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Maya Fawaz
Hays County ReporterWhat I do at KUT
Where most reporters have a certain beat they focus on, my reporting includes a little bit of everything: education, politics, the environment, business and housing. My coverage area is also vast, I travel frequently across San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Wimberley and Dripping Springs.
I love what I do and the ever-changing nature of my beat, but it frustrates me to know I can’t cover everything. I try my best to bring attention to what’s most important to the communities in Hays County and will always lend an ear to someone willing to chat. I work hard to keep people at the heart of every story I tell, whether it be on the air or on our website.
My experience
I was labeled an “excessive talker” in every classroom growing up, often having to be moved away from friends and exiled to the other side of classrooms — where I inevitably would strike up a new conversation with a stranger. I got accepted into the University of Texas at Austin and didn’t know what would come next. All I knew was I loved telling stories and was obsessed with learning languages. I took a journalism class, which led to another, and yet another.
I graduated with a bachelor’s in Journalism, a minor in French and with a first-level Arabic class under my belt. I produced an investigative podcast under our student-run audio production house called Crooked Power, a five-episode series reported entirely in Spanish. It followed a family of journalists in Ecuador as they fought for a free press amid a national controversy in 2011.
I freelanced for a while, editing and producing podcasts, until I landed an internship at KUT. I was given a chance to stick around as a part-time general assignment reporter and, to my delight and surprise, was hired as the Hays County reporter in January 2023.
Journalistic ethics
I care more about covering the news fairly and with context than to be the first reporter to break the news. I believe in producing accurate stories while treating sources with compassion and care. At the end of the day, reporters are people, with our own opinions and beliefs. I take great care to not let my own experiences and opinions impact my reporting.
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Central Texas schools are finding ways to cut down on spending in the face of budget deficits. Reshuffling staff and delaying the opening of a new school are just a few of the steps districts are taking.
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Central Texas summers are no joke. Whether you’re new to Austin or have been here for a while, here are some places to take a plunge.
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El Banco de Alimentos del Condado de Hays se traslada a un espacio más grande para dar cabida a la creciente necesidad de sus servicios. El banco de alimentos espera distribuir este año más alimentos que nunca.
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The Hays County Food Bank is relocating to a bigger space to accommodate the growing need for its services. The food bank expects to distribute more food this year than ever before.
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Avrey Anderson was accused of incompetence and negligence of his duties at a hearing last month. A judge was set to rule on a possible suspension.
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Couples tied the knot at the Travis County Probate Courthouse Friday morning as part of the county's weeklong event offering free marriage ceremonies for Pride Month.
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The event scheduled for Sept. 16 was canceled after the university received notice from the Commission on Presidential Debates on Monday.
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Las zonas tranquilas de la ciudad desaparecen temporalmente después de que una inspección detectara varias infracciones en los pasos a nivel de San Marcos. Los residentes deben esperar que las bocinas suenen durante al menos tres a seis meses.
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The city's quiet zones are temporarily going away after an inspection found several violations at San Marcos train crossings. Residents should expect the horns to blare for at least three to six months.
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Los robos de Hyundais y Kias aumentaron casi siete veces de 2022 a 2023, y las cifras siguen subiendo. El Departamento de Policía de Austin organiza un evento el sábado para hacer mella en los robos de vehículos.