Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations have been happening in Austin and Central Texas in recent week. During the past weekend’s weather event, local officials had to dispel rumors fueled by the operation. The lack of information and communication around these operations is causing panic and anxiety that can boil beyond social media. Gov. Greg Abbott is freezing new H-1B visa applications until 2027, with some exceptions. The move is the latest in the administration’s scrutiny of foreig...
Jan 28, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 19
Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota have caught the attention of the nation and the world in recent weeks. Meanwhile, such operations in Texas have been taking place at the same time. We’ll check in with folks from Elgin, just outside of Austin, to hear how it’s impacting them. The City of Austin paid out more than $143 million dollars to its employees in 2025. Five city departments regularly account for the bulk of overtime spending. We’ll go over which departments they ...
Jan 27, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 18
An arctic cold front brought freezing precipitation to the Austin area over the weekend. Classes were cancelled today at UT Austin and most school districts in Central Texas. Still, the area made out much better this time than in ice storms of years past. We’ll have more about the situation locally and this week’s forecast . The most high-profile candidates for the Texas Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race in November – U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico – debate...
Jan 26, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 17
The forecast continues to evolve as an arctic cold front heads towards the Austin area this weekend. Temperatures are forecast to remain below freezing starting Saturday night in Central Texas and could stay that way through Monday. We’ll have the latest forecasts and updates from city officials. Austin Community College’s free tuition pilot program ballooned to nearly 10,000 students this academic year. We’ll look at the students who are being impacted and the things they’re learning about. Hus...
Jan 23, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 16
An arctic cold front is approaching Austin and Central Texas. The National Weather Service has already issued an Extreme Cold Watch and a Winter Storm Warning for the weekend . We’ll have more about the latest forecasts and the ways for you to be prepared. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations have continued in Central Texas. KUT News has obtained video of one such incident in Kyle . As these operations increase, so does the concern for public safety amid reports of slack hiring practi...
Jan 22, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 15
Early voting for the upcoming primaries in Texas begins next month. Up in Williamson County, things are going to be a little different this election cycle . Voters there will no longer be able to vote at any polling site on Election Day. We’ll talk about why that is, and the impacts it could have. Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement have continued in the Austin area this week. Demonstrators gathered outside Austin City Hall on Tuesday. We’ll hear more from those who took part. P...
Jan 21, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 14
Hundreds of private schools in Texas are being shut out of the state’s new school voucher program because of alleged ties to some organizations or foreign governments, and that includes dozens of schools in the Austin area. We’ll have more about the voucher program and its continuing rollout . Plus, hobbies can lead to rewarding experiences, but carving out the time to invest in one can be tough. We’ll hear the story of a group of skaters in Austin that prioritizes community and fun – despite th...
Jan 20, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 13
A person was detained last week by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Kyle. The man had to be transported to the hospital , according to local police, and the KUT Newsroom is working to get more details on the story. An attorney for the student who was deported while flying back to Austin for a holiday says the federal government admitted it violated a court order when it deported her to Honduras. Any López Belloza, an Austin-raised student at Babson College outside of Bosto...
Jan 19, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 12
Complaints against Austin Police could be worked out through a new city program focused on mediation. We’ll hear more about what these types of guided conversations to address community concerns could look and sound like. There is a downtown fixture close to Rainey Street that has somehow avoided becoming yet another Austin skyrise – the IHOP on Cesar Chavez, of course. We’ll hear about the real estate drama behind its longevity and what the future could hold for the building and the land it’s b...
Jan 16, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 11
The Austin Police Department is changing its rules over how officers report people to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The change comes after the detention and apparent deportation last week of a Honduran mother and her 5-year-old daughter. We’ll go over the changes and the reaction from Austin City Council members. And Austin voters could once again be faced with deciding whether to raise property taxes to help the city tackle expenses like park improvements and public safety. KUT’s city co...
Jan 15, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 10
Text messages from officials in Kerr County reveal confusion amid the July 4 Hill Country floods last year. Information and misinformation spread amid the flooding that killed more than 130 people. We’ll talk about those messages. More changes are coming to I-35 as work continues on overhauling the highway at the center of Austin. We’ll dive into what to expect on the roads and how it could impact your travels. Plus, the Alamo Drafthouse is doing away with pen-and-paper ordering and folks have f...
