While local and state leaders are preparing for the next phase, we’re all still grappling with the way the pandemic has changed our day-to-day lives. For the past seven weeks, we’ve been checking in daily with folks from around the Bay to hear how they are dealing with these extraordinary times. Today, we’ll hear about new loves, dashed dreams, and the competitive spirit of an 8-year-old Uno champ. It's the Quarantine Diaries .

For the first time in its 231-year history, the Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments remotely by phone and made the audio available live. The new setup went off largely without difficulties, but produced some memorable moments, including one justice forgetting to unmute and an ill-timed bathroom break. Here are the top five can't-miss moments from this week's history-making oral arguments. A second week of arguments begin on Monday at 10 a.m. ET. Here's a rundown of the cases and how to listen. 1. Justice Clarence Thomas speaks ... a lot Supreme Court oral arguments are verbal jousting matches. The justices pepper the lawyers with questions, interrupting counsel repeatedly and sometimes even interrupting each other. Justice Clarence Thomas, who has sat on the bench for nearly 30 years, has made his dislike of the chaotic process well known, at one point not asking a question for a full decade. But with no line of sight, the telephone arguments have to be rigidly organized, and

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These five oldies but goodies from the On Second Thought archive cover topics from rocket science to recipe books. Check out these stories to start your week out with some good news. What are some of your favorite On Second Thought segments? Leave us a message on our Facebook group or our Twitter page . 1) “ From Ma Rainey To Otis Redding, The Musical Roots That Gave Georgia Its Sound ” Last September, we were joined by musical scholars, Joycelyn Wilson, Lance Ledbetter, and Jamie Weatherford to discuss the history of music in Georgia. From Outkast to James Brown, and from Brenda Lee to Jason Aldean, Georgia has produced some of the most respected minds in blues, country, soul, rock, and dozens of other genres. 2) “ Primatologist Frans De Waal Explores What Humans Can Learn From Animal Emotions ” April 2019 saw Atlanta-based author and primatologist Frans de Waal discuss his book Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions . His work explores how primates and other animals experience emotions

From pit bulls to political humor and feminist literature to Folsom State Prison, we’ve got five more stories from the On Second Thought archive to help you weather another Monday. 1) One Man's Mission To Protect 'The Dog America Loves To Hate' This past January, we interviewed Jason Flatt, founder of the Dallas, Georgia-based “ Friends of the Forlorn” Pitbull Rescue . Flatt moved to Georgia after a family tragedy and faced his grief by adopting a pitbull puppy named Angelo. He was inspired to create a sanctuary for pitbulls, which have been widely stereotyped as violent. His organization has become nationally-renowned for its open arms and willingness to take on the most disadvantaged dogs. 2) Rebels and Ramblers: New Ken Burns 'Country Music' Documentary Ken Burns has won acclaim for his documentary work covering wars, disasters, and social movements. His most recent work, “ Country Music, ” aired on PBS in September of last year. We sat down with writer and producer Dayton Duncan to

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about how to rethink your approach to work for a happier life.

Every price point in Apple’s notebook lineup has recently gotten an update, with revisions to the 13″ MacBook Pro this week. And they’ve fixed the keyboards. So if you’re in the market for a Mac, which should you get? We know from sales figures that even in the midst of dueling economic and health crises, […]

The post Apple’s sweet spot: which MacBook do you want for music making now? appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

The band Vampire Weekend started in 2006, in New York. Their third album came out in 2013, and was named one of the best albums of the year all over the place, and it won a Grammy. But it took six years for their next album, Father of the Bride, to come out. This album’s also been nominated for a Grammy, for album of the year. And the lead single from it, “Harmony Hall,” was nominated for Best Rock Song.

In this episode, Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend takes “Harmony Hall” apart. I spoke to him along with producer Ariel Rechtshaid, and the two of them detailed winding path the song went down, over several years, before it finally took shape.

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Oooh, shiny: the week 3 results of your January 2020 Best Post Contest have been tabulated!

by Edna Winti (cc by)

Be Bedazzled!: The bounty of the best continues with Week 4 results of the January 2020 Best Post Contest.

Matthew Panzarino returns to the show. Topics include the brand new MacBook Air and iPad Pros, and, you know, global pandemics in the internet age.

