world news

KUT Weekend – January 17, 2020

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




world news

KUT Weekend – January 24, 2020

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...




world news

KUT Weekend – January 31, 2020

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...




world news

KUT Weekend – February 7, 2020

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




world news

KUT Weekend – February 14, 2020

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...




world news

KUT Weekend – February 21, 2020

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...




world news

KUT Weekend – February 28, 2020

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




world news

KUT Weekend – March 6, 2020

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





world news

KUT Weekend – April 3rd, 2020

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




world news

KUT Weekend – April 10th, 2020

This week, Austinites who depend on real-life connections for sobriety find community online. As UT students log on to finish classes from home, some in rural Texas struggle to stay connected. And, we take a look at who’s using public transportation in Austin during the coronavirus pandemic. Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org




world news

KUT Weekend – April 17th, 2020

This week, an Austin running company changes course amid the coronavirus pandemic. Testing and tracing could get us out of quarantine someday. But what’s tracing, and how does it work? And, with families stuck close to home, ‘bear hunters’ take to Austin’s streets. Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org




world news

KUT Weekend – April 24th, 2020

This week, a UT grad student is marooned in Dubai after COVID-19 travel rules stymie his return to Austin. Construction in Texas is ‘essential’ during the pandemic. Workers worry their health is not. And UT Researchers say social distancing is working. Slacking off could put us on a ‘catastrophic path.’ Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org




world news

KUT Weekend – May 1st, 2020

This week, we hear from some KUT listeners about how they’re coping during the coronavirus pandemic. Whether small businesses in Austin get SBA loans could depend on where they bank. And we talk to a couple KUT ‘extroverts’ on how they find sources and anchor the news while social distancing. Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org




world news

KUT Weekend – May 8th, 2020

This week, the first class from Dell Medical School gets ready to graduate in the midst of a pandemic. Phones are a lifeline for homeless Austinites. That’s especially true during COVID-19. And we talk to two KUT Digital team members on collaborating from a safe distance. Subscribe at http://weekend.kut.org




world news

Dolores Huerta and Andrew Young (Ep. 28, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson presents a conversation with co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association Dolores Huerta and Andrew Young, civil rights legend and former UN Ambassador, Congressman and Mayor of Atlanta, speaking at The Summit on Race in America, hosted by Mark Updegrove at the University...




world news

The Summit on Race in America, pt. 1 (Ep. 29, 2019)

On this week’s program, In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents a conversation with James “Jimmy Jam” Harris, Shemekiah Copeland, and Wyclef Jean at The Summit on Race in America: Liberty and Justice for All, held this Spring at the LBJ Presidential Library, on the campus of the University of Texas...




world news

The Summit on Race in America, pt. 2 (Ep. 30, 2019)

On this week’s program, In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. concludes a discussion with James “Jimmy Jam” Harris, Shemekiah Copeland, and Wyclef Jean at The Summit on Race in America: Liberty and Justice for All, held this Spring at the LBJ Presidential Library, on the campus of the University of Texas...




world news

Valerie Jarrett (Ep. 31, 2019)

On this week’s In Black America program, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents a conversation with Valerie Jarrett, former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, moderated by Brittany Packett this past spring at the Summit on Race in America: Liberty and Justice for All.





world news

Joel G. Baker (Ep. 33, 2019)

On this week’s In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Austin, Texas Fire Chief Joel G. Baker, Austin’s first African American Fire Department Chief, whose career includes more than 30 years in Atlanta, including 3 years as fire chief there




world news

Judge Damon Keith with Peter J. Hammer (Ep. 34, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host Joh L. Hanson, Jr. presents a tribute to the late Federal Judge Damon J. Keith, with Peter J. Hammer, Wayne State University Law professor and author of Crusader for Justice: Federal Judge Damon J. Keith.




world news

Leon Robinson (Ep. 35, 2019)

This week, In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson presents a conversation with actor, singer-songwriter and film producer Leon Robinson, known for his portrayals of David Ruffin and Little Richard, and as leader of reggae-soul band Leon and The Peoples.




world news

Mike Haynes (Ep. 36, 2019)

On this week’s In Black America program, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback and prostate cancer survivor Mike Haynes, about his 14 year NFL career, his cancer recovery, and his Know Your Stats campaign.



  • In Black America
  • Know Your Stats Campaign
  • Mike Haynes
  • National Football League
  • New England Patriots
  • NFL Hall of Fame
  • prostate cancer

world news

Dr. Patrice A. Harris (Ep. 37, 2019)

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents a 2018 interview with Dr. Patrice A. Harris, MD, a psychiatrist and president of the American Medical Association. She’ll serve for a year as president-elect and become the first African-American woman to lead the organization in 2019.




world news

March On Washington 56th Anniversary (Ep. 38, 2019)

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents highlights from the 20th Anniversary commemoration of the 1963 March On Washington, featuring Dr. Maya Angelou, Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Honorable Andrew Young, and the late Congressman Mickey Leland.




world news

Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. (Ep. 39, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents excerpts from an address at this year’s Summit On Race In America: Liberty And Justice For All by Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., civil rights icon, former CEO of the National Urban League and former Executive Director fo the United Negro College...



