ATXplained

If you’ve ever been jealous of the lush, beautiful patches of wildflowers along Austin’s highways, this story is for you. The post Why do bluebonnets grow so well along MoPac? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Audrey McGlinchy on the prevalence, psychology and behavior of what are maybe humans’ most vexing pest. The post Does Austin have a rat problem? Maybe. But this reporter sure does. appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

He’s everywhere: TV, radio, billboards, YouTube. What’s the marketing strategy for this personal injury lawyer? The post How does Thomas J. Henry make any money when he spends so much on ads all over Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

At one point, this tower was Austin’s main communication link to the outside world. Decades later, is it a landmark — or an eyesore — for the neighborhood? The post A tower has loomed in Austin’s Clarksville neighborhood for 72 years. What does it do? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

There’s your standard gray sidewalk, of course. But what on Earth does a red sidewalk mean? The post Why are some Austin sidewalks red? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The full transcript of this episode of ATXplained is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post What’s the oldest tree in Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The full transcript of this episode of ATXplained is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post What happened to the time capsule UT Austin buried at Centennial Park? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Before there was an IHOP, there was a university that attempted to revolutionize higher education for immigrants at the corner of I-35 and Cesar Chavez Street. The post What happened to Juarez-Lincoln University in downtown Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Off to Austin’s west, you may have seen a collection of towers with their red lights blinking through the night. ALSO: You can get tickets to our next ATXplained Live show here. The post What are those towers for in West Austin and why are they all there? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

We question a question about the history of this Mexican-American cemetery — one that stands in contrast to many of the more staid cemeteries around Austin. The post What’s the story behind the colorful Maria de la Luz Cemetery in South Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

No matter the season, the iconic Austin dive bar off Justin Lane is filled with snow globes, Christmas trees and strings of red and green lights. But the story behind how this decor came to be is always changing. The post Why is Lala’s Little Nugget in Austin always decorated for Christmas? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

It seems like a simple question, with a simple answer. But there’s more to it. The post What’s the oldest music venue in Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Army veteran Denise Gordon questioned whether it makes any sense for lawmakers from the second-largest state in the country and one of the largest economies in the world to meet so infrequently. The post Why does the Texas Legislature meet for only 140 days every two years? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The Texas Legislature’s regular session is nearing an end. While some of the laws passed during these sessions are crucial to keep the state running, other laws have been a little more interesting. The post What are the weirdest laws in Texas? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

In a city with a reputation as being young, we got a question about where all of Austin’s older people are. The post ‘Is Austin hiding their elderly?’ What’s the average age of its residents? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

There’s the Moody College of Communication at UT, the Moody Rooftop at the Contemporary Austin, Moody Hall at St. Edwards University, Moody Bank, the Moody Pavilions at Laguna Gloria, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, and Moody Center. It can be a little confusing. The post Who is ‘Moody,’ and why is everything in Austin named after them? app...

The process can leave him feeling “beat up,” but he still gets the thrill he felt when he painted for the first time after an accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. The post For mouth painter Jared Dunten, the trick is to just keep going appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Every week banana peels, coffee grounds, moldy strawberries and pizza boxes are placed in green bins and rolled out to the street as part of the city’s residential composting program. The post What happens to all that stuff you throw in compost bins in Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Plastic in the U.S. is largely going unrecycled, but the city says that’s not so for the plastic we put in the blue bins. The post How much of the stuff we put in the blue bin in Austin actually gets recycled? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Two-stepping originated from foxtrot and has been danced to country music in dancehalls around Austin for ages. Influenced by other music genres played in the region, people here have put their own spin on it. KUT listeners Allyson Lipkin and Cristopher Juarez wanted to know why people in Austin and San Antonio dance the two-step […] The post Why is the two-step danced differently in Austin...

One of the oldest homes still standing in Austin was once known as The Chateau. Its residents hosted legendary parties that were often safe spaces for gay people in the 1960s and ‘70s. Today, the home is boarded up — but there’s a new effort brewing to ensure it’s preserved. The post What’s the story behind the abandoned house by Dell Medical School? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios...

Brian Vargo was 20 years old when he disappeared in 1976. The UT Austin student seems to have simply vanished. The post What happened to Brian Vargo almost 50 years ago? His niece is still looking for answers. appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The landmark theater in downtown Austin has been a source of movie entertainment for more than a century, while many of its contemporaries have closed for good. The post Is Austin’s Paramount one of only a few century-old theaters still operating in the country? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

According to the Public Works Department, the city is missing about 1,600 miles of sidewalk — a length of concrete that could stretch from here to Winnipeg, Canada. The post Why do sidewalks in Austin suddenly end? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The Zilker Zephyr stopped running almost four years ago, and there’s still no miniature train in Zilker Park. The post What happened to the Zilker Park minitrain? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .