KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts
KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond
The Austin Independent School District is being investigated by the Texas Education Agency for celebrating its annual Pride Week.
Attorney general is a powerful role; governors, senators and even vice presidents got their start as AG. Is Ken Paxton next?
Have you ever wanted a handy one-stop guide to everything Austin? KUT’s Field Guide is bringing you even more ways to know the city.
And an update on Athena’s surviving owlet, and why he might’ve been left for dead.
Corpus Christi cuts its timeline to a water disaster and the state issues emergency orders to deal with what may be an unprecedented crisis. Today we’re coming to you from the place they call the Sparkling City by the Sea — yet despite its proximity to the water, the region faces the imminent threat of running out of it.
We’re at the studios of KEDT, our partners in Corpus Christi. We’ll have the latest on the water crisis here, but also some of the extraordinary charms of the 8th most populous city in Texas — a hub for shipping, wildlife preservation, and great music.
Early voting for the upcoming primaries in Texas begins next month. Up in Williamson County, things are going to be a little different this election cycle. Voters there will no longer be able to vote at any polling site on Election Day. We’ll talk about why that is, and the impacts it could have.
Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement have continued in the Austin area this week. Demonstrators gathered outside Austin City Hall on Tuesday. We’ll hear more from those who took part.
Plus, bats have long found a cozy home here in Austin, but they’re not just nestling up under the South Congress bridge.
And living, dying and grief is the subject of a short film premiering this weekend in Austin.
A nearly $5 billion bill filed in the Legislature seeks to provide across-the-board raises for teachers and put more money toward bonuses.
Lithium-ion batteries are a major fire threat. Learn why and what consumers can do.
Texans love sharing their favorite under-the-radar barbecue spots, but how often do they actually live up to the hype? Texas Monthly BBQ editor Daniel Vaughn recently discovered a standout.
And: The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the USDA to stop its wildlife trapping and killing program in Texas, arguing that the program should be re-evaluated based on updated science, particularly concerning mountain lions and black bears.
A bird flu outbreak noted early in Texas is now a national issue, and concerns are rising about what the federal government plans to do.
From property taxes to THC and more, Lt Gov. Dan Patrick outlines the first batch of 40 legislative priorities for the current Texas legislative session.
Why a fight over mass transit it Dallas could wind up a matter for state lawmakers to untangle.
And: The state has finalized the purchase of a 2,000-acre tract along the Colorado River in Burnet County, next to Colorado Bend State Park.
We’re taking a look back at some of our favorite stories of the year from our public radio reporting partners across the state, including:
A Dallas ISD program that’s getting more Black and Latino men into classrooms.
Mobile health clinics rolling out to provide vital medical services as the state loses rural hospitals.
And: A visit to the traditional Mexican rodeo in San Antonio.
The Texas State Aquarium has a spot right on the edge of the Corpus Christi Bay – and storms in recent years have provided lessons that staff put in place for Hurricane Beryl.
There’s tons of evidence that most extreme weather hits communities of color the hardest. As Texas recovers from Beryl, what’s being done to address that?
A new court system in Texas designed just for business matters opens in September with judges appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
And: Cameras in your earbuds and health data tracked in a ring? We’ll check in on the latest in wearable technology.
Finance titans BlackRock and Citadel Securities are teaming with investors to raise $120 million to open the Texas Stock Exchange. The group still has some regulatory hurdles to clear before opening but plans to start listing stocks for sale as early as 2026.
On its fourth try, SpaceX achieved a breakthrough for its Starship rocket with a successful return to earth. But not all those gathered to witness the event from Boca Chica got what they were hoping for. The Standard’s Kristen Cabrera reports.
As more tourists flock to the remote West Texas town of Terlingua, bringing money and development, some locals are concerned the town’s running dry.
And: In the Big Bend-area town of Alpine, recovery efforts are underway after a fire destroyed a historic building in a central part of town.
