Lost in Transition: Rainey Street and a Failure of Historic Preservation

byJenna Wilson

Anita Quintanilla sobbed as her sister drove her back to the airport in 1984. The memories of childhood and adolescence on Rainey Street — the visits to the air-conditioned bookmobile in the dead of summer, and blissful moments running around the spacious yard, raking pyramids of crunchy fallen leaves and climbing cottonwood trees — would […]

UT Students Say They Feel Betrayed After a Year of Dismantling DEI Programs

byAbby L. Johnson, Michelle Lavergne, Michael Nolan, Isabella McGovern, Anissa Sanchez

Texas is among the first states to successfully pass higher education DEI bans out of the 28 that have attempted to do so. The effects of the loss of these programs on individual students, staff and faculty, as well as the broader impact on campus culture are just now beginning to reveal themselves. 
UT dissolved its Multicultural Engagement Center on Jan. 1 and then terminated over 60 employees in DEI-related jobs on April 2. The newly renamed Division of Campus and Community Engagement and the Women’s Community Center were among those shut down.
“It’s such a betrayal,” said one student.

Petition Effort Poses Test for New Law, Progressive District Attorneys

byMichael Nolan

One of the first uses of a new Texas law aimed at removing “rogue” district attorneys could curtail the discretion of prosecutors in major cities, political and legal analysts say. Travis County District Attorney José Garza, a Democrat who recently won a primary in his re-election bid as the county’s top prosecutor, will soon find […]

From Page to Screen: UT Students Analyze The Process of Book Adaptations

byAriah Rivera-Clemente

The “Between the Lines” podcast dives into books making it to the big screen, delving into the most popular adaptations and unraveling the art of translating literary treasure into a cinematic experience. In this episode “From Page to Screen” host Janelle Tanguma and reporter Ariah Rivera-Clemente, senior journalism majors at the University of Texas at […]

San Antonio Reporter Dismisses Trae Young Trade Rumors

byRiley Glenn

As the San Antonio Spurs enter the final quarter of their season, attention is increasingly turning towars the offseason. Sitting on a mountain of assets, speculation continues to grow on how the Spurs plans to build around budding superstar rookie Victor Wembenyama. Rumors of a potential trade involving the Spurs and Hawks star guard, Trae […]

The Science of Sprinkles

byTiani Nelson

Undergrad can be a glorious four years of self-discovery and practice toward your dream career, but for some, it’s the reassurance they need to leave what they’d thought they always wanted.This is exactly what happened to Alex Posner, who graduated from the University of Texas in 2022 after following the pre-med track with a Human […]

Buehler’s Back in School Where an ‘Old Dog’ is Learning New Tricks

byAliya Carr

The hum of students shuffling across campus. Virtual strangers morphing into familiar faces. It’s the first day of the new semester at the University of Texas. Bob Buehler begins his walk to his first class, dressed in slightly wrinkled gray khakis and a purple plaid collared shirt. His round glasses sit squarely on the bridge […]

Waterloo Records Celebrates Record Store Day as Future Remains Open Question

byAnissa Sanchez

As other record stores closed amid the transition to digital streaming, Waterloo Records has survived and sometimes thrived. Waterloo was originally housed on South Lamar Boulevard where a veterinary hospital now stands. It moved to its present location on North Lamar 35 years ago. With rents skyrocketing in Austin, Waterloo’s future remains an open question.

Teacher Shortages Prompt Texas Schools to Recruit Worldwide

byMichelle Lavergne

To address a teacher shortage, more Texas school districts are turning to the Visiting Teachers Program, which recruits certified educators from other countries. Through that initiative, international educators who are actively enrolled in a J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program approved by the Texas Education Agency may receive a temporary visiting international teacher certificate.

Navigating Legal Frontiers: Rural Texas Struggles With Too Few Lawyers

byMichael Nolan

In 2021, over 65 counties in Texas had no local lawyer accept an appointment to defend an adult client according to a report from the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
“There are some rural counties in Texas, with literally no attorneys registered with a business address,” said Andrew Davies, the director of research at the Deason Center.

