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The firing of KUT's general manager this week has unleashed criticism against University of Texas administrators and raised questions about the  future of the broadcaster. 

Why it matters: The decades-old relationship between UT and KUT hangs in the balance amid a turbulent time for public broadcasters — including attacks and funding cuts by the Trump administration. 

Nationwide, some universities have pulled support for radio stations that operate from their campuses.

The latest: Debbie Hiott's firing came after she pushed back on the university's last-minute decision to kick outdoor portions of the inaugural KUT Festival off campus over what administrators said were security concerns. (The festival ended up moving off campus.) 

The school told Hiott she was being let go because of her "insufficient planning" of the festival and her public comments about the move, she told the American-Statesman.

The Statesman reported yesterday that UT provost William Inboden had played a role in drafting messaging over the KUT Fest decision.

UT officials have declined Axios interview requests about the matter.

State of play: The firing — and the previous decision about the ouster of the festival — have become political matters. 

"The White House, and now UT, are trying to crack down on those they think are disobedient," U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin) said this week. "I demand full transparency" about what led to the firing.

Zoom in: Neena Satija, investigative reporter and editor at the Texas Newsroom, a public radio partnership, said on air Tuesday that she and other reporters are seeking to learn more about the implications of Hiott's firing.

"We have a lot of questions. I think we are interested in what's going to happen to the station. What's the future of KUT?" she said.

Context: The Federal Communications Commission licensed UT to run KUT in 1958.

The university provides office space for KUT, as well as its sister station, KUTX, and handles its payroll. 

KUT staffers get UT's generous employment benefits. The radio station is   editorially independent from the university, and about 86% of its revenue comes from community support and sponsorships.

Follow the money: UT's contribution to KUT's total annual revenue is just 6%, with about $1 million contributed through in-kind donations including facilities, IT support and payroll, according to financial statements, per the American-Statesman. 

Zoom out: UT is operating under increased political strain as its leadership seeks to satisfy Republican lawmakers who control the university's pursestrings.

The KUT Fest had a roster of Republican and Democratic officeholders on its panels. 

The keynote address was by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), a potential 2028 presidential candidate. He spoke as scheduled at the LBJ Presidential Library on campus.

Reality check: No evidence has emerged that UT ousted the festival because of its lineup.

The big picture: Some radio stations — like KCUR in Kansas City, Missouri — are proactively ending their university affiliation and moving to being overseen by an independent nonprofit board. 

Last year, the trustees of Penn State University voted to "wind down" operations at its radio station.

Also in 2025, Baylor University cut its $209,000 annual contribution to KWBU.

What they're saying: "Just a reminder you can be great at your job and highly regarded, but you are not free to speak your mind when your higher-ups are politicians or political appointees," Fred Cantu, the former longtime CBS Austin anchor, wrote on Facebook following Hiott's firing.

"This incident ... could be a catalyst for a campaign to take KUT out of UT for good," Brenda Thompson, an Austin communications specialist, posted on Facebook.

A message left with a member of KUT's advisory board was not returned.

A UT spokesperson declined to respond to questions from Axios about whether the university had any plan to sever its relationship with the radio station or whether politics played any role in the decision to force the festival off campus.

Turbulence surfaces between Austin broadcaster and UT

The relationship between KUT and UT began in the late 1950s.

Illustration of a lasso around a microphone.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="firing of KUT&#x27;s general manager" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/04/29/kut-festival-moved-austin-university-of-texas" data-vars-content-id="5b23180b-120b-4ae7-aede-2911fa6bfa84" data-vars-headline="Turbulence surfaces between Austin broadcaster and UT" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/04/29/kut-festival-moved-austin-university-of-texas" target="_self">firing of KUT&#x27;s general manager</a> this week has unleashed criticism against University of Texas administrators and raised questions about the future of the broadcaster. Why it matters: The decades-old relationship between UT and KUT hangs in the balance amid a turbulent time for public broadcasters — including attacks and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="funding cuts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/02/austin-kut-kutx-cpb-trump" data-vars-content-id="5b23180b-120b-4ae7-aede-2911fa6bfa84" data-vars-headline="Turbulence surfaces between Austin broadcaster and UT" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/02/austin-kut-kutx-cpb-trump" target="_self">funding cuts</a> by the Trump administration.