The patterns of wildlife can be indicators of seasonal change. The habits of these animals might also be something humans could learn from. This Typewriter Rodeo poem was requested by Texas Standard listener Steven.
In 2022, Texas played more than just bit parts on screens big and small. We look back at the year that was for Texas on film and TV. We’ll have our conversation with one of the most celebrated directors of the Lone Star State, Richard Linklater, on his movie about growing up in Texas at a time when the US was aiming for the moon. Also an actor and comedian from Houston by way of Kuwait, Mo Amer, on his hit Netflix series and what his title character tells us about the Texas of today. And South Texas born comedian, actor and author, Cristela Alonzo on her streaming success, and gettin middle classy. These stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
It’s a day marked by feasts and celebrations: Thanksgiving Day across Texas and the US. Our producers, reporters and others behind the scenes share some of the stories they’re grateful for over the past year. From efforts to preserve an historic Freedmen’s cemetery in North Texas, the Black Women kayakers breaking down racial barriers in recreational sports, the work being done to save turtle hatchlings along the Texas coast, to the efforts to preserve the voices and stories of San Antonio’s historically vibrant West Side music scene. These stories and much more today on a Thanksgiving edition of the Texas Standard:
Could what critics call Florida’s “don’t say gay” law be coming to Texas? The Texas Lt. Governor says it’s a top priority. Also, the end on an historic union lockout dubbed the “Battle of Beaumont”; what it says about organized labor in Texas. And, a collection of artifacts sheds new light on one of Texas’ most celebrated musicians. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
A government investigation into the death of a migrant teenager in 2019 puts blame on the Border Patrol–what happens next? Also, some 18 Austin police officers could face charges involving the use of so-called less lethal munitions during protests in the summer of 2020. Plus, the future of the post office. These stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
The powers that be: how Lone Star State lawmakers are coming down on a resolution to limit the president’s use of the military against Iran, we’ll have details. Also, lots of private property blocking further border wall construction, but the Trump administration has found a way around it, and it’s making conservationists upset. John Burnett previews his upcoming story for NPR. Also, how smart is a smart home if it can’t help you conserve? A house in Junction Texas that may become a new model for the future. Plus the week that was in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Congresswoman Escobar talks with us a day after touring detention facilities and finding out she was the target of comments on a secret Facebook group. That secret Facebook group reportedly made up of at least some current and former Border Patrol agents. The content, at times disturbing. We’ll have more. Plus, it looks like a deadline to print the U.S. census was missed. Why it matters and what’s next. And have you been to a Texas State Park lately? Many are overcrowded and in disrepair. Why Texans will soon have a chance to fix that. And celebrating the anniversary of a woman’s right to vote with the recognition that the reality of that right was uneven. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
A couple weeks back, Texas Standard did a story on urban coyotes. The story was about the animal but, for some, it also prompted a few images of hipsters — that was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
A budget deal reached, but it took a while to get there and it’s STILL not a long-term fix. We’ll look at how Texas lawmakers voted. Also, suing the federal government: It’s not something that went out of fashion for Texas when Obama left office. Why the state continues to file lawsuits even with a Republican in the White House. And, tequila! A shortage could be on the horizon for the liquor that goes so well with Tex Mex. We’ll look at what’s going on in the industry that’s causing some crisis. And Texans may not be natural snow bunnies, but a few have still jumped to the highest levels of winter sports competition. We’ll tell you who to keep an eye out for in the Olympic action. Those stories plus the week in politics with the Texas Tribune, today on the Texas Standard:
Leaks at the White House are nothing new. Every president’s dealt with information getting out they’d rather not disclose, we’ll have the latest. Plus the Farm Bill: it’s a massive piece of legislation that guides the nation’s food and agricultural supply. And a Texan will be tasked with helping a new version pass in 2018. Plus today’s rain across many parts of the state is highlighting the flooding challenges facing Houston – and the many flood-related deaths. And Texas has yet another tropical disease making a comeback in parts of the state. The source of a rise in cases of typhus. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard: