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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

Lauren McGaughy @lmcgaughy.bsky.social · Jul 18

Just 7% Texas homeowners have federal flood insurance.

But the state also saw one of the biggest drops in people with this coverage in the past year. The July 4 floods, like other disasters before it, are forcing people to rethink that.

By @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social: www.kut.org/housing/2025...

As Texans start to rebuild after the floods, many face the reality of being uninsured

Just 7% of homeowners in Texas have flood insurance through the federal government, which runs the biggest flood insurance program in the country. That percentage drops to 2% when you move inland, to ...

www.kut.org

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Jul 1

NEW: Want to save $100,000 on tuition at UT Austin? Just buy a house.

I've found an industry of out-of-staters buying condos with $$ and using these condos to get in-state tuition. It's legal and comes as undocumented students in TX lose the right to pay cheaper tuition: www.kut.org/education/20...

Wealthy families are buying homes to get in-state tuition at Texas universities

The practice has been accepted by public universities across the state. The law has fed a growing industry of families buying condos in cash, holding onto them for a couple years and then selling to t...

www.kut.org

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Jun 10

Very cool! Would love to hear what students think of it

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Jun 3

NEW: TX will not go the way of other GOP-led states in banning guaranteed income programs. Bills outlawing these cash aid programs failed at the lege this session.

www.kut.org/politics/202...

Bills banning guaranteed income programs fail at Texas legislature

State lawmakers filed four bills to outlaw guaranteed income programs this legislative session. None of the bills made it to the governor’s desk.

www.kut.org

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · May 13

NEW from me: Insurers are increasingly using aerial images and AI to decide whether to renew homeowners’ policies. Companies say it's more efficient.

But I found examples where homeowners in Texas lost coverage because a sky-high photo of their home was misread: www.kut.org/housing/2025...

In Texas, insurers are watching your home from above. It could cost you coverage.

Insurers in Texas are partnering with aerial imaging and AI companies to assess homes from the sky. Computer models parse these photos to flag moldy roofs, askew tree branches and missing shingles.

www.kut.org

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Apr 25

New from me: One of TX Gov. Abbott's priorities this legislative session is "cracking down on squatters", or people who enter + occupy homes w/o ever having a legal right to be there.

But what lawmakers have proposed would affect renters with leases: www.kut.org/housing/2025...

Gov. Abbott wants to stop 'squatters.' So, Texas lawmakers proposed bills speeding up evictions.

Proponents of the legislation say it's necessary to ensure landlords can regain possession of their property faster. Tenant advocates warn these bills could strip renters of legal rights in a state wh...

www.kut.org

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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism @bagehots.bsky.social · Apr 21

We're excited to announce the 2025-26 Knight-Bagehot fellows. Congrats @amandaaronczyk.bsky.social, @bykylecampbell.bsky.social, @aishagani.bsky.social, @esmyjimenez.bsky.social, @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social, @robaeprice.bsky.social

Full list and bios at journalism.columbia.edu/2025-knight-...

The Knight-Bagehot Fellowship Announces the Class of 2025-2026 | Columbia Journalism School

journalism.columbia.edu

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Mar 26

Latest from me: Austin's having a YIGBY, or "Yes in God's Backyard" moment.

As congregations dwindle and revenue drops, a growing number of churches are building affordable housing as a way to fulfill their missions but also earn some income: www.kut.org/housing/2025...

Austin churches answer prayers for affordable housing — by building it themselves

As faith organizations across the city watch their congregations dwindle, some are wondering if their property could be used to realize a core mission: providing for those in need. It’s a trend some h...

www.kut.org

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Mar 10

Conversation turns to rising cost of homeowner's insurance. Homeowners in West Austin, which is at great risk for property damage bc of wildfire, saw their insurance rates go up by 40% in one year (on average).

Watson, speaking to state legislators, says "Help us with that issue."

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Mar 10

Watson is asked about proposed staff cuts at the federal govt and how that could impact housing in Austin:

"We don't know," he says. Says city relies heavily on fed funding for affordable housing. "There's reason to be concerned."

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Mar 10

Watson now turns to housing issues at the lege, where Austin leadership and Republicans find themselves on the same side.

Watson: “When it comes to housing … Austin is on the vanguard in regard to what’s going on in the country … And we’re actually working in partnership with folks at the Capitol”

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Mar 10

“We want generational equity, we want generational fairness. We want anyone and everyone to be able to stay here … [We] can’t do it if you don’t have the housing," Watson says.

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Mar 10

Watson mentions the vote this city council took in the past years to lower minimum lot size and to allow property owners to build 3 homes on land where historically you could only build one.

Some background here: www.kut.org/austin/2024-...

Austin cuts minimum lot size by more than half, requiring less land to build a home

For the first time in 80 years, Austin's elected leaders have voted to lower the amount of space needed to build one house — down to 1,800 square feet of land.

www.kut.org

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Mar 10

I'm at a @sxsw.com panel with Austin Mayor Kirk Watson talking about housing.

