In this episode of Tacos of Texas, we dig into a slightly controversial question, “Did Taco Bell steal the taco? We break it down and talk about the origins of the taco in the U.S., how it crossed borders and into drive-thrus, and what gets lost and gained when culture is overtaken by corporate America. From tacos dorados to crunchy shells and late-night cravings, we unpack the history and who really gets to tell the story of one of the most iconic foods in America.
texas
Attendees with disabilities navigate muddy ACL, Latest on governor’s race, Ride to End Alzheimer’s
Weekend 1 of the Austin City Limits Music Festival is in the books, and now the park grounds have a few days to recover before Weekend 2. The rain and mud made for a messy first weekend, but it was an even tougher outing for people with mobility issues.
It’s the last day to get registered in time to vote in the upcoming midterm election. What you need to do today to cast your ballot in a few weeks.
Much of the focus this election cycle in Texas has been on the open U.S. Senate seat. Today, we’ll focus on the race for governor between the incumbent three times over and an Austin state representative.
The Texas edition of the Ride to End Alzheimer’s is happening soon down in Dripping Springs. We’ve got more about the bike rides and the ways you can help ’em out.
What to expect as the Supreme Court reconvenes
The first Monday in October means the U.S. Supreme Court is back to work. We’ll have an early look at the docket, what Texans should watch for and more.
A red-hot congressional race in a huge district — a contest between YouTube gun rights supporter Brandon Herrerra and child rights advocate Katy Padilla Stout — is drawing a lot of attention. We’ll explore why the race for the 23rd is so contentious.
Also, a look at what’s been called the Life of the Mother Act — a measure intended to clarify when doctors can legally perform abortions in Texas.
Plus, a call to clamp down on oil theft and why it’s become such a problem in West Texas.
Hip-Hop & The Future of Austin Radio
On this episode of we discuss Austin radio’s approach to hip-hop and what it means for the future. We also discuss selective outrage with artists depending on if you are fans of them or not. Hip-Hop Facts this week include facts about Usher, Ciara, Eddie Murphy and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion states that a good number of media personalities are industry plants.
Man shot by ICE has surgery, DA Garza singled out at House hearing, Abortion rights in emergencies
Wilber Garces Perez, the man shot by an ICE agent in North Austin who spent more than 10 days with a bullet lodged in his body, has now undergone surgery.
Travis County District Attorney José Garza was at the center of a Texas House committee hearing where lawmakers targeted so-called rogue prosecutors for not trying or investigating cases — but he did not attend.
We’ll hear from some Texas doctors who want to make sure people know their abortion rights during a medical emergency.
A new film focuses on the transformation of a public college in Florida, but the issues facing it aren’t limited to that one institution. We’ll chat with a producer of “First They Came For My College” ahead of some local screenings and discussions.
Texas governor’s race appears to be competitive
Remember redistricting in Texas? The plan was to try to secure more surefire wins for Republicans. Now we’re seeing some surprises. We’ll have the details today.
And another political surprise possibly in the making: The governor’s race, initially not expected to be much of a battle for Gov. Abbott, is forcing many to reconsider. We’ll hear more.
Also, do public libraries have a return on investment? The numbers may surprise you.
Plus, a visit from the Texas Beachcomber and more.
Arrest in Capitol attack plot, Man shot by ICE stays in custody, Lammes Candies is back
A man has been arrested after the Texas Department of Public Safety found a “credible” threat to attack the state Capitolthis week.
The man shot by an ICE agent in Austin last month will remain in custody, but not return to a detention center, after appearing in federal court this week. The latest updates and what comes next.
Monday is the deadline to get registered to vote in the midterm elections. Texas is working to address a backlog of registration applications. More from one reporter who was affected.
KUT News is a launching a new initiative focused on aging in Austin. Jennifer Stayton stops by to talk about the Long View project.
And some sweet news: Lammes Candies is back — with new ownership out of Fort Worth.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Houston voters weigh marijuana enforcement priorities
In Texas’ biggest metro, Houston, a vote looms to tell police whether to deprioritize marijuana cases. But even if it gets the green light, will it make a difference?
Also, the latest on an alleged threat on the Texas capitol and a possible change of heart over a border wall in the Big Bend region.
Where things stand on the push to get police connected to AI.
Tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us why he’s not quite a happy camper after sampling the next generation of high-tech pop-up trailers
Plus, Tacos of Texas host Mando Rayo takes on a spicy question: Did Taco Bell steal the taco?
And Texas Standard’s Sean Saldaña on the mysteries of Texas birthday memories.
Toadies get personal on first new album in nearly a decade
If you’ve consumed any media with commercials lately you know why the race for U.S. Senate between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico has become so expensive. We’ll dig into the details.
With the election now just weeks away, it’s worth making sure your voter registration is in order. A backlog is affecting a lot of Texans. We’ll walk you through how to fix things.
A school district along the Texas Gulf Coast found a way to keep some of the tax money set to go back to the state — but state lawmakers are now questioning that tactic.
Texas produces a lot of sorghum — and we could all soon be eating more of it.
Plus, Fort Worth rockers the Toadies have a new full-length album — their first in nearly a decade. We sat down with them at an iconic Austin venue.
The ‘feral’ roots of Texas freedom
There are a lot people who make up Texas — people from all sorts of backgrounds. Some people so new that they still haven’t had a chance to change their license plates… others whose families have been here since before Texas was Texas!
Texas Standard commentator dug deep into the roots of some of the ancestors who’ve called Texas home — and found some commonalities among at least some Texans today.
