Riane Roldan | KUT

Credit Courtesy of Riane Roldan

  Riane Roldan is the Hays County reporter for KUT. Previously, Riane covered politics, immigration and the environment during internships at The Texas Tribune and the Austin American-Statesman.

Riane graduated from Emerson College with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and grew up in Miami, where she attended Miami Dade College. Born to Cuban and Chilean families, she speaks Spanish and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Riane is also an alumnus of the Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism and won the first place award for in-depth reporting from the Florida College Press Association Miami.

Ways to Connect

Two Republicans Are Competing To Challenge Longtime Democratic Incumbent Lloyd Doggett

By • Jul 9, 2020
Jenny Garcia Sharon (left) and William Hayward (right) are competing in the Republican primary runoff election for Texas' 35th Congressional District.
Courtesy of the candidates

Texas Democrat Lloyd Doggett is running for his 14th term as a congressman this year, in Texas’ 35th Congressional District. But there are still two candidates vying to be his Republican challenger in November — William Hayward and Jenny Garcia Sharon.

Condado De Hays Inicia Programa 'Citar y Eludir' Tras Llamados A Reducir Desigualdades En Arrestos

By • Jul 8, 2020
The Hays County Historic Courthouse
Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT

Read this story in English.

El condado de Hays implementará un programa de “Citar y Eludir” a partir del 1 de septiembre, anunció este miércoles la oficina del sheriff.

La decisión de seguir adelante con el programa llega después de más de un año de discusión.

Hays County Starts Cite-And-Divert Program After Calls To Reduce Racial Disparities In Arrests

By • Jul 8, 2020
The Hays County Historic Courthouse
Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT

Lee esta historia en español. 

Hays County will implement a cite and divert program starting Sept. 1, the sheriff's office announced Wednesday.  

The decision to move forward with the program comes after more than a year of discussion.

San Marcos Frena Arrestos Por Delitos Menores. Ahora Piden Expandir La Práctica En Todo El Condado.

By • Jul 2, 2020
Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT

Read this story in English.

Deana Piñales trabaja como doula de postparto cuando no enseña a niños en la Iglesia de la Fraternidad Unitaria Universalista de San Marcos. Se llama a sí misma, en broma, una "doncella de todos los oficios" debido a sus diversos intereses y dice que trata de mantenerse involucrada en la comunidad tanto como sea posible a través de su hijo de 9 años. 

San Marcos Stopped Arrests For Minor Crimes. Now There's A Call To Expand The Practice Countywide.

By • Jul 1, 2020
Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT

Lee esta historia en español. 

Deana Piñales works as a postpartum doula when she’s not teaching children at the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church. She jokingly calls herself a “jane-of-all-trades,” because of her varying interests, and says she tries to stay involved in the community as much as possible through her 9-year-old son. 

San Marcos City Council Promises To Do More To Address Police Brutality, Criminal Justice Reform

By • Jun 19, 2020
A sign at a protest reads "End Police Brutality"
Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT

The City of San Marcos is promising to do more to address calls for an end to police brutality and systemic racism within law enforcement.

At a special meeting Thursday, council members passed a series of resolutions to address reform on a local and national level.

As COVID-19 Cases In Hays County Rise, Texas State Students Worry About Going Back To School

By • Jun 15, 2020
Texas State University
Texas State University

Texas State University is moving forward with plans to have students back on campus for summer classes that start July 6. But as the number of COVID-19 cases in the county grows, many students are concerned about going back to school.

San Marcos City Council Seeks Input For COVID-19 Relief Projects

By • Jun 3, 2020
A sign on a business in Austin during the coronavirus pandemic urges people to wash their hands frequently.
Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT

Dozens of local businesses in San Marcos could receive up to $5,000 of federal funding in the latest round of efforts to relieve communities that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.