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The government shutdown may be over,

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but its impacts are still being felt

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here in Austin and across the

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country.

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That includes out at Austin's

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airport, which was already dealing

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with an air traffic controller

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shortage prior to the 43-day

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shutdown.

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We're gonna take a visit out to the

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airport. And foreign exchange

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students in Texas schools could be

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prohibited from participating in

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varsity athletics in the near

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future.

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The move still requires approval

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from the state's education

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commissioner.

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We're going to talk more about why

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the change is being made and what

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it'll mean for students.

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The Austin Signal is a production

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of KUT News, hosted by

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Jerry Quijano.

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Plus, a popular Asian market in

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North Austin is shutting their doors

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for good at the end of the year.

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We'll chat with the owner of Hana

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World Market.

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That's coming up next, and it's here

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on Austin Signal.

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Howdy out there.

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It is November 14th.

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It is a Friday.

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We are glad you're here with us on

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Austin Signal.

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This is listener powered public

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radio coming to you from Austin,

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Texas. I'm your host, Jerry

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Keconnell. Thank you for being here.

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A quick headline ahead of today's

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show. Texas was front and center in

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the efforts to ban hemp products

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containing THC

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before Congress passed a

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national ban as part of the

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legislation to end the federal

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shutdown.

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Now, Texas could bear one of the

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highest costs of almost any state.

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Bo Whitney is a consultant to the

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hemp industry who says the move

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could displace some 40,000

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workers here in the state, and he

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says the law is worded in such a

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way as to discourage farmers from

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planting any hemp whatsoever.

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Texas is currently one of the

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largest agricultural producers of

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hemp in the country. That's

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according to the U.S.

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Department of Agriculture.

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To read more about how Whitney

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expects the hemp ban to affect Texas

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and Texans.

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Head on over to KUT.org.

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Well, today was supposed to be

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the day the Federal Aviation

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Administration required the nation's

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largest airports to cut a full

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10% of scheduled flights.

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But as you might have heard by now,

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the federal government shutdown

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ended Wednesday night.

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So those flight reductions are being

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held at 6% for now

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as more air traffic controllers

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return to work.

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Austin-Bergstrom International

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Airport was not among the

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40 airports required to cancel

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flights and, as KUT's

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Nathan Bernier reports, the risk of

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flight delays to Austin remains.

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If you walked up to random travelers

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near baggage claim at ABIA on

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the last day of the government

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shutdown, you might be hard-pressed

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to find someone with much to

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complain about.

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Everything went fairly well, very

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smooth.

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I had no delays.

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So we were fine coming down

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and our flight was good so

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all good.

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Nothing went wrong with the flight.

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They took off on time, landed early.

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Baggage claim was a breeze, so I

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have no complaints.

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That was Lily Molina, Joe Potter,

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and Breonna Maland.

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Now, it wasn't always this smooth at

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Austin's airport during the

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government shutdown.

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At least four times since

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it started, the FAA issued a

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ground delay for Austin.

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That's when they limit the number of

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flights that can land per hour,

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because the air traffic control

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tower is too short-staffed.

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And this is a control tower that is

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always short- staffed.

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They have about 30 fully certified

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controllers, and they're supposed to

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have 60 under staffing target

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set by the FAA and the Union.

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You're seeing a fragile,

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stressed-out system, and it's just

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highlighted because of a government

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shutdown, but this is a struggle

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we've been facing for many years.

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John Bratcher is with the National

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Air Traffic Controllers Association,

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that's the controllers union, and he

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represents the southwestern U.S.,

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including Austin.

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Bratcher says controllers received

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nothing on their last two paychecks.

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Now they're waiting on weeks of back

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pay and trying to stabilize their

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finances without really having a

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chance to catch a breath.

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You have people at Austin that are

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working six days a week that if a

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controller is not fully filling

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well, nobody wants somebody that's

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got a cold or a flu to come in and

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plug in and work airplanes like that

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at that high volume.

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And so you have somebody, if you

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lose one or two bodies, then

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you find yourself in a staffing

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trigger, you find yourself in a

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critical staffing situation.

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And that's what you're seeing.

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And that's when the FAA can issue

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a ground delay.

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He said controllers had to call in

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sick for a bunch of different

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reasons, like having a child sick at

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home and a spouse whose income was

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paying the rent.

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So now that federal employees will

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eventually get paid again,

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it relieves some of the pressure on

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Austin's control tower.

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But those with experience in the

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aviation industry say the shutdown

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will leave scars that will last for

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years.

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Chad Kendall is an FAA instructor

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at Metropolitan State University of

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Denver.

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He says the shutdown drove some

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controllers out of the profession

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and will make recruiting their

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replacements all the more difficult.

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This is going to have a ripple

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effect for a very long time.

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And I can't put a pulse on anything

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as far as getting back to normal.

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That's gonna take some time to see,

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but it certainly has played a major

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effect on many areas of

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the industry.

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Things that the passengers can see,

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things that passengers cannot see.

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Meanwhile, Austin-Berksham

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International Airport keeps

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expanding.

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The number of average daily non-stop

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departures this month is up to

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257.

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Compared to last November, that's an

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increase of 8%.

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But it won't matter how many non-

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stop flights Austin has, if the

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tower doesn't have enough

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controllers to land them all safely.