Jan 14, 2026•24 min•Season 2026Ep. 9
Earlier this month, the CDC reduced the number of recommended vaccines for children . The change has flummoxed some parents and pediatricians in the Austin area. We’ll listen to some of the questions they’ve been asking. It’s been more than six months since deadly flooding killed more than 130 people across Central Texas and the Hill Country. Recovery is still a long way down the road. We’ll have an update from some of the folks still working through that process. Plus, the ATX Free Fridge Proje...
Jan 13, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 8
Demonstrations against ICE continued in Austin this weekend after an officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good last week in Minnesota. We’ll hear about the activity around town and its aftermath. We’ll also hear about an Austin mother and her five-year-old daughter who were taken into ICE custody last week after police responded to a disturbance call at their home. Plus, smokable hemp could be outlawed in Texas by the end of this month . The state’s health agency has proposed new rules that could u...
Jan 12, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 7
People in the Austin area joined with many thousands of others across the country in protesting after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman this week in Minneapolis. Demonstrators gathered outside a Department of Homeland Security building in Pflugerville . We’ll bring you some of those voices. After a U.S. military operation in Caracas last weekend, Venezuelans in Austin are hoping for bigger changes before they feel ready to go back home . We’ll hear from them, along with a Venezuelan-Texan auth...
Jan 09, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 6
The state health agency in Texas has proposed new rules for hemp products. Those rules could mean higher fees for businesses, more testing for products, and could effectively outlaw access to hemp flower. We’ll look at what’s being proposed and how Texas business owners are feeling about it. Plus, after oak wilt claimed a tree in his yard, local artist Steve Parker turned its wood into a sonic experience. His solo exhibit at Ivester Contemporary features wooden records and wind instruments . We’...
Jan 08, 2026•24 min•Season 2026Ep. 5
Austinites aren’t the only ones who are bringing some change to the new year. The airport in Austin will be undergoing some modifications in 2026. More gates, more flights – and more construction. We’ll take a closer look at the changes happening at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Plus, a major milestone has been reached in the construction of a new water delivery system underneath Lake Travis. Once it’s finished, the system is expected to increase the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Autho...
Jan 07, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 4
As we embark on the new year, many are expecting higher costs for the health care they need to live their best lives. That’s after Congress failed to extend subsidies to the Affordable Care Act during last year’s government shutdown and ahead of the new year deadline. We’ll talk about how Austinites and Texans will be affected in 2026. The City of Austin and a former APD officer are being sued for excessive force. Austin has struggled for years to change the culture at APD’s training academy. We...
Jan 06, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 3
Crime statistics for Austin trended downward in 2025, with the city experiencing the lowest number of murders this decade. We’ll talk about the trends, both locally and nationally, and discuss why the sentiment that crime is rising still persists. Also, the city has released an updated design plan for a revamped Sixth Street. What will it look like and when will that work begin? Plus, the first full week of January means it’s Free Week in Austin. Some of the city’s finest musicians will be putti...
Jan 05, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 2
The start of 2026 brings a bevy of new laws across the state, with a focus on taxes. Other new legislation focuses on artificial intelligence and how sheriff’s offices will work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. New toll lanes have opened on 183 North, and the additional access could mean increased traffic on your drive home. Looking to cut back on distractions in the new year? We’ve got some techniques that you can use to keep your focus strong in 2026. The full transcript of this episo...
Jan 02, 2026•23 min•Season 2026Ep. 1
It’s the final day of 2025, and we’ve been taking some time to listen back and reflect on the year that was here in Austin. Austinites love supporting local shops and restaurants, but the hard truth is that running any kind of business is the city is a difficult and expensive pursuit. A look back at some local businesses that shuttered their doors for good this year. Plus: New Year’s festivities bring on annual traditions — have you got yours ready? Come and share some good home cookin’ with us....
Dec 31, 2025•24 min•Season 2025Ep. 71
This year, Austinites reached out to 311 with 285,000 requests, covering everything from garbage and loud music to animal bites and scooters. We’ve got more about those requests — and some coyotes. KUT News launched a new desk in 2025: the Art Beat. We’re talking about the year in arts in Austin, including the return of a beloved outdoor gallery and the venues that are planning for the future. The Texas Longhorns wrap up their football season tomorrow against Michigan. It’s not the ending fans a...
