KUT Austin

People of all ages and races lined the streets in Austin's African American Cultural Heritage District for the Juneteenth parade on Friday. https://www.kut.org/community/2026-06-19/austin-tx-juneteenth-celebrations-parade-community

A new UT Austin study found several water samples collected in far East Austin exceeded regulatory guidelines for lead and other heavy metals. https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2026-06-19/austin-colony-tx-lead-water-quality-testinguniversity-texas-ut

From historical bike rides to Austin's annual parade, there are plenty of ways to mark the Juneteenth holiday that started in Texas.

7 Juneteenth celebrations happening in Austin this weekend From historical bike rides to Austin's annual parade, there are plenty of ways to mark the holiday that started in Texas.

Austin ISD's board voted to reduce its budget by $205 million for next school year but, in a last minute change, each campus will keep a librarian. https://www.kut.org/education/2026-06-19/austin-tx-aisd-cuts-budget-205-million

No written emergency plans. Stalled evacuations. Chaotic incident management and reunification efforts.

Those were some of the main findings included in a new investigative report on Camp Mystic’s response to last year’s historic July Fourth flood that killed 25 campers and two counselors.

Report heading to Texas leaders cites Camp Mystic emergency planning failures before 2025 flood A new investigative report paints a troubling picture of Camp Mystic's preparedness before last year’s historic July Fourth floods, which killed 25 campers and two counselors. The 115-page report will now be used by the Texas Legislature to guide future policy changes.

After a legal challenge, the city of Austin can move forward with a plan to help fund the expansion of the Austin Convention Center.

Travis County judge OKs funding plan for Austin Convention Center expansion The project will nearly double the amount of rentable space at the center. Completion is set for 2029.

UT Austin fired K*T leader Debbie Hiott this week for "lack of responsible leadership" ahead of the station's festival. Documents obtained by K*T did not show any glaring issues between UT and event planners in the days and weeks before the festival. https://www.kut.org/austin/2026-06-18/ut-austin-allegations-kut-festival-debbie-hiott-fired

Austin's heat index just hit 117 degrees for the first time in years, creating a dangerous combination of high temperatures and humidity. https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2026-06-18/austin-tx-weather-heat-index-temperature-record-humidity-summer

Austin ISD students scored above the state average in most courses, according to preliminary STAAR results.

But AISD is falling behind when it comes to students who took the tests in Spanish.

Austin ISD improves STAAR scores as Spanish speakers fall behind Austin ISD students did better this year on most courses on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. However, third and fourth grade students who took the test in Spanish are falling behind their Spanish-speaking peers across the state.