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A review of the City of Austin's $25

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million contract with the Long

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Center to Disperse Arts Grants

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funding has exposed gaps in billing,

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transparency, and oversight.

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City auditors for years have raised

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concerns about weaknesses in the

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monitoring of city contracts.

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We've got more about that.

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And a new program wants to bring

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Austin's home-based side hustles

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out of the shadows, out of that

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crowded garage and into the light

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of day.

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It's the latest effort from the city

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to create ways for micro businesses

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and owners to thrive, not just

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survive more about that coming

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up on today's show.

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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, the Texas women's basketball

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team is back in the final four.

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A pair of wins this weekend would

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give the Horns their second national

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championship, 40 years

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on from their first.

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More about that coming up next

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on Austin Signal.

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Howdy out there, this is Austin

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Signal. I'm your host, Jerry

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Quijano.

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It is Friday, April 3rd.

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Thank you for making us part of

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your day.

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For over 20 years, the

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Austin City Auditor's Office has

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continuously flagged problems with

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the monitoring of money paid to

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contractors and consultants.

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And the $25 million contract

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with the Long Center to disperse

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arts grant funding is just the

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latest example, according to a

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report out by Austin Current.

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It says that the city continues to

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have issues with how it monitors the

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billions of dollars of taxpayer

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dollars it pays to consultants,

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nonprofits, and private companies.

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For more, we are talking with Andrea

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Ball, the growth development

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reporter who wrote the story for

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Austin Current.

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Andrea, welcome back to the show.

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Thanks for having me.

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So remind us about this $25

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million Long Center agreement and

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why it's under so much scrutiny

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right now.

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Right, so in

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2023, the city decided

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that it was going to start using a

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third party to administer these

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arts grants.

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To be clear, the $25 million

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contract is not

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all $25 million to the Long

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Center. They're handling the

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processing of about $23.5

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million that's going out to the

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artists.

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$1.5 goes to them as profit

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or as fees for service.

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And When I

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came to town, I started hearing

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some things about the

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process and some

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financial questions about

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the contract itself.

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And so the Long

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Center is used because it

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has such a great ability

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to basically get

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grants out quickly, where the city

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was really slow about it.

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The way the contract was structured,

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it was just kind of unusual for the

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type that it was in that instead of

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saying, okay, your fees are capped

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at this percentage or this dollar

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amount, it was a fee for service

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thing, which means fee for services

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per hour, which means you gotta

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really be on top of that.

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And that's where questions started

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coming in.

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You have been reporting on this for

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a while now another story that you

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did recently says that because of

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all of this the city has started

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to rethink the arts grant

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system and maybe the contract with

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the long center or what's going on

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there.

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So when we did our story,

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these city's arts department,

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just to keep it short, they

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decided to do a review.

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And when people do reviews, you

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pretty much assume nothing's gonna

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happen.

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You know, okay, they're just gonna

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be like, oh, we reviewed it, great,

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look forward to a fruitful and long

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relationship.

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And, but actually it appears they

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really did look at it and

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they came back with an internal

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review that said, hey, we're not

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getting audits that are detailed

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enough.

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You can't account for certain

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billing.

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We don't have performance measures

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for you. This is just, we

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need to tighten up.

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We're probably gonna do an RFP,

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meaning we're gonna bid this out

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when your contract's up in 2028.

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And we are also thinking about

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doing a third party independent

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audit of you.

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I do wanna say something pretty

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clearly.

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No one has accused them of doing

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anything improper.

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And the story that we did

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yesterday really talks about

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But whatever issues there are

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with the Long Center and this

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contract is

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not all on them if there

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are really issues.

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The city has a long documented

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history of having problems

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with monitoring

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contracts throughout the city.

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They've been warned for two decades

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about this issue and it

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continues to happen.

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This lack of monitoring, this

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fragmentation of contracts all

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over the city, the lack of

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performance reviews and

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goals.

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This is not new.

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And so you start to have to ask the

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question, why, why

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is, why, why are we not changing

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this?

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And it's not just limited to arts

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grant funding, correct?

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Right. Right.

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It's everything.

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Mayor Watson is on the city's Audit

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and Finance Committee.

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What did he have to say about this

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pattern of weak oversight?

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Yeah, he told me

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this week that he's got some things

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in the works, that he has been

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addressing this within the

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city staff, and I don't

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know yet what those plans might be

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in terms of oversight, but some

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people are saying, yeah, it's long

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overdue.

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You mentioned this contract going up

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for bid again.

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Has the city considered taking

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this work in-house?

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Yes, they have talked about

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that. It used to be in-house.

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And the issue was that

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the artists were like, it's taking

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forever to get the money.

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I got to do my work.

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Like, this money is really important

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to artists, because it helps them to

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not spend their own money to

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live in in Austin.

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Because if you're spending all your

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money on your art, you can't pay

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your rent. And so that's why these

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grants are super important.

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So one

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of the possibilities

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is yes, that the city's

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arts department would take it in

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house.

