Local Businesses Serve Up Lesson in Achieving Voter Turnout

bySarah Kate Scribner

In last November’s election, the voters of Travis County stepped right up for a passion plate of political participation this election. And local businesses would like to think they helped to serve it with a side of incentive. “The idea of getting involved in this year’s election was first proposed by a staff member back […]

Economic Displacement Feared As Austin Gets Moving

bySara Schleede

When Austin voters decided a third time was the charm and  signed a big check to get the city moving with a massive transportation project, they included a plan to mitigate community gentrification. Research suggests big infrastructure projects, especially for transportation, can contribute to economic displacement as property values rise along transportation corridors — already […]

The Uphill Climb for Stricter Gun Laws in Texas

byMadi Donham

A Republican state representative from Odessa — which witnessed the third mass-shooting tragedy nationwide in a single month last year — filed the first gun-safety-related bill of the upcoming 87th Legislature. 

Black-Owned Plant-Based Restaurants Taking Root in Texas

byMadelyn Gee 

Many African-Americans simply are not used to having plant-based ingredients replace meat in the cuisine they grew up with. However, an increasing number of black-owned plant-based restaurants around the state are showing that going meatless is becoming more popular among African-American Texans.

Falconry Soars in Texas 

bySumaiya Malik

Falconry is a niche sport, but the state has seen an uptick in applications for falconry permits. “We have an average of 14 new applicants each year, but in 2019 that number increased to 27,” Megan Nelson, falconry permit coordinator at Texas Parks and Wildlife, said. There are 389 licensed falconers in Texas.

Austin Representative Previews 87th Texas Legislature

byMadi Donham

Lawmakers will wrestle with the budget, health care and once-in-a-decade political redistricting — all in the middle of a global pandemic — when the 87th Texas Legislative session convenes in January. Reporting Texas spoke with Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat representing House District 49 — the heart of Travis County — about the upcoming legislative session.

Reporting Texas TV Newscast – November 19

byBismarck D. Andino, Alyssa Crosby, and Stephanie Witt

Journalism students from Moody College at the University of Texas made their sixth and final newscast of the semester on November 19, 2020. This week student journalists covered efforts to provide laptops and hotspots for low-income students, post-election rallies for Donald Trump, and the upcoming ring ceremony for graduating seniors.

Austin Public Library to Offer Laptops and Hotspots for Students

byBismarck D. Andino

AUSTIN, Texas — At the beginning of the school year, Maura Cerecedo had only one computer for her three children. Cerecedo couldn’t afford to buy more because she and her husband were laid off from work. She borrowed two laptops from the school, but online learning hasn’t been easy. “The kids in class sometimes have […]

Reporting Texas TV Newscast – November 12

byBismarck D. Andino, Alyssa Crosby, and Stephanie Witt

Journalism students from Moody College at the University of Texas made their fifth newscast of the semester on November 12, 2020. This week student journalists covered voter turnout of young adults in Austin, the university’s decision to hold all classes remotely after Thanksgiving break, and what December graduates need to know about commencement.

UT Students Prepare for Pandemic-Related Thanksgiving Changes

byStephanie Witt

AUSTIN, Texas — Thanksgiving break will be different this year as the University of Texas will not have any in-person classes after the holiday. Administrators decided in May that students will not return to campus and will instead finish the semester remotely. University Health Services advises students to take precautions before they pack up and […]

Youth Voter Turnout Increases in Travis County

byAlyssa Crosby

AUSTIN, Texas — As a first-generation US citizen, Kara Fields takes voting seriously. She was one of the more than 20,000 people who voted early at two polling places on the University of Texas campus. “Everyone was just so much more invested in this presidential election just because of everything that was experienced in the last […]

Biden Win Sparks Protest and Celebration in Austin 

byMadi Donham

About 300 supporters of President Donald Trump gathered on the south side of the Texas Capitol early Saturday afternoon to protest the presidential election of Joe Biden. Protesters, many dressed in red and waving Trump flags, chanted “Biden is a fraud” and “count the votes.” Others held signs that read “Stop The Steal.” Some gathered […]

Reporting Texas TV Newscast November 5, 2020

byBismarck D. Andino, Alyssa Crosby, and Stephanie Witt

AUSTIN, Texas — Journalism students from Moody College at the University of Texas made their fourth newscast of the semester on November 5, 2020. This week student journalists covered the general election, a rally of motorcycle riders who protested reductions in the budget for the Austin Police Department, and a series of robberies and burglaries […]

Robbers and Burglars Target West Campus Residents

byStephanie Witt

AUSTIN, Texas — Crime is on the rise in West Campus. The Austin Police Department is investigating a string of five aggravated robberies around The University of Texas at Austin campus, one of which involved a violent home invasion. Four of the reported cases involved UT students. On October 8th at 6:30 a.m., APD responded […]

Bikers Rally to Support Austin Police and Oppose Mayor

byBismarck D. Andino

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Members of a social biker club gathered Sunday at the Austin Police Department headquarters to criticize Mayor Steve Adler and the city council for cutting law enforcement funds over the summer. The Wind Therapy Freedom Riders rode from Round Rock to meet a crowd of more than 50 people, including local candidates […]

A Week With Some of Austin’s Most Vehement, Revolutionary Protesters 

byRamón Rodríguez

The Mike Ramos Brigade, or MRB, formed the night Mike Ramos, an unarmed 42-year-old Black and Mexican-American man, was shot and killed by Austin police in April. The brigade’s demands started with justice for Ramos. They quickly started calling for justice for all victims of police brutality and the abolition of the criminal justice system, capitalism and the destruction of what they call the ruling class.

Republicans Dominate Elections in Central Texas

byHarrison Young, Ram Rodríguez, Madi Donham, Madi Gee, Benton Graham, Jillian Price and Mizelle Mayo

Some experts labeled Texas as a toss-up in the presidential election, with most polls showing a 2-4 point lead for Donald Trump. Trump outperformed those expectations, winning by closer to 6 percentage points. Other races included a U.S. Senate race won easily by GOP incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and several Central Texas congressional races where Republicans won easily.

Reporting Texas TV Newscast October 29, 2020

AUSTIN, Texas — Journalism students from Moody College at the University of Texas made their third newscast of the semester on October 22, 2020. This week student journalists investigated support for and opposition to the playing of “The Eyes of Texas” at Longhorn football games, met with local protesters involved in the End SARS movement, […]

Texans Join Worldwide End SARS Protests

byAlyssa Crosby

AUSTIN, Texas — The End SARS movement came to Austin with the help of University of Texas students. Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS for short, gained worldwide attention following an October 3 video that appears to show officers shoot and kill a young man in Ughelli. UT’s African Student Organization helped organize the October 16 […]

Thousands Sign Petition in Support of “The Eyes of Texas” at UT Football Games

byBismarck D. Andino

AUSTIN, Texas — Students and alumni gathered Saturday at Cain and Abel’s sports bar to collect signatures for a petition to keep “The Eyes of Texas” as UT’s alma mater and play it at football games. The song became a trending topic on social media after The Daily Texan reported that members of the Longhorn […]