News

The University of Texas men's baseball team, ranked sixth nationally, will face No. 3 Georgia in its opening game of the 2026 men's College World Series on Saturday. 

Why it matters: UT is arguably the New York Yankees of college baseball — this berth marks its record 39th appearance in the College World Series.

The intrigue: The Longhorns were hot at Disch-Falk Field — completing their 2026 home slate with a 34-4 ledger, their most wins in Austin since 2011 — but they were mediocre (8-8) in true road games.

They posted a 3-1 record at neutral sites.

Catch up quick: The Longhorns (45-13) got here by defeating Oregon last weekend in the Austin super-regional. 

That made skipper Jim Schlossnagle one of only four coaches to guide three different schools — TCU, Texas A&M and Texas — to the College World Series.

Flashback: Schlossnagle was named head coach at UT in June 2024 — the day after the Aggies' loss in the College World Series finals.

But last year the Longhorns didn't even make it out of the Austin regional, despite posting their best record since 2010.

Zoom in: The Longhorns sport a pair of fab freshmen.

Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. on Thursday was named National Freshman of the Year.

Among Power Four freshmen in 2026, Pack Jr. ranks first in stolen bases (20); second in average (.359), runs (58) and on-base percentage (.485); 

Sam Cozart this week was named the Co-Freshman Pitcher of the Year.

What they're saying: "The standard here is a national title, and we'll do our best to win that," Schossnagle said at a press conference after the club beat Oregon. 

"I have to walk by that sign every day that says 38 trips to Omaha. And 38's been sitting there for a while. I'm glad we'll at least be able to change that to 39."

How it works: The men's College World Series begins with an opening round of two four-team, double-elimination brackets.

The winner from each of those two brackets then advances to face each other in a best-of-three championship series.

What's next: The 7pm game will air on ESPN.

The winner between the SEC's top two programs will square off against the winner of No. 7 Alabama and Oklahoma at 6pm Monday. 

Meanwhile, the pair of losing teams will meet in an elimination contest at 2pm Monday.

University of Texas baseball heads back to World Series

The Longhorns are making their record 39th trip to Omaha.

Two Texas baseball players in white and orange celebrate mid-air on the field; left player #24 with glove raised, right player with TEXAS on his chest smiles as empty stands loom behind.

Texas Longhorns baseball players celebrate after a victory this season. Photo: Josh Fralick/Baylor Athletics/University Images via Getty Images

The University of Texas <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="men&#x27;s baseball team" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/04/15/1983-longhorns-baseball-team-documentary" data-vars-content-id="8177cfa7-009f-407b-9d39-8f1bdc1202e5" data-vars-headline="University of Texas baseball heads back to World Series" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/04/15/1983-longhorns-baseball-team-documentary" target="_self">men&#x27;s baseball team</a>, ranked sixth nationally, will face No. 3 Georgia in its opening game of the 2026 men&#x27;s College World Series on Saturday. Why it matters: UT is arguably the New York Yankees of college baseball — this berth marks its record 39th appearance in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="College World Series" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/06/17/texas-longhorns-world-series-omaha" data-vars-content-id="8177cfa7-009f-407b-9d39-8f1bdc1202e5" data-vars-headline="University of Texas baseball heads back to World Series" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/06/17/texas-longhorns-world-series-omaha" target="_self">College World Series</a>.

Sports

Barton Springs Pool was shuttered and at least one driver had to be rescued amid flooding in the Austin area early Monday.

Why it matters: A flood watch continues in parts of Central Texas through 7pm Tuesday, with pockets of heavy rainfall in the forecast.

Stunning stat: Areas to the south and east of Austin could receive as many as 6 inches of rain during this set of storms, per a forecast discussion posted by the National Weather Service (NWS) Monday.

More than 4.5 inches fell in parts of greater Austin over a 12-hour period between Sunday night and Monday morning, per the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Near Eagle Pass, about 140 miles southwest of San Antonio, as much as 12 inches fell Monday morning.

