L.A. Times TikTok Original Series: Los Angeles Latinx-Owned Businesses
Austin Martinez documents Latinx-owned businesses in the Los Angeles area for the relaunch of L.A. Times’ main TikTok account.
Meet Latina L.A. Times Staffer: Austin Martinez
I’m probably one of the nerdiest people you’ll meet.
We need meaningful diversity and inclusion
UT Austin advertising student seeks accountability and collective action.
UT students want action following City of Austin’s apology for racial discrimination
Austin City Council apologized for its role in disenfranchising Black residents, but students at The University of Texas at Austin said words are meaningless if no actions follow. The apology was included in a resolution unanimously passed by the council on March 4 with vocal support from Mayor Steve Adler. Proposed by Mayor Pro Tem…
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Designing passion into product
Journalism instructor shares beauty, possibility of storytelling with creators
Moody Talks, Episode 8: We don’t disappear once Black History Month ends.
When a space does not exist, it is important to create one. Host Austin Martinez talks with Faith Castle, Tiana Woodard and Erna Smith who took the bold step to build a space from scratch. BlackPrint is the only Black-interest publication at UT Austin. The student publication amplifies Black stories all year long.
Reporting When the World is on Fire: A Journalist’s COVID-19 Experience
A journalist’s diary entry reflecting on the start of their COVID-19 coverage and the challenges and lessons that followed.
Moody Talks, Episode 6: Spreading Joy through Songs & Service
Host Austin Martinez explores the many ways, through acts big and small, we can give back to our community. Communication and Leadership student Nikki Hammond and Moody College faculty member Dr. Jennifer Jones Barbour provide stories and perspective.
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The first, but not the last: Celebrating first-generation college students
From karate to school, journalist Jackie Ibarra uses her persistence as a first-gen student to empower others and amplify Latinx voices
Moody Talks, Episode 5: Coming (out) to College — Exploring LGBTQ+ Identities on Campus
Coming to college provides a special opportunity to explore one’s identities and find support. Host Austin Martinez speaks with students and faculty about exploring their unique identities on campus, and how this exploration is being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moody Talks, Episode 4: Sense of belonging
Claire Clements, a journalism first-year student, comes from Coppell, Texas. She loves reading, visiting coffee shops, and advocating for disability rights. Host Austin Martinez talks with Claire about transitioning to college life and her unique responsibility as a storyteller.
Undocumented students, families encounter challenges due to COVID-19
At just 8 years old, Gerardo Ruiz-Tenorio carried the traumatic weight of his mother being deported. Now during a world pandemic, Ruiz-Tenorio worries about the health and economic crisis on his undocumented family.
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UT-Austin classes will start as scheduled, end after Thanksgiving
Fall classes at UT-Austin will be held on campus as planned, but will end at the start of Thanksgiving.
UT seniors share thoughts on first virtual graduation ceremony
The class of 2020 will experience UT’s first virtual universitywide commencement ceremony after COVID-19 postponed their in-person graduation.
UT senior gives graduation speech on John Krasinski’s show, meets Steven Spielberg
John Krasinski and Steven Spielberg surprise a theatre arts senior from UT-Austin to celebrate his graduation.
UT students create fundraiser for health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic
Students from UT, Harvard and Stanford are fundraising to provide health care workers with personal protective equipment.
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Women in STEM Are Out of this World: Highlighting Women in the Space Industry
Listen to the stories of women who have rocked the world with their impacts in the STEM field.
Organizations, businesses provide services for essential workers during COVID-19 pandemic
Essential workers can look to these organizations for free or discounted services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Black students encounter racist ‘Zoom-bombing’ of virtual meeting at UT-Austin
A virtual meeting on Zoom with Black male students and faculty was highjacked by unidentified individuals using racial slurs and derogatory aliases.
Gov. Abbott closes schools, dine-in services due to COVID-19
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered closings of Texas schools and dine-in services at restaurants and bars due to COVID-19 concerns. Texas has declared its first public health disaster for the state since 1901.
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First UT student, undergraduate dean test positive for COVID-19
A UT-Austin student and undergraduate dean test positive for coronavirus a few days after UT president’s wife tests positive.
