Austin Signal

Floodwaters rose overnight in the Texas Hill Country, killing at least one person. We have the latest updates from the scene in Kerr County and speak with Travis County Judge Andy Brown about response operations locally. Central Texans have plenty of questions about data centers and their future in the region. But how much do […] The post 1 dead as flash flood emergencies issued in Texas Hill Country appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The onslaught of rain across Central Texas and other swaths of the state this week brings reminders of last summer’s floods. More than 100 people died, including nine people in the Sandy Creek neighborhood, where over 100 homes were damaged or destroyed. More about their community’s resilience in the face of tragedy. Olamaie, one of the […] The post Sandy Creek residents find community after last July’s deadly flood appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Nearly all of CapMetro’s fixed-route bus service could shut down if its workers strike. And 99.5% of workers voted in favor of that strike. Negotiators return to the bargaining table today. The recent national outbreak of cyclospora is raising concerns and questions. Austin Public Health says it’s not a major local concern — yet. A new […] The post CapMetro workers authorize strike, say better training would improve bus service appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Austinites gathered over the weekend to mourn Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, the man fatally shot last week by an immigration officer in Houston. We have new details about the June plane crash that killed Austin tech entrepreneur Joshua Baer. An update from the National Transportation Safety Board details how pilots noticed an “unusual vibration” early in the […] The post Austin vigil honors Houston man killed by ICE appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Taylor City Council was set to consider a citizen-led initiative to temporarily ban data centers, but 15 minutes into its meeting on Thursday night, the city released a statement that state law would not allow the effort. The City of Austin is releasing details on its proposed budget for the next fiscal year as it […] The post Taylor rejects citizens’ effort to temporarily ban data centers appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Data center construction is booming in Texas, and though proponents say the industry stands to bring billions of dollars to the state’s economy, their rapid growth is under scrutiny from all sides of the political spectrum. The Austin Community College Board of Trustees has approved a budget for the 2027 fiscal year that continues free a […] The post Austin Community College continues free tuition program and staff raises despite lower revenue appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

For Austinites experiencing homelessness in the northern half of the city, accessing food, shelter or even a shower can mean taking the bus to downtown, or even South Austin. But a new center opening this summer will bring those services closer to many folks. A group of activists gathered outside the Travis County Administrative building […] The post New homeless navigation center coming to North Austin appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Two street murals in Austin were paved over last week at the behest of state leaders who’d threatened to pull federal transportation funds if the city didn’t act. How much will it cost? And what street art remains? High prices for beef aren’t being driven by the New World Screwworm — at least, not yet. The […] The post Austin paves over street murals including ‘Black Artists Matter’ following state order appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

School’s out for the summer, but when Austin ISD students return in the fall, they’ll be navigating some big changes in how they get to school. KUT’s education reporter Greta Díaz González Vázquez will help get us up to speed. It’s been one year since deadly floods tore through the Texas Hill Country. Residents of […] The post Sandy Creek residents remember lives lost to 2025 flood appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A year after catastrophic flooding in Texas, the Sandy Creek neighborhood in northwest Travis County is still deep in recovery mode. We’ll tell you about a nonprofit that’s lending a hand. How Central Texans are mobilizing to help after Venezuela was rocked by devastating earthquakes. This week in Texas Music History: 1985 Austin punk music festival gets grungy […] The post After floods devastated Sandy Creek, new nonprofit aims to provide relief faster appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The podcast “After The Flood” is marking one year since deadly flooding ravaged parts of Central Texas and the Hill Country. This area is often called Flash Flood Alley because of how frequently it’s affected by fast, accumulating waters. Today we’ll hear about another deadly flood that happened almost 50 summers ago. Also, evidence-tampering charges […] The post Austin’s Lawn Chair Brigade brings unique spin to Fourth festivities appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Austin school district is postponing most of its school boundary realignment changes for an additional year. It’s not the first time the district has tried realigning attendance zones, and it’s not the first time the plan has been pushed back. As we approach one year since deadly floods ravaged the Texas Hill Country, the […] The post Austin ISD postpones districtwide boundary changes appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

