KUT Austin

Months after they first applied to participate in Texas' new $1 billion school voucher program, Brighter Horizons Academy, Bayaan Academy and some other Islamic private schools were admitted, according to the comptroller's office. From @HoustonPubMedia: kut.org/education/2026…

The city of Austin launched a new website that city leaders hope will make it easier for people to use. The updated site went live Thursday morning. kut.org/austin/2026-03…

Pflugerville's water system is depleted after a series of leaks in recent months. Residents remain subject to serious water restrictions. kut.org/energy-environ…

Correction: We deleted an earlier tweet that said the primary runoff will be held on May 28. The correct date is May 26. kut.org/politics/2026-…

The Williamson County Republican Party has voted to return to countywide voting for the primary runoff set for May 26, a representative for the county confirmed. kut.org/politics/2026-…

A group of Austin City Council members wants to rename Cesar Chavez Street after allegations emerged that the late civil rights leader sexually assaulted women and girls. kut.org/austin/2026-03…

Organizers of the annual Cesar Chavez parade and celebration in Austin have canceled the event after sexual abuse allegations against the labor union organizer have been made public. kut.org/austin/2026-03…

A Texas law banning some drag performances in public spaces goes into effect Wednesday, though a lawsuit challenging it is ongoing. From @keranews: kut.org/politics/2026-…

An Afghan asylum seeker who had aided U.S. Army Special Forces in Afghanistan for more than a decade was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Dallas area on Friday and died in custody the next day. From @HoustonPubMedia: kut.org/texas/2026-03-…

A federal judge ordered that the school voucher application deadline be extended to March 31 amid an ongoing legal battle between Texas officials and a group of Muslim parents and Islamic private schools. From @HoustonPubMedia: kut.org/education/2026…

Politicians from both major parties are blaming each other for holding unpaid TSA officers "hostage" in negotiations over government funding. But they say few TSA workers at Austin's airport are calling in sick. kut.org/transportation…

As Austin ISD administrators debated which neighborhood schools to close last year, their internal messages portray a far messier process than what was visible to the public. From Austin Current: kut.org/education/2026…

Esther’s Follies has spent nearly five decades turning the world's headlines into satire on its Sixth Street stage. Now the Austin comedy theater is launching a nonprofit foundation aimed at preserving that history and helping train younger performers. kut.org/life-arts/2026…

A Uvalde mother took the stage at the Academy Awards after the documentary "All the Empty Rooms" won. "My daughter, Jackie, was 9 years old when she was killed in Uvalde. Since that day, her bedroom has been frozen in time," she said. From @TPRNews: kut.org/life-arts/2026…

Smithville is one of eight Central Texas libraries receiving funding from the St. David’s Foundation as part of the Libraries for Health initiative, a pilot project aimed at boosting mental health support in rural communities. kut.org/health/2026-03…

An Austin nonprofit dedicated to investing in the BIPOC community is presenting a free four-day event during South by Southwest. There will be live podcast tapings, panels, keynotes, film screenings, networking activities and more. kut.org/life-arts/2026…

Hays County commissioners voted unanimously this week to finalize an agreement paving the way for a new H-E-B in Buda. The new store is set to be developed on the southbound I-35 frontage road north of Main Street, the site of a former landfill. kut.org/community/2026…

Demonstrators gathered outside the J.W. Marriott on Friday to speak out against SXSW's ties to Spotify and Capital Factory, a local tech incubator, over their connections to the military and defense contractors. kut.org/life-arts/2026…

While there are many SXSW events that require a festival badge, there are also exciting opportunities that are completely free and open to the public. kut.org/austin/2026-03…

Jorge Pederson was one of three people killed in a shooting on West Sixth Street earlier this month. Now, friends and family hope his life can be an example for others. kut.org/austin/2026-03…