Austin Signal

Lots of things in Texas could be changing with Democrats soon controlling the House and Governor’s Office. That could include legislation focused on the state’s strict abortion ban. We’ll go over the resistance it might meet in the Capitol. The Austin Independent School District is ceasing cooperation with a state investigation focused on its spending. We’ll have an […]

Austin is changing the way police officers interact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. It’s not the only city preparing to change cooperation tactics. Shane James has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after a 2023 shooting spree that left six people dead in Austin and San Antonio. Republican state […]

It’s the first day for bills to be filed in anticipation of the 90th Texas legislative session. Democrats will soon control the Texas House and the governor’s office, but it doesn’t mean an easy path toward sweeping legislative changes. What one expert is keeping his eyes on. Firefighters are one group of first responders that […]

Austin state Rep. Gina Hinojosa is set to become the first Latina governor of Texas at the start of next year. She’s cut her political teeth in the state’s capital city, but her upbringing in the Rio Grande Valley has shaped the approach she employed during her campaign for the governorship. One facet of Hinojosa’s […]

Texas Democrats made historic wins for statewide office, including governor and lieutenant governor, and will soon have a majority in the Texas House of Representatives. But Republicans will still control the state Senate when the Legislature convenes in January. So what’s actually going to be possible in the next session? Groups providing social services to […]

Democrats broke a decades-long losing streak in Texas during this year’s midterm elections. Austin-area State Reps. Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico were victorious in their bids to become Texas governor and U.S. senator, respectively. And they weren’t the only Austin-area legislators to emerge victorious in major statewide races. Final votes are still being tallied across the state, b...

Austin Signal is covering the November midterm elections as results roll in. We’ll hear from reporters at election watch parties for U.S. Senate hopefuls James Talarico and Ken Paxton, as well as watch parties for the governor race as state Rep. Gina Hinojosa looks to keep Gov. Greg Abbott from a fourth term. Plus, the […]

It’s Election Night, and we have reporters out and about in Central Texas as candidates prepare for voting results to start rolling in. More about the statewide and national races that we’re watching tonight. Austinites are considering a number of propositions, in addition to who will represent their voice on City Council. Young people are […]

It’s finally Election Day across the country, and we’ve got you covered on what’s happening at polling places across Central Texas. U.S. Rep. John Carter, the Republican incumbent in the race for House District 31, is seeking his 13th term in office — but his Democratic opponent, Justin Early, has had difficulties finding him during election season. We’ll [&#...

Election Day is tomorrow, and lots of attention will be focused on statewide and national races tied to Texas. We’ll tell you why a small GOP delegation wants every ballot in Texas to be counted by hand. The Dog’s Head development has become a contentious issue in Austin this year. How we got here and what […]

It’s the final day of early voting and one thing on the minds of Texans heading to the polls is access, or lack thereof, to THC products. Rules on THC in Texas have been in flux for a number of years and it’s a big part of the race for the state’s lieutenant governor. In this one-hour […]

A Travis County judge says a telecommunications company and a Wyoming LLC must reveal who sent unauthorized texts and mailers purporting to come from Texas transgender advocacy groups. Friday is the last day to cast an early ballot in next week’s midterm elections, and it looks like rain could be another factor to consider when […]

Election Day is less than a week away, and voters in districts across Austin are deciding who will represent them on City Council. The dais will include at least two new representatives next year, including the council member from District 1. More about the candidates vying to represent Northeast Austin. We’re taking a look at the big […]

We’re one week out from Election Day, and 30% of registered voters in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties have already cast their ballots. If you haven’t made it to your polling place just yet, don’t fret! We’ve got more information about contests for a pair of Texas House districts, 45 and 52. We’ll also talk about Hays County, […]

Austin state Rep. James Talarico is locked in a tight battle against Attorney General Ken Paxton to become the next senator from Texas. Before his time in the halls of the Texas Capitol, Talarico’s political career commenced on the University of Texas campus. Dan Patrick is seeking his fourth term as lieutenant governor of Texas. The […]

We’re approaching the only weekend of early voting in Texas, and nearly 1 in 5 registered voters in Travis County have cast their ballot. We’ve got answers to some common voting questions. A new partnership will allow the Austin nonprofit SAFE Alliance to offer forensic exams to sexual assault survivors. Funding challenges ended those services earlier this […]

We’re halfway through the first week of early voting, and there are many statewide races in Texas that appear to be tight contests. Austin state Rep. Vikki Goodwin is running to unseat incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who’s held the position for more than a decade. We’ll tell you more about that race and the […]

It’s the third day of early voting and so far in Travis County the number of early ballots cast is higher than past midterm years. We’ll talk about the numbers we’re seeing so far. Southwest Austin will have a new city council representative for the first time since 2019. We’ll tell you about the candidates vying for the […]

Wilber Garces Perez, the man shot in September by an ICE agent in North Austin, appeared in a federal courthouse this month on charges of assaulting and resisting a federal officer. KUT News has obtained exclusive audio from that hearing. Texans will be electing a new agriculture commissioner for the first time in a decade. […]

It’s the first day of early voting in Texas, and here in Austin, five City Council seats are being contested. That includes the District 9 seat covering downtown and the UT campus, where four challengers are vying against incumbent Zohaib “Zo” Qadri. Austinites will also have their say on a number of propositions, including one […]

Volunteers have collected enough signatures to request that the state close Burnet and Webb middle schools, in an attempt to stop a state takeover of Austin Independent School District. We’ll discuss what’s next. As election season gets underway, we’re taking a look at some key local races, including City Council District 5, where incumbent Ryan Alter is […]

The city of Taylor has made a deal with developers on a proposed data center in an unincorporated part of Williamson County. Officials say the city can impose regulations on the development, but neighbors aren’t sure about what comes next. The median age of the Austin area’s population skews young, but that is changing, and fast. […]

Some parents at two Austin middle schools are running out of time in their effort to get the schools closed, a move to try and avoid a state takeover of the entire Austin Independent School District. Austin Police characterize the fatal shooting this summer of an unarmed teen as a likely “suicide by police.” But some […]

With early voting around the corner, you might be focused on the races for U.S. senator and governor, but several important local votes are happening — including a nearly $300 million bond proposition to help local libraries and parks. Austin and San Antonio are growing closer together every day. We’ll get an update on home […]

Early voting starts in just one week, and local officials are furiously working to make sure everyone who has registered to vote is ready to go. A wrongful death lawsuit against Camp Mystic has been allowed to proceed after an initial pause while the camp began to work its way through bankruptcy court. What’s better […]