Texas, national blood banks experience donation shortages due to coronavirus outbreak
Blood banks across the U.S. face blood donation shortages as people cancel their blood drives and appointments due to coronavirus concerns.
Gov. Abbott declares state of disaster for all Texas counties
Gov. Greg Abbott declares a state of disaster due to the novel coronavirus and announces the openings of Texas’ first drive-through testing facilities.
Students at UT colleges wait up to two hours to vote on Super Tuesday
Students at UT-Austin and UT-San Antonio waited up to two hours to vote on Texas Primary Election Day, while UT-Arlington lacked on-campus voting opportunities on Super Tuesday.
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Wall Street Journal names Austin ‘hottest US job market’ for the second year
Austin gets labeled the “hottest US job market” by The Wall Street Journal for the second year in a row.
City of Austin begins new citation process for failure to yield, enforces court appearances
The City of Austin is now enforcing court appearances for drivers who fail to yield and cause crashes which result in bodily injury.
Joe Biden wins Texas Democratic presidential primary
Former Vice President Joe Biden won the Texas Democratic presidential primary election with Sen. Bernie Sanders closely following.
Sean and Suseth want UT-Austin students to ‘Do You For Others’
Working to increase representation for students of all backgrounds at UT-Austin, Sean Tucker and Suseth Muñoz are running for student body president and vice president.
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Adam and James want to build ‘Texas Better Together’ at UT-Austin
Hoping to improve community and transparency at UT-Austin, Adam Bergman and James Comerford are running for student body president and vice president.
Texas 2020 Primary Elections: What you need to know to vote
A guide for voting in the 2020 Texas Primaries. Texas Primary Election Day is March 3 and early voting will be held from Feb. 18 to Feb. 28.
Travis County sets record with 95% of eligible voters registered
Voter registration in Travis County hit an all-time high with 95% of eligible voters being registered. It’s the highest registration rate of any urban county in Texas.
US Senate Democratic candidates debate healthcare, marijuana in Texas
U.S. Senate Democratic candidates faced off at a debate on subjects including healthcare, marijuana and immigration. At the debate, hosted by KVUE, The Texas Tribune and KUT, 11 out of 12 candidates discussed policy issues and how they will challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
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FDA approves Palforzia, the first drug to treat children with peanut allergy
The United States Food and Drug Administration approved Palforzia as the first drug to treat children with peanut allergies on Jan. 31.
Travis County appoints its first chief public defender
Travis County hired its first chief public defender to represent adults accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses after finding that low-income defendants were more likely to face jail time than those represented by an attorney.
Fine arts student organization connects with memory-care residents through music, crafts
Epiphany, a fine arts student organization, uses music and crafts to connect with residents experiencing memory loss
Marijuana-themed sandwich shop Cheba Hut coming to Austin
Father and son pair plan to open Cheba Hut, a marijuana-themed sandwich shop, on Guadalupe Street in the spring.
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Atari plans video game-themed hotel opening in Austin
Atari plans video game-themed hotel opened in Austin, Texas
Austin artists, community impacted by condos replacing Graffiti Park
Austin Planning Commission voted to propose replacing Graffiti Park, a popular tourist destination that closed in January 2019, with two separate properties where 22 residential condos will be developed.
Austin community pays tribute to Kobe, Gigi Bryant with local mural
To honor the lives of NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, local grafitti artists designed a mural featuring the father and daughter to provide the Austin community a place to pay their respects.
Texas candidates speak about criminal justice system issues
Progressive Texas candidates for the 2020 election spoke to students at the 21st Street Co-op about their plans for criminal justice reform. The Criminal Justice Candidate Forum, hosted by the UT chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America, heard speeches by José Garza, Travis County District Attorney candidate, Dominic Selvera, Travis County Attorney candidate and…
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TxDOT adds safety measures to intersection where UT football player, UT grad died
The Texas Department of Transportation added a median and “no left turn” sign to a West Austin intersection in response to the community’s safety concerns. At least 84 people were injured at the West Austin intersection from 2015 to 2019.
