Hi! I grew up in a one-stoplight town in rural Nebraska and my whole family still lives there with three churches, a bar, and a courthouse. I left because I like lots of people and taller buildings, and I don't like cold weather. On those rare days in Texas when it gets snowy and icy, you'll find me inside Googling beach vacations. I don't plan to leave Texas now that I've been here for most of my adult life because the barbecue and fajitas are just way too addictive. I've worked in radio from the moment I graduated from college at the University of Nebraska, and besides getting the hang out with cool people like you every day, I love sports, great restaurants, self improvement, and meeting new people. I love all movies starring Melissa McCarthy or Julia Roberts, and all TV shows with home improvements or food in them. You'll probably hear me talk about my three daughters on the air, along with the challenges of being a single mom. I'm on several of the dating apps, because trying to meet someone in person these days is way too creepy.
Jen Austin
Tyler Kids Get Free Museum Passes
Curious kids love to look at things and check things out, and parents love it when those things are free. This sounds like win-win.
The Tyler Museum of Art is giving free passes to local elementary kids so they can go check out an exhibit to celebrate National Arts and Humanities month in October.
Rain Cuts East Texas Fair Short
The risk was just too great, so organizers made the decision to shut down the rides and close the gates to the East Texas State Fair early.
The fair had 43,400 people in attendance on Friday and the midway actually broke a record for the amount of money brought in.
It could have been a record-setting weekend perhaps, but organizers called it quits and cancelled the Sunday evening concert.
Read Mor
Kids Cost Big Bucks
They're out with those numbers again, about how much it costs to raise a child from age 0 to 17.
Parents will swallow hard...the US Dept. of Agriculture says it takes $234,900 to raise a kid, including food, shelter, and necessities. Depending upon your definition and your child's definition of necessities, it could be $2 million, right? A kid has to have his Wii.
Texas is actually one of the chea
Texas Drawl May be Fading
Are we losin' our drawl ya all?
A new study says Texas may be losing its twang. Do you agree?
If it's true, the obvious answer may be because of the number of transplants that live in Texas. When a Chicago native moves to Texas they bring a northern accent and a lot of those people together can sort of squeeze out and disperse the yee haws.
Dodge Ball Comes to Tyler
Dodge ball has always been fun, but Ben Stiller gave it a popularity boost with the movie that came out in 2004. For awhile there, everyone was yelling out "Dodge ball!" randomly. Now that just makes you seem weird, but the movie is still worth the rental.
Next Saturday, there's a Dodge ball tournament coming to Tyler.
Scams Keep Targeting the Military
No one is immune from scams, not even the our current troops and military veterans. We’re learned that scammers don’t have a scrupulous bone in their body, so I don’t suppose we should be surprised that they don’t even spare the folks that we’re supposed to hold in the highest esteem...
How Much Coffee Do You Drink?
Coffee is part of life for many of us.
Before making the big decision about whether or not to become pregnant, I asked my doctor if I could still consume my daily 2.5 cups of coffee during pregnancy. It's a must. If I have a sip less than that, I can feel it. And I knew I may not survive pregnancy if I had to ween myself off, or worse yet, quit cold turkey.
Food Sampling This Weekend in Jacksonville
Texans love a festival! If you put together an event with food and music, we'll show up.
This weekend it's Taste of Jacksonville, with a new format, wine, tailgating, and chef demonstrations.
Alligator Captured Not Far from Tyler
If you're a pet owner like me, you might let your imagination get the best of you, worrying about what all the unmentionables that could possibly get your pets if you let them loose outside. I mentioned to my spouse once that I worried an alligator might eat our schnauzers, and I was laughed at heartily. I supposed it was ridiculous because we lived in Austin at the time in the middle of concrete
TJC to Host Alumni Reunion
Okay, admit it. If it weren't for Facebook, you would have lost touch with just about everyone you went to college with. Thank you Mark Zuckerberg for making sure we don't lose touch, and for giving us the chance to continue to "Like" each other.
Social media keeps us all together on a daily basis, but Tyler Junior College Alumni will actually have the chance the shake hands and high fiv
Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub Loses Part of Ear Lobe Sunday
Texans QB Matt Schaub was hit so hard Sunday it knocked his helmet off, and with that came part of his ear. Ouch! It turned out to be an illegal hit (darn Bronco!), and Schaub lost part of his ear lobe.
After Kelly Clarkson Sells the Texas House, What Next?
We've known for a couple of months now that Kelly Clarkson is leaving Texas; selling her home in Mansfield, near Dallas-Fort Worth for $1.5 million or so.
Where is she going?