Central Texas top stories for September 9, 2024.The Austin City Council this week is considering a plan to phase out forever chemicals used in firefighting. A poll shows 78 percent of Texas public school teachers say they have seriously considered leaving their job in the last year. Testing data shows students in Texas are still struggling with math post-pandemic, a Central Texas district is trying to help. A UT poll shows an uptick of support for Democrats. The Longhorns are now #2 in the AP Top 25 College Football Poll.
UT
What’s ahead for U.S. gymnastics at the Olympics
A faculty committee at UT Austin found that university leaders violated their own rules when calling police to respond to protests over the war in Gaza at the end of the spring semester. Audrey McGlinchy of KUT News shares the latest.
Five years after the mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, a new memorial is unveiled to honor the 23 people killed.
Serious questions have been raised over a private contractor providing healthcare services to prison inmates in many states, including Texas.
And: Texas was well-represented at the men and women’s gymnastics team and all-around events at the Paris Olympics. A look at what’s ahead for the athletes.
House Speaker Dade Phelan has drawn an opponent
The Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the maker of the iPhone violated antitrust law by maintaining an illegal monopoly in the smartphone market. We’ll hear more from Jason Snell, one of the nation’s top Apple watchers.
House Speaker Dade Phelan faces another challenge: not just re-election in his home district, but now a rival for his leadership position from state Rep. Tom Oliverson.
An update on the Standard’s Music Madness bracket, and how you can make your picks for the Elite Eight.
Plus: The week in politics with The Texas Tribune.
Thousands of vulnerable Texans stand to lose food and health benefits
A plan to provide aid to Ukraine and Israel is on the ropes due to disagreements over border security. What comes next? Brandon Rottinghaus of the University of Houston has more.
Thousands of vulnerable Texans stand to lose food and health benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC.
An obscure element of the school financial system is leaving some districts with more money than they need.
And we’ll talk to Tyler Campbell, the son of NFL Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell, who’s sharing his story in a new book.
The science on why it’s fun to be scared
Recriminations over donations and demands for a high-level resignation: What’s behind the latest political fight between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan?
The Senate green-lights a voucher-like plan to provide public money for private school tuition. Matthew Watkins of the Texas Tribune joins us with more on the week in politics.
How to safely view Saturday’s annular eclipse over Texas.
Ken Burns returns with a new PBS series on the American Buffalo.
And: On Friday the 13th in this spookiest month, why so many folks love to get scared.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 29, 2023
Central Texas top stories for September 29, 2023. University of Texas enrollment grows. Updates on Barton Springs tree Flo. Austin Energy behind on tree trimming.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 29, 2023
Central Texas top stories for August 29, 2023. Why does ERCOT pay businesses for lowering energy use? Are you part of a circular economy? EMS Union reaches agreement with Austin.
KUT Morning Newscast for June 30, 2023
Central Texas top stories for June 30, 2023. Texas reactions to the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action in colleges. New development proposal plans for Austin. Firework laws and safety.
KUT Morning Newscast for February 9, 2023
Central Texas top stories for February 9, 2023. Austin police contract. 311 call data. Resource centers this week. University of Texas budget requests.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 22, 2022
Central Texas top stories for November 22, 2022. UT NASA grant. Williamson County Animal Shelter dangerously full. Austin Public Health flu warning. Uvalde police officer resigns. Texas Board of Education no vouchers.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 18, 2022
Central Texas top stories for November 18, 2022. Austin ISD interim superintendent applications. Bastrop County wastewater request. Freedom of speech at UT. Texas maternal mortality report. APD intoxicated driver policy.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 17, 2022
Central Texas top stories for November 17, 2022. UT Grad students protest. Austin ISD interim superintendent. HEB beef recall. Austin light-rail system. Texas electric market proposed changes. Austin-Bergstrom holiday crowds. Taylor holiday parade.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 19, 2022
Central Texas top stories for October 19, 2022. Pandemic response. COVID-19 boosters. Community college funding. Williamson County voting machines. IDs for voting.
Texas Standard: September 15, 2022
A major logistics catastrophe avoided. We’ll talk about the railroad worker strike that wasn’t. Railroad worker unions were prepared to go on strike without a contract that had better protections for sick time. We’ll have the latest on the deal that’s kept the trains on the tracks. Plus you’ve heard of blue books, the green book, but what about the beige book? It’s choc full of the economy’s secrets, and our own Sean Saldana’s been looking through a copy. And a major bridge project in Corpus Christi has produced major headaches. We’ll tell you why. That and the biggest headlines of the day, today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 07, 2022
As students return to class in Uvalde, new scrutiny comes as five of the responding officers involved in the mass shooting have been referred to the inspector general, two suspended with pay; we’ll have the latest. Also, new polling numbers on the top three races in Texas politics. And teaching Taylor Swift at UT, we’ll hear from the professor behind a class that might be tough to shake off. These stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Part I: Being Black at UT 63 Years After Integration
400 years ago, a group of 20 enslaved Africans were brought to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay for the express purpose of working the land, thus beginning one of the most shameful periods in America’s history.
Although Diversity and Inclusion have become a mission of so many academic and corporate entities, the vestiges of that tragic day still haunt us, and in our current political climate forces us to grapple with the question: how far have we actually progressed when it comes to race in this country?
Join guest host Ya’Ke Smith in a candid conversation with Virginia Cumberbatch, Kathleen McElroy, and Roger Reeves as they discuss this pivotal event and how it still affects the way African-Americans are viewed today.
Diversity is not just about buzz words, but it’s about America grappling with her history, facing it head-on, and making earnest efforts to repair the insurmountable damage that her original sin still causes today.
Audience Q&A: Being Black At UT 63 Years After Integration
400 years ago, a group of 20 enslaved Africans were brought to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay for the express purpose of working the land, thus beginning one of the most shameful periods in America’s history.
Although Diversity and Inclusion have become a mission of so many academic and corporate entities, the vestiges of that tragic day still haunt us, and in our current political climate forces us to grapple with the question: how far have we actually progressed when it comes to race in this country?
Join guest host Ya’Ke Smith in a candid conversation with Virginia Cumberbatch, Kathleen McElroy, and Roger Reeves as they discuss this pivotal event and how it still affects the way African-Americans are viewed today.
Diversity is not just about buzz words, but it’s about America grappling with her history, facing it head-on, and making earnest efforts to repair the insurmountable damage that her original sin still causes today.
Texas Standard: June 19, 2019
The President launches his re-election bid. How strong is his support in Texas? Who do Texas Democrats favor in 2020? A new UT-Texas Tribune poll offers an updated snapshot of where Texans stand on a variety of political matters as we head into the next election cycle. We’ll break down the findings. Also some claim that the cycle of boom and bust in oil country is a relic of the past. Is it? We’ll take a closer look. And claims about high maternal mortality rates in Texas: The governor says they’re lying. But what does Politifact say? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 10, 2018
Even before the Democrats have their runoff, a new ad campaign from Governor Abbott suggests he already knows the outcome, we’ll have the latest. Also- the two Democrats in the gubernatorial runoff set a time date and place for their one and only debate, although it won’t be televised. How that might hint at what’s happening behind the scenes. And behind the scenes to win freedom for Americans. Ambassador Ryan Crocker of Texas A&M on what you didn’t see with today’s hostage release. Plus the technology that doing for a night at the movie theatre what Uber did for taxis, we’ll take a look. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 9, 2018
A congressman leaves Washington well ahead of schedule. What are the options for a short term replacement to represent his Harvey hit part of Texas? The story on the Standard.
After a scandal involving a teacher convicted of domestic abuse, the University of Texas orders employees to report all future arrests –and the dispositions of their cases. Does it strike the right balance between safety and worker privacy?
Also, why state parks are going dark this week.
TXDOT issues a warning for roadside picture takers during bluebonnet season. But wait- who put those bluebonnets there in the first place? We’ll find out…and a whole lot more.