Transportation

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.

How to get the best view of the Perseid meteor shower in Austin this week

Austin ISD classes start next week, and after announcing a change in how students will be shuffled to and from campuses, the district has backtracked on bus hubs for middle schoolers.

The proposed development of Dog’s Head in Southeast Austin continues to move forward, despite what some feel is a lack of public input. That’s not stopping neighbors from speaking out.

You’ve got a decent chance to catch some meteors in the Austin sky this week. Where to get the best view of the Perseid meteor shower.

Plus: Waterloo Records has been hosting in-store performances for almost half a century.

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

Sandy Creek residents remember lives lost to 2025 flood

School’s out for the summer, but when Austin ISD students return in the fall, they’ll be navigating some big changes in how they get to school. KUT’s education reporter Greta Díaz González Vázquez will help get us up to speed.

It’s been one year since deadly floods tore through the Texas Hill Country. Residents of the Sandy Creek neighborhood in Travis County are honoring the neighbors they lost.

The FIFA World Cup is in full swing. KUT’s Jimmy Maas joins us to talk about tonight’s match between the U.S. and Belgium — which has suddenly gotten a lot more interesting.

Plus a Few Headlines mentions in the show today:

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

Austin’s Pease Park troll burns down

A high school senior in Austin has been released from ICE custody and reunited with his family after a judge’s order — in time to walk in his graduation ceremony next month.
The city of Austin has faced another blow in its efforts to keep painted street murals and crosswalks.
Also, the popular Pease Park troll, Malin, has burned down. We’ll share what we know.
The end of this school year will feel very different at the 10 schools in the Austin Independent School District that are permanently closing. Becker Elementary’s Green Classroom is gearing up for their community garden’s final harvest.
And the Austin bird everyone loves to hate: The grackle.

I-35 construction has narrowed a passage on Lady Bird Lake

The Austin City Council is set to take up a controversial proposal this week about relying more on natural gas during times of high energy demand, and opponents worry about how it could affect climate goals.

If you venture out to Lady Bird Lake this Memorial Day weekend, you might encounter an unfamiliar sight: a construction zone on the water.

How a photography project is helping one woman reclaim her story of loss and perseverance.

Television lovers rejoice: The ATX TV Festival is returning for its 15th season.

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

Waymo expansion sparks safety concerns in Texas cities

A recent change to Texas law now requires local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
Driverless cabs are making headlines in Austin for all the wrong reasons. What this might mean for Waymo’s plans to expand statewide.
Politics v.s. pragmatism in West Texas, long known for its oil, now making a sometimes-begrudging shift to solar to meet growing electricity demand. Their question? What’s in it for them?
Also, why NASA’s hanging out the “help wanted” sign.

Records in Ken Paxton divorce case are unsealed

Records in the divorce case for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have been unsealed after a judge’s order. We’re talking with the Texas Newsroom’s Lauren McGaughy to find out what that means for the case.

Travelers at the Austin airport will soon have more options. KUT transportation reporter Nathan Bernier has the details on the newest flights coming to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Plus: a look inside the Press Room in Hyde Park, which is home to a vintage letterpress and a vast collection of original cinema advertising prints.

Blue Cross policyholders could lose in-network care at Ascension

Austinites and many others across Texas insured through Blue Cross Blue Shield could lose in-network access to Ascension Seton facilities on Jan. 1 unless the two sides can agree on a new contract.

Austin has been a testing ground for autonomous vehicles: Zoox, Texla’s Robotaxi, Waymo. However, Waymo has now issued a software recall after videos showed some vehicles passing stopped Austin ISD buses.

Plus: 2025 is nearing its end, and what a year it’s been for the Austin music scene. We take a listen back to some of this year’s KUTX artists of the month.

HOPE Outdoor Gallery reopens at new location

The Sobering Center in Austin has provided an alternative to jail or hospitalization since 2018. Now, it’s looking to help folks build a new journey beyond a one-night respite.

After many delays, the HOPE Outdoor Gallery is finally back open. The new 6,000-foot space is working to maintain the try-anything vibe that made its original spot so very Austin.

Plus: Businesses in downtown Austin are looking to attract more shoppers and more dollars to their stores this holiday season – and one way they’re trying to do that is with half-priced Uber rides.

Shutdown is over, but airport delays are still expected

The government shutdown may be over, but its impacts are still being felt across the country – including at Austin’s airport, which was already dealing with an air traffic controller shortage prior to the 43-day shutdown.

Foreign exchange students in Texas schools could be prohibited from participating in varsity athletics in the near future after a UIL rule change that still requires approval from the state’s education commissioner. Why, and what it would mean for students.

Plus: A popular Asian market in North Austin is shutting its doors at the end of the year. We chat with the owner of Hana World Market.

Want to avoid traffic in Austin? Try commuting on Mondays

Looking for a smooth commute? KUT transportation reporter Nathan Bernier shares the best days to get on the road in Austin.

The Austin Studio Tour continues this weekend at galleries, studios and homes around the city. With so much to look at, wouldn’t it be helpful to be chauffeured around to take in some of Austin’s best art? We hopped on a bus with 40 of our new best friends.

