Central Texas top stories for January 8, 2025. Temperatures are expected to stay above freezing tonight and tomorrow. The Taylor Center for Assistance and Navigation is helping people experiencing homelessness find food and shelter during this week’s cold snap. Leander is asking residents to conserve water as they prepare to shut down its main water treatment plant for a major repair.
Williamson County
KUT Morning Newscast for January 8, 2025
Temperatures are forecast to be near freezing some nights of this week, here’s how one local nonprofit is trying to help the area’s homeless population on these cold days. Travis County Community Centers will serve as warming centers. UT Austin released an investigative report into why a patio ceiling collapsed on campus collapsed recently. If you live in Austin or Travis County, you can get your pet or cat spayed or neutered for free.
KUT Morning Newscast for January 7, 2025
Central Texas top stories for January 7, 2025. Austin is still struggling to staff its police department. Rents continue to fall in the Austin area. Georgetown is finding new sources of water to meet the demand that comes with its rapid growth.
KUT Morning Newscast for December 30, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 30, 2024. A new lung cancer screening initiative shows strong results. A Williamson County jury has awarded a family more than a million dollars after finding the company that managed their apartment complex neglected to make critical repairs. The city of San Marcos is considering a merger of its bus routes with those of Texas State University. The country is mourning the death of former President Jimmy Carter. Austin Pets Alive! is hoping to find new homes for 50 dogs by New Year’s Eve. 2024 will end on a warm note.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for December 17, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 17, 2024. More Austin area renters are cost-burdened by their housing situation. Williamson County is looking to expand its jail and justice center. A section of road in Northwest Austin has been renamed in honor of a San Marcos Police Officer who died in the line of duty in 2020. Lots of weather changes inbound.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for December 10, 2024
Central Texas top stories for December 10, 2024. Today is the last day of Early Voting in runoff elections. The first freeze of the season is on the way tomorrow morning. Austin activated its cold weather shelters for tonight. A Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight until eight tomorrow morning across Central Texas. Williamson County has hired its first county manager. A federal judge has blocked a rule from the Biden administration that would have given DACA recipients access to the Affordable Care Act. Travis County’s ban on outdoor burning is being allowed to expire as scheduled at midnight.
SpaceX backs out of Boca Chica Beach land swap
A Houston-area nonprofit that helped thousands find a new life in the U.S. disappears. A new investigation reveals surprising answers about what happened to the Alliance.
More international students than ever before are studying in the U.S., and among the top destinations are the University of North Texas and UT Dallas.
How a much-talked-about Department of Government Efficiency could affect the hundreds of thousands of federal workers in Texas.
In a surprise move, SpaceX has pulled out of a land swap deal with Texas Parks and Wildlife.
And: A few months ago, 17-year-old Tobi Haastrup didn’t know what a first down was. Now, the Houston player is one of the hottest prospects in college football.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 22, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 22, 2024. The City of Austin has denied a request for a recount from mayoral candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido. After the November election, the Travis County Tax Office has been calculating property owners’ 2024 tax bills. The City of Austin has adopted the new Equity-Based Preservation Plan. The City of Austin got two federal grants to bolster the Downtown Austin Community Court Mobile Court program. Williamson County is working on facilitating inmates’ access to mental health treatment. Here’s where to volunteer this Thanksgiving.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for November 21, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 21, 2024. Austin Mayor candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido filed for a recount. Travis County District Attorney José Garza is defending his use of county-funded security. Missing fall foliage in Austin. HEB may be coming to Buda.
KUT Morning Newscast for November 18, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 18, 2024. Two cold fronts will bring temperatures down this week. Some cities in Williamson County are re-thinking how they approach flood insurance. The Texas State Board of Education is kicking off its last series of meetings of the year today. The Texas Longhorns are ranked 3rd in the AP’s latest Top 25 football rankings.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for November 14, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 14, 2024. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is telling public colleges and universities not to increase tuition for another two school years. The race for Austin Mayor is coming down to a small number of uncounted votes in Williamson County. The Onion buys Infowars. Wynn Roser is Texas’ new commissioner of higher education.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for November 6, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 6, 2024. Reactions to the Presidential Election result in Travis County. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson may be headed for a runoff. One of the three races for a place in the Austin City Council is heading to a runoff. One Austin ISD race is heading to a runoff. And a couple of races in Hays County are undecided. Republican victories in several races in Williamson County. Voters in Manor have approved a higher tax rate to generate more revenue for the school district. San Marcos CISD voters approved a tax rate increase to generate more money for that district. Two more Austin-area cities have voted to decriminalize possessing small amounts of marijuana. Austin area homeowners are being asked to confirm their homestead exemption.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for November 4, 2024
Central Texas top stories for November 4, 2024. Early Voting turnout. What to do if you encounter hiccups at the ballot box. High turnout in Williamson County during Early Voting. Austin ISD voters are deciding whether to approve a tax rate increase that would generate millions of dollars in new revenue for the district. Crews have been making progress containing a wildfire in Bastrop County.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 29, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 29, 2024. Early Voting turnout in Travis County picked up again yesterday after a slower weekend. As the population grows in Central Texas counties, so does the number of registered voters. What an Austin Mayoral campaign cost the candidates. Voters in Lockhart are deciding whether to bring Austin Community College into the bounds of their school district. A student died today after being stabbed by another student at Manor Senior High School. Williamson County commissioners voted today to allocate some of their remaining federal COVID relief funding toward projects to improve the county’s justice system. Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance is expected in Austin tomorrow to make his own appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 22, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 22, 2024. High turnout for early voting in Travis, Hays and Williamson Counties. Voter turnout remains strong on the second day of early voting. Austin ISD officials say approving Proposition A is critical to giving teachers raises and keeping them in the district. The latest on the cleanup efforts for a train derailment in East Austin.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 16, 2024. State lawmakers hope to tackle the issue of homelessness in Texas. Williamson County’s “I voted” sticker was designed by a local middle school student. The San Marcos City Council has voted unanimously to pass a plan for the city’s future development. The next in a series of supermoons hits its peak tomorrow evening.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 16, 2024. Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, Congressman Colin Allred, squared off in a debate last night, listen to the details. Travis County is asking voters to approve a tax rate hike this November to expand access to childcare for low- and middle-income families. The median sales price of homes in the Austin area fell last month, but that was not the case inside the city limits. Austin had the highest temperature ever recorded in October.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 9, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 9, 2024. APD has made some strides in hiring officers. A plan is in the works to close part of Congress Avenue to cars and make it a pedestrian plaza. Williamson County leaders are looking at how to meet a growing need for expanded healthcare options. Austin Water has no lead pipes in the public water system.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 8, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 8, 2024. Property owners in Travis County will have to wait a little longer this year before getting their tax bill. Austin has been losing more water from its water system despite efforts to fix leaks. The Austin City Council is in the homestretch of approving a five-year labor agreement with the city’s police. Lady Bird Lake levels are down by a couple feet. Samsung supplier is establishing a presence in Williamson County. It’s been more than a month without rain at Austin’s official sites and that’s creating a lot of dry fuel for fires.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 4, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 4, 2024. Monday is the deadline for Texans to register to vote. Williamson County has hired its first-ever county manager. A chance to weigh in on where CapMetro buses should go is coming up over the next two weeks. A vote on a proposed new contract between the City of Austin and Austin Police had been planned for next week but is now being postponed. Longhorn sports. ACL weekend one kicks off.