Central Texas top stories for July 2, 2024. Congressman Lloyd Doggett is calling on President Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee for president. The Austin Community College Board of Trustees has signed off on a 4-point-5 percent across-the-board raise for employees. The Austin Animal Center is pausing animal intake to help ease overcrowding. The Austin Police Department may finish out 2024 with more cadets than departures in its ranks for the first time in years. The Lower Colorado River Authority is offering grants of up to 50 thousand dollars. Potential weather changes inbound.
Weather
Texas dance company brings a love story home to Shankleville
On the final day of its term, the U.S. Supreme Court sent the legal challenge to a Texas social media law back to a lower court and said Donald Trump has absolute immunity for official acts only. We’ll have the latest.
It may be up to Texas lawmakers to further clarify state rules around in vitro fertilization.
The latest on potential disruptions for energy and travel as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in the Caribbean.
Marijuana is not legal for recreational use in Texas – but tests show the products sold at smoke shops and gas stations is more like the real deal than meets the eye.
And the Standard’s Kristen Cabrera reports from East Texas on the homecoming of the enduring love story of Jim and Winnie Shankle – one that began on a plantation and ended with emancipation – told in the universal language of dance.
Director Jeff Nichols returns to the big screen with ‘The Bikeriders’
Tropical Storm Alberto bears down on Mexico, bringing rain wind and stormy weather to South Texas. We’ll have an update on the latest.
Texas has the second largest population of Indian Americans in the U.S., many of them closely following the shifting political picture in New Delhi. We’ll hear reactions to a rare third term for India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi.
How the government’s trying to help veterans transition into entrepreneurs.
You might have heard of AI hallucinations, but there’s a new buzzword in town – understanding AI “slop.”
And: Austin-based writer-director Jeff Nichols joins the Standard with a look at his new movie, “The Bikeriders,” a time capsule of late 1960s Chicago and the rise of motorcycle clubs.
Meet Emma, the AI assistant answering the phones at Amarillo City Hall
Just in time for high summer, a surge in COVID cases? What officials are saying about a new subvariant.
It could be a very wet 72 hours of so for much of Southeast Texas and beyond as meteorologists focus on what could be the first big storm of hurricane season coming together in the Gulf of Mexico.
In Amarillo, phones at City Hall are answered by Emma – a first-of-its-kind virtual assistant powered by AI, built specifically for the city.
Why some analysts are pumping the brakes on predictions of a looming oil glut thanks to electric vehicles.
And: why some Texas Democrats say schools could be key to their success in November.
Slap fights could be coming to Texas
Texas leads the nation in deaths of kids left in hot cars. Research explains why it happens and how to prevent it.
A heat dome hovers over parts of Texas, baking the state. What can we expect as summer starts?
Regulators will decide if the sport of slap fighting – in which two people stand across a table and slap each other in the face as hard as they can – should come to the Lone Star State.
Are plans for an oil export terminal 30 miles off the Texas Gulf Coast too ecologically dangerous?
And: A tour of a cavern first discovered in Central Texas the 1960s, known as Hidden Wonders, is unlike any other the state.
How East Texas is recovering after massive storms
As heat replaces rain as the top weather concern, East Texas is still weathering the remnants of our stormy spring.
You’ve heard about a shortage of mental health facilities and doctors, but for those who do get treatment, what comes the day after discharge? How little-known clubs are filling the gap.
In a year that started with excitement for the San Antonio Spurs, it’s now the Dallas Mavericks with a shot at the title. Looking ahead to the NBA Finals, which start tonight.
And: Why are so many finding that “breaking up is hard to do” when it comes to tech providers? Omar Gallaga breaks it down.
Simone Biles sets new records at Olympic qualifier
Mayors from South Texas are in DC today to join President Joe Biden as he announces a plan that would limit the number of people who could request asylum at the southern border. Is it more political, or practical?
It’s getting hot out there – and if you haven’t noticed, your pets certainly have. We’ll hear from an expert about how to keep them cool this summer.
And: Simone Biles’ sweep at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships brings her career U.S. medal count to 41, including 32 golds.
Students could soon be taught Bible stories in public schools
You check in with your ID, find an empty booth and cast your ballot in secret. But have Texas voter transparency laws challenged that privacy?
Depending on where you live in Texas you might pay taxes to a local hospital system. Understanding how that works.
Storm chasers have enormous followings on social media, many copycats and, increasingly, even people riding along. It’s a growing industry of sorts, but is it a good idea?
A new docuseries coming to HBO, “Ren Faire,” follows what happens when the man who has presided over the Texas Renaissance Festival for 50 years retires.
And: A push for classical studies in Texas classrooms could also include more conversations about the Bible.
Four dead after severe storms batter Houston, East Texas
Deadly and destructive storms sweep across downtown Houston, killing four and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. We’ll have an update on the latest as damage assessment and recovery efforts are underway.
A new controversy surrounding Houston Superintendent Mike Miles is getting the attention of state lawmakers and the Texas Education Agency – this one involving an apparent transfer of Texas education dollars to charter schools in Colorado.
Plus: the week in politics with Matthew Watkins of The Texas Tribune.
What does Azerbaijan want with Texas politicians?
After weeks of rains in East Texas, hope for a shift into recovery mode is on hold with more rain tap for today and much of this week.
