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
Texas Millennials Are Hipper Than This
This parody video on millennials has been around for a couple of years, but a friend showed it to me again over the weekend and I thought it was worth sharing to ask a question. Are millennials in Texas this stereotypical?
Argue With My Dallas Cowboys Predictions for the Season
What are the odds that the Cowboys will go 16 and 0 this season? I say 50-50. Either they will or they won't. The NFL season is near, and with that comes some trash talkin' by arm-chair quarterbacks about which games they'll win and why. So let the not-so-expert analysis begin.
Will This Wedding Trend Catch on in Lufkin?
Something new is happening with brides and grooms, and while it could be a fantastic new way to tie the knot, it may also really upset your grandma. Would you ever combine last names to invent a completely new one?
When Will Starbucks Release the Pumpkin Spice Latte?
Fall is near. And when Starbucks unleashes its Pumpkin Spice Latte, that will raise the gates for the flood of pumpkin spice cereal, potato chips, beer, hummus, and body lotions to take over stores and wash our houses in orangish brown. We're less than a week away.
The Best Quotes For the First Day of School
With the first day of school at the Lufkin ISD last week and other districts starting today and next Monday, we know two things. Pictures of kids with backpacks are taking over your social media pages, and you might hear someone say, "Is it just me, or did mom seem a little too happy about the first day of school?" We have a few other quotes that might make your first day.
Why More Millennials Will Move to East Texas
The draw right now is not toward big cities like Dallas, Austin, and Houston, where salaries are eaten up by sky-high rents and a lofty cost-of-living.
Instead, rural Texas towns have a whole new appeal because we've got cheaper places to live and a much simpler time of it overall. So here come the millennials!
Owning a Pet Makes You Happier, Earn More Money
Pet ownership has all sorts of benefits, besides just the warm fuzzy feelings we get when we're snuggled up on the couch with our sweet loyal friends. Pet owners tend to be happier, exercise more, and earn more money. Wanna adopt right now?
With Babies R Us Closed, Another Store Picks Up the Slack
The closure of Babies R Us stores left a huge void in the world of baby products, and other retailers are realizing they've got a big opportunity to fill that need. A big retailer just announced they'll start selling more cribs and playsets in stores on August 30th, and other retailers are hopping on board too.
Not Out of the Woods Yet With ‘100 Deadliest Days’ in Texas
The days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the deadliest days of the year on the roads, and there was proof of that earlier this summer in East Texas when a teen driver was killed when his vehicle went off the road and flipped. Just why is the summer so deadly? Turns out there are several reasons.
East Texas CASA Programs Need More Volunteers
Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, helps kids across East Texas who need someone to watch out for their best interests in the child protection system, and CASA has a big need for volunteers right now. These abused and neglected kids could use a hero like you!
UT Has Its New Leader
They have to wait a few more days before it becomes official, but it looks like the University of Texas system that includes 14 schools has picked its new Chancellor. And he's a New Yorker.
Texas Thieves Get Away With a Stolen Flat Screen on a Motorcycle
Usually, thieves try to be a little discreet, but not this time. Some Texas robbers unscrewed a flat screen from someone's wall and rode off with it on a motorcycle.