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I'm Nathan Bernier in Austin.

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This is Austin Signal,

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thank you for joining us.

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As soon as next school year, foreign

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exchange students could no longer

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be allowed to participate in varsity

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sports at Texas public schools.

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School administrators have voiced

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concerns that some schools are

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getting a competitive advantage with

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those foreign exchange student.

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Now the change still needs the

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approval of State Education

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Commissioner Mike Morath to go into

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effect. And here to tell us more

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about this new rule and about this

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story in general is KUT's Williamson

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County reporter, Kailey Hunt.

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Howdy Kailey, how are you?

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Hey Jerry, I'm good, how are you?

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I'm doing okay.

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I think we both said we're glad it's

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Friday and we're glad you're here

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with us on Austin Signal.

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So, you know, start with a personal

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anecdote. I participated in UIL

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activities, both, you

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know, sports and academics and

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creative writing.

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I don't mean to brag, but, and I

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tend to keep a track of the bigger

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events that are going on, you know,

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like we talked earlier, high school

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football playoffs here on the UT

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campus, Texas relays, always a

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big thing. But this story was

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off of my radar, what made

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the UIL take such an action in the

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first place?

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Yeah, so basically

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this decision was made when the

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UIL's legislative body, that's

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their rule-making body that's made

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up of public school administrators

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from all over the state of Texas.

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When they met up a few weeks

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ago, they brought

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forth a proposal that essentially

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bans foreign exchange students from

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participating in varsity sports.

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And they said that this comes after

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years of expressed

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by their coaches and

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administrators on campuses,

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they argue that

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foreign exchange students get that

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competitive advantage, right?

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When they're able to just show up,

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get a waiver and immediately play

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varsity.

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They say that's not fair to the

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Texas kids who have been going

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through the whole school system, you

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know, all the athletic programs

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working their way up to varsity

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This is something that we talk about

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a lot. I feel more so like in

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college athletics, it used to be

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that if you transferred to school

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you had to wait out a year,

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but there is a lot going on

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with college athletics when it comes

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to the portal and transferring.

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I'm wondering if that's more of a

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prevalent problem in high school

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athletics.

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Are there Texas high schools that

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are recruiting Australian punters

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or Romanian gymnasts?

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Is this an epidemic in Texas

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public schools?

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I mean, you know, it's hard

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to say whether or whether or not

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that's true. But I will say

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Aaron Hood, who's the superintendent

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of Robert Lee ISD that's

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just north of San Angelo, you

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he brought forth this proposal to

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the UIL and he said that

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he had personally seen some foreign

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exchange students use social media

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to promote themselves to

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Texas coaches, you know including

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things like height, weight, their

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00:08:36,250 --> 00:08:37,928
position and stuff on their

287
00:08:37,929 --> 00:08:39,829
profiles, which

288
00:08:39,830 --> 00:08:41,668
you know. He says

289
00:08:41,669 --> 00:08:42,939
is not fair.

290
00:08:42,940 --> 00:08:43,798
That's interesting.

291
00:08:43,799 --> 00:08:45,079
Yeah, I mean, because a lot of high

292
00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,059
school students tend to brag about,

293
00:08:47,060 --> 00:08:48,739
you know, their stats and showing

294
00:08:48,740 --> 00:08:50,759
off for the availability of a future

295
00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:51,699
college program.

296
00:08:51,700 --> 00:08:53,199
Again, you can read more about what

297
00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,239
some of these administrators had to

298
00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,279
say at KUT.org

299
00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:58,759
in Kailey's story.

300
00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:00,059
I wanted to ask you about something

301
00:09:00,060 --> 00:09:02,019
else. This change would affect

302
00:09:02,020 --> 00:09:03,799
foreign exchange students playing

303
00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:04,639
varsity sports.

304
00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:06,339
So it wouldn't really matter when it

305
00:09:06,340 --> 00:09:08,319
comes to JV or freshman teams,

306
00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:09,139
as I understand it.

307
00:09:09,140 --> 00:09:10,979
This is just about varsity sport.

308
00:09:10,980 --> 00:09:12,839
And it doesn't affect either

309
00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,779
other programs at

310
00:09:14,780 --> 00:09:16,659
the UIO overseas, like music and

311
00:09:16,660 --> 00:09:17,539
academics.

312
00:09:17,540 --> 00:09:19,179
But I got to imagine that some of

313
00:09:19,180 --> 00:09:20,939
the draw for these exchange students

314
00:09:20,940 --> 00:09:22,779
is like the pageantry, right?

315
00:09:22,780 --> 00:09:24,559
The Friday night lights, so the big

316
00:09:24,560 --> 00:09:26,479
the big, the big table,

317
00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,159
the big screen getting to

318
00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,439
participate in some of those things.

319
00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:31,299
It has to be a draw, correct?

320
00:09:31,300 --> 00:09:32,799
Yeah, that's right.

321
00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:34,639
You know, I talked to a lady

322
00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:35,759
named Tracy.

323
00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,899
She is a representative

324
00:09:37,900 --> 00:09:39,579
or organizer for one of these

325
00:09:39,580 --> 00:09:41,819
organizations that helps, you

326
00:09:41,820 --> 00:09:43,239
know, coordinate these exchange

327
00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,219
programs. And she told me

328
00:09:45,220 --> 00:09:46,899
about one of the students that she's

329
00:09:46,900 --> 00:09:48,239
hosting right now.