The Austin City Council approves $8.6 million for a new homeless shelter on Ben White Boulevard. Plus, why is Austin’s “official” LGBT Pride celebration in August instead of June? And who is the motorcycle rider who does wheelies around Austin in pool floaties? Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at...

Why Texas is at greater risk than ever this summer of rolling blackouts. Plus, Austin ISD’s top budget official on what the state’s new school finance law means for the largest school district in Central Texas. And we meet a widower who has helped to foster more than 170 newborn babies. Those stories and more...

Why Austin ISD is planning to close some of its schools. Plus, how a wet spring is causing a relatively cooler summer in Austin. And why the state’s surge in wind power has some people in remote areas of West Texas complaining about the view. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!...

The University of Texas at Austin plans to give a free education to students whose families make less than $65,000. Plus, how the Travis County District Attorney is changing the county’s approach toward low level drug offense. And who’s the guy with the giant bird in South Austin? Those stories and more in this edition...

Austin gets its first triple digit heat of the summer. Plus, how new city rules on panhandling may benefit buskers. And why does the top of Austin’s tallest building look ‘unfinished’? Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Democrats are betting the state’s changing suburbs will help them win Congressional seats in 2020. Plus, migrants facing legal limbo as asylum laws change. And why some Central Texas lakes could be lowered for safety. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Fears surrounding school closures and consolidations in Austin ISD. Plus, Dripping Springs takes a community approach to mental health care. And why are there no billboards on MoPac? Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Gun politics in Texas after a mass shooting in El Paso. Plus, who cleans up bat guano under the Congress Avenue Bridge? And the story of a woman who helps older Austinites stay connected. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

What you need to know about toxic algae blooms on Lady Bird Lake. Plus, how Austin’s past failures at desegregating schools affect today’s decisions about school closures. And why do city of Austin lifeguards blow their whistles in an unusual way to clear city swimming pools? Those stories and more in this edition of KUT...

How a psychological shift could be helping Texas Democrats. Plus, why is it so difficult to prosecute sexual assault cases in Travis County? And a mom who put her kids into a school with fewer resources to get them into classrooms with more diversity. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe...

A church destroyed by Hurricane Harvey finally reopens. Plus, how students at an elite magnet school in Austin ISD felt they had to prove they belonged. And how the legacy of slavery is still confounding the county’s efforts to eliminate health disparities. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

The Austin school district’s plan to close twelve schools to cope with under-enrollment. Plus, how some Republican leaders in Texas may be dipping their toes into gun control policies. And we meet the Texas ‘ambassador’ who works at the Capitol Visitors Center. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Austin police are still citing people for small amounts of marijuana as county prosecutors continue to reject cases. Plus, have ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft reduced drunk driving arrests in Austin? And the world says goodbye to Austin music icon Daniel Johnston. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at...

Austin’s city council punts on reinstating rules to limit camping and resting in public. Plus, when taking out a reverse mortgage in Austin means losing your home. And Austin students demand government action on climate change. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Efforts to boost youth voter turnout in 2020. Plus, Austin ISD changes its tone on school closures. And how did Lake Travis’ Sometimes Islands get their name? Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Governor Abbott threatens state action over Austin’s homelessness policies. Plus, the latest on Austin ISD’s efforts to sell parents on plans that include closing and consolidating 12 schools. And what’s the best way to get into the chilly waters of Barton Springs Pool? Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at...

Texas groups brace for cuts that could ‘devastate’ refugee resettlement services. Plus, Austin’s first homeless strategy officer steps down after just one month on the job. And we’ll hear from a guy who’s been calling Texas football games in Spanish for 25 years. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at...

The Austin City Council reinstates limited bans on camping and resting in public. Plus, what does the word “equity” mean in the context of AISD school closures? And iconic Austin burger joint Hut’s Hamburgers closes this weekend after 80 years in business. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Nobody seems to support Austin’s Proposition A, but we still have to vote on it. Plus, Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen resigns after a secretly made audio recording becomes public. And Austin’s music history is being preserved at a local museum that is opening in a new space this weekend. Those stories and more in...

