Grocer’s Son, Then Doctor, Now Major Donor to UT’s New Medical School

byQiling Wang

Mitchel Wong has prospered as an eye doctor, rancher and real estate investor. His $20 million donation will create a new institute at Dell Medical.

High School Counselors Help Students Find a Path to College or Careers

byLynda Gonzalez

High schools are under pressure to get more graduates into college. College and career centers at each campus help students navigate the process.

Blanket Criminal History Policies Create a Rental Hurdle for Thousands

byTravis Putnam Hill

Some landlords’ policies reject tenants for long-ago or minor crimes, even for arrests that never led to convictions. Landlords are beginning to consider changes.

Trump Piñatas Gain Popularity as Anger Soars

byJackson Prewitt

In an anger-filled campaign season, some people are finding an unusual way to vent their political views — — buying Trump pinatas just to beat them up.

Armed with Apps, Citizen Scientists Track Animal Populations

bySwathi Narayanan

At the Wild Basin Preserve, members of the public track birds with mobile apps, helping collect information for wildlife biologists.

UT-Austin Remains Short of Black Faculty Members

byDestinee Harrison

Only 3.6 percent of UT-Austin professors are black, while 77.3 percent are white – a figure that is high even by Texas standards.

Full Lakes Spell Busy Summer for Sheriff’s Divers

byWes Scarborough

This summer, the team faces two big challenges: a short-staffed dive team and more lake-goers. On top of that, its divers are typically working in cold conditions with little or no visibility.

Tactical Urbanism Is Taking Root in Austin

bySwathi Narayanan

Small-scale projects, from bus-stop benches to spruced-up alleys, are showing a new way to improve urban life.

East Austin Walking Tours Tell the Area’s History Through its Landmarks

bySwathi Narayanan

The initiative, which started last year, comes amid rapid change. As rising property prices and taxes spur long-time residents to move to the suburbs, architecture important to East Austin’s history is being erased.

New Fleet of UT Shuttles to Help Maintain Air Quality in a Growing City

bySwathi Narayanan

The new buses are getting good reviews for updated amenities, and they also play a part in a regional effort to control smog pollution despite rapid population growth.

Austin Gives Music On Hold a Novel Spin

byTravis Putnam Hill

Playing local music while callers are on hold with the city was intended to promote Austin performers. But even the bands on the playlist are in the dark about the program.

Effective Parenting Program Aims to Reduce Truancy in Travis County

bySwathi Narayanan

College friends Grady Paris and Yvonne Williams teamed up to create the workshop that aims to helps truant youth stay in school and their parents avoid possible criminal penalties.

As East Austin Changes, The Villager Perseveres as a Voice for African-Americans

byDestinee Harrison

‘Austin has changed a lot,’ publisher Tommy Wyatt said. ‘They moved all the black folks out. But this hasn’t affected our readership.’

UT Researchers Use Laser Light to Fight Depression, Anxiety

byKate Thackrey

A student’s sharp eye leads to a non-invasive technique for dealing with mood disorders.

Where There’s a Wheel, There’s a Way

byAnna Casey

Jimmy Agnew of Austin uses the unicycle to teach kids life skills.

Austin Food Stylists Are Skilled at Making Dishes Ready for Their Close-Ups

byTravis Putnam Hill

Food stylists play an important but often unrecognized role in food advertising. Great taste does not translate easily to photographs. Many foods wilt or crumble from the handling and time required to capture just the right shot. Food stylists employ equal parts visual artistry, culinary craft and trickery to make food look good for the camera.

At Brunches and Happy Hours, Black Gays Discover Camaraderie in Austin

byBrianna Walker

Beyond Brothas organizes events where black gay men can find a sense of community. Membership has grown to about 75 in just over a year.

With One Tragic Exception, All UT Missing Persons Have Been Found Quickly

bySamantha Ketterer

Almost every missing person case on campus involved students who had failed to tell their roommates or friends that they would be staying elsewhere overnight, according to the UT Police Department.

Austin Choir Brings Serenity to People at the End of Their Lives

byDestinee Reyes

Members of the Austin Threshold Choir send female choirs to sing to people who are dying.

For Ride-Hailing Companies, College Students Are a Rich Pool for Drivers

byAustin Hamby

The students become part of the so-called “gig economy,” in which people are free agents working under contract.