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The estimate is to take around 10

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people, uh, that they would

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need some more money for, you know,

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the expenses of that, some IT work,

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whatever. And it's, it's

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up for, y'know, consideration.

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So what are you hearing from members

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of the community as this is playing

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out?

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I think that I will tell you this.

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I have heard from

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a lot of musicians that

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this issue has been coming up

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over the years and that they have

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talked to people in

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the city about it and nothing

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happened.

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I think sometimes when it comes

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to grants and things like that,

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people's concerns get dismissed as

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you didn't get a grant so you're

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better.

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When we talk about processes and

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they are mixed.

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With a lot of emotions, things

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get glossed over,

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or it's too difficult to address,

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or there's a new department, we've

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had so many new leaders, new city

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managers and stuff, so I think

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there's lot of interest in seeing,

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okay, you're listening to our

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concerns now, where's this going?

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Okay, we have been speaking with

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Andrea Ball, she is the growth

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development reporter at Austin

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Current, KUT's and

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Austin Signal's reporting partner in

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covering the city of Austin.

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Andrea, always a great time talking

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with you.

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Thank you for having me.

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Running a business out of your home

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is getting a little easier

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for Austin entrepreneurs.

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KUT's Luz Moreno Lozano tells

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us how the city is now making it

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simpler for secret side hustles

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to be shared out in the open.

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Jennifer Worth frames art, posters,

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and photos out of her East Austin

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home.

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It's called Vintage Framing Studio,

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a business she started in 2010.

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She reuses and recycles frames she

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finds at thrift stores and works

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with each customer to find the right

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frame for their piece.

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It's the kind of work she and her

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partner used to do at South Austin

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Gallery before closing the brick and

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mortar location 10 years ago.

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Worth converted her garage into a

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framing workshop and used her front

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fence to advertise her small

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business.

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On my fence and like if you

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across the street you'll see it's a

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green belt so there's constantly

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people like walking so

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I would get a lot of people

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basically would see

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my signs.

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Then early last year, she says a

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city worker knocked on her door and

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told her to take those signs down.

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Someone in the neighborhood had

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complained.

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Now, Worth will be allowed to put

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her signs back up.

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The Austin City Council has approved

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a pilot that lets home-based

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businesses like Worth's advertise

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and sell their products in their

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front yards.

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It's part of a recent effort by the

289
00:08:51,490 --> 00:08:53,169
city to create more ways for micro

290
00:08:53,170 --> 00:08:55,169
businesses to operate and thrive in

291
00:08:55,170 --> 00:08:56,419
Austin.

292
00:08:56,420 --> 00:08:57,999
Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison

293
00:08:58,000 --> 00:08:59,399
led the initiative to let small

294
00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,179
businesses operate from their homes

295
00:09:01,180 --> 00:09:02,999
in plain sight.

296
00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,479
Sharon Mays, Harper- Madison's Chief

297
00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:05,939
of Staff, says it's not a new

298
00:09:05,940 --> 00:09:06,829
concept.

299
00:09:06,830 --> 00:09:09,149
Austin has had home occupation

300
00:09:09,150 --> 00:09:11,069
rules on the books for a really

301
00:09:11,070 --> 00:09:13,149
long time and that lets

302
00:09:13,150 --> 00:09:15,309
residents run a limited

303
00:09:15,310 --> 00:09:17,589
number of businesses inside

304
00:09:17,590 --> 00:09:18,759
of their home.

305
00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:19,879
But the businesses were never

306
00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:21,899
visible from the street.

307
00:09:21,900 --> 00:09:23,779
During the last legislative session,

308
00:09:23,780 --> 00:09:25,659
lawmakers made it easier for Texans

309
00:09:25,660 --> 00:09:27,659
to start a home business.

310
00:09:27,660 --> 00:09:29,079
May said that cleared the way for

311
00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:30,619
Austin to let these businesses come

312
00:09:30,620 --> 00:09:31,709
out in the open.

313
00:09:31,710 --> 00:09:33,889
Our Strong Local Commerce initiative

314
00:09:33,890 --> 00:09:36,269
is really trying to empower

315
00:09:36,270 --> 00:09:38,289
those entrepreneurs and those

316
00:09:38,290 --> 00:09:40,189
home-based businesses by saying

317
00:09:40,190 --> 00:09:42,129
there is an option

318
00:09:42,130 --> 00:09:44,549
to also bring that

319
00:09:44,550 --> 00:09:46,449
business outside of the

320
00:09:46,450 --> 00:09:47,129
house.

321
00:09:47,130 --> 00:09:48,489
It means these home-based business

322
00:09:48,490 --> 00:09:50,089
owners can display a small sign in

323
00:09:50,090 --> 00:09:51,969
the yard and sell art, plants, and

324
00:09:51,970 --> 00:09:53,509
other goods from their front porch.

325
00:09:54,570 --> 00:09:56,229
Kelly Masters is president and

326
00:09:56,230 --> 00:09:58,569
founder of nonprofit Homemade Taxes.

327
00:09:58,570 --> 00:09:59,749
She says this is the kind of

328
00:09:59,750 --> 00:10:01,109
flexibility she and her team have

329
00:10:01,110 --> 00:10:02,729
been fighting for in the cottage

330
00:10:02,730 --> 00:10:04,529
food industry.

331
00:10:04,530 --> 00:10:06,389
Back in 2005, Masters was

332
00:10:06,390 --> 00:10:07,869
looking for a way to earn a little

333
00:10:07,870 --> 00:10:09,529
extra money by making and selling

334
00:10:09,530 --> 00:10:11,269
cakes out of her home.

335
00:10:11,270 --> 00:10:12,769
But she soon learned that it was

336
00:10:12,770 --> 00:10:13,649
illegal.

337
00:10:13,650 --> 00:10:15,429
For years, she lobbied lawmakers for

338
00:10:15,430 --> 00:10:17,569
new cottage food laws.

339
00:10:17,570 --> 00:10:19,549
In 2011, the state legalized

340
00:10:19,550 --> 00:10:20,929
cottage food businesses with some

341
00:10:20,930 --> 00:10:22,369
limitations.

342
00:10:22,370 --> 00:10:23,729
But many cities still have rules

343
00:10:23,730 --> 00:10:25,109
that prohibit home-based businesses

344
00:10:25,110 --> 00:10:26,869
from being visible, making it

345
00:10:26,870 --> 00:10:28,389
difficult to sell their goods from a

346
00:10:28,390 --> 00:10:29,209
residence.

347
00:10:29,210 --> 00:10:30,969
You can make the best product in

348
00:10:30,970 --> 00:10:31,969
your kitchen, but...

349
00:10:31,970 --> 00:10:33,729
It's hard to find a place to sell

350
00:10:33,730 --> 00:10:35,609
it. And so for a lot of

351
00:10:35,610 --> 00:10:37,549
these bakers and makers,

352
00:10:37,550 --> 00:10:39,039
the most natural place to sale.

353
00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:40,499
And the easiest place to sell is

354
00:10:40,500 --> 00:10:41,599
right at your own home.

355
00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,159
The new program isn't sitting well

356
00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:44,219
with everyone.

357
00:10:44,220 --> 00:10:46,059
At a city council meeting last week,

358
00:10:46,060 --> 00:10:47,399
several people expressed concerns

359
00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,479
about traffic, parking problems,

360
00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,599
eyesores, noise, and odors.

361
00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,199
South Austin resident Sarah Fow says

362
00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:54,719
it could be a bigger problem for

363
00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:56,519
neighborhoods without sidewalks.

364
00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:59,019
When we don't have sidewalks,

365
00:10:59,020 --> 00:11:00,719
we've got the kids, the bikes, the

366
00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:02,019
dogs, the strollers.

367
00:11:02,020 --> 00:11:03,899
We're all forced to walk out in

368
00:11:03,900 --> 00:11:05,059
the street.

369
00:11:05,060 --> 00:11:06,959
Survive adding more car trips to

370
00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:08,199
our neighborhood streets from the

371
00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:09,619
retail businesses.

372
00:11:09,620 --> 00:11:11,199
Council staffer Mays says the city

373
00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:12,939
is taking those concerns seriously

374
00:11:12,940 --> 00:11:14,639
and plans to roll out the home-based

375
00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,579
business program in areas designated

376
00:11:16,580 --> 00:11:18,099
as pink zones.

377
00:11:18,100 --> 00:11:19,519
Staff will monitor things like

378
00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,159
traffic, parking and neighborhood

379
00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,919
sentiment before a citywide rollout.

380
00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:25,399
City rules about noise, trash and

381
00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,199
pollutions to apply and these

382
00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:28,599
businesses are not allowed to

383
00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:29,899
violate HOA rules or deed

384
00:11:29,900 --> 00:11:30,900
restrictions.

385
00:11:31,420 --> 00:11:33,219
Jennifer Wirth says as a longtime

386
00:11:33,220 --> 00:11:34,899
business owner, the city should be

387
00:11:34,900 --> 00:11:36,239
doing more to support local

388
00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:37,219
businesses.

389
00:11:37,220 --> 00:11:37,959
It might be that.

390
00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:39,559
That to keep the local and then like

391
00:11:39,560 --> 00:11:40,560
keep Austin weird,

392
00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:42,479
we need to have these home

393
00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:44,979
businesses that people can find,

394
00:11:44,980 --> 00:11:46,279
you know, cause we can't, a lot of

395
00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:47,579
us can't afford brick and mortar and

396
00:11:47,580 --> 00:11:49,489
it's too scary to do that.

397
00:11:49,490 --> 00:11:51,129
She says businesses like hers and

398
00:11:51,130 --> 00:11:52,789
others help make the city what it

399
00:11:52,790 --> 00:11:54,109
is.

400
00:11:54,110 --> 00:11:56,289
I'm Luz Moreno Lozano in Austin.