330
00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,059
He was able to play varsity

331
00:09:50,060 --> 00:09:51,279
football. He had never played

332
00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:52,739
football in his life before, but the

333
00:09:52,740 --> 00:09:54,159
big draw was he'd always heard about

334
00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,339
Texas Friday Night Lights, right?

335
00:09:56,340 --> 00:09:58,319
So yeah, he went out

336
00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:00,019
and got to have that experience this

337
00:10:00,020 --> 00:10:00,979
past semester.

338
00:10:00,980 --> 00:10:02,599
That might not be the case starting

339
00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:03,579
next year.

340
00:10:03,580 --> 00:10:05,439
OK, as you mentioned, this was

341
00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,659
a UIL legislative council.

342
00:10:07,660 --> 00:10:09,539
It's a 32-member council

343
00:10:09,540 --> 00:10:11,879
that voted on this rule change.

344
00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:13,679
So they have initiated that part.

345
00:10:13,680 --> 00:10:15,759
But as I mentioned, the rule still

346
00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:17,619
needs approval from State

347
00:10:17,620 --> 00:10:19,479
Education Commissioner Mike

348
00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,719
Morath to go into effect.

349
00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:22,999
What are the next steps?

350
00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:24,100
What happens next?

351
00:10:25,170 --> 00:10:26,730
Yeah. So, I mean, like you said,

352
00:10:27,750 --> 00:10:29,149
the real next step is just seeing if

353
00:10:29,150 --> 00:10:30,569
the state education commissioner

354
00:10:30,570 --> 00:10:33,089
will approve the

355
00:10:33,090 --> 00:10:35,229
change and then yeah,

356
00:10:35,230 --> 00:10:37,309
starting next school year, this

357
00:10:37,310 --> 00:10:38,949
new rule would go into effect.

358
00:10:38,950 --> 00:10:40,709
Is there any timetable about when we

359
00:10:40,710 --> 00:10:41,969
might expect to hear from the

360
00:10:41,970 --> 00:10:43,689
Commissioner, or is that still in

361
00:10:43,690 --> 00:10:44,499
the early stages?

362
00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:46,019
Still in the early stages to my

363
00:10:46,020 --> 00:10:46,229
knowledge.

364
00:10:46,230 --> 00:10:48,089
Okay. Well, like I said, you can

365
00:10:48,090 --> 00:10:50,029
read more about this story over at

366
00:10:50,030 --> 00:10:51,869
K U T dot org.

367
00:10:51,870 --> 00:10:53,129
As I mentioned, a high school

368
00:10:53,130 --> 00:10:54,209
football playoffs are getting

369
00:10:54,210 --> 00:10:55,449
underway this week.

370
00:10:55,450 --> 00:10:57,169
A lot of local teams being featured

371
00:10:57,170 --> 00:10:58,209
in that.

372
00:10:58,210 --> 00:11:00,209
And I mentioned collegiate sports

373
00:11:00,210 --> 00:11:01,809
as well. There's a big game going on

374
00:11:01,810 --> 00:11:02,829
this week and Kailey happening

375
00:11:02,830 --> 00:11:04,929
tomorrow. A big top 10 matchup

376
00:11:04,930 --> 00:11:06,689
between number 10 Texas.

377
00:11:06,690 --> 00:11:07,969
They'll be on the road to face the

378
00:11:07,970 --> 00:11:09,229
Georgia Bulldogs.

379
00:11:09,230 --> 00:11:10,489
Georgia currently fifth in the

380
00:11:10,490 --> 00:11:11,469
country.

381
00:11:11,470 --> 00:11:13,769
As I said. Texas is number 10.

382
00:11:13,770 --> 00:11:15,129
From everything that's been going

383
00:11:15,130 --> 00:11:17,509
around the team this season,

384
00:11:17,510 --> 00:11:19,349
it's felt like kind of a bad

385
00:11:19,350 --> 00:11:21,189
year, but are they still

386
00:11:21,190 --> 00:11:22,909
in a good spot to possibly make like

387
00:11:22,910 --> 00:11:24,449
the college football playoff?

388
00:11:24,450 --> 00:11:26,429
Yeah, I mean, actually, if you,

389
00:11:26,430 --> 00:11:28,469
you know, go to the college,

390
00:11:28,470 --> 00:11:30,349
the latest college football

391
00:11:30,350 --> 00:11:32,429
rankings, playoff rankings,

392
00:11:32,430 --> 00:11:34,389
they actually released the

393
00:11:34,390 --> 00:11:36,009
updated version two days ago.

394
00:11:36,010 --> 00:11:37,669
They have Texas currently within

395
00:11:37,670 --> 00:11:38,789
their bracket.

396
00:11:38,790 --> 00:11:40,349
So, you, know, as long as Texas

397
00:11:40,350 --> 00:11:42,329
takes care of business, granted,

398
00:11:42,330 --> 00:11:44,409
they do have probably two

399
00:11:44,410 --> 00:11:46,219
of the toughest games.

400
00:11:46,220 --> 00:11:47,119
That's right.

