President Joe Biden is expected in Austin today to speak at a ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in a visit that was postponed two weeks in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on the life of Donald Trump on July 13.
It is Biden’s first major public event since announcing he’s not running for reelection in November.
Biden will speak at the LBJ Library on the UT campus.
Today’s event is closed to the public but will be streamed live beginning at 3:00pm. Biden’s arrival and visit is expected to cause traffic delays as well as impact public transportation and air travel.
According to airport officials, when Biden touches down in Austin, there will be a temporary ground stop and ramp freeze, which will likely cause minor flight delays for those scheduled to arrive or depart at the time. This will repeat when he leaves.
“Last year, President Biden said civil rights are ‘the unfinished fight of America. We look forward to commemorating this milestone with the President and hearing his vision for how we can continue to make real the promise of America for all of its citizens.”
— LBJ Foundation President and CEO Mark Updegrove
Biden’s withdrawal from the race has echoes of LBJ. (NPR)
“This visit has been many, many months in the making, and we were of course thrilled that the stars seemed to align a few weeks ago, though, so that he would appear here. And now, after some uncertainty, it appears as though this event is going to have even more — much more — significance than it would have.”
— Mark Lawrence, director of the LBJ Presidential Library
In his first public engagement since ending his campaign, President Biden will propose overhauling a Supreme Court that has become increasingly politicized and subject to ethics complaints. (New York Times)
After today’s event here in Austin, the president will travel to Houston to pay his respects to congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, who died last week after a brief battle with cancer. Biden is also expected to attend a Democratic fundraiser. It will be Biden’s fourth trip to Texas this year. In January he attended a memorial service for former U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas. In February he was in Brownsville to promote a bipartisan border security bill that failed in Congress. In March he attended fundraisers in Dallas and Houston over two days. (Houston Chronicle)
Details have been released concerning the remembrance of Jackson Lee:
On Tuesday, July 30, there will be a viewing at God’s Grace Community Church at 9944 West Montgomery Road from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.
On Wednesday, July 31, there will be a viewing from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church at 3826 Wheeler Avenue, followed by a service there that will run from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Then on Thursday, August 1, there will be a Celebration of Life Service at 11 a.m. at Fallbrook Church. That’s at 12512 Walters Road in Houston. The congresswoman’s office said this service is by invitation only.
Gov. Greg Abbott has approved Houston Mayor John Whitmire‘s request to lower the flags to half-staff on City Hall and municipal buildings from Monday, July 29, to Thursday, Aug. 1.
Vice President Kamala Harris will return to Texas this week for Jackson Lee’s remembrance. Harris was in Houston last week speaking to the American Federation of Teachers union convention.
Biden and Harris’ trips to Houston are not expected to overlap. Biden will travel to Houston on Monday evening and is expected to visit Houston City Hall, where Jackson Lee is lying in state. (Texas Tribune)
Harris will be in Houston on Wednesday to deliver remarks at a political event, according to a Sunday evening press release. And she will deliver a eulogy at Jackson Lee’s homegoing service on the following day. The Celebration of Life Service on Thursday will take place at Fallbrook Church and will be livestreamed, according to a schedule of events shared by Jackson Lee’s family.
Texas teachers stand behind Kamala Harris after years of feeling targeted, neglected by Republicans. (Texas Tribune)
Texas U.S Rep. Lloyd Doggett took a political risk by calling on Biden to step aside. It worked. (Texas Tribune)
The American Federation of Teachers union president says Texas Gov. Abbott is defunding public schools.
Most Texans support school vouchers, according to a new survey. (Texas Tribune)
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has appointed Sarah Keyton interim commissioner beginning Aug. 1 after Harrison Keller announced he was stepping down to become president of the University of North Texas. (Austin American-Statesman)
New data shows so far in 2024, crimes reported in Austin are down to the lowest levels in five years for the same reporting period, though homicide numbers are higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic and auto thefts remain inflated. (Austin American-Statesman)
An inmate’s body temp was 107.5 when he died. The state of Texas says heat did not kill him. (KUT 90.5)
The Austin Police Department said officers took a man into custody after a SWAT callout in southeast Austin Sunday. (KXAN-TV)
A North Austin woman claims an Amazon Flex driver took her dog. (KVUE-TV)
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about fraudulent callers pretending to be deputies and demanding money.
Texas firefighters are headed to California to assist in battling several wildfires there. (Houston Chronicle)
A report released earlier this month by the Office of the City Auditor found that as city agencies work to improve their gender gap in hiring, women are still underrepresented in the city workforce. (Austin Monitor)
Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implant company is expanding with a $14.7 million facility in suburban Austin. (San Antonio Express News)
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit claiming the University of Texas uses unlawful admissions policies. (Daily Texan)
Austin’s tourism commission is looking to attract more major events to town. (Austin Monitor)
Texas last week began dividing $1 billion in taxpayer approved money among different types of water infrastructure and supply projects. (Texas Tribune)
CenterPoint Energy’s much criticized response to the power outages after Hurricane Beryl will be the focus of a hearing in Austin today. (CW39 Houston)
Parts of the Lockhart area are seeing road closures due to the filming of the television series “1923”.
Weather forecasters are watching a tropical disturbance that could possibly develop into Tropical Storm Chris.
Rain chances for Central Texas diminish this week as the big heat returns.
What factors make up the U.S. Drought Monitor? (KXAN-TV)
The Texas Rangers have reportedly made starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen available on the trade market. (Sports Illustrated via MSN)
Meanwhile, the Rangers traded two minor leaguers to Detroit for catcher Carson Kelly. (Detroit Free Press via MSN)
Texas got swept in Toronto over the weekend, losing Sunday, 7-3. (Yahoo! Sports)
In Houston, the Astros dropped their series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-2. (Yahoo! Sports)
Three-year Texas Longhorns swimmer Carson Foster captured the bronze medal in the 400-meter individual medley Sunday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (KXAN-TV)
A Cedar Park teen is headed to the 2024 Paralympics in Paris for archery. (Austin American-Statesman)
The Dallas Cowboys suffered a blow to their defense Sunday with pass rusher Sam Williams suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. (ESPN via MSN)
In his final public speech in December, 1972, Lyndon Baines Johnson addressed the 1972 Civil Rights Symposium at the LBJ Library in Austin.
