The selection of Lisa Davis to head the Austin Police Department marks the first time in three decades that a woman will be at the helm of the force. Some in Austin believe having a woman leading the way will not only lead to more women joining the force but to more compassion and community trust. (KEYE-TV)
“I think some of that genuine compassion that comes along with being a woman is going to come through in ways that I think any police department, any department can benefit from.”
— Chas Moore, Executive Director of the Austin Justice Coalition
APD currently has 174 women sworn in and 15 female cadets. Women make up half of the United States population but only about 12% of police officers. In addition, only 3% of police leadership positions are held by women.
APD currently has about 300 vacant officer positions available.
“We do our very best to deescalate using words, using our communication skills, and emphasizing the importance of that. And studies show that female officers, in particular, are very well versed at that. But whether it’s female or male everyone needs to have those skills.”
— Michael Bullock, President of the Austin Police Association.
The appointment of Lisa Davis requires approval from the Austin City Council. A vote is scheduled on Tuesday at a special-called meeting.
The Houston Police Department also recently announced a new chief.
Candidates have been announcing their campaign to run for the position of U.S. representative for Texas’s 18th congressional district, the seat left behind by the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. (Fox26 Houston)
Governor Greg Abbott has announced Tuesday, November 5, as the special election date to fill the congressional seat.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn will not be on the 2024 Texas ballot, but he still plans to hit the campaign trail and to raise money in the coming weeks on behalf of fellow Texan Sen. Ted Cruz and other Republican senators facing Democratic challengers in the Nov. 5 elections. (Austin American-Statesman)
Gov. Greg Abbott talks about improving safety for students, teachers and staff as a new school year approaches in Texas…Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Austin talks about his visit with President Biden…Republican North Texas Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne talks about the presidential race in this episode of Eye on Politics from CBS Texas.
The Austin Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1100 block of Chateau Hill Drive, near Spicewood Parkway on Sunday evening. (Fox7 Austin)
Jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the murder trial of a man who claimed self-defense after killing a woman he had been having an affair with at a Pflugerville apartment complex in May 2020. (Austin American-Statesman)
The City of Austin has launched a new website for sexual assault survivors. (KVUE-TV)
Residents in East Austin are calling on the city to stop a boat rental company from permanently moving into a neighborhood park. (Fox7 Austin)
Rent prices in Austin have dropped 10% on average from last year. (Fox7 Austin)
A new survey of Texas voters revealed contradictory feelings about school vouchers, a contentious issue that could dominate next year’s legislative session. (KXAN-TV)
Texas is one of 15 states that are temporarily exempt from new sex-based discrimination rules, which went into effect Thursday and seeks to expand federal protections for survivors of sexual assault, students who seek an abortion and LGBTQ+ students. (Austin American-Statesman via Yahoo! News)
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a Galveston County lawsuit that coalitions of minority groups cannot band together to claim that political maps constitute discriminatory gerrymandering. (Texas Tribune)
Venezuelans crowded the Texas Capitol Saturday waving the national flag and holding signs denouncing President Nicolás Maduro’s victory for another term. (KVUE-TV)
A trial set for this week in federal court between Texas and the Biden administration over the state’s use of a floating river barrier along the Rio Grande to stop migration will be postponed by 60 days or longer. (Bloomberg Law)
Is Texas in the South, West or Great Plains? The CDC, Census Bureau and most Texans can’t agree. (Austin American-Statesman via MSN)
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he sent a letter to the Public Utility Commission of Texas related to ratepayer money sent to Houston energy company CenterPoint. He requested the PUC take back $800 million of ratepayer money from CenterPoint. (KXAN-TV)
Meanwhile, CenterPoint has withdrawn its plans to ask for a rate increase.
A Texas state judge on Friday barred Google from questioning the state and its legal team in their lawsuit accusing the company of unlawfully collecting biometric privacy data of millions of Texans without consent. (Reuters)
A Frontier Airlines pilot was taken off a flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston in handcuffs on Thursday. (Fox7 Austin)
Intense heat will not only continue into this week in Central Texas but temperatures will inch a few degrees higher.
How often does Austin hit 100 degrees? A breakdown by date, month, year and decade. (KXAN-TV)
Austin has been ranked as the sweatiest city in America, according to a recent survey. (MySanAntonio.com)
The Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil production in the state, is investigating whether recent earthquakes are being caused by fracking.
Here’s a bunch of free stuff to do in Austin this summer. (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin FC will face Los Angeles FC in a Leagues Cup 2024 Round of 32 match on Wednesday, August 7 at BMO Stadium. The winner of the match between Austin and LAFC will compete in the Round of 16 versus the winner of the match between the West Group 6 winners and the West Group 2 runners-up. (Austin FC)
In Major League Baseball, Jonah Heim and Leody Taveras homered back-to-back from the bottom of the order to erase a three-run deficit in the fourth inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox, 7-4, Saturday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
In Houston, Josh Lowe homered twice for the Tampa Bay Rays as the Astros lose, 6-1. (Yahoo! Sports)
Former Texas standout Ryan Crouser won the gold medal in track and field’s shot put competition. (Austin American-Statesman)
UT athlete Julien Alfred upset Sha’Carri Richardson Saturday in the 100 meter event, taking gold. Richardson took the silver medal. (KXAN-TV)
Meet the Texas-based league putting flag football on the map. (KVUE-TV)
Despite having 11 players taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, the depth on the Texas Longhorns has shown out during preseason camp.
Elgin High School‘s band program had its UT Seatback Install fundraiser, where they installed thousands of seats in DKR Stadium.
The Dallas Cowboys begin their 2024 season just one month from now. They play their home games in one of the most incredible sports structures in the world…AT&T Stadium.
Let’s go inside…
