State officials reject Austin ISD plan for failing middle schools

After two months in ICE detention, father is reunited with his family

A father who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a traffic stop in San Marcos has been reunited with his family [https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2026-06-02/deportation-san-marcos-hays-county-ice-detention-immigration]. 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 hear from some of the folks who spoke out this week. [https://www.kut.org/education/2026-06-02/austin-tx-aisd-school-funding-texas-legislature-teacher-layoffs] Lou Diamond Phillips has been acting for decades, but his breakout role as Ritchie Valens in “La Bamba” was so iconic, it’s one he’s still largely associated with. Phillips’ latest film, “Keep Quiet,” recently screened in Austin [https://texasstandard.org/stories/lou-diamond-phillips-keep-quiet-movie-austin-dallas-tx/], where he was recognized with a city proclamation. 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/after-two-months-in-ice-detention-father-is-reunited-with-his-family#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 After two months in ICE detention, father is reunited with his family [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/after-two-months-in-ice-detention-father-is-reunited-with-his-family] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

Austin City Council moves to regulate e-motorcycles

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 [https://austincurrent.org/2026/05/28/austin-electric-motorcycles-regulation-emoto/]. 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 consider — including a budget deficit. How the money problems got so bad, and how they’re hoping to address it. [https://www.kut.org/education/2026-05-22/austin-isd-tx-budget-deficit-delayed-plan] The dog days of summer are creeping up on us, but Austin dogs have one less place to beat the heat after Yard Bar closed down [https://www.kut.org/business/2026-05-29/austin-tx-yard-bar-dog-park-closing] over the weekend. This is My Thing Podcast host Mike Lee talking with Yael Ouzillou on Doodling. [https://www.kut.org/life-arts/2026-05-19/this-is-my-thing-doodling] 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-city-council-moves-to-regulate-e-motorcycles#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 City Council moves to regulate e-motorcycles [https://kutkutx.studio/austin-signal/austin-city-council-moves-to-regulate-e-motorcycles] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts [https://kutkutx.studio].

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. Texas Standard [https://www.kut.org/texasstandard] Adrianne Palicki reflects on ‘Friday Night Lights’ at 20 ahead of ATX TV Festival reunion. [https://www.kut.org/texasstandard/2026-05-29/adrianne-palicki-friday-night-lights-reunion-atx-television-festival] 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].