401
00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:48,319
Tomorrow, they're gonna be going up

402
00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:49,899
against Georgia. Who's the other

403
00:11:49,900 --> 00:11:50,760
opponent that's still.

404
00:11:50,761 --> 00:11:52,489
You got Texas A&M, you got the

405
00:11:52,490 --> 00:11:54,429
Aggies next week, right, who

406
00:11:54,430 --> 00:11:56,549
look fantastic this year.

407
00:11:56,550 --> 00:11:57,629
So that's going to be a real

408
00:11:57,630 --> 00:11:59,030
challenge, but no,

409
00:12:00,810 --> 00:12:02,469
even though they've had so many ups

410
00:12:02,470 --> 00:12:04,369
and downs, yeah, they're in a really

411
00:12:04,370 --> 00:12:04,929
good position.

412
00:12:04,930 --> 00:12:06,109
They're still controlling their

413
00:12:06,110 --> 00:12:07,509
destiny. As we said, they're on the

414
00:12:07,510 --> 00:12:09,349
road tomorrow to face a

415
00:12:09,350 --> 00:12:11,049
number five, Georgia.

416
00:12:11,050 --> 00:12:12,809
Then they'll be at home next week to

417
00:12:12,810 --> 00:12:13,649
play Arkansas.

418
00:12:13,650 --> 00:12:15,169
And then after Thanksgiving, they'll

419
00:12:15,170 --> 00:12:17,069
be taking on Texas A&M in a big

420
00:12:17,070 --> 00:12:18,869
game. And we have been speaking with

421
00:12:18,870 --> 00:12:21,149
KUT's Williamson County reporter,

422
00:12:21,150 --> 00:12:22,889
Kailey Hunt, covering a little bit

423
00:12:22,890 --> 00:12:24,329
of everything as usual.

424
00:12:24,330 --> 00:12:25,749
Kailey, we appreciate your reporting

425
00:12:25,750 --> 00:12:27,369
and thank you for coming on Austin

426
00:12:27,370 --> 00:12:27,779
Signal.

427
00:12:27,780 --> 00:12:28,929
Thanks, Jerry.

428
00:12:28,930 --> 00:12:30,809
And thank you out there for spending

429
00:12:30,810 --> 00:12:32,949
part of your Friday here with

430
00:12:32,950 --> 00:12:35,429
listener powered public radio.

431
00:12:35,430 --> 00:12:37,549
This is KUT News,

432
00:12:37,550 --> 00:12:39,529
we got more coming up after

433
00:12:39,530 --> 00:12:40,530
one minute.

434
00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:45,599
Thank you for tuning in.

435
00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,479
This is Austin Signal.

436
00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:48,559
I'm Jerry Quijano.

437
00:12:48,560 --> 00:12:49,919
Hana World Market announced this

438
00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:51,039
month that they're closing their

439
00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,279
doors for good come the end of 2025

440
00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,059
after many years of business at

441
00:12:55,060 --> 00:12:57,719
their location in far North Austin.

442
00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,079
And amid the news of the closing,

443
00:12:59,080 --> 00:12:59,999
the store announced on their

444
00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:01,279
Facebook page that their

445
00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:03,279
refrigeration system was vandalized

446
00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:05,899
and that forced an emergency sale.

447
00:13:05,900 --> 00:13:07,839
The news of closure prompted a

448
00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:09,799
feeling of sadness and nostalgia

449
00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:11,619
among the many Austinites who've

450
00:13:11,620 --> 00:13:14,029
been visiting the store for years.

451
00:13:14,030 --> 00:13:15,489
YunHui Lee is owner of Hana World

452
00:13:15,490 --> 00:13:16,889
Market. She's with us today on

453
00:13:16,890 --> 00:13:17,669
Austin Signal.

454
00:13:17,670 --> 00:13:18,879
YunHui, thank you for joining us.

455
00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:19,989
Thank you for having me.

456
00:13:19,990 --> 00:13:21,889
So I wanna ask first, how long

457
00:13:21,890 --> 00:13:23,889
has Hano World Market been a part of

458
00:13:23,890 --> 00:13:25,249
Austin and how long has your family

459
00:13:25,250 --> 00:13:26,909
been a a part of Austin business?

460
00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,799
Hana World Market opened in 2012,

461
00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:33,779
but my parents owned New Orleans

462
00:13:33,780 --> 00:13:35,759
Market, which started in early

463
00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:36,849
2000.

464
00:13:36,850 --> 00:13:38,749
And what made you want to run

465
00:13:38,750 --> 00:13:40,189
a grocery store, open your own

466
00:13:40,190 --> 00:13:41,909
store? Was it like part of the

467
00:13:41,910 --> 00:13:43,149
family business? Where did that come

468
00:13:43,150 --> 00:13:43,150
from?

469
00:13:43,151 --> 00:13:44,999
No, it kind of fell in my lap.

470
00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:46,679
My parents were closing their store

471
00:13:46,680 --> 00:13:47,959
and they were going out of business

472
00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,419
and then this opportunity

473
00:13:50,420 --> 00:13:51,919
presented itself.

474
00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:53,739
And then, so my parents needed

475
00:13:53,740 --> 00:13:54,759
something to do.

