community and fun – despite their busy schedules.

And the executive director for Texas Performing Arts stepped into the role just months before the pandemic forced shows to stop and theatres to close. We’ll hear what he learned about the job and the future of arts and performances going forward.

ICE operations in Hays County lead to detainment, injury

A person was detained last week by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Kyle. The man had to be transported to the hospital, according to local police, and the KUT Newsroom is working to get more details on the story.

An attorney for the student who was deported while flying back to Austin for a holiday says the federal government admitted it violated a court order when it deported her to Honduras. Any López Belloza, an Austin-raised student at Babson College outside of Boston, was detained after trying to fly home to Austin before Thanksgiving. We’ll have more about her story and her status.

It’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and we’ll hear from him through archival audio in a reflection from the podcast In Black America.

Is Austin Hip-Hop Getting In Its Own Way?

On this episode of The Breaks we discuss if Austin hip-hop artists are hindering their careers in any way. We also discuss if J. Cole’s upcoming album The Fall Off is the most important one of his career. Hip-hop facts include facts about Nas, Sade, Justin Timberlake and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is about New York not allowing hip-hop to grow by staying within its city limits.

New program aims to address complaints against Austin Police

Complaints against Austin Police could be worked out through a new city program focused on mediation. We’ll hear more about what these types of guided conversations to address community concerns could look and sound like.


There is a downtown fixture close to Rainey Street that has somehow avoided becoming yet another Austin skyrise – the IHOP on Cesar Chavez, of course. We’ll hear about the real estate drama behind its longevity and what the future could hold for the building and the land it’s built on.


This week in Texas music history we hear about how the Karnes City country singer, Goldie Hill, struck gold in Nashville and set a precedent for women in country music.


Plus, a conversation with the director of a new documentary on podcasting. The “Age of Audio,” premieres at Austin Film Society this weekend.

APD changes ICE cooperation policy

The Austin Police Department is changing its rules over how officers report people to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The change comes after the detention and apparent deportation last week of a Honduran mother and her 5-year-old daughter.
We’ll go over the changes and the reaction from Austin City Council members.
And Austin voters could once again be faced with deciding whether to raise property taxes to help the city tackle expenses like park improvements and public safety. KUT’s city council reporter will have more on that.
Austin Poet Laureate Zell Miller talks about his new theatre program. It’s first production? A hip-hop rendition of Aesop’s fables.
Plus, KUTX hip-hop show “The Breaks” is up for a Best Radio Show award in the Austin Music Awards Poll. We hear about how they’d like to continue growing their show.

Texts show officials’ confusion amid Hill Country floods

Text messages from officials in Kerr County reveal confusion amid the July 4 Hill Country floods last year. Information and misinformation spread amid the flooding that killed more than 130 people. We’ll talk about those messages.
More changes are coming to I-35 as work continues on overhauling the highway at the center of Austin. We’ll dive into what to expect on the roads and how it could impact your travels.
Plus, the Alamo Drafthouse is doing away with pen-and-paper ordering and folks have feelings about it.
And a chat about the TV shows you and everyone else will be talking about all year long.

New CDC childhood vaccine guidance raises questions

Earlier this month, the CDC reduced the number of recommended vaccines for children. The change has flummoxed some parents and pediatricians in the Austin area. We’ll listen to some of the questions they’ve been asking.


It’s been more than six months since deadly flooding killed more than 130 people across Central Texas and the Hill Country. Recovery is still a long way down the road. We’ll have an update from some of the folks still working through that process.


Plus, the ATX Free Fridge Project has been filling in gaps in food access across the Austin area for more than half a decade, but the project itself could use a little love and help these days.

And with a new year comes new art in the public domain. We’ll find out what’s been added in 2026.

Minneapolis ICE shooting prompts protests in Texas

The killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week sparked protests around the nation this weekend. We’ll look at what happened here in Texas.
The state of Texas has handed over voter registration rolls to the Trump administration Justice Department. Why Texas Democrats and some experts fear that could have violated federal law and exposed confidential information about Texas voters.
For some women behind bars in Nueces County, a financial education effort is underway that proponents hope will be life changing.
Also, why one commentator says the Houston Texans – not the Dallas Cowboys – are now America’s team.

Podcasts Killed The Hip-Hop Star

On this episode we discuss if podcasts helped destroy the mystique of some hip-hop artists who have them. We also discuss if this is a show and prove year for the new class of women hip-hop stars. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about Jay-Z, Jack Nicholson, 2pac and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that Milli Vanilli deserve to be forgiven for their past in the music industry.

Austinites join nationwide protests after ICE shooting in Minneapolis

People in the Austin area joined with many thousands of others across the country in protesting after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman this week in Minneapolis. Demonstrators gathered outside a Department of Homeland Security building in Pflugerville. We’ll bring you some of those voices.


After a U.S. military operation in Caracas last weekend, Venezuelans in Austin are hoping for bigger changes before they feel ready to go back home. We’ll hear from them, along with a Venezuelan-Texan author based here in Austin.


Plus, how did Austin come to be known as “The Live Music Capital of the World”? Come and dig into the ATXplained vault with us.

New rules for hemp products proposed

The state health agency in Texas has proposed new rules for hemp products. Those rules could mean higher fees for businesses, more testing for products, and could effectively outlaw access to hemp flower. We’ll look at what’s being proposed and how Texas business owners are feeling about it.

Plus, after oak wilt claimed a tree in his yard, local artist Steve Parker turned its wood into a sonic experience. His solo exhibit at Ivester Contemporary features wooden records and wind instruments. We’ll experience some of those sounds for ourselves.

What do you get when you mix Austin’s best music station with an Austin music venue and stage that’s famous the world over? We’ve got the “Hole Story” right here on Austin Signal. And who is Lavada Durst to Austin’s music History? We’ve got the answer. 

Austin-Bergstrom bringing big changes in the new year

Austinites aren’t the only ones who are bringing some change to the new year. The airport in Austin will be undergoing some modifications in 2026. More gates, more flights – and more construction.
We’ll take a closer look at the changes happening at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Plus, a major milestone has been reached in the construction of a new water delivery system underneath Lake Travis. Once it’s finished, the system is expected to increase the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority’s water supply to 145 million gallons per day and reduce its vulnerability to drought.

Maybe you’ve decided to cut back on alcohol to start the year. That doesn’t mean a relaxing drink should be a boring one. We’ve got some Dry January recipes that’ll jazz up your 2026.

Traces of Texas – A priceless gift for all Texans

It’s been a bit of a tradition over the years for commentator WF Strong to offer up a story of thanks each holiday season — for what he calls a great gift to Texas.

Often, the honor has gone to someone long gone. But this year, he’s thanking someone still very much with us — and hopefully with many decades still ahead.

Check out Traces of Texas

Stories From Texas is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. 

You can support our work by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

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