College graduates impacting gentrification in Texas metros, Fed report says
Texas cities are seeing a surge in college graduates living in their urban centers and a possible increase in gentrification as a result.
University Health Services will require fall 2020 students to show proof of measles vaccination
The University will now require incoming students to show proof of measles immunity, according to the University Health Services website. This requirement will only apply to students entering fall 2020 and thereafter, said Sherry Bell, UHS consumer education and outreach coordinator. “The proposal for the requirement, which was approved in fall 2019, was made to protect the…
Austin City Council ends enforcement of low-level marijuana offenses
Austin City Council passed a resolution 9-0 to end arrests and citations for most low-level marijuana offenses Thursday. Last year, House Bill 1325 legalized hemp and defined illegal marijuana to contain more than 0.3% of THC, the psychoactive ingredient that produces a high. The passed resolution will stop funding THC testing for low-level marijuana offenses.…
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Student guide to 2020 Texas elections
In the 2020 Texas elections, students have the opportunity to vote for representative officials such as judges, senators and the president of the United States. As these elections approach, student organization TX Votes is working to increase civic engagement by helping students register to vote in Travis County and learn about different candidates. “It is…
Latino studies celebrates winter holidays with tamales, storytelling at Merry Merienda
In the middle of final exam season, students released stress with homemade tamales Thursday evening. Merry Merienda offered students freshly fried buñuelos, Mexican-style hot chocolate, storytelling, and arts and crafts in the Gordon-White Building. The event, held by Latino Studies, allowed Latino students, faculty and staff to celebrate the winter holidays, said Mallory Laurel, outreach…
University internship program brings students back to rural, remote regions of Texas
The best way to get to know the small town of McAllen, Texas is by visiting local taco shops, the best of which are in gas stations, said Greg Pogue, IC² Institute’s deputy executive director. Pogue said students will discover innovative and successful businesses in small towns like these through a new paid University internship…
Diwali festival celebrates ‘The Hero in You’
Students found the hero in themselves as they gathered for Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights, on Main Mall Wednesday night. Hosted by the Hindu Students Association, this year’s Diwali festival celebrated the heroic themes in ancient Indian epic “Ramayana.” In the epic, the demon king Ravana is conquered by Prince Rama, emphasizing good overpowering…
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Austin Police Department, UT System Police see rise in female recruits
The Austin Police Department and UT System Police are seeing more women apply and being sworn in as police officers. Myeshia Francis-Parker, APD senior police officer and recruiter, said 10% of the 1,800 APD officers are female. She said she hopes APD will continue its recent success with female recruitment. “We hold one or two women’s…
Virgin Hyperloop One proposes Texas routes for high-speed transportation
Virgin Hyperloop One has identified Texas as a possible location for its high-speed transportation system. The company hopes to implement a Dallas-Laredo-Houston route by the mid-2020s, said Ryan Kelly, head of marketing and communications for Virgin Hyperloop One. Austin and San Antonio will be on Hyperloop’s Texas route. According to Virgin Hyperloop One’s website, the…
Latinx-Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrates Hispanic culture within Cockrell School of Engineering, College of Natural Sciences
The aroma of Hispanic foods consumed the air as student mariachi musicians and Mexican folk dancers performed on campus Friday evening. During the Latinx-Hispanic Heritage Festival, Gillian Hagamen, mechanical engineering student program coordinator, said about 100 engineering and natural science students interacted with and learned about Hispanic culture. The Cockrell School of Engineering partnered with the…
UT, Baylor College of Medicine develop new thyroid cancer test
After her biopsy for thyroid cancer came back with inconclusive results, chemistry graduate student Amanda Helms, was recommended to undergo surgery. Months of recovery and many medical bills later, Helms said she was told her surgery wasn’t necessary. To prevent further unnecessary surgeries, researchers from UT and the Baylor College of Medicine developed a preoperative thyroid…
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About Editor
Hi, I’m Austin Martinez (she/her/ella), a Latina journalist from San Antonio, Texas. I have a huge passion for telling stories about culture and pop trends. You can usually find me enjoying a bean and cheese taco, good story or Frank Sinatra song. Reach out to me if you have any story tips or taco recommendations @austinmxrtinez!
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