texas

Evictions at Community First Village, KUTX artist of the month, Future Front Fest

Over the last five years, the Community First Village — which has drawn national attention as a new model to get people off the streets — has drastically increased the number of evictions filed against residents.

Paige Plaisance, KUTX’s Artist of the Month for August, melds a killer voice with the sounds of swampytonkin’.

The Future Front Festival is marking a decade of creating the the kind of diverse programming it wanted to see in the world.

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

Meta agrees to massive settlements over teen social media harms

Ottawa and Washington may seem distant to many Texans, but increasing rhetoric between the two has Texas in the crosshairs. We’ll examine how a trade war between allies could wind up costing Texas billions.
Other stories we’re tracking: A historic multibillion dollar settlement from Meta has been reached over the use of social media by young people. What changes, what doesn’t and what it may mean longer-term.
As smart glasses get smarter, tech expert Omar Gallaga focuses on the privacy concerns inspiring new apps.
Remember the Alamo? What about Gonzales? Filmmaker John Franklin Rinehart is making sure folks don’t forget.

Austin considers data center regulations, Dolly Parton’s guitar, New UIL heat rules

The Austin City Council is considering some regulations around data centers. That includes defining where they might be built, and how they’re categorized by size and demand on resources.

There are new rules for students participating in outdoor UIL competitions designed to protect kids from the brutal Texas heat. We’ll tell you what’s changing.

Some big names are on the way out of Austin FC. Who’s on the move and who’s available for tonight’s Leagues Cup match.

Dolly Parton gifted a rhinestoned guitar to Austin drag queen Brigitte Bandit. She can’t play it, but she can pretend — and she’s got a story for a lifetime.

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

A Texas remembrance of Dolly Parton

Tens of thousands of acres are burning in West Texas. We’ll check in on containment efforts and the ongoing wildfire risk.
Republicans from all over the country will be gathering in Texas soon to drum up support for the November election. We’ll have a look at how the Texas GOP has evolved.
Chinese biotech firms have become a major force in the global pharmaceutical market. We’ll look at what Americans should know about where new medicine may be coming from.
Houston Police have been collaborating with ICE. We’ll share how the collaboration has impacted one man’s life.
And Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. We went looking for a Texan who could help us remember this icon of country music and beyond — and found a longtime collaborator and friend in Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson.

West Texas power line fight grows as data center demand surges

The data center backlash has lawmakers rolling back plans to expand high-power transmission lines. We’ll have a look at what it means for rural residents.
Also, how seniors are coping with the high cost of food.
Plus, if you have pet, you know veterinary care can be costly. That has some families skipping a trip to the vet. A Texas organization steps in to help.
Also, mapping extreme heat: Why certain parts of Houston result in more people ending up in the hospital.
And as students begin a new school year and cheer on their teams, which high school has the strangest mascot?

UT liberal arts changes, Waterway pollution report, KUT summer reading party

School is back in session on the UT Austin campus, and it’s far from business as usual for students and staff in a newly consolidated department.
Programs with decades of history on the 40 Acres — including Mexican American and Latina and women’s, gender and sexuality studies — are no more.

The punishing heat only makes sweeter that refreshing feeling of jumping into the river to cool off. But bacteria levels in Texas waterways bring a risk with the cooling reward.

Have you been playing KUT’s Summer Reading Bingo? Join us at a party this week to celebrate, talk about the books you finished and pick up a prize!

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

What’s behind the recent surge in food recalls?

Texas youth prisons go on lockdown after assaults on correctional staff, with one official saying young detainees are “becoming more violent and more aggressive.” We’ll hear about the effects of the lockdown and what happens next.
Why are we seeing a surge in food safety concerns and outbreaks of illness in Texas and other states? We’ll dive in and share some steps on staying safe.
With heat warnings in effect across much of the state, the University Interscholastic League makes heat safety guidelines mandatory.

New Generations of Hip-Hop

On this episode we have a conversation with KUTX interns Joel and Monica about their first introduction to hip-hop. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about Frank Ocean, Jay-Z, Outkast and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is that Do It Yourself artists do more harm than good to their careers.

Austin-San Antonio passenger rail, No Wrong Door program, Weekend arts events

A passenger rail link between Austin and San Antonio is now being presented with two very different paths forward. Union Pacific says its freight railroad still doesn’t have capacity to do it — and the other option comes with a price tag exceeding $13 billion.

A new city initiative, No Wrong Door, is looking to help people trapped in cycles of homelessness, incarceration and hospitalization.

Plus: Looking for weekend plans? We have a look at arts events around town.

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

Virtual public schools expand across Texas

How rising childcare costs and shrinking funds to help families is costing the state dearly, and why some fear a change at the federal level could make things worse.

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s flooding the airwaves with ads. Meanwhile, striking silence from his Republican challenger. Is Ken Paxton just keeping his powder dry in the weeks before elections, or is this a harbinger of a political sea change in Texas?

Those stories, a surprise in virtual learning and more on today’s show.

