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KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

Williamson County

Flooding leads to evacuations in Williamson County

Steady rain in the region over the last few days led to flooding in Williamson County, with some evacuations occurring. We’ll hear from residents impacted by the floods and how it differed from last summer’s flooding.

A Central Austin building that was home to a Sears store for decades has new life as a one-stop shop — but instead of lawnmowers and washing machines, folks can now have many of their health needs met. We’ll have more about the transformation.

Plus, Austin author Rebecca Bendheim’s new book “When You’re Brave Enough” is all about a mid-life reinvention… Or perhaps more of a middle-school reinvention.

Hitting the trails at the new Karst Canyon Preserve

Williamson County is making changes to avoid the chaotic scene that unfolded last month on primary Election Day. The new change is going back to the ways things were before the most recent election. We’ll dig into why it happened and how the county is trying to avoid a repeat.

The Karst Canyon Preserve is offering new public access to trails and open space in Hays County. The property near Jacob’s Well was previously slated for residential development.

Plus, the region needed this weekend’s rain showers — both to help with drought and to clear cars of springtime green tint from oak pollen. Why does the pollen get everywhere? We’ll get to the answer today.

Jason Mellard from The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University goes over Ronald Shannon Jackson records ‘Texas’ LP in Dallas from the the late 80s.

Onboard the Artemis II spacecraft right now are three Americans and one Canadian, including someone set to be the first woman in history to journey beyond low Earth orbit and travel around the Moon. Texas Standard Host, David Brown, asked Mission specialist Christina Koch what it felt like to be selected for the Artemis mission.

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

Corpus Christi water crisis collides with mayor recall effort

As Corpus Christi scrambles to keep from running out of water, a complication arises: A petition to recall Mayor Paulette Guajardo.
After last year’s deadly July 4 Hill Country floods, plans to reopen Camp Mystic are tearing friends apart.
A confusing and chaotic primary in Central Texas’ Williamson County leads election officials to look back to the future.
Plus, how to defend against a parasite moving north from Mexico that could devastate Texas ranches? Researchers testing a new idea to combat the New World screwworm: Virtual fences.

Williamson County Republicans reverse course on countywide voting

The Republican Party in Williamson County has agreed to let voters cast a ballot at any polling location available in the upcoming primary runoff. A move to precinct-specific voting made for a confusing process for many voters last month in Williamson and Dallas counties. We’ll have more about why the party is reversing course.

Rent prices in Austin continue to fall as more units become available and with fewer people moving to the city. We’ll dig into the latest numbers.

A wildfire out in Bastrop County started last night and spread over 46 acres through Bastrop State Park and prompted evacuations at a nearby RV camping park. We’ll have more on the updates.

It’s the last full week of March — that means it’s time to catch you up on the best new music that you’ll want to add to those playlists.

And both Texas basketball teams are still dancing amid the March Madness. We’ll have a look at how they did it and their chances to keep on dancing.

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

Some students and teachers see benefits from cell phone ban

Teachers and students in the Round Rock school district say they’re seeing benefits from a statewide ban on cell phones in public school classrooms. The ban went into effect at the beginning of this school year, and some students say they feel more engaged inside the classroom and outside of it, too. We’ll have more from Williamson County.

Elon Musk’s Tesla stands to lose millions in tax rebates unless they meet Travis County requirements. Another Musk-owned business is looking for the same deal, except with state funds. Why critics are questioning whether the potential tax incentives are an efficient use of state tax dollars.

Texas prisons without air conditioning routinely reach 90 degrees in the summer heat, with some even topping the triple-digit mark. Such temperatures would routinely violate state standards for other types of lockups, like county jails. We’ve got more data and more about that story on today’s show.

Plus, this week in Texas music history, Willie Nelson finishes up a pair of classic albums. Can you guess which ones? Listen in to find out.

Why bats in Austin may be living rent-free in your apartment

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.

LifeWorks program helps youth avoid homelessness

Austin nonprofit LifeWorks has helped nearly three dozen young Austinites stay housed through a cash-assistance pilot program. We hear the story of one person who said the money helped her at a critical time.

In Williamson County, folks are looking into where its cities get their water and how they could better work together.

Plus: A look into holiday tunes and unwrapping our favorite present: tamales. Chef Rick Martinez brings us to the table at a holiday tamalada.

If you host or or plan to attend a tamalada – let us know! Email austinsignal@kut.org.

After Prop Q fallout, Austin cuts $95 million from budget

The City of Austin cut $95 million from its budget, shrinking funding to parks, homelessness services and more after voters rejected Prop Q. We’ll get into how these cuts may impact you.

With recent rain and an overnight flood watch in Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties, many residents are reminded of the July 4 floods and the ongoing efforts to rebuild.

Plus, art groups seeking affordable studio space find sanctuary in a downtown Austin church. We’ve got more on how they secured the space and what that means for the arts community.

