KUT’s Morning Newspod for March 22, 2011
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Natural Gas Leak in East Austin
The Austin Fire Department said a natural gas leak near East 7th street between Prospect and Webberville was called in at about 7:45 a.m. AFD says a 4 inch supply line is leaking and Texas Gas Service is responding. AFD says there’s no public health risk and that gas service has not been disrupted so far. Capital Metro has stopped MetroRail service between MLK and the downtown stations. AFD says it’s not sure how long the disruption will last.
Austin Remembering Pinetop Perkins
World renowned blues pianist Pinetop Perkins passed away at his Austin home yesterday. At the age of 97, he was the oldest Grammy winner ever. Perkins won a Grammy award for Best Traditional Blues Album last month. Antone’s is holding a tribute to Pinetop Perkins tonight; doors open at 7 p.m. Texas Music Matters’ David Brown has a remembrance on today’s podcast.
Leander ISD Cutting New Teaching Positions
The Leander Independent School District’s Superintendent Bret Champion has laid out his proposed budget cuts for next school year. He recommends not renewing probationary contracts for 213 new teachers completing their first full year with LISD.
The District is eliminating a total of 250 other jobs: 141 central office and non-classroom jobs and 109 classroom jobs. The plan is for longer term contract teachers to move into “the slots” new teachers are currently in. LISD also proposed adding two furlough days, changing student-to-teacher ratios, and reducing athletics and fine arts budgets.
On today’s pod, Gretch Sanders looks at what college seniors graduating with education degrees plan to do in this tough and competitive job market.
Podcast: Download (7.8MB)