After the firing of KUT and KUTX General Manager Debbie Hiott by UT Austin leadership, listeners and financial supporters of the stations have wondered about the organization’s relationship with the university and whether that relationship should continue going forward. How is the tight battle for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas affecting races down the […] The post What is KUT’s relationship with UT Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Mosquito season is hitting peak activity — and if it seems like this year’s batch is particularly bad, you might be on to something. We’ll hear from people keeping tabs on mosquito populations in our area, plus the do’s and don’ts of prevention. Touch Girl Apple Blossom, the KUTX Artist of the Month for June, […] The post How to protect yourself during a rough mosquito season in Austin appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A special guest episode from our friends at The Texas Newsroom: In the early morning hours of July 4, 2025, floodwaters tore through the Texas Hill Country. At least 130 people died, many of them children. For the last 12 months, reporters from The Texas Newsroom have been talking to people about what happened that […] The post Special episode: “After the Flood” podcast appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Austin city council approved a plan last month to build new natural gas power generators. One thing that’s still unknown: The price of this new project. It’s estimated to cost more than $1 billion, but the vote approving the plan took place in executive session — behind closed doors. The KUT Newsroom wanted to […] The post How many Austin city council votes happen in secret? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Some hospitals are still denying miscarriage care despite a state law that’s supposed to prevent that. What an Austin-area woman having a miscarriage went through when she tried to get care. Austin voters will decide this fall if they want an outside auditor to check the city’s books. But some city officials say that could be problematic. […] The post What you need to know about fire ants appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Water is never far from the top of concerns for Central Texans and folks across the state. Down in Corpus Christi, plans for a desalination plant are underway, and one Austin-area city is set to spend half a million dollars for a spot in line to get some of that water. City of Austin leaders […] The post A Central Texas city eyes desalination to help with water woes appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The city of Austin is being sued by a group of Travis County property owners after reversing course on an agreement that would have released nearly 170 properties from the city’s jurisdiction. Sean Hemmersmeier from the Austin Business Journal tells us more. We’re approaching one year since the devastating Fourth of July floods that claimed […] The post New podcast explores aftermath of deadly 2025 flooding appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A new study from UT Austin found several water samples collected from the Austin’s Colony neighborhood in far East Austin exceeded regulatory guidelines for lead and other heavy metals. For decades, residents in the area have been at odds with its water provider, a for-profit company. The Austin Independent School District board voted in favor of more […] The post Water samples from Austin’s Colony exceed limits for heavy metals appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

It’s Juneteenth, and it’s time for another trek through town for the Black History Bike Ride. The organization has been hosting the event for a few years now and a new documentary has been made highlighting the mental and physical journey of the ride. We’ll sit down to chat with the filmmaker about the project. […] The post Juneteenth in Austin: Black History Bike Ride Documentary, Book Festival Preview and Reflections on Freedom appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Joshua Baer — founder of the tech investment company Capital Factory and described as the “godfather” of the Austin startup scene — died in a plane crash this week on his way back to Austin. We’re learning more about the crash, the investigation and about Baer’s larger impacts here. Summer break is well underway for the Austin […] The post Capital Factory founder Joshua Baer dies in plane crash appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Students in the Austin school district outperformed state averages in most courses during the recent round of STAAR testing, with some scores surpassing pre-pandemic levels — but there are still groups of students falling behind the state standard. How the district is planning to address that. It’s been a rough few years for the craft brewing […] The post Austin ISD improves STAAR scores as Spanish speakers fall behind appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

KUT Public Media General Manager Debbie Hiott was fired Monday by leadership at UT Austin. The dismissal followed a dispute ahead of KUT’s inaugural festival in May and comes at a time when public radio stations across the country are dealing with mounting financial and political pressures. Today, the university named an interim general manager […] The post What next after UT Austin fires KUT head Debbie Hiott appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Flooding this morning in the Austin area caused road closures and a water rescue and even necessitated the lifting of floodgates on the Colorado River. As the city of Austin tightens the strings on its upcoming budget, nonprofits are bracing for even more cuts. Austin Current’s Sam Stark chats with us more about the groups […] The post Floodgates opened amid heavy rain in Austin area appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Plans to put a border wall in the Big Bend region have been taking shape, and a co-founder of the outdoor brand YETI is connected with a ranch involved in those plans. Some Taylor residents are proposing an ordinance aimed at creating stricter regulations for data centers in the city. What they’re asking for. The Austin airport […] The post Round Rock girls flag football team plays for state title appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

With confirmation of cases of the New World screwworm in Texas, plenty of focus is on the potential impact on the state’s cattle industry. But they’re not the only animals vulnerable to the parasite. We’ll have some prevention tips. Texas Republicans dominated the primaries by going all-in on the MAGA movement. Now they have to […] The post How to protect your pets from New World screwworm appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

More than 60,000 Austinites work in the city’s food industry. A local nonprofit wants to help these food workers get health insurance. We’ll tell you about their work. Peaches from Fredericksburg may be harder to find because of yet another warm winter. We’ll have more from the Texas Hill Country. An Austin food influencer is […] The post Local food influencer gives peek at new docuseries ‘David Eats Everywhere’ appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A judge in Travis County is expected to decide soon whether Camp Mystic and its owners can settle wrongful death lawsuits out of court stemming from last year’s deadly summer flooding. The families want jury trials, but the owners want arbitration. Visitors to Big Bend National Park are hoping to catch a glimpse before the […] The post Judge to decide whether Camp Mystic lawsuits can be settled out of court appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texas Republican leaders previously shunned Bo French for his racist social media posts. Now they want him to regulate the state’s oil and gas industries. The Austin City Council voted in May to annex a 2,600-acre site in the eastern part of the city. City leaders had planned the Dog’s Head development for months, but […] The post A shunned GOP candidate could regulate Texas oil and gas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Austin ISD community came together Thursday night to discuss budget changes that include cutting more than 550 positions, including teachers, as the district is working on reducing a $181 million deficit. Christopher Taylor, a former Austin police officer, is suing the city and the Austin Police Department to try and get his job back after being acquitted in […] The post UT Austin begins removal of Cesar Chavez statue appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Austin Independent School District is planning to cut hundreds of jobs in its upcoming budget, including teachers, librarians and campus law enforcement. CapMetro’s Bikeshare system has been shut down since a fire Memorial Day weekend, with no timeline for resuming service. A forensic investigator is examining whether lithium-ion batteries caused the blaze at a CapMetro facility. We’re […] The post Austin ISD planning to cut hundreds of jobs appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

New research finds 10% of Texans under 6 were recently uninsured, the highest of any state in the country. We’ll have the latest data. We continue our Series of Lasts: stories from the final days of some Austin ISD campuses. Bring your appetite and some Kleenex as we sit for one last school lunch at Ridgetop […] The post Margaret Gómez, longest-serving Travis County commissioner, retires appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A father who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a traffic stop in San Marcos has been reunited with his family. Gerardo Reyes, who spent more than two months in detention, might still face deportation. Parents and staff from the Austin Independent School District are urging state legislators to increase funding for schools. We’ll […] The post After two months in ICE detention, father is reunited with his family appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Have you encountered an e-moto on the streets of Austin? The high-speed electric bikes are capable of reaching motorcycle-like speeds, and the City Council is looking at stricter regulations. Austin Current’s Sam Stark tells us more. The school year is over, but there’s no break for the many things the Austin Independent School District has to […] The post Austin City Council moves to regulate e-motorcycles appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Texas Education Agency has rejected Austin ISD’s proposal for three middle schools that have received consecutive failing grades — putting the entire district at further risk of a state takeover. The Austin City Council has approved guidelines for the construction and operation of a new natural gas plant after the project was OK’d in a secret vote. Thousands […] The post State officials reject Austin ISD plan for failing middle schools appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Delta-8, a hemp product you might’ve seen for sale in gas stations and strip malls across Texas, could soon be treated as an illegal drug, putting it in the same category as heroin and LSD. What this would mean for the businesses that sell them and the people who use them. It’s the last day […] The post Court protection for Delta-8 sales is set to expire appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Primary runoff election night ended with some big changes for the Austin area and across the state. We’ll bring you the latest on last night’s results and the races we’ll be watching this November. After a shooting spree this month by three teenagers ended in Manor, Austin Police say they could have caught the suspects […] The post Runoff election results show big changes for the Austin area appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

It’s been nearly six years since a majority of Austinites voted in favor of creating 20 miles of state-of-the-art light rail transit across the city. But since that vote, the total length of the future rail system has been chopped in half. Despite that, the price tag for the project has continued climbing. Some folks […] The post Once-supporters now suing to stop Project Connect appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Austin Independent School District expects a $181 million deficit in next school year’s budget — but it still hasn’t released a proposal for what cuts will be made. Austin revised its rules on how city police can interact with federal immigration agents — and city leaders are divided on what the change actually means. […] The post Program at state prison in Austin helps shelter dogs get adopted appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A high school senior in Austin has been released from ICE custody and reunited with his family after a judge’s order — in time to walk in his graduation ceremony next month.The city of Austin has faced another blow in its efforts to keep painted street murals and crosswalks.Also, the popular Pease Park troll, Malin, […] The post Austin’s Pease Park troll burns down appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Early voting is underway for Tuesday’s primary runoffs, and we have a look at two races on some Central Texans’ ballots: state House District 49 and Hays County judge. Austin is working to rename Cesar Chavez Street after accusations of sexual abuse and assault. But some are struggling with those changes. Some good news and […] The post Latino community divided on renaming Cesar Chavez Street appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Austin City Council is set to take up a controversial proposal this week about relying more on natural gas during times of high energy demand, and opponents worry about how it could affect climate goals. If you venture out to Lady Bird Lake this Memorial Day weekend, you might encounter an unfamiliar sight: a […] The post I-35 construction has narrowed a passage on Lady Bird Lake appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Three people are in custody following a weekend crime spree and manhunt in Austin that made national headlines. Police say the suspects, all juveniles, are tied to multiple shootings and stolen vehicles across the city. As grocery costs rise, a church near the University of Texas campus gives out hundreds of free burgers weekly to […] The post Church gives out free burgers weekly near UT to combat food insecurity appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have been on the rise during the second Trump administration. And while enforcement in some parts of the U.S. has been messy and public, operations here in Texas are being carried out with a quieter, systematic approach. Today we’re taking a closer look at the situation here in Austin and […] The post Immigration in Central Texas — an Austin Signal special broadcast appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A hearing this week that would’ve allowed for the review of evidence and testimony in lawsuits against Camp Mystic never came to be, and lawyers for the Hill Country girls camp where children and counselors died in last summer’s flooding were absent from the courtroom. Texas will soon have a new attorney general, with a […] The post A look at the Texas attorney general race, with runoffs around the corner appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A housing program for chronically homeless Austinites could be facing cuts because of budget deficits and clean-ups of local encampments. The potential loss of funding is raising questions about where unhoused Austinites will go if the program is gone for good. Sam Stark from the Austin Current joins us to talk more about this. With […] The post Austin birders compete in the Great Texas Birding Classic appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

An Austin ISD high school senior’s detention has shaken his classmates, church members and family awaiting his graduation. He’s being held in a South Texas immigration processing center. We’ll hear more about his story and the people awaiting his return. You’ve probably interacted with the Austin’s Art in Public Places program without even realizing it. […] The post Austin high school senior detained by ICE draws community support appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The cost of childcare across the country is on the rise, outpacing the price of in-state college tuition in many states. While many local governments are working to figure out a solution, Travis County is ahead of the game. The pool at Barton Springs was first built around a century ago. But the springs that […] The post Shorter waits for affordable childcare in Austin area appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The Austin Independent School District is set to cut more than 200 educator salaries as they work to address a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. District officials have also identified other ways to reduce the deficit, including cuts to the central office and projected revenue from real estate sales. The City of Austin has given the green […] The post Facing deficit, Austin ISD to cut educator salaries appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.