  • In Black America
  • Jr.
  • National Urban League
  • President Bill Clinton
  • Summit On Race In America
  • United Negro College Fund
  • Vernon E. Jordan

world news

Vanessa Wyche (Ep. 40, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Vanessa Wyche, Deputy Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.  She is the first African American deputy director at NASA.




world news

Claudette A. Robinson (Ep. 41, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Claudette A. Robinson, a founding member of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and a recent participant in The Summit On Race In America, at the LBJ Presidential Library at the University of Texas at Austin.




world news

Duke Fakir and Mary Wilson (Ep. 42, 2019)

On this week’s edition of In Black America, John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Motown legends Abdul “Duke” Fakir, a founding member of The Four Tops, and Mary Wilson, a founding member of the Supremes. Both were participants in The Summit on Race in America this Spring, at the University of Texas at Austin.




world news

The Honorable Andrew Young (Ep. 43, 2019)

On this week’s edition of In Black America, John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with the Honorable Andrew Young, Civil Rights legend, former UN Ambassador, Congressman, and Mayor of Atlanta.  Young was a participant in The Summit on Race in America this Spring, at the University of Texas at Austin.




world news

Robert Townsend (Ep. 44, 2019)

This week on In Black America, John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Robert Townsend, actor, film director and producer, writer, and former cable network programming executive with more than three decades in the entertainment industry, whose credits include Hollywood Shuffle and The Five Heartbeats.




world news

Jarrett Bell, pt. 1 (Ep. 45, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents a conversation with Jarrett Bell, an NFL columnist with USA Today Sports, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee who has covered the National Football League for more than three and a half decades.




world news

Jarrett Bell, pt. 2 (Ep. 46, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. concludes his conversation with Jarrett Bell, a veteran NFL columnist with USA Today Sports, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee who has covered the National Football League for more than three and a half decades.




world news

Cory Minor-Smith (Ep. 47, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Corey Minor Smith, attorney, transformational speaker, former Canton, Ohio at-large city council member, and author of #Driven, which chronicles her experiences with a family member’s mental illness.




world news

Jasmine Allen (Ep. 48, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Jasmine Allen, owner and Director of Events at Destination Birmingham, an event and meeting liaison agency specializing in event production, meeting management, and tours showcasing Birmingham, Alabama.




world news

Dr. Aldon D. Morris, pt. 1 (Ep. 49, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. begins a conversation with Dr. Aldon D. Morris, the Leon Forrest professor of Sociology and African American Studies at Northwestern University and author of The Scholar Denied: W.E.B. Dubois: The Birth of Modern Sociology.




world news

Dr. Aldon D. Morris, pt. 2 (Ep. 50, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents the conclusion of a conversation with Dr. Aldon D. Morris, the Leon Forrest professor of Sociology and African American Studies at Northwestern University, author of The Scholar Denied: W.E.B. Dubois: The Birth of Modern Sociology, and president-elect of the American Sociological...




world news

Charles Whitaker (Ep. 51, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Charles Whitaker , journalist and newly appointed Dean of the Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University.




world news

Sherri Shepherd (Ep. 52, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Sherri Shepherd, actress, comedian, author, game show host and television personality best known for her work as a co-host on the award-winning television program The View.




world news

Dr. Idopise Umana

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Dr. Idopise Umana, a board-certified internal medicine physician who specializes in managing patients with acute and chronic illnesses and founder of The Wellness Institute, located in Suwanee, Georgia.




world news

Dr. Glenda Glover

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Dr. Glenda Glover, President of Tennessee State University and International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha University, Inc., the oldest Greek letter organization established by African American college-educated women.




world news

Glen Crawley (Ep. 3, 2020)

This week, In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Glen Crawley, co-owner, with Kenny Garth, of ATX Hello Tours, a rare African American-owned helicopter tour service, located in Pflugerville, a suburb of Austin, Texas.




world news

Cheryl Grace (Ep. 4, 2020)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Cheryl Grace, Nielsen’s Senior Vice President of Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement, and co-creator of the 2019 Diverse Intelligence Series Report on African Americans.




world news

The Black News Channel (Ep. 5, 2020)

This week, In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. discusses the introduction of the new Black News Channel with Gary Wordlaw, Vice President of News and Programming. Also featured is former Congressman J.C. Watts, co-founder and Chairman of the Black News Channel.




world news

Remembering The Late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Ep. 6, 2020)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents a tribute to the late Martin Luther King, Jr, on the 90th anniversary of his birth, featuring Dr. King, and the Honorable Andrew Young and former U.S. President Barack Obama.



  • In Black America
  • Dr. Martin Luther King
  • Jr.
  • Memphis
  • Montgomery Bus Boycott
  • National Civil Rights Museum
  • Nobel Prize
  • President Barack Obama
  • The Honorable Andrew Young

world news

Mitch Landrieu (Ep. 7, 2020)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Mitch Landrieu, best selling author, speaker and attorney who was Mayor of New Orleans from 2010 to 2018. He discusses a report on race and class he authored, titled Divided by Design: Findings from the American South.




world news

Dr. Monique W. Morris (Ep. 8, 2020)

This week, In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Dr. Monique W. Morris, social justice scholar, author o f Sing a Rhythm, Dance a Blues: Education for the Liberation of Black and Brown Girls, and founder and President of The National Black Women’s Justice Institute.



  • In Black America
  • Dance a Blues
  • Dr. Monique W. Morris
  • education
  • National Black Women's Justice Institute
  • Pushout
  • Sing a Rhythm

world news

Dr. Timothy M. George, MD. (Ep. 9, 2020)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents an interview recorded in 2013 with the late Dr. Timothy M. George, who passed away in November 2019. Dr. George had been Medical Director of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Center of Central Texas at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas.




world news

Lena Horne (Ep. 10, 2020)

On this week’s In Black America program, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents a 1983 interview with the legendary singer, dancer, actress and Civil Rights activist, who died in 2010 after a film, television and theater career that spanned 70 years.