Dec 30, 2025•23 min•Season 2025Ep. 70
It’s the last week of 2025, and we’re reflecting on the year of news here in Austin, including: Resolution in a decades-long cold case known as the Yogurt Shop Murders. The summer’s deadly flooding in Austin and Central Texas. School campuses set to shutter across the city. We’re also taking a look at the status of Austin’s housing market heading into the new year. Plus: Another favorite track from 2025, and a look at some of the artists we lost this year. The full transcript of this episode of ...
Dec 29, 2025•23 min•Season 2025Ep. 69
It’s been a busy year, and KUT’s multimedia team has been capturing the moments that defined Austin in 2025. So which ones stood out most? Visuals Editor Deborah Cannon takes us through the year in photos. The Paramount Theatre is known for hosting unforgettable events — but have you ever wondered how audiences find their seats in the rush before showtime? What it’s like to work as an usher. The year is winding down, but we still have songs for ya! Technical director Rayna Sevilla shares her top...
Dec 26, 2025•23 min•Season 2025Ep. 68
An Austin doctor is using vinyl records to help patients cope with serious illnesses and difficult treatments. KUT’s Olivia Aldridge has a look at how music is helping in the healing process. Texans have access to some of the best bird-watching opportunities in the country. We’ll go behind the scenes of an annual census of the area’s bird population. You may have spotted him stopping for photos with fans outside the Paramount Theatre or the Continental Club: Austin’s Santa on horseback, Samuel G...
Dec 24, 2025•29 min•Season 2025Ep. 67
A library in Caldwell has become a beacon of hope for adults looking to get their GED or further their education — and volunteers are helping make that possible. The Texas Standard’s Sarah Asch has the story. A look back at major developments in the business world this year and how they’re shaping the Austin area. A Minnesota-based program that creates music inspired by stories of children in need worked with a 9-year-old Austin boy with a fatal genetic disorder on a piece that was performed by ...
Dec 23, 2025•23 min•Season 2025Ep. 66
Records in the divorce case for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have been unsealed after a judge’s order. We’re talking with the Texas Newsroom’s Lauren McGaughy to find out what that means for the case. Travelers at the Austin airport will soon have more options. KUT transportation reporter Nathan Bernier has the details on the newest flights coming to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Plus: a look inside the Press Room in Hyde Park , which is home to a vintage letterpress and a vast co...
Dec 22, 2025•23 min•Season 2025Ep. 65
Austin has reached a four-year, $63 million contract deal with the city’s firefighters , ending months of negotiations with the Austin Firefighters Association. Calling all bird enthusiasts: Texas Standard’s Raul Alonzo explains what a bird count is , why it matters, and how you can take part. KUTX’s Confucius Jones, one half of hip-hop podcast The Breaks, shares his favorite song of the year . Plus: If you’re looking for TV shows to watch over the holidays, Jennifer Morgan, the ATX TV Festival’...
Dec 19, 2025•24 min•Season 2025Ep. 64
Austin faces a high-stakes choice on funding parks over I-35 , with city leaders split over how to move forward. It all centers on the question of which highway decks the should city commit to paying for. Catching up with longtime musician Robert Earl Keen , who’s gearing up for his Christmas shows here in Austin. Plus, from KUTX: Maile Carballo checks in with the latest music news, and Ryan Wen rounds up his favorite songs of 2025 . The full transcript of this episode of Austin Signal is availa...
Dec 18, 2025•24 min•Season 2025Ep. 63
The state of Texas is collecting information on transgender Texans using data from driver’s licenses — and it’s not clear what exactly that information is being used for. The Texas Newsroom’s investigative reporter and editor, Lauren McGaughy, has the story. The Trump administration is looking to make changes to federal policy that could affect how homeless service providers do their work here in the Austin area. We sit down with Kate Moore from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition to lea...
Dec 17, 2025•23 min•Season 2025Ep. 62
The National Weather Service is forecasting warmer and drier-than-normal conditions for the Austin area this winter — but high-impact storms are still possible. What city officials and Austin Energy are doing to keep potential winter storm outages to minimum . Austin music legend Joe Ely has died at 78. Jeff McCord, KUT and KUTX’s former music director, reflects on the life of Texas-born singer-songwriter. We’ll also hear from another KUTX-er Marnie Castor gives us her favortie song coming out o...
Dec 16, 2025•23 min•Season 2025Ep. 61
