Do data centers help local economies? The largest one is under construction in West Texas and could provide some answers.
Also, we’ll get an update on the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin and take a look at the use of deadly force by ICE on city streets across the country.
Plus, the struggle to pay for childcare in Texas.
Texas Standard reporter Sarah Asch takes us to a Texas prison helping women learn a specialized job skill.
Plus, our Hispanic Heritage Moment spotlights a Latina astronaut who blazed a trail space.
texas
Latest on Austin ICE shooting, AISD appeals failing ratings, HAAM Day Music Festival
A man was shot and injured on Sunday by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in North Austin, leading to protests through the evening. The 28-year-old is now being held in a ICE processing center. We spoke with some of the folks who were near the scene of the shooting.
The Austin Independent School District has appealed the two failing school scores that are threatening a state takeover of the entire district. It’s the latest move attempting to keep control of the district and its schools.
The Live Music Capital of the World will be jam-packed with live performances from dusk to dawn tomorrow in celebration of HAAM Day. Where to hear the music and what goes into planning a whole day of shows across the city.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
‘Deep in the Heart 2’ explores the rivers and aquifers that sustain Texas
Another ICE shooting in Texas, this time in the Texas capital city on Sunday.
Also, what could be an important week of speeches and negotiations in New York. UT’s Michael Mosser joins the Standard with more on what to look for, and what’s at stake at the UN general assembly gathering.
With much of the UN focused on current conflicts, we’ll hear how an expansion of the war between the U.S. and Iran is having ripple effects for Texas.
A lake in Abilene becomes the latest to get the state’s most severe rating for the infestation of invasive zebra mussels.
And Ethan Hawke narrates the new documentary “Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers” about the waterways and aquifers of the Lone Star State. We’ll talk with director Ben Masters.
Raps of Resistance w/ Earl Hopkins & Dr. Jeremy McCool
On this episode we interview authors Earl Hopkins and Dr. Jeremy McCool about their new book “Raps of Resistance: How Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Reignited a Hip-Hop Tradition”. Hip-Hop Facts this week include facts about Mac Miller, Prince, Kendrick Lamar and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is Austin doesn’t have a definitive culture.
Stocks Over Bonds: Why Inflation Changes Everything
Carl Stuart takes caller and text questions on how persistent inflation fundamentally changes investment strategy, practical guidance on consolidating retirement accounts with fee-only advisors, understanding tax advantages of holding appreciated assets until death, and emphasizes that investors can’t time markets, so success depends on proper asset allocation, broad diversification, and long-term commitment rather than fear-based reactions.
Big Bend businesses push back against border wall construction
In the Big Bend region, local businesses are banding together to push back against border wall construction.
Growing food insecurity in rural areas is on par with some of the country’s biggest cities amid changes to federal nutrition programs.
In the fight against the spread of a destructive parasite, a look at what may be a gaping hole in the strategy. A new warning about the New World screwworm.
Concerns are growing that many in Generation Z may be literally gambling away their futures.
Plus, the return of the Texas Beachcomber, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and much more.
UT cutting ethnic studies majors, Nonprofit board diversity, Vanessa Gonzalez comedy special
UT Austin is set to eliminate at least four majors, including Mexican American & Latina/o Studies and women’s & gender studies. It’s the latest move following the consolidation of seven ethnic and gender studies departments earlier this year.
A new report found that 1 in 3 leaders of color serving on Central Texas nonprofit boards experience bias or exclusion. The ways to ensure that everyone is made welcome at the table.
Plus, comedian Vanessa Gonzalez has a new streaming comedy special that was filmed here in Austin. We’ll talk about her experience coming up in the city’s comedy scene and the East Austin event she’ll be at later this month.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he’s investigating that proposed data center in Taylor. KUT’s Kailey Hunt first reported this about the proposed data center last year and now she’s got the latest on this investigation.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Houston G20 energy summit confronts high oil and gasoline prices
As concerns grow over data centers in Texas, something is conspicuously missing: Reliable data on the impact. We’ll have a look at the search for real numbers.
A global conference on energy wraps in Houston as gas prices reach wallet-slimming levels across the Lone Star State. We’ll hear more on the G20 energy summit and ask about a possible disconnect.
Facebook’s parent company Meta claims to be doing more to protect children and privacy, but a new controversy is calling those claims into question.
Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn dishes on what to do when something’s off about the brisket.
Austin DeFlock movement, Hispanic Heritage Month at MACC, Central Health budget
You’ve probably heard something about the pushback against automated license plate readers. The biggest name in the game is Flock, and there’s a growing movement to “De-Flock” Austin and other cities in Central Texas. We’ll hear their reasoning.
Austin’s newly renovated Mexican American Cultural Center is gearing up to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. We’ll dive into more about the changes and upcoming events.
Plus, we’ve got a budget update for the local health district, Central Health — as well as a budget update from Hays County.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
UT students respond after Bo French targets them online
We assume the hundreds of new data centers popping up across Texas use quite a bit of water, but we’ll look at why we don’t know for sure.
Texas has a program to help expand access to preschool. But why do some providers say it’s having unintended consequences?
Republican candidate for the Texas railroad commission Bo French put dozens of UT students in an unexpected spotlight with a racist social media post. We’ll delve into what the students say about the experience.
A book first published in the 1940s offered a scathing social critique of the rich and powerful of Fort Worth. It caused a scandal and was quickly suppressed. Now, “The Inheritors” is getting new life.
Plus, as Netflix prepares to remake “Lonesome Dove,” we revisit some of our favorite moments from the 1989 series with W.F. Strong.
Hemp flower legality, Airbnb Austin investment, mail-in ballots ruling
For years, Texans could walk into their local smoke shop and buy cannabis flower that looked and smelled exactly like marijuana. It came from the very same plant but was legally sold as hemp. Stores in Texas can no longer sell these smokeable products, but can folks still have them on their person?
And the City of Austin is getting a $6 million investment from Airbnb to help fund affordable housing.
Plus, a big decision was handed down from the Supreme Court yesterday on mail-in ballots ahead of November’s midterm Election Day.
And a sneak peek of the latest episode of the Tacos of Texas podcast.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Dallas-raised, best-selling author R.F. Kuang talks new novel ‘Taipei Story’
Texas pulled smokable hemp out of stores but it’s still available in other forms. So, what does the law say now?
A North Texas community weathered a recent wildfire but still lacks basic resources for another emergency.
And there’s a rise in dangerous ectopic pregnancies and it varies by state. We’ll delve into what’s happening in Texas.
Dallas-raised, best-selling author R.F. Kuang talks about her new novel, “Taipei Story” and explores what it means to learn a language after losing a generational tie to it.
Plus, we kick of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrating an Olympic silver-medalist.
Black & Indigenous Mexicans: A coming together on food, untold history and rich identities at the Texas Table
In this Tacos of Texas – En Vivo live taping, we explore how Black, Indigenous, and Mexican histories connect through identity, food, migration, and what it takes to build power together through shared stories. Joining us are Barbara Reaves, a descendant of the Black Seminole community in Nacimiento de los Negros, Coahuila, Mexico; Miles Bloxson, a seventh-generation Central Texan and award-winning storyteller; and Irasema Reza Bailey, a traditional healer and cultural keeper.
Central Health budget preview, Running in the heat, Can Longhorns go undefeated?
Thousands of people here in Travis County depend on Central Health for their wellness needs, particularly those who earn the least amount of money. County commissioners are meeting this week to discuss the upcoming budget. We’ll tell you what’s in it.
And, the dog days of summer are still with us halfway through September. That means folks are still choosing the treadmill over the trails, though that’s not the case for one group of running fools.
There’s a new No. 1 team in college football after an all-time comeback this weekend by the Texas Longhorns. The season is still young and there are plenty of tough games are left on the schedule — but can this team go undefeated and end a national championship drought of over two decades?
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
How the Longhorns took down top-ranked Ohio State in a dramatic comeback
Rural Texas has long been a GOP stronghold, but one issue could make a top statewide race more competitive than previously thought. We’ll look at how data centers have emerged as critical in the Texas gubernatorial contest.
Some Texas institutions of higher learning are encouraging students to use AI. We’ll dig into why.
Public libraries in Texas aren’t just for checking out books anymore. We’ll hear how art class is making the stacks a little noisier at one branch.
Plus, the college football comeback everyone’s talking about: How Texas took down Ohio State.
Ridin’ Dirty Down IH-35 w/ Vontay Galaxy
On this episode we talk with Austin rap artist Vontay Galaxy about his start at Texas State and traveling up and down IH-35 spreading his music. We also talk about if there is a lack of new rap superstars being created to supplement the genres growth. Hip-Hop Facts this week include facts about Ol Dirty Bastard, Kriss Kross, Nelly and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is that rap is no longer a young peoples game.
Texas Extra: Texas political history and intrigue with politico Ben Barnes
There’s a lot to talk about in Texas on a daily basis and Texas Standard wants to get to as much as we can. But sometimes that means taking a great conversation and making it much shorter than we’d like. Such is the case with one this week with longtime Texas politico Ben Barnes. Our David Brown talked with him about his new memoir “Get It Done: Seven Decades of Lessons from a Political Legend.”
We present the interview in its entirety here for you now. Check it out — you’ll definitely learn something.
Remembering a Houston family’s loss 25 years after 9/11
25 years since 9/11, in which a series of coordinated attacks on the U.S. marked the end of one era and the start of another. We’ll share some stories of Texans whose lives were impacted.
A first-of-its-kind midterm political convention wraps up in Dallas. Did Republicans move the needle with just two months to go before midterms? Caroline Love of KERA North Texas joins us with a closer look.
What may be a major discovery in the search for dark matter: We’ll talk with a Texan who’s been involved in this search and hear more about what may be a critical new piece of evidence.
And in West, Texas, a cultural celebration turns 50.
New novel ‘The Beauty of Days Gone By’ tackles the Texas frontier
How might AI-generated images affect a high-stakes political contest in Texas? Rice University political professor Mark Jones joins the Standard to talk about how Ken Paxton’s campaign is hoping to win votes with AI-generated images of his Democratic opponent, James Talarico.
Also: Some top-line takeaways from the first day of a first-of-its-kind GOP midterm convention underway in Dallas.
As opposition to Flock gathers steam, the cameras may be lingering for a while, even in more politically progressive parts of Texas.
New phone fatigue: Is it real? A test of sorts as Apple takes the wraps off new models.
And a new novel drawing comparisons to “Lonesome Dove” takes a look at Texas in the frontier era. “The Beauty of Days Gone By” author Jason Stone joins us with more.
High electricity costs contribute to senior heat deaths in the RGV
Costs for air conditioning are so high that some on limited incomes are trying to do without. But with temperatures also at extremes, that’s leading to some grave outcomes for seniors, in particular.
The GOP’s unconventional convention is in Texas for a reason — and part of that is the state’s fundraising power. We’ll take a closer look.
And do your feelings about AI change if it helps you save money on taxes?
Plus, an update on an effort to help monarch butterflies on their great migration.