State officials reject Austin ISD plan for failing middle schools

State officials reject Austin ISD plan for failing middle schools

The Texas Education Agency has rejected Austin ISD’s proposal [https://www.kut.org/education/2026-05-28/austin-tx-texas-education-agency-rejected-aisd-plan-for-failing-schools] 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 [https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2026-05-29/austin-tx-secret-vote-gas-plant-council-oversight] after the project was OK’d in a secret vote. Thousands of Austinites received a call or text this month urging them to seek shelter or evacuate immediately, but many weren’t even sure the message was legit. Now police say they will improve the alerts [https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2026-05-28/austin-tx-apd-police-emergency-alerts-confusing-texts]. Plus: Exploded Drawing [https://exploded-drawing.com/] kicks off their 16th year of electronic music showcases. Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org [http://supportthispodcast.org] The full transcript of this episode [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/state-officials-reject-austin-isd-plan-for-failing-middle-schools#transcript] of Austin Signal is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post State officials reject Austin ISD plan for failing middle schools [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/state-officials-reject-austin-isd-plan-for-failing-middle-schools] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

Court protection for Delta-8 sales is set to expire

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. [https://www.kut.org/business/2026-05-28/austin-tx-delta-8-cannabis-dshs-legal-sales-schedule-i-texas-supreme-court] It’s the last day of school for students in Austin ISD, meaning it’s the last day many seniors will ever set foot on campus. Before that, a group of them went back to trace their steps at Dawson Elementary before the school closes. [https://www.kut.org/education/2026-05-28/austin-tx-dawson-elementary-school-closures-aisd-senior-walk] EddieAngel [https://kutx.org/artist-of-the-month/eddieangel/], the KUTX Artist of the Month for May, has the vocal chops to match the spirit of his on-stage persona. Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org [http://supportthispodcast.org] The full transcript of this episode [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/court-protection-for-delta-8-sales-is-set-to-expire#transcript] of Austin Signal is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post Court protection for Delta-8 sales is set to expire [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/court-protection-for-delta-8-sales-is-set-to-expire] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

Runoff election results show big changes for the Austin area

Primary runoff election night ended with some big changes for the Austin area [https://www.kut.org/politics/2026-05-26/austin-tx-primary-runoff-election-travis-county-commissioner-precinct-4] and across the state [https://www.kut.org/politics/2026-05-26/austin-tx-primary-election-runoff-kathie-tovo-montserrat-garibay-texas-district-49]. We’ll bring you the latest on last night’s results [https://www.kut.org/2026-05-26/ken-paxton-cruises-to-big-win-against-incumbent-sen-john-cornyn-in-texas-gop-primary-runoff] 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 sooner if they had license plate readers [https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2026-05-19/south-austin-tx-shootings-flock-cameras-license-plate-readers]. Now, Mayor Kirk Watson is considering proposals to bring this kind of technology back to the city. This week in Texas music history [https://texasstandard.org/stories/this-week-in-texas-music-history-pauline-oliveros-21st-birthday/]: an experimental composer and pioneer of the practice of “Deep listening” was born. The Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company [https://www.kut.org/life-arts/2026-05-11/austin-tx-kathy-dunn-hamrick-kdh-dance-company-alyson-dolan-successor]is moving forward after the loss of its namesake leader. Their new performance this weekend is an embodiment of that spirit. Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org [http://supportthispodcast.org] The full transcript of this episode [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/runoff-election-results-show-big-changes-for-the-austin-area#transcript] of Austin Signal is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post Runoff election results show big changes for the Austin area [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/runoff-election-results-show-big-changes-for-the-austin-area] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

Once-supporters now suing to stop Project Connect

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 who voted in favor are now suing to stop it from happening. An update on Project Connect. [https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/21/austin-project-connect-texas-light-rail-public-transportation/] Data from a Travis County mental health diversion pilot is showing some promising early results. The program offers people accused of low-level offenses an alternative. We’ll tell you more. [https://www.kut.org/austin/2026-05-22/austin-tx-travis-county-jail-diversion-program-mental-health-reduces-arrests] Which friendship in Austin has lasted the longest? A listener wanted to know. Our ATXplained project found the answer. [https://www.kut.org/life-arts/2025-03-27/austin-tx-oldest-friendship-atxplained] Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org [http://supportthispodcast.org] The full transcript of this episode [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/once-supporters-now-suing-to-stop-project-connect#transcript] of Austin Signal is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post Once-supporters now suing to stop Project Connect [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/once-supporters-now-suing-to-stop-project-connect] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

Program at state prison in Austin helps shelter dogs get adopted

The Austin Independent School District expects a $181 million deficit in next school year’s budget — but it still hasn’t released a proposal [https://www.kut.org/education/2026-05-22/austin-isd-tx-budget-deficit-delayed-plan] 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 [https://www.kut.org/austin/2026-05-20/austin-tx-police-ice-policy-immigration-enforcement-safe-to-call]. The Austin Animal Center is often overcrowded. But a new program at the Travis Unit state prison [https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2026-05-21/texas-prison-dog-training-enduring-service-program] is getting dogs there training and socialization to help them get adopted. And a look back at an iconic performance 41years ago at the Armadillo World Headquarters. Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org [http://supportthispodcast.org] The full transcript of this episode [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/program-at-state-prison-in-austin-helps-shelter-dogs-get-adopted#transcript] of Austin Signal is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post Program at state prison in Austin helps shelter dogs get adopted [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/program-at-state-prison-in-austin-helps-shelter-dogs-get-adopted] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].