Also, Jason Mellard shares a new story from the archive of Texas music history.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 23, 2025: City document reveals new details on $25 million boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake

Central Texas top stories for October 23, 2025. In-person voting has increased each day during the off-year election. School districts in Taylor and Liberty Hill have proposed tax increases on ballots in Williamson County. TxDOT will pay for a boardwalk between South First Street and Congress Avenue to make up for all the parkland it’s taking for the I-35 expansion. After weeks without rain, the dry streak in Central Texas is expected to come to an end this weekend.

This podcast is made at KUT Public Media Studios. 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.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 14, 2025: Cheer Up Charlies sold to investment firm buying up LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs

Central Texas top stories for October 14, 2025. Cheer Up Charlies has been sold to a global investment firm called Pride Holdings that focuses on entertainment properties in the LGBTQ+ community. The U.S. Supreme Court has tossed out a plea from Austin-based conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Austin ISD will receive feedback on a plan to close 13 campuses. People in Williamson County affected by the July storms have until the end of the month to ask officials to help them remove debris from their properties.

This podcast is made at KUT Public Media Studios. 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.

A massive data center in Taylor is moving forward

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit in a case centered around the construction of a data center in Taylor on land that had been set aside for a park. We’ll hear from KUT Williamson County reporter Kailey Hunt, who has been following the story and speaking with the folks looking to put a halt to that development.

A group of volunteer musicians, the Viva Palestina Orchestra, is raising money for aid in Gaza by playing Palestinian music.

Need to yell out your feelings? How to join the next meeting of Scream Club Austin.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 3, 2025: It’s weekend one of the Austin City Limits Music Festival

Central Texas top stories for October 3, 2025. How to get around during Austin City Limits. More than a dozen Austin ISD campuses are slated to close next school year. A state district judge is expected to rule soon on an injunction against a controversial data center project in Williamson County. Lane closures this weekend on I-35 northbound in San Marcos are going to cause some slowdowns.

This podcast is made at KUT Public Media Studios. 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.

KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 10, 2025: Suspect in police shooting ran into house, was shot by homeowner before arrest, APD chief says

Central Texas top stories for September 10, 2025. Three people were shot this morning, including an Austin police officer near Zilker Park. Today at 5 pm is the deadline to apply for financial assistance if you were affected by July’s flooding in Travis or Williamson County. Austin ISD is hosting a virtual meeting tonight on its plan to close schools and redraw school district boundaries. Austin’s Live Music Fund is opening back up. Tomorrow is an Ozone Action Day.

This podcast is made at KUT Public Media Studios. 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.

KUT Morning Newscast for September 4, 2025: About one in five people across Central Texas are food insecure

Central Texas top stories for September 4, 2025. A report from the Central Texas Food Bank reveals food insecurity in the region has risen significantly over the past two years. Williamson County has adopted a higher property tax rate. Today is the last day to apply for help from FEMA after the July floods. The Immigration Services Network of Austin is holding an event to help raise awareness on how immigration law enforcement is impacting children and families in the Austin area. 

KUT Morning Newscast for September 3, 2025: Austin City Council is updating the City’s comprehensive plan, “Imagine Austin”

Central Texas top stories for September 3, 2025. he Austin City Council is moving forward with updating its comprehensive plan, known as “Imagine Austin.” The clock is ticking on efforts to ban or regulate THC products in Texas. A trial where a former Williamson County sheriff and a current county employee accused of evidence tampering is being picked up. People in Williamson County have a chance today to comment on the county’s proposed new budget and tax rate. 

KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 13, 2025: Hundreds of people signed up to speak at city hall today as the Austin City Council works to adopt its budget

Central Texas top stories for August 13, 2025. Folks continue speaking at city hall this afternoon as the Austin City Council works to adopt its budget and a tax rate increase. Tomorrow is the deadline for UT Austin students to make their first tuition payment for the fall semester. Williamson County is one step closer to bringing a spaceport to the area.

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.

Muleshoe Refuge expansion plan scrapped

Texas Democrats are facing legal threats and potential action from the FBI for fleeing the state during the special session.
Concerns about artificial intelligence are coming to a head with the most recent round of college graduates. How it’s disrupting the job market.
A proposed expansion for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in the Panhandle had been in the works for years, but now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is backing away.
The 1991 Yogurt Shop murders in Austin remain officially unsolved. Our conversation with Margaret Brown, the director of a new HBO docuseries revisiting the tragedy.
Plus: It’s been a month now since deadly flooding ravaged the Texas Hill Country. We’ll check in on the recovery.
You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

KUT Morning Newscast for August 5, 2025: Texas Republicans are pushing for the arrest of Democratic lawmakers who’ve left Texas to prevent the passage of a redistricted congressional map

Central Texas top stories for August 5, 2025. Republicans, under pressure from President Donald Trump, are seeking to pick up as many as five seats in next year’s midterm election. Hundreds of companies across Texas that manufacture hemp products are waiting on pins and needles to see if the state legislature bans their business. Williamson County’s plans to bring a spaceport to the area appear to be temporarily grounded. Austin has a new tallest building in its skyline, according to its developers.

KUT News Now is made at KUT Public Media Studios. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public media. 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.

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