City Council term limits, Big Bend border plan protest, Austin Sketch Fest

Austin City Council members are usually limited to two four-year terms, but a few folks have attempted to represent their district for a third time. Now Paige Ellis is vying to do the same.

Conservation advocates were in Austin this week, voicing opposition to border construction in the Big Bend region. Former state officeholders and parks and wildlife officials, and everyday Texans, took their protest to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

It’s the final weekend of Austin Sketch Fest, which has hosted many of today’s biggest comedy stars way back when they were just getting going.

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

Judge appoints monitor for migrant children detained in Texas

A federal judge orders answers to the question of why families are being held so long at a detention center in South Texas. We’ll have the story.

After a state takeover of schools in Houston, officials tout rising scores for schools, but are those grades being artificially inflated at the expense of students themselves? We’ll hear about an exclusive investigation by the Houston Chronicle.

Also, a city best known for the Alamo, a riverwalk and the Spurs is now gaining accolades for fungus.

Plus, BBQ beyond the brisket: Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn on the lesser-known champions of smoked chicken.

First day back for AISD, data center regulations, Longhorn Football preview

Students and staff in the Austin Independent School District are back in class this week. 10 campuses in the district closed their doors for good over the summer, but one school had to open back up to serve students from a damaged school. We’ll tell you why.
We’ve been reporting on and learning more about data centers and their impacts on Texans. Hundreds of these centers are planned in the state, and certain regulations have enticed this kind of development. We’ll have more about those laws.
New public art is coming to the UT Austin campus designed by Maya Lin, the artist who shaped the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. We’ll share more about the new work.
And we’re just more than two weeks away from Texas Longhorn Football returning to DKR-Memorial Stadium. We’ll have a preview of this year’s squad.

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

California/Texas surrogacy case tests abortion and parental rights

At what some have described as Texas’ flagship university, the University of Texas at Austin, a proposed change in core requirements for graduation. We’ll delve into why now and what it means.

In a North Texas city, some backyards are said to be disappearing with every new rainfall. We’ll hear about what’s happening in Arlington and what can be done.

Also, a surrogate mother comes to Texas, refusing to get an abortion as requested by the biological parents. Now, the courts are involved. We’ll have the backstory and what comes next.

And Minnesota officials sue Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the extradition of an ICE agent.

And Robert Earl Keen with an update on that road that goes on forever.

New city 911 office, Austin fire chief retiring, Goth culture in Texas

The city’s system of 911 call-takers will be moving from the Austin Police Department into a standalone office in an effort to improve response times. The City Council approved the move as part of the city’s $6.6 billion budget — though not everyone agrees on the plan.

Austin’s Fire Chief Joel G. Baker is retiring at the end of the month. He spoke with KUT News about the reason for his departure, his plans and the future of the department.

Elysium, Austin’s oldest goth bar, is celebrating 25 years this year. How the subculture has grown in Texas.

New developments in Big Bend border wall fight

Border construction in Big Bend National Park is paused — for now. We’ll have an overview of the damage done and what’s next.
Texas received billions from a federal program meant to help provide high-speed internet to underserved communities. But why is it pausing new projects?
Texas is home to the largest detention camp in the country. A year after the opening of the detention facility at Fort Bliss, calls to close it are intensifying.
Some Texans have been notified of high levels of radium in their water. We’ll look at why this happens and potential solutions.
Plus, the National Hockey League is considering another team in Texas. Will it be Austin or Houston?

Tacos de la Casa: Cooking with Joy. Hiding from ICE

In the season opener of Tacos of Texas, we step into two home kitchens and the women who run them. Denise Segura is a not so traditional Abuela from San Antonio. We’ll also make tacos with an immigrant mom who asked us not to use her name for safety reasons. We talk about home cooking and what it means to keep feeding their families, one taco a time.

Tacos of Texas is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.o rg

State ratings put Austin schools at risk of Texas takeover

The report cards are in — not for students, but for Texas public schools, inching some districts closer to a state takeover. We’ll have details and more.
Paxton v. Roblox: Why the Texas attorney general — and Republican senate candidate —has put a popular gaming platform in his legal crosshairs.
Also, what some describe as a little like Bitcoin with a “Come-and-Take-It” attitude: Today, Texas financial regulators are set to lay out a case against what’s called the TEXITcoin.
And the story of Eddie Durham, the Texan some credit with inventing riff-based jazz. The San Marcos-born trombone player was perhaps better known as an electric guitar trailblazer.

GOAT Talk

We are still celebrating the birthday of Hip-Hop! On this episode, we discuss our favorite rap albums and also what we consider the biggest disappointment in Hip-hop history. Hip-Hop Facts this week is a little different as we both tell two truths and a lie and have to guess which one is the lie. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is another controversial topic that will definitely get people talking online.

How risks can be managed psychologically

Carl Stuart takes caller and text questions on emphasizing the importance of avoiding large losses, understanding market cycles, managing risk psychologically, and not letting taxes drive investment decisions.