401
00:11:57,660 --> 00:11:58,979
And we're gonna have a link to

402
00:11:58,980 --> 00:12:01,119
Luce's reporting in today's

403
00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:02,819
podcast, Show Notes.

404
00:12:02,820 --> 00:12:04,399
And since it is a Friday, in case

405
00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:05,859
you missed anything that we worked

406
00:12:05,860 --> 00:12:07,519
on this week, you can always catch

407
00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,299
up on all of our shows.

408
00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:12,519
That is over at kut.org

409
00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:13,879
slash Signal.

410
00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:15,679
We are community powered public

411
00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:17,499
radio and we will be back

412
00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:18,979
after a break.

413
00:12:18,980 --> 00:12:20,439
This is Austin Signal.

414
00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:21,679
Thanks for making us part of your

415
00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:22,680
Friday.

416
00:12:30,680 --> 00:12:32,719
This is Austin Signal, welcome

417
00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:33,979
back.

418
00:12:33,980 --> 00:12:35,859
Families across Texas that choose to

419
00:12:35,860 --> 00:12:37,619
celebrate Easter have varying

420
00:12:37,620 --> 00:12:38,719
traditions.

421
00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:39,959
For many, especially

422
00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:41,879
Mexican-American families,

423
00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:43,639
cascarones are a staple in

424
00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:45,339
children's Easter baskets.

425
00:12:45,340 --> 00:12:46,699
My grandma collects all her

426
00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:48,479
eggshells from her church baking and

427
00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:50,359
loves to paint hers in a variety

428
00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,339
of really, really pretty styles.

429
00:12:52,340 --> 00:12:54,299
These colorful and painstakingly

430
00:12:54,300 --> 00:12:56,419
handmade confetti eggs have one

431
00:12:56,420 --> 00:12:58,619
purpose only, to be smashed

432
00:12:58,620 --> 00:13:00,349
on someone's head.

433
00:13:00,350 --> 00:13:02,009
Austin signal managing producer,

434
00:13:02,010 --> 00:13:03,589
Kristin Cabrera, takes us through

435
00:13:03,590 --> 00:13:05,789
what makes these cascarones special.

436
00:13:07,670 --> 00:13:09,869
Easter memories of mine consist of

437
00:13:09,870 --> 00:13:11,609
90 degree weather in the Rio Grande

438
00:13:11,610 --> 00:13:13,849
Valley, barbecuing fajitas

439
00:13:13,850 --> 00:13:15,969
surrounded by lots and

440
00:13:15,970 --> 00:13:17,809
lots of cousins.

441
00:13:17,810 --> 00:13:19,549
But what I remember most about these

442
00:13:19,550 --> 00:13:21,409
childhood Easter's are the

443
00:13:21,410 --> 00:13:22,689
cascarones.

444
00:13:22,690 --> 00:13:24,109
With these confetti eggs as

445
00:13:24,110 --> 00:13:25,929
ammunition, what happened after

446
00:13:25,930 --> 00:13:27,789
the egg hunt was tantamount

447
00:13:27,790 --> 00:13:29,869
to a family battle royale.

448
00:13:29,870 --> 00:13:31,489
And I know my family wasn't the only

449
00:13:31,490 --> 00:13:33,549
one. We would crack the Easter

450
00:13:33,550 --> 00:13:33,959
eggs.

451
00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,679
On people's heads and it was

452
00:13:36,680 --> 00:13:38,399
all in fun.

453
00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,219
There were some mischievous kids

454
00:13:40,220 --> 00:13:42,079
and adults who put stuff

455
00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,039
in them like flour.

456
00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:45,339
You never knew who was gonna get

457
00:13:45,340 --> 00:13:47,939
that one. That's Norma Elia Cantu.

458
00:13:47,940 --> 00:13:49,539
She is the Murchison Professor of

459
00:13:49,540 --> 00:13:51,539
the Humanities at Trinity University

460
00:13:51,540 --> 00:13:52,939
in San Antonio.

461
00:13:52,940 --> 00:13:54,739
She says cascarones are a tradition

462
00:13:54,740 --> 00:13:56,379
that many Mexican-American families

463
00:13:56,380 --> 00:13:58,999
have going back generations.

464
00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:00,839
Well, like most South Texans.

465
00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,459
And northern Mexican Mexicans.

466
00:14:03,460 --> 00:14:05,379
We have a tradition during Easter

467
00:14:05,380 --> 00:14:07,719
of preparing the cascarones

468
00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:09,579
during Holy Week,

469
00:14:09,580 --> 00:14:11,279
dyeing them, stuffing them with

470
00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,219
confetti, covering them up,

471
00:14:13,220 --> 00:14:14,259
decorating them.

472
00:14:14,260 --> 00:14:16,239
And I have very fond memories of my

473
00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,159
childhood when my aunts

474
00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:21,029
from Mexico would come visit Laredo.

475
00:14:21,030 --> 00:14:23,069
Help us decorate the eggs.

