texas

New Daniel Johnston exhibit celebrates Austin artist’s enduring impact

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans live in rural areas, where there are often fewer licensed therapists and longer travel distances to mental health care. But hotlines like 988 give people access to the help they need. Today, we’ll find out why the support for that lifeline is stronger in some states than others.

Daniel Johnston was known for his art and music. When he died in 2019, he left behind a trove of his work. But where can you check it out? Well, some of that work is on public display for the first time as part of a new exhibit at Texas State University.

This month marks 100 years of celebrating Black History Month and one local organization is creating space to celebrate Black Austinites. Find out what they have planned this weekend.

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

Doula services growing, becoming accessible in Austin area

A growing body of evidence shows that doulas can improve health outcomes; especially for Black women, who have a maternal mortality rate 2.5 times higher than white women in Texas. Birth workers want their services to be accessible and understood by more folks. We’ll delve more into the practice.

And the Texas DREAM Act gave undocumented Texans the chance to attend college at the cost of in-state tuition. Now, Texas public universities are progressing through the first full academic semester under new tuition rules. We’ll hear from one UT Austin student about the adjustment and the future.

Plus, another Black History Month music profile.

Finally, we’ll round up a busy weekend of sports news across the Austin area.

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

Rockin’ With TheBrosFresh!

On this episode we sit down with Louisiana artists TheBrosFresh and talk about their upcoming music and how is Austin treating them. We also discuss VladTV making tweets about Jay-Z to garner attention from the worse parts of the internet. Hip-Hop facts include facts about I Love Lucy, Drake, Master P and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is that 90s/2000s themed parties are overrated.

Exploring Texas’ deepest underwater cave system

Wildfire risk is so high in the Texas Panhandle that an energy company preemptively cut off power to avoid lines blowing down and starting to spark. We’ll take a closer look at the situation.
Early voting is underway across Texas. We sent reporters to polls across the state to hear from voters who made it out on the first day.
We’ll profile the candidates in a hotly-contested race near Houston where the GOP is hoping to gain a seat.
Beef prices are contributing to shock over grocery store bills, but ranchers are upset about one way President Trump is trying to bring the price of ground beef down.
And we’ll explore the deepest underwater cave in North America.

Early voting begins for the 2026 primaries

It’s the first day of early voting in the Texas primaries and there are many statewide races for consideration: comptroller, lieutenant governor, governor, as well as lots of eyes on the Democratic and Republican races for U.S. Senate.
We’ll have an overview, plus plenty more on the ballots in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties, as well.

Also, the Austin-raised college student who was deported while trying to visit family last Thanksgiving could soon be headed back to the U.S. We’ll have the latest from a judge’s order and from the attorney representing the student, Any López Belloza.

And we mark the start of the Lunar New Year by hearing what the occasion means to some Austinites.

Plus, we have a conversation with a legendary music maker turned mental health advocate at the SIMS Foundation.

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

Austin’s $25 million Long Center contract draws scrutiny

A $25 million contract between the City of Austin and the Long Center is under scrutiny over how the public money is being spent. The contracts and the fees inside it are tied to the city’ cultural arts grants program, raising questions about transparency and oversight. We’ll dig into the details of the contract and the future between the two sides.

Texas Republicans have revived anti-Muslim messaging in races across the state as early voting begins tomorrow. It’s a change in messaging from elections over the past decade or so. We’ll look at why that’s the case and what it could mean for elections in Texas.

Real love means working through the good, the bad, and the funny. It’s all explored in the mockumentary “Tying Knots” from an Austin filmmaker that’s premiering this week.

Lovers & Friends

It’s our Valentine’s Day episode! We talk about our favorite rap songs about love and we also talk about two people who hate each other, 50 Cent and Ja Rule. Hip-Hop facts include facts about Boyz 2 Men, T.I., Paula Patton and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is about podcasting not hurting the reputations of New York rap artists.

UT Austin consolidates ethnic and gender studies departments

The University of Texas at Austin is restructuring departments in the College of Liberal Arts. The decision was announced today, but it’s a move that students and staff have been worried about for months. We’ll hear more about the departments affected.

Police in Austin are still using license plate reader data months after city council ended using the technology on grounds of privacy concerns. We’ll dig into how and when APD says they’re using the data and the tech’s future use here in Austin.

Today, we’re learning more about a life insurance salesman and former college football player who become a chronicler of Black Austin life.

Plus, over 30,000 people are gearing up for this weekend’s Austin Marathon. It will be an especially big deal for one man who was left paralyzed after a snowboarding accident. We’ll hear his story.

Travis Heights housing project scale draws some concerns

An affordable housing complex planned for the Travis Heights neighborhood is one step closer to becoming a reality. Neighbors around the proposed site say they aren’t opposed to the idea – more so the scale of it. We’ll hear more about the complex and the neighborhood it could be built in.

The Austin Independent School District is looking to save money and exit some contracts for schools that are slated to close. We’ll dig into how much money they’re looking to save, and how they could do it.

We’ll also hear the story of Dr. James Polk – not the president, but the Austin music legend.

And with the Olympics in full swing, we’ll tell you about an opportunity to get in on the action yourself.

Parents of missing Austinite file lawsuit against Camp Mystic

The parents of an 8-year-old Austinite still missing after last July’s flooding in Texas have filed a lawsuit against Camp Mystic. It’s the fifth such lawsuit against the camp in the Hill Country where campers and counselors drowned in the floodwaters. We’ll have more about that lawsuit.

Early voting in the primaries gets going next week and folks in southeast Travis County will elect a new leader for the first time in decades. We’ll hear about the candidates running for Precinct 4 commissioner.

