‘We’re the First’: Spacecraft En Route to Conduct UT’s Search for Water on Europa

byAlex Lamb

Scientists working for the University of Texas at Austin’s Institute for Geophysics in the Jackson School of Geosciences have developed airborne radar equipment capable of seeing through Europa’s thick layers of ice to determine whether water is present. They call this equipment REASON, and it launched in October aboard NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft on a five-year journey toward the distant orbit of Jupiter.

Korean Students at UT Call for President’s Impeachment Back Home

byShunya Carroll

Soo-Hee Kang has traveled 7,000 miles to media at the University of Texas school of radio, television and film. The distance made Kang feel hopeless when the president of South Korea placed her country under martial law. 
“After the martial law ended,” Kang said, “I became very angry and felt like I had to do something — even from far away.” 

Fields, Farms and Factories: How a Foreign Company Is Changing a Rural County Near Houston

byRebecca Butler

Waller County saw a population increase of over 42 percent during the 2010s after the arrival of several large companies, most notably the Japanese air conditioning manufacturer Daikin Comfort. Although the city of Waller’s population is only about 4,000, Daikin employs over 9,000 people.
In 2014, the Texas-themed convenience store chain Buc-ee’s moved into the town, bringing new job opportunities and more tax revenue to the city. Three years later, Daikin built a 4.23 million square foot factory, roughly the size of 65 football fields — making it the third-largest factory in the United States at the time of its opening. Daikin’s technology park serves as its American headquarters. 
Daikin will soon increase its Texas presence. It announced in November that it has bought the naming rights to Minute Maid Stadium, home of the Houston Astros baseball team. 

Tacos Around Austin

byUT students in Food Journalism Class

Students in School of Journalism and Media’s J337L Food Journalism reported on and wrote this guide to tacos in Austin (and one place in Buda). They paid for their own meals and ate anonymously.  CJ’s Tacos Taco de Pescado ($4.50)  Who knew a fried fish taco could be dripping in color? The Taco de Pescado […]

Plans for New Dougherty Arts Center Move On Despite Increased Costs, Funding Uncertainty

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is moving forward with replacing  the Dougherty Arts Center in South Austin despite uncertainty over funding for the two-phase development plan, the parks department said in a recent memo. The proposed arts center’s campus would include a Smithsonian-caliber gallery space, a 2,600-square-foot black box theater and studio spaces and […]

Operation Gratitude: How One Nonprofit Is Making This Holiday Season Special for Military Members

byMichael Karlis

Brennan Avants was completing his final tour in Iraq when a care package from nonprofit Operation Gratitude arrived at his base. “It just meant so much at the time,” Avants recalled. 
After 21 years in the U.S. Army as an artillery gunner, Avants teamed up with the group that had sent him that care package all those years ago. The group recently packed new care packages in San Antonio for shipment around the globe.

Reporting Texas TV – Dec 5, 2024

Journalism students at the University of Texas at Austin produced their final newscast of the Fall 2024 semester.

Texas Lawmakers Refile Bill to Legalize Fentanyl Test Strips

byCashmir Khawaja

Texas lawmakers are reintroducing a bill to decriminalize fentanyl test strips after similar efforts stalled last legislative session. These strips, which can detect the deadly opioid in drugs, are seen as a simple and effective tool to prevent overdose deaths. Despite broad support, the bill failed to make it past the Texas Senate last year. […]

Longhorn Lights bring Holiday Spirit to Campus

byAbby Chapman

Bright orange and white lights flash in sync to songs like “Jingle Bells” and “Wabash Cannonball” The University of Texas campus will stay bright for the holidays.  The annual “Longhorn Lights” display kicked off on Nov. 9 with an elaborate show that included the Longhorn Band, UT Mariachi, President Jay Hartzell, and star quarterback Quinn […]

Reporting Texas TV – Nov 21, 2024

Journalism students at the University of Texas at Austin produced their third newscast of the Fall 2024 semester on Nov 21.