476
00:14:23,070 --> 00:14:24,789
I remember watching my mom and my

477
00:14:24,790 --> 00:14:26,789
grandma delicately crack the tops of

478
00:14:26,790 --> 00:14:28,809
each egg at breakfast,

479
00:14:28,810 --> 00:14:30,409
setting the shell aside to dry out

480
00:14:30,410 --> 00:14:31,889
and eventually be decorated and

481
00:14:31,890 --> 00:14:33,289
filled weeks later.

482
00:14:33,290 --> 00:14:34,609
And all these memories got me

483
00:14:34,610 --> 00:14:36,229
thinking, I should just make some

484
00:14:36,230 --> 00:14:37,230
right now.

485
00:14:40,230 --> 00:14:42,089
Okay, so I

486
00:14:42,090 --> 00:14:44,009
am in my kitchen

487
00:14:44,010 --> 00:14:46,009
slash dining room right

488
00:14:46,010 --> 00:14:48,069
now in my apartment and I've

489
00:14:48,070 --> 00:14:50,329
got 18 eggs

490
00:14:50,330 --> 00:14:52,449
that I'm gonna use to

491
00:14:52,450 --> 00:14:54,089
make cascarones.

492
00:14:54,090 --> 00:14:55,449
The process is fairly

493
00:14:55,450 --> 00:14:56,549
straightforward.

494
00:14:56,550 --> 00:14:58,250
Step one, crack the egg.

495
00:14:59,690 --> 00:15:01,629
The key is just to tap the

496
00:15:01,630 --> 00:15:03,609
top of the

497
00:15:03,610 --> 00:15:05,449
egg and then just lift it up

498
00:15:05,450 --> 00:15:06,509
like a little top.

499
00:15:06,510 --> 00:15:08,569
Step two, rinse and dry your

500
00:15:08,570 --> 00:15:10,409
eggs. So I've just rinsed the

501
00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:12,089
eggs. Then I'm gonna place the eggs

502
00:15:12,090 --> 00:15:14,469
in the oven at 275

503
00:15:14,470 --> 00:15:16,449
for five minutes, just to

504
00:15:16,450 --> 00:15:18,149
dry out the eggs with heat.

505
00:15:18,150 --> 00:15:19,669
I have to wait for my eggshells to

506
00:15:19,670 --> 00:15:20,909
cool, but if you've been drying

507
00:15:20,910 --> 00:15:22,809
yours on the counter for weeks, then

508
00:15:22,810 --> 00:15:25,229
it's time for step three,

509
00:15:25,230 --> 00:15:26,949
decorating. But overall, I think the

510
00:15:26,950 --> 00:15:28,909
best bet is markers.

511
00:15:28,910 --> 00:15:31,009
I decorate the shells with stars and

512
00:15:31,010 --> 00:15:32,909
flowers and try my best to be both

513
00:15:32,910 --> 00:15:34,989
artistic and delicate.

514
00:15:34,990 --> 00:15:37,169
Where this artistry originally comes

515
00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:39,109
from is full of conjecture, says

516
00:15:39,110 --> 00:15:39,949
Kantu.

517
00:15:39,950 --> 00:15:41,829
There are many cultures that

518
00:15:41,830 --> 00:15:43,329
have a rich tradition in decorative

519
00:15:43,330 --> 00:15:44,089
eggs.

520
00:15:44,090 --> 00:15:46,209
In fact, Ukraine has a very

521
00:15:46,210 --> 00:15:48,029
rich tradition of hand-painted

522
00:15:48,030 --> 00:15:49,869
eggshells, and

523
00:15:49,870 --> 00:15:51,949
also into Germany and Austria,

524
00:15:51,950 --> 00:15:53,489
but they would not stuff it with

525
00:15:53,490 --> 00:15:55,009
confetti and hit it over people's

526
00:15:55,010 --> 00:15:55,039
heads.

527
00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:56,759
Heads because they're precious.

528
00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:58,299
The hollowed out and filled eggs are

529
00:15:58,300 --> 00:16:00,279
said to have originated in China.

530
00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:01,919
Marco Polo reportedly brought the

531
00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,399
tradition to Europe, but cascarones

532
00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,659
really took root in Mexico.

533
00:16:06,660 --> 00:16:07,660
Which brings us to

534
00:16:09,890 --> 00:16:12,629
Step four, filling the eggs.

535
00:16:12,630 --> 00:16:14,309
This is the family prankster's

536
00:16:14,310 --> 00:16:15,649
favorite part.

537
00:16:15,650 --> 00:16:17,549
Though confetti is customary, some

538
00:16:17,550 --> 00:16:19,469
will sneak flour or even glitter

539
00:16:19,470 --> 00:16:21,329
into the eggs instead.

540
00:16:21,330 --> 00:16:23,289
This was strictly forbidden by

541
00:16:23,290 --> 00:16:24,249
my mom.