476
00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:56,679
I was kind of not really

477
00:13:56,680 --> 00:13:58,399
looking to do it, but like I said,

478
00:13:58,400 --> 00:13:59,899
it just kind of fell in lap and we

479
00:13:59,900 --> 00:14:01,599
were able to put it together.

480
00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:01,839
Yeah.

481
00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:03,439
For anybody out there who might be

482
00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:05,219
unfamiliar with Hana World Market,

483
00:14:05,220 --> 00:14:06,409
what do you do?

484
00:14:06,410 --> 00:14:08,689
We're an Asian grocery store,

485
00:14:08,690 --> 00:14:10,569
predominantly we have Vietnamese,

486
00:14:10,570 --> 00:14:12,149
Chinese, Korean, Japanese.

487
00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:15,079
I'm sure you had this preconceived

488
00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:16,619
notion of what I'm running a

489
00:14:16,620 --> 00:14:17,779
business might be like here in

490
00:14:17,780 --> 00:14:19,919
Austin How is it different in your

491
00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:21,119
year since 2012?

492
00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:22,579
How has it played out different from

493
00:14:22,580 --> 00:14:23,579
what you expected?

494
00:14:23,580 --> 00:14:24,580
It might be

495
00:14:25,530 --> 00:14:27,249
Well, when we first started, we were

496
00:14:27,250 --> 00:14:28,689
one of the biggest markets.

497
00:14:28,690 --> 00:14:30,569
But then when I think it

498
00:14:30,570 --> 00:14:31,970
was in 2018,

499
00:14:33,070 --> 00:14:34,929
Ranch 99 came in and H Mart

500
00:14:34,930 --> 00:14:37,269
came in. And after that,

501
00:14:37,270 --> 00:14:38,529
the smaller markets were kind of

502
00:14:38,530 --> 00:14:39,589
struggling because we don't have the

503
00:14:39,590 --> 00:14:41,069
buying power like the national

504
00:14:41,070 --> 00:14:41,949
markets do.

505
00:14:41,950 --> 00:14:43,769
And so in the beginning, it was

506
00:14:43,770 --> 00:14:45,609
very small and

507
00:14:45,610 --> 00:14:47,549
we had very loyal customers.

508
00:14:47,550 --> 00:14:48,929
But then, when the bigger markets

509
00:14:48,930 --> 00:14:50,909
came in, it just became harder and

510
00:14:50,910 --> 00:14:51,910
harder.

511
00:14:52,210 --> 00:14:53,429
For, you know, the smaller

512
00:14:53,430 --> 00:14:55,129
businesses to survive and be

513
00:14:55,130 --> 00:14:56,039
competitive.

514
00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:57,619
What's been the reaction from the

515
00:14:57,620 --> 00:14:58,979
customers who've heard the news and

516
00:14:58,980 --> 00:15:00,449
have been visiting the store?

517
00:15:00,450 --> 00:15:02,089
It's been overwhelming.

518
00:15:02,090 --> 00:15:04,089
And I, we, as a company,

519
00:15:04,090 --> 00:15:06,089
we were just felt so blessed because

520
00:15:06,090 --> 00:15:08,009
the community came out when we

521
00:15:08,010 --> 00:15:09,029
had the sale.

522
00:15:09,030 --> 00:15:10,609
We had so many people come out and

523
00:15:10,610 --> 00:15:12,269
then we had several people that came

524
00:15:12,270 --> 00:15:14,109
out and were like, I don't need the

525
00:15:14,110 --> 00:15:16,329
discount. Just charge me.

526
00:15:16,330 --> 00:15:18,049
Um, gave, you know, wanted to give

527
00:15:18,050 --> 00:15:20,069
donations, asked if we had

528
00:15:20,070 --> 00:15:21,549
a go fund me page.

529
00:15:21,550 --> 00:15:23,029
And you know they wanted to do the

530
00:15:23,030 --> 00:15:24,409
donations, but we don't have

531
00:15:24,410 --> 00:15:25,589
anything set up.

532
00:15:25,590 --> 00:15:27,249
And so just the amount of people

533
00:15:27,250 --> 00:15:28,370
that come out, we were.

534
00:15:29,620 --> 00:15:31,819
So overwhelmed because,

535
00:15:31,820 --> 00:15:33,759
an example, one person put

536
00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:35,579
on their Facebook or Snapchat

537
00:15:35,580 --> 00:15:37,539
or something, and they had said, oh,

538
00:15:37,540 --> 00:15:39,559
they're closing, go out, and

539
00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:40,819
if you can't, just buy one of their

540
00:15:40,820 --> 00:15:41,739
shopping bags.

541
00:15:41,740 --> 00:15:43,699
That day, we sold out

542
00:15:43,700 --> 00:15:45,739
of the shopping bags, and that's how

543
00:15:45,740 --> 00:15:47,439
awesome that all the customers have

544
00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:49,359
been, and customers that

545
00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,359
moved away, like to South Austin

546
00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:53,259
or way out to Round Rock,

547
00:15:53,260 --> 00:15:54,779
and were customers when they lived

548
00:15:54,780 --> 00:15:56,439
closer, they came in and was like,

549
00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:58,259
We shopped with you when we were

550
00:15:58,260 --> 00:16:00,469
at you know, when you first opened,

551
00:16:00,470 --> 00:16:01,989
we just wanted to come back and give

552
00:16:01,990 --> 00:16:03,189
you some support.

