KUT adds reporters for education and Hays County beats to expand Central Texas coverage

February 19, 2026

KUT News has added two journalists to strengthen reporting across Central Texas. The public radio station named Greta Díaz González Vázquez as its education reporter and Leigh Walden as the Hays County reporter.

Díaz González Vázquez will handle coverage of K-12 schools and higher education institutions. Her role will include reporting on the issues, policies and developments that affect classrooms, campuses and the students and families connected to them.

Walden will concentrate on Hays County, a rapidly growing area south of Austin. She brings extensive experience in community-focused reporting, which the station says will help illuminate how growth affects local services, infrastructure and neighborhoods.

KUT leaders framed the hires as part of a continued effort to deepen local reporting. Adding dedicated beats allows reporters to develop sources, track long-term trends and deliver more consistent coverage on topics that impact Central Texas residents.

Newsrooms nationwide have been prioritizing local beats to meet audience demand for in-depth coverage of schools and fast-changing communities. KUT’s new positions aim to provide more regular reporting on education systems and on county-level issues that shape daily life for many listeners.

Both reporters will work from KUT’s newsroom and contribute to the station’s digital and on-air reporting. Their reporting is expected to appear across the station’s platforms, offering more persistent attention to school boards, higher education and Hays County government and community developments.

Listeners and readers can expect to see a steady stream of stories focused on classroom policy, college access and the local impacts of population growth. KUT’s staffing move signals a continued investment in locally focused journalism as Central Texas navigates education challenges and rapid regional change.