542
00:16:24,250 --> 00:16:26,649
Step five, covering the eggs,

543
00:16:26,650 --> 00:16:28,009
all this takes is a little bit of

544
00:16:28,010 --> 00:16:29,529
Elmer's glue and a square of tissue

545
00:16:29,530 --> 00:16:31,669
paper. And now they're done.

546
00:16:31,670 --> 00:16:33,449
Except to make these truly

547
00:16:33,450 --> 00:16:35,349
cascarones, they need to be tested.

548
00:16:36,450 --> 00:16:38,229
As a childless millennial with no

549
00:16:38,230 --> 00:16:39,979
backyard, I've borrowed my

550
00:16:39,980 --> 00:16:40,619
co-workers' kids.

551
00:16:40,620 --> 00:16:41,699
Can you say it louder and into that?

552
00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:43,699
My name's Henry and I'm seven

553
00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:44,699
years old.

554
00:16:44,700 --> 00:16:46,559
Yeah, can you say, my name is Scout?

555
00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,019
My name is South.

556
00:16:48,020 --> 00:16:49,639
Oh, and then how old are you?

557
00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,039
I am 10 years old!

558
00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:53,840
How old are ya?

559
00:16:54,620 --> 00:16:56,899
Scout is in fact five years old,

560
00:16:56,900 --> 00:16:58,519
and that voice asking her to say so

561
00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,119
is her mom and my KUT co-worker,

562
00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:02,179
Clara Ha.

563
00:17:02,180 --> 00:17:03,899
Clara and her husband Alan have

564
00:17:03,900 --> 00:17:05,459
graciously let me test the quality

565
00:17:05,460 --> 00:17:07,779
of my cascarones in their backyard.

566
00:17:07,780 --> 00:17:09,419
And now, the kids are about to run

567
00:17:09,420 --> 00:17:10,420
and find the ones I've hidden.

568
00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,838
Alright, ready, set,

569
00:17:14,839 --> 00:17:16,318
go! Go find them!

570
00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:17,699
One of the great things about

571
00:17:17,700 --> 00:17:19,358
cultural traditions is getting to

572
00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:20,179
share them with others.

573
00:17:20,180 --> 00:17:21,568
In Texas.

574
00:17:21,569 --> 00:17:23,068
These cascarones have found their

575
00:17:23,069 --> 00:17:24,469
way into more than just Easter

576
00:17:24,470 --> 00:17:26,568
celebrations, but birthday parties

577
00:17:26,569 --> 00:17:28,689
and city festivals like Fiesta

578
00:17:28,690 --> 00:17:30,269
in San Antonio.

579
00:17:30,270 --> 00:17:31,829
Humanities professor Norma Cantu

580
00:17:31,830 --> 00:17:33,989
explains that cultural expression in

581
00:17:33,990 --> 00:17:36,009
Texas is already fused with

582
00:17:36,010 --> 00:17:37,789
other influences and something

583
00:17:37,790 --> 00:17:39,849
magical can happen over time.

584
00:17:39,850 --> 00:17:40,959
It kind of transformed.

585
00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:42,819
And becomes its own

586
00:17:42,820 --> 00:17:45,579
third culture if you will.

587
00:17:45,580 --> 00:17:46,979
What Gloria Anzaldua would call

588
00:17:46,980 --> 00:17:48,959
nepantla, we exist in this

589
00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,079
in-between space that

590
00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,419
brings together different

591
00:17:53,420 --> 00:17:55,239
sometimes opposing cultures

592
00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,339
into a unified expression.

593
00:17:58,340 --> 00:18:00,279
And in some way I would even claim

594
00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,399
the cascarón is a site

595
00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:03,740
of such fusion.

596
00:18:08,050 --> 00:18:09,789
If you've never had a cascadona in

597
00:18:09,790 --> 00:18:11,749
your basket, we invite you to

598
00:18:11,750 --> 00:18:12,669
try it out.

599
00:18:12,670 --> 00:18:14,609
But as Cantu says, be gentle.

600
00:18:14,610 --> 00:18:16,309
You don't hit the cascaron on

601
00:18:16,310 --> 00:18:17,159
someone's head.

602
00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:17,969
You break it here.

603
00:18:17,970 --> 00:18:19,730
Hand over their head.

604
00:18:20,890 --> 00:18:22,609
I'm Kristin Cabrera in Austin.

605
00:18:22,610 --> 00:18:24,250
Gentle touches!

606
00:18:38,670 --> 00:18:40,689
The Texas women's basketball team

607
00:18:40,690 --> 00:18:42,289
will take the court against fellow

608
00:18:42,290 --> 00:18:44,269
one seed UCLA in tonight's

609
00:18:44,270 --> 00:18:46,649
final four game in Phoenix.

610
00:18:46,650 --> 00:18:48,669
As KUT's Kaylee Hunt reports,

611
00:18:48,670 --> 00:18:49,849
it's the second straight year that

612
00:18:49,850 --> 00:18:51,449
the Longhorns have advanced to the

613
00:18:51,450 --> 00:18:53,589
NCAA tournament semifinals.