Watson touts the work of he and his colleagues over the past 2 years as part of Austin's "enormous success" on housing. Rents have been falling for nearly 2 years.

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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · Mar 7

Breaking: Antitrust enforcers are investigating whether large egg producers have conspired to raise prices or hold back supply.

Justice Department Opens Probe of Sharp Surge in Egg Prices

Antitrust enforcers are investigating whether large producers have engaged in anticompetitive conduct

www.wsj.com

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Mar 5

NEW from my @kutnews.bsky.social colleague: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been quietly telling heads of state agencies they need to end remote policies and state employees need to return to the office five days a week.

www.kut.org/texas/2025-0...

Following Trump's lead, Abbott orders state workers to return to offices

The governor quietly directed heads of state agencies to phase out hybrid-work schedules. It's unclear whether there's a hard deadline or if agencies could permit some workers to continue to work remo...

www.kut.org

Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

Jennifer Ludden @jenniferludden.bsky.social · Feb 26

From @propublica.org -- DOGE has now gained access to confidential data with sensitive information at HUD. www.propublica.org/article/doge...

DOGE Gains Access to Confidential Records on Housing Discrimination, Medical Details — Even Domestic Violence

While some agencies have resisted efforts by Elon Musk’s team to access confidential records, HUD has opened the door. The potential harm to privacy could be significant.

www.propublica.org

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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

Lauren McGaughy @lmcgaughy.bsky.social · Feb 25

1/🧵 A couple weeks ago, I did a social media callout to Tesla and Cybertrucks drivers.

As Elon Musk veers right, I asked, how ya doing bud? I heard from folks all over Texas.

The consensus? Y'all Tesla drivers are in your feelings right now.

www.kut.org/politics/202...

As Elon Musk veers right, some Tesla drivers in Texas are saying 'hell no'

As President Trump’s right-hand man overseeing DOGE, Musk is alienating some Tesla fans and drivers.

www.kut.org

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Audrey McGlinchy @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social · Feb 24

Hi Austin housing folks -- I'm looking into the local impacts of reports of mass firings at HUD. If you want to talk, you can reach me on Signal: audrey.153

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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

NPR @npr.org · Feb 21

The White House has kept the wire service from covering key events because it refuses to call the body of water between Mexico and Florida the Gulf of America, as the Trump administration prefers.

AP sues Trump White House for denying access over 'Gulf of Mexico' row

The White House has kept the wire service from covering key events because it refuses to call the body of water between Mexico and Florida the Gulf of America, as the Trump administration prefers.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

NPR @npr.org · Feb 20

NPR host Adrian Ma's girlfriend, Kiah Duggins, was aboard the American Airlines flight that crashed into the Potomac River. He spoke to NPR about that night and about his late girlfriend.

NPR host Adrian Ma remembers his girlfriend who died in D.C. plane crash

NPR host Adrian Ma's girlfriend, Kiah Duggins, was aboard the American Airlines flight that crashed into the Potomac River. He spoke to NPR about that night and about his late girlfriend.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

Mose Buchele @mosebuchele.bsky.social · Feb 19

Strong drink and a bad attitude are never a good combination. But, occasionally, they do change history. In this episode of The Disconnect learn how a drunken brawl in downtown Austin delivered a system of energy price fixing that persists to this day.
kutkutx.studio/the-disconne...

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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

Peter Baker @peterbakernyt.bsky.social · Feb 18

They arrived seeking asylum. Instead they were shackled, flown to Panama, stripped of passports and phones, locked in a hotel, barred from lawyers and soon will be sent to a camp near the jungle. Julie Turkewitz @haleaziz.bsky.social Farnaz Fassihi Annie Correal www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/w...

Under Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan, Some Migrants Are Being Sent to Panama

The administration has asked Panama to take in hundreds of people who can’t easily be sent back to their countries. Many say they are in danger.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Feb 15

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany on Saturday accused Vice President JD Vance of unacceptably interfering in his country’s coming elections on behalf of a party that has played down the atrocities committed by the Nazis. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/w...

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Reposted by Audrey McGlinchy

Matt Largey @mattlargey.bsky.social · Feb 13

Season 3 of The Disconnect — our podcast about the Texas power grid — has begun.

This time: natural gas — how it failed in the 2021 blackout and why TX leaders call it the future of a reliable grid.

The first episode is all about the con man who started it all.

kutkutx.studio/category/the...

The Disconnect: Power, Politics and the Texas Blackout Archives - KUT & KUTX Studios - Podcasts

Millions lost power. Hundreds died. How did this happen? KUT’s Mose Buchele explores what happened during the worst blackout in Texas history, how we got the electric grid we have today and what could...

kutkutx.studio

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