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 […]

Arts Education Groups Are Struggling. Austin Is Looking for Ways to Help.

byIsabella McGovern

In late 2023, 19 Austin arts education organizations received a total of $475,000 thanks to the Arts Education Relief Grant, Austin’s first arts education grant program. But gaps in funding for the arts remain, and groups focused on education are looking for new sources for money.

Beyond Brisket: The intricacies of Texas barbecue

byAislyn Gaddis

To some, barbecue might just be a food, but to many Texans, especially Kathleen McElroy, it is so much more than that. “I’m so obsessed with barbecue,” said McElroy, a University of Texas journalism professor and self-proclaimed barbecue lover. She joined host Ivy Fowler on the newest episode of the “Bless Your Heart” podcast, produced […]

Child-free Texans Raise Voices Despite Stigmatized Life Choice

byKatrina L. Spencer

Sending a message to his more than 40,000 followers on social media platform X in March, Houstonian Adrian C. Jackson told the world he had made a major life decision. “Might as well make this a public journey to inform & encourage other men,” he tweeted March 10. “The appointment is booked. I’m going through with it. I’m getting a vasectomy.”
Jackson is one of an increasing number of child-free Texans who intend to remain so. 

Reporting Texas TV – April 18, 2024

byReporting Texas TV Staff

Journalism students at the University of Texas at Austin produced their fifth newscast of the Spring 2024 semester on April 18. This week reporters covered the development of sustainable sequins for fashion design, the UT women’s tennis team’s pursuit of a third national championship in four years, the 20th annual Fusebox Festival, the nearly century-old […]

Crawfish Kickoff Festival Serves More Than 10,000 Pounds

byCashmir Khawaja

AUSTIN, Texas — Thousands of hungry crawfish enthusiasts gathered in the center of Republic Square for the second annual Crawfish Kickoff Festival. This year’s event delivered a flavorful celebration of Cajun culture, community and crustaceans. The unmistakable aroma of Cajun spices greeted attendees as they entered. Banners and lively music instantly transported guests to the […]

Historic ABC Kite Fest Returns to Zilker Park

byLogan Dubel

AUSTIN, Texas – Kites of all shapes and sizes took flight against the backdrop of Austin’s skyline on Sunday. While the city’s horizon may look unrecognizable compared to when the ABC Kite Fest began, the soaring spectacles still remain an Austin tradition. The Exchange Club of Austin founded the festival in 1929. Kites first launched in […]

Texas Longhorns Women’s Tennis Seniors Prepare for Final Games

byTori Garcia

AUSTIN, Texas — With the start of the NCAA Championship tournament only a few weeks away, the seniors on the University of Texas women’s tennis team have many emotions as they enter the postseason. Charlotte Chavatipon and Malaika Rapolu are finishing their fourth and final year in a burnt-orange jersey. “I wish I honestly had […]

The Contemporary Austin Hosts Interactive Exhibit and a Show for 20th Annual Fusebox Festival

byHaley Pacheco

AUSTIN, Texas — To commemorate 20 years of Fusebox, The Contemporary Austin hosted a live performance alongside an interactive gallery experience featuring works by Fusebox artists on April 12 at The Jones Center. Founded by a group of artists in 2005, Fusebox showcases local and international artists in several venues and spaces across the city. […]

UT Researchers and Students Bring Sustainable Sequins to Austin

byMelody Jones

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Science and Natural History Museum opened an exhibit to showcase sequined garments that use a sustainable sequin developed by scientists at the University of Texas. Professors from the College of Natural Sciences curated Particles of Color, which opened April 6. UT senior textiles and apparel major Taryn Lam joined the […]

Reporting Texas TV – April 11, 2024

byReporting Texas TV Staff

Journalism students at the University of Texas at Austin produced their fourth newscast of the Spring 2024 semester on April 11. This week reporters covered the 2024 CMT Awards, the total solar eclipse, an eclipse-themed showcase of ongoing NASA missions, the Cedar Park Kite Festival, a celebration of the Tejano singer Selena, an exhibition of […]

Relocated Cedar Park Kite Festival Quadruples Past Attendance

byCashmir Khawaja

CEDAR PARK, Texas – The eclipse attracted thousands of visitors to Central Texas, prompting an annual kite festival to relocate for a bigger crowd. A myriad of colors adorned the vibrant skies at Lakeline Park as enthusiasts gathered for the stunning celebration of community spirit. The layout of the park provided an ideal backdrop for […]

NASA Experts Launch Preparations for Viewing the Total Solar Eclipse

byTanya Velázquez

AUSTIN, Texas – In celebrating the moon crossing paths with the sun, NASA experts crossed paths with Central Texans at the Austin Nature and Science Center’s Total Eclipse at the Park on April 6-7. “We have subject matter experts, we have some planetary scientists to give talks. And then we are explaining some of the […]

Texas Softball Has a Red River Rivalry to Remember

byDebanny Cerda

AUSTIN, Texas – The fourth-ranked University of Texas softball team handed the three-time defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners their first Big 12 Conference series loss since 2011. “I think we probably did what most people thought was impossible, and that’s to beat Oklahoma two days in a row,” Texas head coach Mike White said. A […]

Total Solar Eclipse Passes Over UT Campus

byJasmine Palacios

AUSTIN, Texas — Thousands of students celebrated the total solar eclipse Monday at the University of Texas Main Mall. Longhorn Band member Christina Lopez said she was excited about the opportunity to perform for her fellow students. “There are not a lot of places in Austin or in the path of totality having a big […]

Country Music Stars Come to Campus for the CMT Awards

byPaulina Pearson

AUSTIN, Texas – The Country Music Television Awards took the University of Texas campus by storm on Sunday. The music video awards began in Nashville in the 1960s and moved to Austin in 2023. Singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini hosted the show at the Moody Center. Ballerini introduced country singers including Cody Johnson, who opened with the […]

Selena Tribute Band Honors the Life of the Late Tejana Legend

byAndrés Calixto

AUSTIN, Texas – Selena Quintanilla tribute band Las Chicas en 512 celebrated the singer’s life with a tribute performance on April 6 at Vinyl Beauty Bar for Selena Day. The band performed songs such as “La Carcacha” and “Qué Creías” for fans to enjoy. Band member Laura Olvera organized the event ahead of Selena’s birthday […]

Posthumous Art Exhibition Shares Hidden Work from Mexican Artist

byAmberlyn Negron

AUSTIN, Texas – The Blanton Museum of Art has a new exhibit in its Paper Vault gallery. Latin American art curator Vanessa Davidson said “Meet Melecio Galván: The Secret Artist & His Mexican Contemporaries” is the first museum exhibition in the United States for the late Mexican artist. “It’s important to note that Galván had […]

Giant Troll Highlights Recycled Art in Austin

byIsabella McGovern 

The piles of Douglas Fir and cedar sat in Pease Park, waiting to be repurposed into Austin’s newest public artwork. The Douglas Fir had once been a research test tank at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus of the University of Texas. Now it was destined to be an 18-foot troll — and a testament to recycling.
While the trend of making art from recycled materials is not new, Dambo’s troll artwork proved to be a good match for environmentally conscious Austin benefactors. 

Reporting Texas TV – April 4, 2024

byReporting Texas TV Staff

Journalism students at the University of Texas at Austin produced their third newscast of the Spring 2024 semester on April 4. This week reporters covered Opening Day for the Round Rock Express, the crowning of a queen in the Miss Black UT pageant, a celebration of Women’s History Month, and an April Fools’ Day burlesque […]