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.
Williamson County
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.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 2, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 2, 2024. The deadline to register to vote is this coming Monday, October 7th. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin’s only clinic for women struggling with drug addiction shut down, a non-profit hopes to fill the gap. Last year, Williamson County officials funded an effort to help detect breast cancer early, hear the latest updates.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 24, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 24, 2024. Austin ISD’s plan to build apartments is moving forward. Travis County approved its highest budget in its history. Williamson County has formed partnerships with Austin-based non-profits to address the county’s growing homeless population. The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Hays County Buda is raising its property tax rate and other fees. Senator Ted Cruz and his challenger, Congressman Colin Allred, have agreed to face off in a debate next month.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 23, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 23, 2024. The Del Valle ISD school board has chosen a new superintendent. The Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is increasing its parkland by about 40 percent. Officials in Williamson County say Child Protective Services is struggling to protect abused and neglected children. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is putting out a warning about an attempted scam. The Lorraine “Grandma” Camacho Activity Center is getting new bikes and helmets for its youth programs. This is the first full day of fall.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 19, 2024. The Austin City Council could vote next week to keep a temporary homeless shelter open longer than originally planned. Leaders from Austin Water are set to give an update today on plans to better conserve the city’s water supply. Law enforcement officials are increasing security at the Williamson County Justice Center after discovering an alleged plot to kill a local judge. Today Austinites can hear from the city council candidates for district four, here are the details. Barton Springs pool is open again!
KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 12, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 12, 2024. Austin Water is out with updated goals for how much water the utility hopes to conserve into the future. Two suspects arrested in connection with the deadly gunfire at this year’s Round Rock Juneteenth celebration have been formally indicted by a Williamson County grand jury. The Austin City Council has approved a plan that will phase out firefighting equipment and materials that contain forever chemicals. The Austin City Council voted today to change noise rules, which could lead to better soundproofing for homes and hotels near music venues. Austin’s citizen-led police watchdog organization meets tonight.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 12, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 12, 2024. Texas is one of six states that saw increases in the uninsured rate among children, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Diplomatic officials from the United States and South Korea were in Williamson County yesterday to discuss local economic development. Austin could make changes today to its noise regulations.
Central Texas top stories for August 28, 2024.
Central Texas top stories for August 28, 2024. Travis County Commissioners Court is calling for help to keep the air clean. Williamson County adopted a budget to establish an office of death investigators. Kyle’s police force is working to recruit more employees. This is the last weekend to use the Zilker Shuttle for the season.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 27, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 27, 2024. The City of Austin is facing a lawsuit after police shot a man in his home four times in April. The Austin Independent School District is moving forward with plans to install solar panels at fourteen campuses. A new class action lawsuit seeks to block the City of Austin from collecting all property taxes until it kills the tax increase approved by voters to fund Project Connect. Appointments for updated COVID-19 vaccines are now available at some Austin pharmacies. Williamson County Commissioners have adopted a budget of $635 million ahead of the new fiscal year on October 1st. Gas prices jumped up overnight in the Austin area. Local meteorologists are saying they’re confident that the worst of the summer heat is behind us.
KUT Morning Newscast for August 20, 2024
Here are the top stories from the KUT Newsroom for the morning of August 20th. The Austin ISD school board will ask voters to approve new funding for the district. Austinites waste lots of food, and yet, we also have too many people who are food insecure. The Taylor ISD needs to build more schools or it will run out of room for students as the area continues its explosive growth. And it’s the first day of school in Austin! Please watch out while driving to and from work today.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 16, 2024. Builders in Austin can now construct homes on smaller pieces of land. A new cooling center catering directly to people experiencing homelessness has opened in downtown Austin. The trial for a former Williamson County sheriff and current county employee charged with tampering with evidence has been put on pause. School board members in Round Rock ISD are calling for a bond election this November. Travis County is helping folks this weekend who may have cars at risk of theft. The city of Austin is offering free annual check-ups tomorrow.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 14, 2024
Central Texas top stories for August 14, 2024. Austin City Council adopts 2024-2025 budget. Logistical issues in the way of legal counsel for low-income people accused of crimes in Travis County. Williamson County does not have a medical examiner. Hays County Commissioners approved putting a bond for roadway improvements on the November ballot. Austin residents can participate in a free Emergency Preparedness Training tomorrow. Capital Metro’s new high-frequency bus lines won’t be fully up and running until 2026. The Major League Soccer summer transfer window closes today.