553
00:16:03,190 --> 00:16:05,229
Very sad that you're closing.

554
00:16:05,230 --> 00:16:07,309
And so we feel very,

555
00:16:07,310 --> 00:16:09,769
very blessed that we,

556
00:16:09,770 --> 00:16:11,109
that the customers have been coming

557
00:16:11,110 --> 00:16:12,949
back and, you know providing

558
00:16:12,950 --> 00:16:13,949
the support.

559
00:16:13,950 --> 00:16:14,989
As I was scrolling through your

560
00:16:14,990 --> 00:16:16,269
Facebook page, it was a nice

561
00:16:16,270 --> 00:16:18,109
nostalgic trip back into

562
00:16:18,110 --> 00:16:20,049
Austin, and did you think

563
00:16:20,050 --> 00:16:21,169
you were going to create these kind

564
00:16:21,170 --> 00:16:22,709
of lasting relationships with people

565
00:16:22,710 --> 00:16:24,389
when you, you know, kind of were

566
00:16:24,390 --> 00:16:26,979
forced into this job in 2012?

567
00:16:26,980 --> 00:16:29,099
Not really, I think one thing that

568
00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:31,039
I remember is like a customer,

569
00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,539
one of our customers had come

570
00:16:33,540 --> 00:16:35,459
in and she had

571
00:16:35,460 --> 00:16:37,399
taken her card out and she left her

572
00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,239
purse in the parking lot in

573
00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,159
the shopping cart, but she had over

574
00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:43,999
$3,000 worth of cash.

575
00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:45,059
As one does.

576
00:16:45,060 --> 00:16:47,199
Yes, one does carry a lot of cash,

577
00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,359
our customers are such good

578
00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,199
grounded people, we had the customer

579
00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,359
come back, bring in the purse,

580
00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,239
the money was intact and stuff

581
00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:56,089
like that.

582
00:16:56,090 --> 00:16:57,929
I just feel that

583
00:16:57,930 --> 00:17:00,069
just the community itself,

584
00:17:00,070 --> 00:17:02,109
Austin has grown so

585
00:17:02,110 --> 00:17:04,189
much, but when we

586
00:17:04,190 --> 00:17:06,088
first started, it just felt that

587
00:17:06,089 --> 00:17:07,588
all of our customers were like

588
00:17:07,589 --> 00:17:08,729
family members too.

589
00:17:08,730 --> 00:17:10,209
Like we're like one of those

590
00:17:10,210 --> 00:17:12,129
neighborhood things like, you know,

591
00:17:12,130 --> 00:17:14,689
cheers when the customer comes in.

592
00:17:14,690 --> 00:17:16,568
My uncle actually has

593
00:17:16,569 --> 00:17:18,289
this memory where he could remember

594
00:17:18,290 --> 00:17:20,269
everybody's name, but

595
00:17:20,270 --> 00:17:22,249
it's kind of bittersweet because

596
00:17:22,250 --> 00:17:24,108
the business aspect of it

597
00:17:24,109 --> 00:17:25,910
has been very, very difficult.

598
00:17:27,190 --> 00:17:29,289
You know, not only, you know,

599
00:17:29,290 --> 00:17:31,050
the bigger companies coming in, but

600
00:17:31,051 --> 00:17:32,909
with raising, you

601
00:17:32,910 --> 00:17:34,829
know, the price increases,

602
00:17:34,830 --> 00:17:37,209
the rent and electricity utilities,

603
00:17:37,210 --> 00:17:37,989
all that.

604
00:17:37,990 --> 00:17:39,889
And then this year with all the

605
00:17:39,890 --> 00:17:41,789
increases in tariffs, because we

606
00:17:41,790 --> 00:17:43,769
import all of all the stuff that we

607
00:17:43,770 --> 00:17:45,389
get is imported.

608
00:17:45,390 --> 00:17:47,269
So that has had a crucial

609
00:17:47,270 --> 00:17:48,049
impact in us.

610
00:17:48,050 --> 00:17:50,089
How big of an impact was it,

611
00:17:50,090 --> 00:17:52,069
maybe financially, but also

612
00:17:52,070 --> 00:17:53,989
the not knowing as to

613
00:17:53,990 --> 00:17:55,049
when things were going to be

614
00:17:55,050 --> 00:17:56,509
enforced? How did that impact your

615
00:17:56,510 --> 00:17:57,889
year particularly?

616
00:17:57,890 --> 00:17:59,769
Well, what,

617
00:17:59,770 --> 00:18:01,029
you know, not only the price

618
00:18:01,030 --> 00:18:03,089
increases, but because the price

619
00:18:03,090 --> 00:18:05,069
increases impacted our

620
00:18:05,070 --> 00:18:06,649
vendors that provided us the

621
00:18:06,650 --> 00:18:08,469
materials, they

622
00:18:08,470 --> 00:18:10,369
were not stocking

623
00:18:10,370 --> 00:18:12,889
up as much products

624
00:18:12,890 --> 00:18:14,089
because they didn't want to be

625
00:18:14,090 --> 00:18:15,029
strapped because they didn't t know

626
00:18:15,030 --> 00:18:17,009
if the end user, us, the buyers were

627
00:18:17,010 --> 00:18:19,389
going to buy as much as they had.