Comedian John Mulaney is in Austin for a run of four shows starting tonight. We’ll hear some of his conversation with Texas Standard.

How much would Prop Q cost homeowners in Austin?

Prop Q has brought out early voters in numbers that are higher than usual for an off-year election. The proposed tax rate increase, Austin officials say, would raise money to improve local parks, safety and homelessness. How much would that cost that homeowners? KUT government accountability reporter Andrew Weber breaks it down ahead of Election Day.

Meanwhile, the city is facing a deadline to remove painted crosswalks and street murals or risk losing state and federal money for future transportation projects. KUT’s Nathan Bernier has an update on which artwork could be affected.

Plus, ATXplained Live is tomorrow! Get into the spirit with a story about the man who used to recite poetry before Austin concerts.

What Travis County voters need to know this election

There’s a lot on the November ballot, from proposed property tax increases to state constitutional amendments. KUT’s Katy McAfee walks us through what Travis County voters will see.

Is something radioactive lurking in the walls of the state Capitol? KUT’s Juan Diego Garcia grabbed a geiger counter and went exploring for ATXplained.

Plus: A look ahead at a busy weekend in sports, including Longhorns football trying for a more decisive win on the road at Mississippi State.

Austin’s rainbow crosswalks, street lettering could soon be gone

The city of Austin is facing a deadline to remove roadway art, like the rainbow crosswalk at Fourth and Colorado streets or the words “Black Artists Matter” painted atop 11th Street. Gov. Greg Abbott says failure to do so would cause the city to risk losing state and federal dollars for future road projects.

We’ll hear from KUT government accountability reporter Andrew Weber, who is following the story.

Ever wondered who makes the giant fake sandwiches that you see around town at Thundercloud Subs? ATXplained brings you the answer.

How the Safe Haven law allows the safe and legal surrender of babies in Texas

Advocates are raising awareness for Texas’ Safe Haven Laws. Also known as the “Baby Moses” Act, the law allows babies who are 60 days or younger to be safely surrendered to staff at places like hospitals and fire departments. We’ll hear more from KUT’s Olivia Aldridge.

We’ll also hear how students at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired learn how to get around the city safely. It’s a process called orientation and mobility training. Texas Standard’s Sean Saldana breaks it all down for us.

Plus, we’ll hear from an Austin native, Dr. Cheryl Clark-Brown, who shares her journey into medicine and her dedication to giving back to the community that helped raised her. That conversation comes from the Black Austin Matters podcast.

Miles Bloxson is in the hosts chair today on Austin Signal.

Texas starts taxing seller fees on sites like eBay, Etsy

Buying new? In this economy? Shopping secondhand is the go-to for many these days. But things are about to change for sellers using online retail platforms in Texas.
KUT’s Nathan Bernier joins the show to tell us why the next thrifted gem you purchase may cost you more than it used to. Plus, we prepare for the October festival season in Austin with tips from Nathan and KUTX’s Maile Carballo ahead of the first weekend of the Austin City Limits music festival.

And longtime Austinites have legends about folks who once lived in the hills west of Austin, known as “cedar choppers.” Many of those stories aren’t exactly positive ones. KUT’s Maya Fawaz looked into their history for our ATXplained podcast series. Syeda Carrillo guest hosts on today’s Austin Signal.

Why Austin keeps turning intersections into roundabouts

The City of Austin has built almost 50 roundabouts with more on the way. Construction on Austin’s newest roundabout is set to begin this week. KUT’s Nathan Bernier finds out why Austin keeps turning intersections into roundabouts.

This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

Black farmers in East Texas feel the sting of DEI cuts

A peek into the week ahead for the Texas Legislature’s special session: We’ll hear the latest on a much-talked-about possible walkout by Democrats.

A plan to relieve congestion in Austin was approved by voters years ago – but so far, there’s not much to show for it. Is Project Connect off the rails?

The rollback of USDA diversity programs is impacting East Texas, which is home to more Black farmers than anywhere else in the U.S.

Plus: A big deadline for tariffs with Mexico on the table. If a deal can’t be reached by Aug. 1, what could that mean for Texas?

Sul Ross raises its own bucking horses to keep rodeo tradition alive

We’re taking a look at the new laws that took effect in Texas on Sept. 1.
Hauling freight on trains is a multibillion-dollar industry in Texas. The latest on safety concerns.
A report from the Paralympics in Paris, where Texans are making a strong showing.
Sul Ross State University in Alpine is the birthplace of collegiate rodeo – and is now raising their own bucking horses.
And: Standup comedian Sheng Wang, a Houston native, is bringing his comedy back to the Lone Star State.

Civics 101: Who pays for highways?

Texas has a sprawling highway network with more than 200-thousand miles of lanes — almost the distance from Earth to the Moon. And those roads don’t come cheap. The Texas Department of Transportation outspends every other state, devoting about 18-billion dollars a year to highways.

Ever wonder who foots the bill?

All this week the KUT newsroom is focusing on stories that explain how parts of our local government work. To kick things off KUT’s Nathan Bernier takes a look at who pays for highways in Texas.

You can find all of our Civics 101 stories at KUT.org