Juneteenth in Austin: Black History Bike Ride Documentary, Book Festival Preview and Reflections on Freedom

Juneteenth in Austin: Black History Bike Ride Documentary, Book Festival Preview and Reflections on Freedom

It’s Juneteenth, and it’s time for another trek through town for the Black History Bike Ride [https://blackhistorybikeride.com]. The organization has been hosting the event for a few years now and a new documentary [https://www.kut.org/austin/2025-07-23/austin-tx-black-history-bike-ride] has been made highlighting the mental and physical journey of the ride. We’ll sit down to chat with the filmmaker about the project. [https://blackhistorybikeride.com/film/] The Austin African American book [https://www.aaabookfest.org] festival is fast approaching. We’ll hear some book recommendations from the leader of the fest. Plus; KUT’s Miles Bloxson speaks to Black Austinites about the history of Juneteenth, how they celebrate the holiday and explores the question, “Are We Really Free?” [https://kutkutx.studio/juneteenth-are-we-really-free/juneteenth-are-we-really-free] 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 post Juneteenth in Austin: Black History Bike Ride Documentary, Book Festival Preview and Reflections on Freedom [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/juneteenth-in-austin-black-history-bike-ride-documentary-book-festival-preview-and-reflections-on-freedom] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

Capital Factory founder Joshua Baer dies in plane crash

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 [https://www.kut.org/texas/2026-06-17/austin-tx-laredo-plane-crash-highway-texas] 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 school district, but teachers and staff from 10 closing schools are thinking about life at a different campus next school year. How one math teacher made the decision to retire [https://www.kut.org/education/2026-06-17/austin-isd-tx-school-closures-teachers-leaving]. Plus: A preview of the Black Auteur Film Festival [https://www.austinfilm.org/screening/black-auteur-film-festival/] that’s happening this Saturday. 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 post Capital Factory founder Joshua Baer dies in plane crash [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/capital-factory-founder-joshua-baer-dies-in-plane-crash] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

Austin ISD improves STAAR scores as Spanish speakers fall behind

Students in the Austin school district outperformed state averages in most courses during the recent round of STAAR testing [https://www.kut.org/education/2026-06-16/austin-tx-aisd-staar-scores-spanish-speakers-test], 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 industry in Austin and across the state. After a spat of brewery closures, businesses are looking for new ways to get folks to frequent their neighborhood pub. Juneteenth is Friday, and the Black History Bike Ride [https://www.kut.org/austin/2020-07-24/to-keep-austins-racial-justice-movement-in-motion-one-man-got-on-his-bike-hundreds-followed] is gearing up for another trek through Austin. More on their story and the film documenting their work that’s premiering tonight. 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/austin-isd-improves-staar-scores-as-spanish-speakers-fall-behind#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 Austin ISD improves STAAR scores as Spanish speakers fall behind [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/austin-isd-improves-staar-scores-as-spanish-speakers-fall-behind] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

What next after UT Austin fires KUT head Debbie Hiott

KUT Public Media General Manager Debbie Hiott was fired Monday by leadership at UT Austin [https://www.kut.org/education/2026-06-15/ut-austin-fires-debbie-hiott-kut-general-manager]. 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 to lead the station going forward. [https://www.kut.org/austin/2026-06-16/ut-austin-kut-interim-general-manager-leader] We’ll tell you what we know about the firing and the new leader on today’s show. The firing has raised questions from listeners and readers about how KUT and the university are connected — as well as how monetary donations to KUT/X impact UT Austin. We’ll share answers to those questions. 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/what-next-after-ut-austin-fires-kut-head-debbie-hiott#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 What next after UT Austin fires KUT head Debbie Hiott [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/what-next-after-ut-austin-fires-kut-head-debbie-hiott] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

Floodgates opened amid heavy rain in Austin area

Flooding this morning [https://www.kut.org/austin/2026-06-15/austin-texas-flash-flood-warning] 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 [https://austincurrent.org/2026/06/11/texas-austin-budget-nonprofit-cuts-taxes/] with us more about the groups that could be impacted and how organizations are preparing. It’s last call at the Paramount Theatre [https://www.kut.org/life-arts/2026-06-15/paramount-theatre-austin-tx-renovations-closure-last-call-event] as the doors shut temporarily for an all-out renovation — but they’re still bringing plenty of entertainment to town. Summer reading has started. Join KUT for our bingo challenge! [https://www.kut.org/austin-field-guide/2026-06-05/austin-tx-summer-reading-challenge-bingo-kut] 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/floodgates-opened-amid-heavy-rain-in-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 Floodgates opened amid heavy rain in Austin area [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/floodgates-opened-amid-heavy-rain-in-austin-area] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].