628
00:18:19,390 --> 00:18:20,969
So, you, know, we were not only

629
00:18:20,970 --> 00:18:22,689
faced with the price increases, that

630
00:18:22,690 --> 00:18:26,469
we were facing.

631
00:18:26,470 --> 00:18:28,149
Not being able to get the products

632
00:18:28,150 --> 00:18:29,449
in store.

633
00:18:29,450 --> 00:18:31,709
So that, I think,

634
00:18:31,710 --> 00:18:33,709
made it even more complicated.

635
00:18:33,710 --> 00:18:34,910
To try and plan ahead, right?

636
00:18:34,911 --> 00:18:36,809
Yeah, we're always talking here at

637
00:18:36,810 --> 00:18:38,709
KUT about planning for the

638
00:18:38,710 --> 00:18:40,609
future and that really hamstrings

639
00:18:40,610 --> 00:18:42,429
you when you don't know what

640
00:18:42,430 --> 00:18:43,469
to expect next.

641
00:18:43,470 --> 00:18:45,829
Yes, because prime example,

642
00:18:45,830 --> 00:18:48,329
we would order and say, for example,

643
00:18:48,330 --> 00:18:50,309
we would have three pages of orders

644
00:18:50,310 --> 00:18:51,849
that we placed.

645
00:18:51,850 --> 00:18:53,669
Well, when they would deliver one

646
00:18:53,670 --> 00:18:55,289
and a half pages would be out of

647
00:18:55,290 --> 00:18:56,709
stock because, you know, the

648
00:18:56,710 --> 00:18:58,129
suppliers were not able to get the

649
00:18:58,130 --> 00:18:59,169
products in as well.

650
00:18:59,170 --> 00:19:01,429
And then it impacts us and

651
00:19:01,430 --> 00:19:02,909
then it's like the prices are going

652
00:19:02,910 --> 00:19:04,729
up, but we don't have the products

653
00:19:04,730 --> 00:19:06,689
to sell. So then that

654
00:19:06,690 --> 00:19:08,169
both has an impact on our bottom

655
00:19:08,170 --> 00:19:10,619
line. So it's been pretty difficult.

656
00:19:10,620 --> 00:19:11,659
The announcement was made that

657
00:19:11,660 --> 00:19:13,279
you're gonna be closing by the end

658
00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:14,499
of 2025.

659
00:19:14,500 --> 00:19:16,139
Not really a firm date to just kind

660
00:19:16,140 --> 00:19:18,399
of going off of vibes a little bit.

661
00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:19,379
Now that you've had some time to

662
00:19:19,380 --> 00:19:20,919
reflect on the news that the store

663
00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:22,199
is actually going to close and

664
00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,979
you've heard some reaction from the

665
00:19:23,980 --> 00:19:25,659
community. And I'm sure that there's

666
00:19:25,660 --> 00:19:27,339
a lot of stress that's gonna be gone

667
00:19:27,340 --> 00:19:28,199
as well, right?

668
00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,019
But I'm there was a lot a joy that

669
00:19:30,020 --> 00:19:31,439
the story brought to you every day,

670
00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:32,319
the interactions brought.

671
00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:33,769
What are you gonna miss about that?

672
00:19:33,770 --> 00:19:35,669
I think the people, the customers,

673
00:19:35,670 --> 00:19:37,529
that aspect is what I'm

674
00:19:37,530 --> 00:19:39,249
gonna miss about the most.

675
00:19:39,250 --> 00:19:41,509
Everything else I can do without,

676
00:19:41,510 --> 00:19:43,289
but the people that come in.

677
00:19:48,149 --> 00:19:50,269
Thankful and you know,

678
00:19:50,270 --> 00:19:51,469
there's customers that have been

679
00:19:51,470 --> 00:19:53,789
coming for like 12 years,

680
00:19:53,790 --> 00:19:55,629
you know So I will miss

681
00:19:55,630 --> 00:19:57,189
them the most I think

682
00:19:57,190 --> 00:19:59,049
Yeah, as I said, there was a lot of

683
00:19:59,050 --> 00:20:00,689
sadness, a lot people noting that

684
00:20:00,690 --> 00:20:01,889
they had been going to your store

685
00:20:01,890 --> 00:20:03,669
since they were in their youth or

686
00:20:03,670 --> 00:20:04,909
when they were middle school.

687
00:20:04,910 --> 00:20:07,769
It's a nice neighborhood walk over.

688
00:20:07,770 --> 00:20:09,449
So lots to miss.

689
00:20:09,450 --> 00:20:10,469
Again, Hana World Market announced

690
00:20:10,470 --> 00:20:11,569
they're gonna be closing at the end

691
00:20:11,570 --> 00:20:13,149
of the year.

692
00:20:13,150 --> 00:20:14,669
For an Austinite who's still here

693
00:20:14,670 --> 00:20:16,689
right now, maybe has never been to

694
00:20:16,690 --> 00:20:18,269
Hana world market, what can they

695
00:20:18,270 --> 00:20:19,449
expect when they make the trip up

696
00:20:19,450 --> 00:20:21,209
north to visit y'all?

697
00:20:21,210 --> 00:20:22,189
Well, it'll be a little bit

698
00:20:22,190 --> 00:20:23,929
different because our shelves are

699
00:20:23,930 --> 00:20:25,889
kind of empty, but we

700
00:20:25,890 --> 00:20:27,389
are having one last shipment.

