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
What Texans Call Their Dads
The first sounds that babies make are usually with p and d, and that's why names like Papa and Dada attach themselves to fathers from the very beginning. What do you call your dad? Texans are falling right into line with the rest of the country, but we are making one huge mistake.
Lufkin Kids Get Legal Help From Country Time Lemonade
East Texas kids who get busted for not having a permit may not have to shut down that lemonade stand after all. There's a national team that's ready to jump in and clear up issues with lemonade stand permits and fees, and it may spare kids a lot of tears and shattered dreams this summer.
Contaminants Can Ruin Lufkin’s Recycling Program
Nothing wrecks a recycling stream faster than a dirty diaper. Or rotten food. Contaminants are threatening to ruin recycling programs across the country, including right here in East Texas.
Fast Food Vegetarian Chicken is Coming to Texas
Plant-based proteins are catching on and slowly taking over the grocery store freezer section and deli meat case. And soon, we may be able to get mock chicken at the fast food drive through.
Finally! Texas Army Soldiers Will Have Pizza.
If it's a Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) for the troops, it can't spoil, and it has to have a shelf life of two or three years. The average slice of pizza has trouble living up to those standards, but finally, the Army has found a way to make it happen.
What Not to Wear to Work in the Summer in Texas
The rest of the US might have a thing against flip-flops at the office, but those seem to be part of standard operating procedure in Texas. As long as you don't add socks. What else should we NOT wear to work this summer?
70 Thousand Bees Are Removed from Walls in a Texas Home
What in the world would it sound like to have 70 to 80,000 honey bees crawling around inside the walls in your house? One Texas woman finally got rid of them after 40 years of bee problems, and if you want to, you can buy some of the honey as a souvenir.
East Texas Restaurant Will Host a Wild Food Challenge This Weekend
Are you up for an insane burger challenge? This monster is topped with fried eggs, bacon, and more, and a Tyler restaurant has the chance to stuff your face with it this weekend.
Texas Museums Will Let Military in Free This Summer
Over a hundred Texas museums will let active duty military members and their families in free this summer, and a Nacogdoches museum is on the list.
Why Half Of Us Will Skip the Summer Vacation
If you're not taking a vacation this summer you're not alone. Almost half of East Texas will skip the trip in favor of staying at home for the next three months and there are three big reasons why.
This Online Tool Helps You Pick the Perfect Wedding Date
If you're tossing around a few possible dates for your wedding and you are dying to know which one is historically the most likely to have the perfect weather forecast, you gotta check this out. You could even cheat and use this tool to plan your next backyard barbecue.
Some Students Won’t Have to Pass the STAAR Test To Move On To The Next Grade
Several thousand students who took the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness test, or STAAR, experienced glitches during the test, and because of that the passing requirement to move on to the next grade will be waived.