Student Recovers from Injury at UT vs. UGA Football Game

A University of Texas student is recovering after a severe injury sustained during the UT vs. University of Georgia football game on Oct. 19. Knox Vacek’s last memory from that day is of students throwing bottles onto the field in protest of a controversial referee call. After the call was reversed, Vacek jumped on the […]

The George Morales Dove Springs Gym has Been Renamed

As the new name, D’Wayne Anderson Gymnasium was revealed on a sleek sign above the entrance, applause and cheers filled the air, mingling with a few tears. “This is not just deserved, it’s well earned,” said Tiffany Cabin, a long-time friend and coworker of Anderson. “He put his heart and soul into ensuring that this […]

Austin Welcomes the Holiday Spirit with A Christmas Affair

byDesiree Marque

The holiday season is here, and one of Austin’s favorite traditions, A Christmas Affair, has returned to the Palmer Events Center. Hosted by the Junior League of Austin, this five-day holiday market is a mix of festive shopping and giving back to the community. With over 200 vendors, shoppers can find everything from handcrafted gifts […]

Texas Cowboys Host Harvest Moon Concert to Benefit UT Elementary

The Texas Cowboys threw its annual Harvest Moon benefit concert in Republic Square Park on Nov. 14, 2024. A night of performances by Randy Rogers Band and June Shine Band helped to raise money through ticket sales benefiting The University of Texas (UT) Elementary, a Title I school in Austin. The event marked their first […]

Year of AI Helps Bring New Learning Tools To Campus

byTate Chapman

The Year of AI at The University of Texas at Austin has prompted new innovations in Artificial Intelligence. UT Sage, an AI tutor, was designed by Kasey Ford. Her role is fully funded by the University making it possible for learning tools like this to be created. Dr. Julie Schell, Assistant Vice Provost of Academic […]

Pro-Palestine Activists Urge UT Regents to Divest from Weapons Manufacturers 

A group of pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated at a  University of Texas System Board of Regents meeting Wednesday demanding the divestment of university funds from weapons manufacturers supplying arms to Israel. 
With Palestinian flags rippling in the wind, around 50 protesters marched on the sidewalk outside the UT System Building in downtown Austin, chanting to the beat of a drum. Inside, the regents convened in a quiet boardroom. 

Council Considers Reduced I-35 Caps Proposal Amid Concerns of Long-Term Impact

by Madeline de Figueiredo

In Tuesday’s Austin City Council work session, city staff from the Transportation and Public Works Department presented a recommendation to reduce the scope of I-35 caps and stitches, sparking concerns and hesitation among council members and community members about the long-term impact on the city’s future. While the Our Future 35 Vision Plan originally included […]

UT Students Voted Heavily for Harris. They Told Us Why.

byAlex Lamb

Although she lost the presidential election to Donald Trump, Kamala Harris won majority support from voters living in and around the University of Texas at Austin. In the five precincts surrounding UT, Harris’ support ranged from 55% to 68%, and she earned more votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. Trump […]

Pro-Palestinian Students Protest Israeli Politician’s Speech at UT

byShunya Carroll and Sarah Gonzales

Pro-Palestinian protesters condemned the University of Texas for allowing  a former Israeli prime minister to speak on campus as part of Hillel International’s Teach-In tour Tuesday night at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. 

With UT Recruit Leading the Way, Westlake Volleyball Reaches New Heights

byLuke Lawhorn

Westlake High School senior Lily Davis could see how close the Chaparrals were to finally getting over the hump. They had won two of the first three sets over Cibolo Steele on Tuesday night at Lehman High School  and were on the verge of advancing to the Texas UIL Class 6A Region IV volleyball final.
Before the fourth set, the University of Texas volleyball recruit gathered her teammates in a huddle to remind everyone of the work they had put in over the last three years.
For Davis, the all-time Westlake kills leader and gold medal winner in the FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships,  the victory showed just how far she and her teammates had come in their high school careers.