Death Cab for Cutie is one of the groups performing tonight at KXT’s annual Summer Cut.

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Area animal shelters are waiving their adoption fees Saturday; KXT’s Summer Cut is here; Gov. Perry thinks he’s awesome; and more.

• KXT’s Summer Cut is Friday night. The annual Summer Cut: The Happy Funtime Fest features Death Cab for Cutie, Iron & Wine, Hold Steady, and many more groups. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. at the Gexa Energy Pavilion. The Dallas Observer features Death Cab for Cutie in this profile. Do you have your ticket? Learn all about Summer Cut on KXT.org.

• Adoption fees will be waived at 33 North Texas animal shelters on Saturday during Empty The Shelter Day. Organizers say it’s the largest adoption event in North Texas. The goal is to get as many animals as possible out of shelters and into homes. Learn more here. The event comes after waves of news coverage all summer about the Dallas city animal shelter being inundated with unwanted dogs and cats. Learn more here from this earlier story. Did you know that up to 200,000 animals are euthanized each year in North Texas city shelters? Learn more about the North Texas animal welfare scene in this story about an animal lover who helps Dallas’ homeless animals.

• Gov. Rick Perry continues to tour the country as he considers a presidential run. Earlier this week, he visited the Iowa State Fair. The Des Moines Register reports that Perry says he’s learned from the mistakes he made during his failed 2012 presidential bid: “When The Des Moines Register asked Perry if Iowans will see a lot of him, he answered, yes, between now and November. After the election, he’ll take a break, he said. Perry seemed pumped up after his enthusiastic, heckle-free reception at the Register’s Soapbox. When the Register’s moderator thanked him as he came off the stage, Perry said: ‘You’re welcome. I’m awesome!’”

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• Federal officials don’t plan on helping to protect this itsy, bitsy blind spider. The Texas Tribune reports: “A tiny, blind spider that lives in an Austin-area cave called Pickle Pit just got some bad news. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in the Federal Register on Wednesday that the Warton’s cave meshweaver, which has only been found in Pickle Pit, a privately owned shallow cave in Travis County, is not eligible for endangered species protection. The reason: It’s not actually a distinct species. It was a deflating end for the the eyeless arachnid’s supporters, who had been in the dark for the 20 years since Cicurina wartoni was first listed as a candidate for endangered species protection.”

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• A small town near Austin has discovered a time capsule from the 1930s – but officials aren’t sure how to open it. KVUE-TV in Austin reports that demolition crews recovered the capsule while tearing down the old City Hall in Taylor. The copper box is filled with stuff, but heat could threaten the documents, KVUE reports. One official is suggesting using a can opener. City officials hope to figure out a plan by this fall. An old Taylor newspaper story explains what was placed in the capsule – pictures, autographs, letters, coins and Confederate money, among other things.