614
00:18:53,590 --> 00:18:55,469
But the team and its fans

615
00:18:55,470 --> 00:18:57,329
are hopeful that this season

616
00:18:57,330 --> 00:18:59,369
will end a championship drought.

617
00:19:00,460 --> 00:19:02,459
That last national title nearly

618
00:19:02,460 --> 00:19:04,359
40 years ago, back when the team

619
00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:06,159
was coached by the legendary Jody

620
00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:07,179
Conrad.

621
00:19:07,180 --> 00:19:08,859
And over the last two years, the

622
00:19:08,860 --> 00:19:10,719
team has been so close to

623
00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:11,979
finally winning again.

624
00:19:11,980 --> 00:19:14,640
For the first time since 1987.

625
00:19:15,970 --> 00:19:17,390
Texas is headed.

626
00:19:22,790 --> 00:19:24,669
For now, Conrad remains the only

627
00:19:24,670 --> 00:19:26,509
coach to lead a Texas women's

628
00:19:26,510 --> 00:19:27,769
basketball team to a national

629
00:19:27,770 --> 00:19:29,029
championship.

630
00:19:29,030 --> 00:19:31,809
Her 1986 team went 34-0,

631
00:19:31,810 --> 00:19:33,449
becoming the first women's team in

632
00:19:33,450 --> 00:19:35,549
NCAA history to complete a perfect

633
00:19:35,550 --> 00:19:36,889
season.

634
00:19:36,890 --> 00:19:38,349
Current coach Vic Schaeffer is

635
00:19:38,350 --> 00:19:39,929
looking to bring home the title in

636
00:19:39,930 --> 00:19:42,309
his sixth year leading the program.

637
00:19:42,310 --> 00:19:43,729
Schaefer has his own historic

638
00:19:43,730 --> 00:19:45,009
coaching record.

639
00:19:45,010 --> 00:19:47,369
He's the only Coach in NCAA women's

640
00:19:47,370 --> 00:19:49,389
history to lead multiple teams

641
00:19:49,390 --> 00:19:51,559
to multiple final force.

642
00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,159
He took Mississippi State to Final

643
00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:55,399
Four appearances in 2017 and

644
00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:56,979
2018.

645
00:19:56,980 --> 00:19:58,799
In a press conference after UT's

646
00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:00,559
win over Michigan in the Elite

647
00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,399
Eight, Schaeffer talked about his

648
00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,339
team's success and that the

649
00:20:04,340 --> 00:20:05,969
journey isn't over.

650
00:20:05,970 --> 00:20:07,989
I told them they're good enough.

651
00:20:07,990 --> 00:20:10,089
I've been on this trip before, but I

652
00:20:10,090 --> 00:20:11,569
want them to really be focused.

653
00:20:11,570 --> 00:20:13,429
Enjoy today, don't take these things

654
00:20:13,430 --> 00:20:15,289
for granted. I do not take today for

655
00:20:15,290 --> 00:20:17,769
granted, these moments,

656
00:20:17,770 --> 00:20:19,149
but enjoy it.

657
00:20:19,150 --> 00:20:21,129
But when we get on the plane and

658
00:20:21,130 --> 00:20:23,089
we go to Phoenix, you keep

659
00:20:23,090 --> 00:20:25,209
that edge that you've had.

660
00:20:25,210 --> 00:20:26,949
Schaeffer says there's no question

661
00:20:26,950 --> 00:20:28,549
that last year's Final Four run

662
00:20:28,550 --> 00:20:30,449
influenced his team's performance

663
00:20:30,450 --> 00:20:31,589
this year.

664
00:20:31,590 --> 00:20:32,929
Here he is talking at a press

665
00:20:32,930 --> 00:20:34,449
conference in Phoenix.

666
00:20:34,450 --> 00:20:35,689
They know exactly what they're

667
00:20:35,690 --> 00:20:36,690
getting into,

668
00:20:37,590 --> 00:20:39,469
and I just think there's a

669
00:20:39,470 --> 00:20:41,369
maturity about them and a level

670
00:20:41,370 --> 00:20:43,789
of focus and concentration

671
00:20:43,790 --> 00:20:45,249
and confidence.

672
00:20:45,250 --> 00:20:47,009
Texas was knocked out of last year's

673
00:20:47,010 --> 00:20:49,389
final four round by South Carolina.

674
00:20:49,390 --> 00:20:50,769
The Longhorns got revenge though

675
00:20:50,770 --> 00:20:52,769
last month, defeating the Gamecocks

676
00:20:52,770 --> 00:20:54,689
78-61 to secure

677
00:20:54,690 --> 00:20:56,569
the program's first ever SEC

678
00:20:56,570 --> 00:20:58,379
Conference Championship.

679
00:20:58,380 --> 00:20:59,619
I think we kind of increased that

680
00:20:59,620 --> 00:21:01,039
focus and increased that mentality.

681
00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:02,779
I think right before SC Tournament

682
00:21:02,780 --> 00:21:03,559
started.