As Fewer Americans Attend Church, 2 Austin Congregations Highlight Religion’s Uncertain Future

byKatrina L. Spencer

Two Austin churches — one largely white, the other largely Black — demonstrate the uneven realities of the city’s Protestant Christian congregations during a time when most Americans have stopped going to church. COVID-19 lockdowns exacerbated the decline in churchgoing and, when institutions reopened, many people simply didn’t return. It’s created an unpredictable landscape that churches are navigating.

Reporting Texas TV – April 25, 2024

byReporting Texas TV Staff

Journalism students at the University of Texas at Austin produced their sixth and final newscast of the Spring 2024 semester on April 25. This week reporters covered student-led efforts to provide reliable transportation to grocery stores, the impact of S.B. 17 on a UT student group’s annual powwow, an etiquette class offered by an Austin […]

Youth Learn Etiquette at Wesley United Methodist Church

byMahlah Freeman

AUSTIN, Texas – A local church is blending faith-based principles with modern manners in its etiquette class. Wesley United Methodist Church’s youth ministry started an annual etiquette class in 2016. The class was originally aimed at girls ages 12-17 but became co-ed in 2018. The age range expanded this year to include younger children. “They […]

UT’s Native American Indigenous Collective Hosts Powwow Off Campus Due to S.B. 17

byJulia Mahavier

AUSTIN, Texas – After months of preparation, UT’s Native American Indigenous Collective (NAIC) hosted its annual all-day powwow at the Delores Duffie Recreation Center in East Austin. A powwow is a gathering for Native American and First Nations communities to come together and honor their cultures through song, dance, chants, food and socializing. In previous […]

Texas Is a National Leader in Human Trafficking Cases. Experts Say the Issue Is Often Misunderstood.

byMichelle Lavergne 

Texas is a national leader in trafficking cases. More than 3,500 victims in Texas established contact with the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2021, according to hotline statistics. These numbers are exceeded only by California. 
Experts say the geographical and population size of the Lone Star State contribute to its high number of trafficking cases. They also say the issue is often misunderstood and disappointedly used by some politicians to make political hay.

New Transportation Service Helps UT Students Access Fresh Groceries

byEvelyn Martinez

AUSTIN, Texas – UT’s Food Security Agency launched a pilot shuttle program to help students who lack reliable transportation get to grocery stores near campus. “(Food insecurity) is something that we all need to deal with,” program organizer Erica Howard said. “It’s not a ‘them’ issue, it’s an ‘us’ issue, and we all need to […]

For Identical Twin R&B Duo, Big Dreams Come with Big Plans for Giving Back

byAnissa Sanchez

The Austin-based identical twin R&B duo THEBROSFRESH may be on the verge of stardom.
Torrence and Thurman Thomas, 34, have yet to sign a deal with a record label, but they regularly fill popular Austin music venues such as C-Boy’s and Continental Club, and they have inked contracts as brand ambassadors with Nike and Volkswagen.
Torrence, who plays bass and sings, envisions achieving success as a staircase. At the very top of it sits their goal of selling out stadiums and mentoring others to do the same.
“We’re stepping towards it,” Torrence said.

Longhorns Play Last Orange and White Game as Members of the Big 12

byCampbell Choate

AUSTIN, Texas — Although rain was on the radar all day Saturday, Texas football fans still cheered on the Longhorns at the annual Orange and White game. The game is an exhibition scrimmage where the team splits into two sides that play against each other. One team wears home jerseys and the other wears away. […]

Leaders in Austin music industry featured in UT podcast before SXSW

byGuido Peluffo

    As Austin prepares for a busy spring festival season, there’s a music festival podcast emerging from students at the Moody College of Communication at UT. The “Keep Austin Live!” podcast is featuring two huge names in their upcoming episode highlighting the history and weirdness of South by Southwest. “A bunch of us who […]

Behind the Truck Doors Spotlight: Yapa Artisan Empanadas

byAlishba Javaid

Produced by Arianna Suniga, hosted by Mackenzie Sullivan Yapa opened its food truck steps away from the Perry-Castañeda Library at the University of Texas in August 2023. The black-and-white food truck serves nine varieties of artisan empanadas Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Raul Escobar, the director of operations and business development behind […]