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 Drivers Can Help Break This Awful Streak
TxDOT says since Nov. 7, 2000, at least one person has died on Texas roadways every single day. That's 66-thousand deaths, and many of them could have been prevented. There are at least five things we can do to bring this horrible streak to an end.
Earning a $55,000 Salary in Texas is Enough for a Happy Life
The average American family earns about $55,000 per year, and one website looked at popular cities in each state to figure out if that's enough to live a satisfying life. Is it?
The 3 Biggest Thanksgiving Dinner Mistakes
Forgetting to bring the canned cranberry sauce that you signed up for would be bad, but it's not the worst thing that could happen on Thanksgiving Day. There are three bigger Thanksgiving dinner faux pas that will leave your relatives hungry, grouchy, and well...not thankful.
See Where Texas Ranks for Black Friday Violence
How likely we are to get trampled or punched over a big sale on Black Friday depends where we live and which store we're in at the time.
Texas is Auctioning Rare License Plates
If you want a Texas license plate that says AA, LUCKY, or PLEASE, now is the time to bid! Texas is auctioning off fifty of the most sought-after license plates right now and the bidding ends in two weeks. Single digits like the number 8 are available too.
Thanksgiving Dad Jokes That Will Make You Cringe
Hearing these cringe-worthy Dad Jokes now may help us rehearse our reactions for Thanksgiving Day when we hear them again. Some of them are so goofy we just have to laugh.
Don’t Miss These Veteran’s Day Freebies
If you're a military veteran, it's all about you this weekend, and rightfully so. With Veteran's Day on Sunday, several East Texas restaurants are planning to offer freebies and deals to say thanks.
iPad Cash Registers Guilt Us Into Tipping More
I took my daughters to a fast-casual food court the other day and each restaurant had an iPad cash register, which meant that I spent 12 to 20 percent more than I would have with other payment terminals. It's too hard to say no to the tip!
[Warning] Deer Hunters, Don’t Let Your Dog Shoot You
If you're a deer hunter, the experts say it's going to be a good season in Texas. Unless your dog shoots you accidentally. It really happened.
Having More Than $11,700 in Savings Puts You Above the Norm
The top 1 percent of households in the U.S. have over $1 million saved across several accounts, and the bottom twenty percent have between zero and eight thousand dollars in savings. Where do you land?
Lockheed Martin is Bringing More Jobs to East Texas
A plan to expand a current East Texas facility will create over one hundred new jobs at Lockheed Martin, and that will increase the number of employees by about a third. Check this out to stay on top of the job boom.
How Long Does Halloween Candy Last?
If you didn't eat all of it last night, you can keep enjoying the Kit Kats and Dum Dums awhile longer. But how long exactly?
Halloween candy has a shelf-life, and it's not "til next year."
Halloween candy has a shelf-life, and it's not "til next year."