Life gets harder for people in Austin with nowhere to live. Plus, what’s on the ballot in the November election on Tuesday. And lessons learned since last year’s week-long boil water notice in Austin. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Why it took Travis County almost till 4 a.m. to finish counting election results. Plus, Capital Metro crunches the numbers on future transit plans. And why you might see tarantulas around town. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

The Austin City Council votes to spend $8 million to buy and revamp a motel to house the homeless. Plus, Austin’s first Latina city council member says she will not seek re-election. And activists knock on doors to rally voters around fixing the state’s high uninsured rate. Those stories and more in this edition of...

Austin’s school board votes to close four elementary campuses. Plus, the number of abortion clinics in Texas continues to decline. And a new chorus in Austin for people whose memories are disappearing. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

A last-minute loophole could undermine a Texas law against surprise medical bills. Plus, Hill Country landowners say the energy company Kinder Morgan is lowballing them on land for a natural gas pipeline. And some Texas farmers going all in on hemp. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

The Austin City Council orders an extensive investigation into allegations of racism and bias in the Austin Police Department. Plus, a pediatric brain surgeon in Austin who died in a car race is remembered for his biggest wins off the track. And Rainey Street will be closed to cars and trucks on weekends. Those stories...

Austin is one step closer to getting a contentious set of new rules that determine what can be built in which parts of the city. Plus, how narratives and not facts often drive news coverage of public opinion surveys. And who is the chatty guy who works at the post office in East Austin? Those...

Religious groups step in to provide contraception as Planned Parenthood gets sidelined in Texas. Plus, how does Austin’s school district move forward after its equity officer called a school closure plan racist? And who started the tradition of residents stringing up hoards of lights on a stretch of 37th Street? Those stories and more in...

How a new state law makes it harder to open voting stations on college campuses. Plus, UT-Austin students want university officials to do more to fight for affordable housing. And how a scarcity of parking in Austin makes it hard for some businesses to hire. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!...

Five Austin students describe what it’s like not to know whether your school is going to close. Plus, a photographer makes it his mission to capture East Austin’s “essence” before it disappears. And reporters from Kazakhstan explore what makes Austin weird. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Paying for new trains and buses in Austin could involve a joint venture and new taxes. Plus, as the Caddo Mounds State Historic State reopens, tornado survivors heal together. And teens in Texas react to U.S.-Iranian tension. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

The Austin City Council tries to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession, but the police chief says officers will still bust pot smokers. Plus, rural counties in fast-growing Central Texas hustle to prevent being undercounted in the 2020 Census. And the Last Man on Rainey Street vowed to stay, but now he’s glad he left. Those stories...

New data showing black and Latinx drivers are increasingly more likely to be stopped by Austin police. Plus, the story of a Central Texas man’s deportation to Mexico and how it affected his children, who are U.S. citizens. And the Austin History Center celebrating a newspaper that’s chronicled black life in Austin since 1973. Those...

The Austin City Council hires a new consultant to help with homelessness. Plus, Austin firefighters look to California to address the city’s wildfire risks. And the unique role of sports medicine at Texas rodeos. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

The Austin City Council gets one big step closer to a sweeping overhaul of the city’s land development rules. Plus, delays in the Austin Police Department handing enforcement of rules governing loud music to the city’s music office. And a trip to the tiny West Texas town of Valentine. Those stories and more in this...

We find out who’s behind the ‘funny little messages’ on signs along Austin roads. Plus, Austin landlords repeatedly cited for health and safety violations could get their right to rent revoked. And after a rise in mothers dying in childbirth, Texas came up with a plan. We find out how it’s going. Those stories and...

A warm winter and the weird things it does in Austin. Plus, why do people in Travis County vote at grocery stores? And the Godfather of Austin’s club scene. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

Austin cancels South by Southwest. Plus, why Tuesday’s primaries were just round one in some political battles. And how some Austin police officers are trying to build trust with young people. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

The latest on coronavirus in Austin in this edition of KUT Weekend! Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org

This week, how the coronavirus pandemic has upended the most difficult part of life – death. Homeless Austinites – and the people who help them – are having to do less with less amid COVID-19. And, Austin therapists offer teleheatlh during the COVID-19 pandemic. But who pays isn’t always clear. Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org