State of play: As of Monday morning, 107 crossings were closed in Austin.

What's happening: "Really deep moisture" in the atmosphere met a weak cold front from the north, leading to the heavy downpours, Cory Van Pelt, a meteorologist with the NWS New Braunfels office, tells Axios.

Zoom in: The NWS sent out multiple flash flood warnings early Monday.

Sent when life and property are at risk, the texts bypassed do-not-disturb settings across Austin.

Travis County's Office of Emergency Management also sent out its own warning at about 1:30am "to reinforce the NWS message," David Wiechmann, a spokesperson for Austin Emergency Management, tells Axios.

Context: Last July, the NWS faced scrutiny over the timing and number of its alerts in the lead-up to the devastating Hill Country floods.

Zoom out: Despite all the recent precipitation, Austin has seen a total this year of 15.51 inches of rain as of Monday morning — trailing the normal year-to-date accumulation of 16.89, per NWS.

What's next: Expect muggy weather and more rain this week.

Van Pelt says that a drier midweek could give way to more rain at week's end, with a front coming in from the south.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new forecast information.

Flooding closes over 100 crossings in Austin

Forecasters warn some areas could see up to 8 inches of rain before the storms move out.

Map of central Texas around Round Rock and Pflugerville, with blue rivers and lakes, town names, and many color-coded value markers (red/orange/yellow/green) showing numbers like 4.53 and 0.40.

Rainfall totals in the Austin area between 9:45pm Sunday and 9:45am Monday. Image: Courtesy of Lower Colorado River Authority

A don't drown sign posted on a flooded road.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Barton Springs Pool" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/02/29/barton-springs-bathhouse-renaming" data-vars-content-id="81ad005a-dbb1-4430-9d00-dcc705134d31" data-vars-headline="Flooding closes over 100 crossings in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/02/29/barton-springs-bathhouse-renaming" target="_self">Barton Springs Pool</a> was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shuttered" data-vars-click-url="https://mailchi.mp/e6af502add26/murchison-pool-closed-for-repairs-8628136?e=e88cfc3849" data-vars-content-id="81ad005a-dbb1-4430-9d00-dcc705134d31" data-vars-headline="Flooding closes over 100 crossings in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mailchi.mp/e6af502add26/murchison-pool-closed-for-repairs-8628136?e=e88cfc3849" target="_blank">shuttered</a> and at least one driver <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="had to be rescued" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlN_TouU0iw" data-vars-content-id="81ad005a-dbb1-4430-9d00-dcc705134d31" data-vars-headline="Flooding closes over 100 crossings in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlN_TouU0iw" target="_blank">had to be rescued</a> amid flooding in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/signup/austin" data-vars-content-id="81ad005a-dbb1-4430-9d00-dcc705134d31" data-vars-headline="Flooding closes over 100 crossings in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/signup/austin" target="_self">Austin</a> area early Monday.Why it matters: A flood watch continues in parts of Central Texas through 7pm Tuesday, with pockets of heavy rainfall in the forecast.

A state takeover of local public schools looms as Austin ISD struggles to right failing campuses.

Why it matters: A takeover would mean governance of schools would move out of the control of a locally elected board of trustees.

Critics of a takeover say it could open the way for policy changes not necessarily aligned with the wishes of voters — but proponents argue that it could free the district to pursue reforms free of the pressures of local politics.

The latest: Late last month, the Texas Education Agency rejected a proposal by Austin ISD officials to partner with an outside nonprofit to take over failing schools, making a takeover more likely.

The school district is appealing the decision.

How it works: Under a 2015 state law aimed at prodding local school boards to address failing schools — when at least one school receives an F for five years in a row — the state education commissioner must either order the campus closed or take over the entire district.

The commissioner can replace locally elected school board members with a board of managers of the commissioner's choosing.

In other school districts, that has meant local, connected professionals — chamber of commerce types, for example, or activist parents.

The intrigue: The state-appointed board of managers would stay in place a minimum of two years, though that can be extended if the state commissioner thinks the district hasn't shown enough improvement.

State of play: In Austin, three middle schools — Burnet, Dobie and Webb — have received four consecutive failing grades from the state's accountability system.

A fifth failing grade, which could come this August, might prompt a takeover.

An F means at least 65% of children at the school tested below grade level.

What they're saying: Austin ISD's current leadership "has spent years making excuses for its academic failures, especially for its poorest children, while deflecting accountability onto the state," Kendall Pace, a former AISD board member, tells Axios. 

"How can it not benefit us?" Vanessa Gamez, mother of a Webb Middle School student, told the Austin Current about the prospect of a takeover. "If we are where we are, what can be worse? I don't think there can be worse."

The other side: While the state is "tasked with supporting our schools, our local leaders are the ones actually on the ground doing the hard work to ensure student success," the Central Texas legislative delegation said in a statement after the AISD turnaround plan was rejected. 

"We still believe they are best suited to foster the academic achievement of our children."

School board president Lynn Boswell did not respond to Axios' request for comment.

A spokesperson for Superintendent Matias Segura said Segura was unavailable to comment but pointed Axios to his statement in the appeal letter from last month.

The district aims to "ensure our resources are strategically allocated to support systemic improvement across all campuses, especially where our students need the most support to reach their highest potential," Segura said.

Zoom out: On Monday, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa, a state lawmaker from Austin who formerly served on the Austin school board, said that "it is never the right answer to struggling schools to take power away from parents and communities." 

Hinojosa vowed to end state takeovers if she were governor.

The big picture: The prospect of a takeover comes as the district grapples with a massive budget shortfall and school closures.

Austin public schools face reckoning as state takeover looms

Student learning and local governance are key issues.

A classroom scene shows a teacher leaning over two students at a round desk to help with work; other students study nearby. Behind them is a bright orange "WORD WALL" with blue bulletin boards.

An eighth grade math class at Martin Middle School in 2024. Photo: Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images

A state takeover of local public schools looms as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin ISD" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/04/08/austin-isd-budget-deficit" data-vars-content-id="87c8490f-4938-4103-8968-68b35cab5b82" data-vars-headline="Austin public schools face reckoning as state takeover looms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/04/08/austin-isd-budget-deficit" target="_self">Austin ISD</a> struggles to right failing campuses.Why it matters: A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="takeover" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/03/24/fort-worth-isd-state-takeover" data-vars-content-id="87c8490f-4938-4103-8968-68b35cab5b82" data-vars-headline="Austin public schools face reckoning as state takeover looms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/03/24/fort-worth-isd-state-takeover" target="_self">takeover</a> would mean governance of schools would move out of the control of a locally elected board of trustees.

Thick mats of blue-green algae have once again been spotted by Red Bud Isle on Lady Bird Lake and at Walsh Boat Landing on Lake Austin.

Why it matters: The stuff could be toxic, especially for dogs.

State of play: Avoid stagnant, warm or murky water and don't enter the water if there has been rain the previous three days.

As obvious as this is, don't drink water directly from natural water bodies.

Rinse animal fur thoroughly if pets make contact with water.

The intrigue: For the past five years, the city has applied lanthanum-modified clay to manage sediment phosphorus in an effort to reduce the growth of algae as part of a $1.5 million pilot program. 

This year is a control year with no application so city officials can evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program.

What's next: As the weather heats up, conditions for algae will become more favorable — expect to see more in Austin-area waterways.

Blue-green algae has returned to Austin lakes

The stuff could be toxic, especially for dogs.

Dense green trees along a calm riverbank; leaves float on the water and reflect sunlight. Rocks line the shore, and a dock edge is visible at the bottom right.

Blue-green algae visible around Red Bud Isle. Photo: Courtesy City of Austin

Thick mats of blue-green algae have once again been spotted by Red Bud Isle on Lady Bird Lake and at Walsh Boat Landing on Lake Austin.Why it matters: The stuff could be toxic, especially for dogs.

Asher Price

Featured stories

Turbulence surfaces between Austin broadcaster and UT

Flooding closes over 100 crossings in Austin

University of Texas baseball heads back to World Series

Austin public schools face reckoning as state takeover looms

Blue-green algae has returned to Austin lakes