Economy /tags/economy Economy en-US Copyright KUT News 2025 Wed, 12 Mar 2025 20:05:20 GMT An Austin borrower may see her student loan payments skyrocket. She's not alone. /education/2025-03-12/austin-tx-student-loan-payments-borrower-debt-department-of-education The U.S. Department of Education is not processing applications for income-driven repayment plans in response to a court ruling. Borrowers are unsure what comes next as the Trump administration shrinks the agency. Wed, 12 Mar 2025 20:05:20 GMT /education/2025-03-12/austin-tx-student-loan-payments-borrower-debt-department-of-education Becky Fogel Ted Cruz, Colin Allred face off in fiery debate days before early voting begins in Texas /politics/2024-10-15/ted-cruz-colin-allred-face-off-in-fiery-debate-days-before-early-voting-begins-in-texas The only debate between Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who is running for his third term, and Democratic challenger Rep. Colin Allred was fiery from the jump and didn’t cool down. Wed, 16 Oct 2024 04:31:15 GMT /politics/2024-10-15/ted-cruz-colin-allred-face-off-in-fiery-debate-days-before-early-voting-begins-in-texas Blaise Gainey Austin adopts $5.5 billion budget, the largest in city history. Here's what we know. /austin/2023-08-16/austin-adopts-5-5-billion-budget-the-largest-in-city-history-here-is-what-we-know The average Austin property owner will see an increase of about $172 a year for taxes, rates and fees. Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:05:38 GMT /austin/2023-08-16/austin-adopts-5-5-billion-budget-the-largest-in-city-history-here-is-what-we-know Luz Moreno-Lozano Why doesn't commercial music in the U.S. get much financial support outside of, say, fans? /business/2022-10-26/why-doesnt-commercial-music-in-the-u-s-get-much-financial-support-outside-of-say-fans Few people achieve massive success in commercial music here. But those exceptions prove capitalism works, says one ethnomusicologist, and therefore that commercial music doesn't need outside support. Wed, 26 Oct 2022 10:01:00 GMT /business/2022-10-26/why-doesnt-commercial-music-in-the-u-s-get-much-financial-support-outside-of-say-fans Elizabeth McQueen, Miles Bloxson A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked Biden's student loan forgiveness plan /education/2022-10-21/a-federal-appeals-court-has-temporarily-blocked-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-plan The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued the stay, ordering the Biden administration not to act on the program while it considers a motion from six Republican-led states to block loan cancellation. Sat, 22 Oct 2022 01:40:28 GMT /education/2022-10-21/a-federal-appeals-court-has-temporarily-blocked-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-plan The Associated Press Starting next month, Austin Energy customers can expect a $15 increase on bills /energy-environment/2022-10-13/starting-next-month-austin-energy-customers-can-expect-a-15-increase-on-bills Bills initially were expected to go up $20 for the average customer. The city will use the utility's reserves to cover some of the "pass-through" charges over three years so customers aren't stuck with the entire cost. Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:24:18 GMT /energy-environment/2022-10-13/starting-next-month-austin-energy-customers-can-expect-a-15-increase-on-bills Andrew Weber State agencies push for better worker pay as critical staffing crunch hits Texas government /politics/2022-09-29/state-agencies-push-for-better-worker-pay-as-critical-staffing-crunch-hits-texas-government Texas agencies say they are being hammered by a historic staffing crisis, particularly when it comes to those in the trenches serving the state’s most vulnerable populations. Thu, 29 Sep 2022 21:41:20 GMT /politics/2022-09-29/state-agencies-push-for-better-worker-pay-as-critical-staffing-crunch-hits-texas-government Karen Brooks Harper Women are returning to (paid) work after the pandemic forced many to leave their jobs /business/2022-09-28/women-are-returning-to-paid-work-after-the-pandemic-forced-many-to-leave-their-jobs The number of women in the workforce has finally returned to pre-pandemic levels, which is good for the economy. But after time away from the job market some women are reassessing their priorities. Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:47:42 GMT /business/2022-09-28/women-are-returning-to-paid-work-after-the-pandemic-forced-many-to-leave-their-jobs Scott Horsley The dollar is surging. This is who gets helped � and hurt � by its newfound strength /business/2022-09-27/the-dollar-is-surging-this-is-who-gets-helped-and-hurt-by-its-newfound-strength The U.S. dollar is the strongest it has been in 20 years. As it strengthens, other currencies � like the pound � weaken. That's good news for U.S. consumers and importers but bad news for others. Tue, 27 Sep 2022 15:29:28 GMT /business/2022-09-27/the-dollar-is-surging-this-is-who-gets-helped-and-hurt-by-its-newfound-strength David Gura Years ago, Austin set affordable housing goals. The city is far from accomplishing them. /austin/2022-09-23/years-ago-austin-set-affordable-housing-goals-the-city-is-far-from-accomplishing-them Developers have built roughly 8,000 affordable homes, less than a quarter of the city’s overall goal. Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:01:00 GMT /austin/2022-09-23/years-ago-austin-set-affordable-housing-goals-the-city-is-far-from-accomplishing-them Audrey McGlinchy