Flood watch for Austin area, Smart glasses for blind users, Best wings in Austin
A flood watch has been issued for the Austin area for Wednesday night to Friday night, overlapping with the first day of the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
A drop in Austin ISD’s enrollment could soon be impacting its budget. The district also planned to save money by cutting down on bus routes, but that may be undercut by the rising cost of diesel.
Smart glasses are one of the most visible pieces of hardware incorporating artificial intelligence — but like most things related to AI, their use remains polarizing. We’ll hear from some blind users.
And: We’re gonna talk about the best wings in the city with American-Statesman restaurant critic Matthew Odam.
Federal changes narrow Endangered Species Act protections
The remnants of Hurricane Polo are expected to bring heavy rainfall and possible flooding across much of the state. We’ll have the details.
It’s been a year since a gunman opened fire at an ICE office in Dallas. We’ll hear from the wife of one of the victims — a man who was in ICE custody.
Plus, the Endangered Species Act protects animals from extinction. Now, the Trump administration’s interpretation of the law could change things.
Also, Amazon promised convenience, but there were complaints in a Texas city that was a testing ground for the use of drones to deliver packages.
And the high price of diesel is affecting much more than truckers.
Misael Ramos arrest, COTALAND opens, voter registration delays
There’s one week left to get registered in time to vote in the midterm elections. The deadline is approaching as county election staff across the Austin area work to process thousands of applications that Texas DPS failed to send.
One week after an ICE agent shot Wilber Garces Perez, demonstrators returned to the scene to continue protesting. Misael Ramos, a candidate for Austin City Council District 1, was arrested this weekend and charged with participating in a riot that immediately followed the shooting.
We’ll chat with the director of a film chronicling how Austin restaurants struggled and adapted through the pandemic.
Austin has a new theme park and KUT got a special sneak preview before they officially opened up. We’ll take you out to COTALAND.
The New Wild West: Texans on the AI Frontier
Artificial intelligence is developing fast, and if you think it’s impacting life now, just wait. This is a special edition of the Texas Standard — “The New Wild West: Texans on the AI frontier.”
What happens when you press that return button in ChatGPT? We’ll follow the energy-intensive requests.
We’ll also explore the life-changing benefits AI can offer, and we’ll weigh that against privacy concerns.
We’ll also go deep with experts on what happens if AI gets too powerful.
Woodgrain Collection Vol. 2 w/ Bavu Blakes
On this episode we interview Austin rap legend, actual educator/teacher, Bavu Blakes about his upbringing from Garland to Austin, his early rap career (with a shout out to John E. Dee!) and his path to education. Hip-Hop Facts this week include facts about James Blake, En Vogue, Lil Wayne and more.
Life Insurance, Annuities, and Retirement Investing: A Comprehensive Guide
Carl Stuart and Jimmy Maas discuss the different the different types and purposes of life insurance, fixed and variable annuities and their investment components, and retirement savings strategies and investment vehicles for catching up on retirement savings.
Webb parents discuss school’s future, Medical care for detainees, Insanity plea in 2023 shooting spree
Parents from Webb Middle School, one of the failing schools putting the Austin district at risk of a takeover, met with the superintendent to discuss their future. But many questions remain surrounding an option to petition for closure of the school to avoid state intervention.
Wilber Garces Perez was quickly discharged from an Austin hospital after he was shot by an ICE agent. It’s raised questions about medical standards for detainees.
Shane James, accused of killing six people in 2023 in a shooting spree that started in San Antonio and ended in Austin,intends to file an insanity plea, according to court filings.
A federal judge has ruled in UT Austin’s favor in a court case that arose from the university’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests in 2024.
Texas voter registration backlog leaves thousands of applications unprocessed
Tens of thousands of unprocessed voter registrations were never forwarded to county officials for processing, leading to chaos and questions.
If you registered to vote through the DPS, such as when you were updating your driver’s license, you may want to check with county officials who are now working through a backlog of forms they should have received long ago. We’ll talk to the reporter who broke this huge story on the eve of midterms.
A veteran lawmaker long called a fixture of Houston’s Third Ward has passed away. We’ll have a closer look at the impact of Garnet Coleman.
Plus, the push to remove Flock cameras in a major Texas city.
Wilber Garces Perez’s life in Austin, Light-rail agency scraps office plan
Friends and family of Wilber Garces Perez, the man shot by an ICE officer in Austin, say he’s spent his time focused on family, work and soccer since coming to the United States from Venezuela in 2024. We’ve got more from the people who know him best.
The agency building Austin’s light-rail system is scrapping a controversial plan to relocate to a high-rise overlooking Lady Bird Lake. How taxpayer dollars are being spent as efforts to build a 10-mile light-rail system ramp up.
An owlet that was saved from an abandoned nest at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has been released back to the wild. How the owl beat the odds.
Paprika was the only Austin restaurant featured on a prestigious list of the best eats in the country. We’ll chat with the owner and chef leading the outfit.
Why Texas became a magnet for massive data centers
Last year’s tragedy at Camp Mystic moves into the realm of criminal investigation, with search warrant requests by the Texas Rangers.
As many Texas communities try to push back on more data centers, they often find local officials can’t do much. How did Texas find itself in this position?
What new studies are revealing about the connection between AI and what robots will do, even against instructions. Our go-to tech expert Omar Gallaga joins us with the rather unsettling low-down.
Promises, promises: In Texas’ closely-watched U.S. Senate race, both Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton are making pledges to help ease the burden on Texan’s pocketbooks. But what can a senator really do? We’ll have a reality check.