It’s Black History Month all February long, and our sister station KUTX has been highlighting Black music history in Austin. We’ll hear about a historic music venue on the East side of town that dates back to World War II.

The fight to protect Austin’s first Black cemetery: We’ll delve into the history at the heart of Bethany Cemetery.

Plus, an update on the future of Austin’s Convention Center.

Walking Dallas, one mile at a time

Redistricting wars may sound like esoteric politics, but a race in Houston shows how high the stakes are for some Texas communities. We’ll look at how a lesser-known political contest in Houston’s 29th district illustrates the impact of the redistricting fight on some Texas communities.
It may sound like a social media trend, but it’s a real medical condition with dangerous, potentially life-altering effects: Understanding Alpha-gal syndrome.
Unwalkable cities in Texas? The Dallas man who put that to the test.
Plus, the story of a gospel group founded in East Texas that earned a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

RIP Michael “5000” Watts

On this episode we celebrate the life of DJ Michael “5000” Watts who was huge pioneer in Houston music. We also recap the Grammy’s and see if our predictions are correct. Hip-Hop facts this week include facts about Tag Team, Prince, 50 Cent, and many more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that Donell Jones song “U Know What’s Up” with Left Eye of TLC, is an overrated song.

APD, councilmembers hear from public about ICE enforcement in tense meeting

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis and members of the Austin City Council met with community members this week to talk about local Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and the city and police’s role in them. The meeting was billed as a conversation but turned into a shouting match that laid bare the community tensions around ICE enforcement in the Austin area and around the country. We’ll talk more about that meeting, and we’ll hear from some of the voices who were there.

Construction is happening on a new convention center in downtown Austin. Even so, a judge could rule any day on an effort to stop anything new from being built.

The new “wishbone” pedestrian bridge is opening this weekend on the eastern end of Lady Bird Lake. We’ll hear more about it.

Steven Skybell speaks about playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof playing at the Austin Opera House tonight and this weekend. We’ll hear more about it.

Trailer: ¡Vamos Verde! Season Three Coming Soon

Season three of ¡Vamos Verde! premieres February 19. Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia (or whatever his last name is) will get to know some new faces on and off the pitch as Austin FC looks to build on a year that featured a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs and an appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.

Find it wherever you get your podcasts!

If you’d like to support ¡Vamos Verde! and other podcasts like it from KUT & KUTX in Austin, please visit supportthispodcast.org. Thank you for your support!

Some students and teachers see benefits from cell phone ban

Teachers and students in the Round Rock school district say they’re seeing benefits from a statewide ban on cell phones in public school classrooms. The ban went into effect at the beginning of this school year, and some students say they feel more engaged inside the classroom and outside of it, too. We’ll have more from Williamson County.

Elon Musk’s Tesla stands to lose millions in tax rebates unless they meet Travis County requirements. Another Musk-owned business is looking for the same deal, except with state funds. Why critics are questioning whether the potential tax incentives are an efficient use of state tax dollars.

Texas prisons without air conditioning routinely reach 90 degrees in the summer heat, with some even topping the triple-digit mark. Such temperatures would routinely violate state standards for other types of lockups, like county jails. We’ve got more data and more about that story on today’s show.

Plus, this week in Texas music history, Willie Nelson finishes up a pair of classic albums. Can you guess which ones? Listen in to find out.

Austin area students stage walkouts over ICE actions

Student walkout demonstrations in the Austin area continued this week in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Texas and across the country. The Austin Independent School District has come under fire from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton over such actions. We’ll hear from some of the students who participated in the walkout, as well as their parents.

We’ll also follow up on an incident at a demonstration Monday in Hays County – hearing from more student voices, and ways to deal with everything that we’re seeing on social media these days.

February is Black History Month, and Austin is chock full of Black music history. We’ll listen to a small piece of it today on Austin Signal.

Analysis finds extreme heat inside Texas prisons

Texas state prisons that don’t have a/c get so hot in summer with temperatures that violate state standards for other lockups.
Also, well-known former Texas Police Chief Art Acevedo questions tactics used by immigration agents in Minneapolis. We’ll hear from him about his concerns over fallout for other law enforcement.
And we’ll check in to see how people in Kerr County are coping with the mental health consequences in the aftermath of the July 4 flood.
Plus, the legacy of Houston hip-hop pioneer Michael “5000” Watts

Austin warming shelter’s lack of nutritious food draws concern

Nighttime temperatures in Austin won’t be cold enough this week to warrant the opening of warming shelters, but last month’s prolonged freeze did highlight the lack of nutritious food being served at one refuge in town. We’ll hear from someone who’s taken shelter there and the people helping to fill the need.

Travis County District Attorney José Garza is joining a group of DA’s banding together to hold federal officers accountable to the rule of law. We’ll look at what brought them together, and the complicated process that the project is hoping to tackle.

And a new photo exhibit at the Austin Central Library celebrates Black-owned businesses in Austin, and their role in preserving the city’s cultural history.

Democrat makes surprise win in solid-red Texas district

In a little-watched race, Taylor Rehmet’s surprise win for Democrats in Texas may be a potential warning shot for Republicans in a midterm election year. Is this a one-off, or is the GOP in trouble in the Lone Star State?
Also, Texas environmental regulators greenlight what looks like the largest fossil-fueled power plant project in the country. We’ll dig into what it might tell us about energy and the environment in Texas going forward.

Austin Needs Hip-Hop

On this episode we talk about how when the city of Austin embraces hip-hop, it’s relevancy, and pockets, increase. We also discuss Kanye’s recent apology and if we believe him or not. Hip-hop facts include facts about Destiny’s Child, J. Cole, The Notorious B.I.G. and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that New York rappers benefit more from standing new to rappers from other coasts than the opposite being true.