Strong winds, hail damage, what next? Sangita Menon of KUT News looks at the next steps of navigating insurance.
What does Azerbaijan want from Texas? Christopher Hooks of Texas Monthly shares how the indictment of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar may be just the tip of the iceberg.
For decades, the Tower Life building defined San Antonio’s skyline. Changes are on the horizon after the building’s recent sale – but tours are being offered first.
Also: A new report on the pace of global renewable energy shows how Texas and the U.S. stack up.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for May 9, 2024
Central Texas top stories for May 9, 2024. A San Marcos man was charged with illegally carrying a gun during a protest on the University of Texas campus last week. How the power grid held up under yesterday’s unseasonably hot temperatures. A cold front is bringing a chance of rain and severe weather to Central Texas. The UT Austin president says the university will not allow disruptions to its graduation events. Travis County District Attorney José Garza can use county money to help him fight a petition filed to remove him from office. #1 ranked Longhorns in their final Big 12 Softball tournament.
What we know about the bribery charges faced by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar
Heavy rains led to severe flooding in parts of Harris County and counties to the north, prompting evacuations, boat rescues and substantial property damage. We’ll get an update on the latest.
Texans voted in numerous municipal elections over the weekend. How some closely watched races turned out.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were indicted late last week on conspiracy and bribery charges, accused of accepting bribes in connection with Azerbaijan.
On the one-year anniversary of a mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, Asian American groups call for a hate crime designation.
And: PETA has released the results of a years-long investigation into unlicensed horse racing, which they call particularly prevalent in Texas.
Is Tesla running out of power?
Twisters up north, flooding to the east, wildfire dangers out in the far west and a forecast that won’t let up… yet. Boat rescues reported in central east Texas and many road closures as riverbanks swell from the rain. Meteorologist Eric Berger with the latest and what to expect.
On the heels of layoffs in April, the state’s wealthiest resident moves to make deeper cuts at the nation’s top EV maker. A tipping point for Tesla?
An update on what Travis County officials describe as the worst outbreak of opioid overdoses in years.
Plus, a preview of a new podcast exploring the state’s takeover of the Texas’ biggest school district.
What’s next after state troopers arrested dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters at UT-Austin
After protests over the Israel-Hamas war at Columbia, NYU and elsewhere, students at the University of Texas follow suit and were met by police in riot gear who arrested dozens. UT history and politics professor Jeremi Suri talks about what happened on campus yesterday and the lessons from an earlier wave of student protests nationwide.
A new report from state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon shows we’re looking at hotter temperatures, more extreme droughts and growing wildfire dangers.
And: A closer look at what comes next for TikTok after President Joe Biden signed a foreign aid package that includes a measure to ban the app if China-based parent company ByteDance fails to divest from it within a year.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for April 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for April 19, 2024. Austin Water unveiled a new plan to conserve water and battle drought. Moderate to severe drought is persisting mainly in western parts of Central Texas. The City of San Marcos is getting 14 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Transportation. San Marcos is hosting its annual summer fan drive. The City of Austin is looking into how entry fees at its swimming pools can be adjusted. Weekend rain chances. Tomorrow’s Texas Football Orange & White game is still on schedule, despite the high likelihood of rain. Austin FC face Houston in their second Copa Tejas match of the year.
KUT Morning Newscast for April 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for April 19, 2024. EPA announces new regulations on “forever chemicals” in drinking water. Residents giving testimony at Austin City Hall will get more time to speak. In-person early voting starts Monday morning in the May 4th election. San Marcos’s new water restrictions. Weekend rain chances.
Total eclipse 2024: A special broadcast from the Kerrclipse Festival
Eclipse day has finally arrived, and Texas Standard has a special broadcast from the path of totality.
We’re live at the Kerrclipse Festival, on the grounds of the famous Kerrville Folk Festival, to talk forecast, what NASA and other researchers hope to learn today, the eclipse “observer effect” and much more.
The state welcomed 475,000 new Texans in a year
Large parts of North Texas are cleaning up after severe storms swept the region, but weather dangers continue.
As sea levels rise, cities along the Texas Gulf Coast are sinking. A new report is raising red flags.
Boom times in Texas continue, with new census figures showing the Lone Star State growing faster than any other.
Should Texas’ senior senator, John Cornyn, be worried about a political challenge from AG Ken Paxton? Gromer Jeffers of the Dallas Morning News explains.
Plus: The week in politics with the Texas Tribune and more.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for March 7, 2024
Central Texas top stories for March 7, 2024. Garza gets votes from all over Austin. Austin City Council passed another climate change resolution. Only two republican incumbents won their primary race. Prosecutors and defense attorneys made their closing arguments this afternoon in a trial of two former Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies. Austin Police have announced an extended DWI no-refusal enforcement period. Stormy weather inbound.
UTEP scientists spot bird not seen in decades
A unanimous decision from the U.S. Supreme Court reverses a challenge to Donald Trump’s eligibility to remain on primary ballots, just ahead of Super Tuesday.
The Texas Newsroom’s Rachel Osier Lindley shares an update on wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, where the biggest blaze in state history is only 15% contained.
We’ll have more on some key races to watch, from Abilene to Dallas County, as Texans prepare to go to the polls tomorrow.
And: The yellow-crested helmetshrike, a bird long feared extinct, was discovered by a team of scientists from the University of Texas at El Paso on an expedition to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.