701
00:20:27,390 --> 00:20:28,649
Like I said, we're going to try to

702
00:20:28,650 --> 00:20:30,709
stay open as long as we can.

703
00:20:30,710 --> 00:20:32,649
But I think what, what I

704
00:20:32,650 --> 00:20:34,529
hope people feel when they come

705
00:20:34,530 --> 00:20:36,369
in, it is more like a

706
00:20:36,370 --> 00:20:37,329
family atmosphere.

707
00:20:37,330 --> 00:20:39,589
We're more like neighborhood family

708
00:20:39,590 --> 00:20:41,659
market more than anything.

709
00:20:41,660 --> 00:20:42,619
Do you think you're going to be

710
00:20:42,620 --> 00:20:43,979
getting any more tote bags and of

711
00:20:43,980 --> 00:20:45,259
these tote bags?

712
00:20:46,700 --> 00:20:48,739
We would get them we would

713
00:20:48,740 --> 00:20:50,359
yeah, it takes long to produce.

714
00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:51,179
So no, no

715
00:20:51,180 --> 00:20:52,539
So if you're listening right now and

716
00:20:52,540 --> 00:20:53,659
you have one of those tote bags

717
00:20:53,660 --> 00:20:55,399
you've got a classic item right

718
00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:56,979
there Hold on to it tight.

719
00:20:56,980 --> 00:20:58,195
We have been speaking with YunHui

720
00:20:58,196 --> 00:20:59,979
Lee the owner of Hana world market

721
00:20:59,980 --> 00:21:01,699
They plan to close their doors at

722
00:21:01,700 --> 00:21:04,179
the end of 2025 uni.

723
00:21:04,180 --> 00:21:05,119
Thank you for your time today and

724
00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:06,419
congratulations on all your hard

725
00:21:06,420 --> 00:21:08,379
work Thank you, and

726
00:21:08,380 --> 00:21:10,279
that is it for today's

727
00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:12,119
episode of Austin signal.

728
00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:14,179
Thank for being with us today

729
00:21:14,180 --> 00:21:15,959
And just as a reminder, we are live

730
00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,059
every weekday afternoon, starting

731
00:21:18,060 --> 00:21:20,439
at 1 o'clock here on KUT

732
00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,459
News 90.5 and

733
00:21:22,460 --> 00:21:24,559
over on the KUT app.

734
00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,559
And you can catch up on past

735
00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:29,999
episodes at kut.org

736
00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,479
slash signal.

737
00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:32,479
Among the many things that we

738
00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:34,339
covered this week, four months

739
00:21:34,340 --> 00:21:36,319
on from historic flooding in central

740
00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,159
Texas, families of victims

741
00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,019
of the July 4th flooding in the Hill

742
00:21:40,020 --> 00:21:41,999
Country are suing Camp Mystic.

743
00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,439
Alleging that they failed to take

744
00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,239
the proper precautions to protect

745
00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,679
their campers and counselors.

746
00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:49,699
Also, the city of Austin is

747
00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:51,719
making hard budget cuts after

748
00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,419
this month's failure of Proposition

749
00:21:53,420 --> 00:21:55,459
Q at the ballot box.

750
00:21:55,460 --> 00:21:57,279
Those stories and all of our

751
00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:58,979
past stories can be heard on the

752
00:21:58,980 --> 00:22:00,699
Austin Signal podcast.

753
00:22:00,700 --> 00:22:02,659
Subscribe wherever you listen to

754
00:22:02,660 --> 00:22:03,739
your shows.

755
00:22:03,740 --> 00:22:05,339
A big thank you to everyone who

756
00:22:05,340 --> 00:22:07,739
contributed to today's show,

757
00:22:07,740 --> 00:22:09,579
YunHui Li from Hana Market.

758
00:22:09,580 --> 00:22:11,919
As well as KUT's Nathan Bernier,

759
00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:13,919
Kailey Hunt, and Trey Schar out

760
00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:14,839
there.

761
00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:16,459
Kristin Cabrera is our managing

762
00:22:16,460 --> 00:22:17,279
producer.

763
00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:19,259
Rayna Sevilla keeps us

764
00:22:19,260 --> 00:22:21,039
sounding good on the board.

765
00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:22,119
And a special thank you to Jimmy

766
00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:23,999
Moss for his help with today's

767
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:24,859
show.

768
00:22:24,860 --> 00:22:26,859
I'm Jerry Quijano, your host of

769
00:22:26,860 --> 00:22:28,139
Austin Signal.

770
00:22:28,140 --> 00:22:29,779
And we're glad that you made time

771
00:22:29,780 --> 00:22:31,119
for us today. We hope you have a

772
00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:33,379
fantastic Friday and a wonderful

773
00:22:33,380 --> 00:22:34,679
weekend out there!

774
00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:36,359
Oh, and by the way, thank you Casey

775
00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:38,589
Cheek for his fantastic work.

776
00:22:38,590 --> 00:22:40,589
Keeping us all together,

777
00:22:40,590 --> 00:22:41,909
we appreciate you tuning in.

778
00:22:41,910 --> 00:22:42,910
This is Austin Signal.