683
00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:05,539
That's Texas' junior first-team

684
00:21:05,540 --> 00:21:07,409
All-American Madison Booker.

685
00:21:07,410 --> 00:21:08,929
I think we knew we had a business

686
00:21:08,930 --> 00:21:10,789
and we had our goals to achieve and

687
00:21:10,790 --> 00:21:11,869
we wanted to achieve it and we felt

688
00:21:11,870 --> 00:21:13,549
like we were good enough to achieve.

689
00:21:13,550 --> 00:21:14,569
So I think that's kind of when we

690
00:21:14,570 --> 00:21:16,049
really locked in and kind of paid

691
00:21:16,050 --> 00:21:17,889
attention more to film and scout

692
00:21:17,890 --> 00:21:19,389
and practice.

693
00:21:19,390 --> 00:21:21,249
But even with all that work,

694
00:21:21,250 --> 00:21:22,929
all that focus, and all the pressure

695
00:21:22,930 --> 00:21:25,149
of being in another Final 4,

696
00:21:25,150 --> 00:21:27,369
Booker says the team is having fun.

697
00:21:27,370 --> 00:21:29,429
I think it's so easy to kind of

698
00:21:29,430 --> 00:21:31,169
take basketball as a job.

699
00:21:31,170 --> 00:21:33,189
I just think we as a team,

700
00:21:33,190 --> 00:21:34,449
we have done a great job kind of

701
00:21:34,450 --> 00:21:36,089
just going back on that and kind of

702
00:21:36,090 --> 00:21:37,889
taking it back as a kid's sport.

703
00:21:37,890 --> 00:21:38,929
I mean, we all played when we were

704
00:21:38,930 --> 00:21:40,269
younger and we all loved this sport

705
00:21:40,270 --> 00:21:41,429
when we're young. We had a fun, we

706
00:21:41,430 --> 00:21:42,969
played when were younger.

707
00:21:42,970 --> 00:21:44,869
And I really, when we did

708
00:21:44,870 --> 00:21:46,789
that, I think we seemed more like we

709
00:21:46,790 --> 00:21:48,229
seemed like a higher level in our

710
00:21:48,230 --> 00:21:49,449
team chemistry and our sisterhood

711
00:21:49,450 --> 00:21:50,069
here.

712
00:21:50,070 --> 00:21:51,449
The winner of tonight's game will

713
00:21:51,450 --> 00:21:53,249
play South Carolina or UConn in

714
00:21:53,250 --> 00:21:55,689
Sunday's national championship game.

715
00:21:55,690 --> 00:21:57,709
Tip off tonight is at 8.30pm on

716
00:21:57,710 --> 00:21:58,929
ESPN.

717
00:21:58,930 --> 00:22:00,789
I'm Kaylee Hunt in Austin.

718
00:22:00,790 --> 00:22:02,649
And if you've got your season

719
00:22:02,650 --> 00:22:04,329
long superstitions that have been

720
00:22:04,330 --> 00:22:06,709
working, keep on going tonight

721
00:22:06,710 --> 00:22:08,809
and hopefully on Sunday for

722
00:22:08,810 --> 00:22:10,769
the national championship game

723
00:22:10,770 --> 00:22:12,009
too.

724
00:22:12,010 --> 00:22:13,949
Well, that is it for today's

725
00:22:13,950 --> 00:22:15,749
show. We're gonna have a link to all

726
00:22:15,750 --> 00:22:17,069
of the reporting that we shared with

727
00:22:17,070 --> 00:22:19,169
you today in the podcast

728
00:22:19,170 --> 00:22:20,609
show notes. And you can find more

729
00:22:20,610 --> 00:22:23,409
from us at kut.org

730
00:22:23,410 --> 00:22:25,039
slash signal.

731
00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:26,699
Rayna Sevilla is our technical

732
00:22:26,700 --> 00:22:28,159
director. She's been handling the

733
00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:29,979
majority of the technical duties

734
00:22:29,980 --> 00:22:31,539
and keeping me in line this week

735
00:22:31,540 --> 00:22:32,619
doing a great job.

736
00:22:32,620 --> 00:22:33,679
Thank you Ray.

737
00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:35,059
Kristen Cabrera is our managing

738
00:22:35,060 --> 00:22:36,579
producer. She has been under the

739
00:22:36,580 --> 00:22:38,059
weather this week so she's not been

740
00:22:38,060 --> 00:22:39,999
with us in the studio but still

741
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:41,539
working hard as ever.

742
00:22:41,540 --> 00:22:43,179
Thank you Kristen.

743
00:22:43,180 --> 00:22:44,919
I am your host Jerry Quijano.

744
00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,179
Austin Signal will be back Monday

745
00:22:47,180 --> 00:22:49,079
afternoon at 1 o'clock and

746
00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:50,759
always wherever you get your

747
00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:51,639
podcasts.

748
00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,539
Have a great weekend and

749
00:22:53,540 --> 00:22:54,540
be safe out there.