State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled on Thursday that the Austin City Council violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when it placed 13 city charter amendments on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
The judge found that Council “did not provide adequate notice for the Council’s August 14, 2024 meeting, agenda item number 12, to approve the election.”
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed against the Austin City Council by the Save Our Springs Alliance, an environmental nonprofit.
Other items on the ballot, such as Council races, are not impacted by the order. (Austin American-Statesman)
The Austin City Council decided to delay a decision on two projects that would build large, mixed-use developments in residential areas.
A new project underway on South Lamar called Bouldin, is the largest mixed-use development in more than a decade. It will feature an apartment complex with 309 units, along with a fitness club, restaurants and retail and office space on four acres along the 1300 and 1400 blocks of South Lamar. (Austin American-Statesman)
Police are investigating a body discovered near a business shopping center in southwest Austin. Officers responded just before 9 a.m. Thursday near the West Woods Shopping Center on Bee Caves Road near Old Walsh Tarlton after a call about an urgent welfare check. When they arrived, they found the deceased person. Foul play is not suspected. (KVUE-TV)
The Williamson County sheriff’s office is investigating a second suspected drug overdose death this week. (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin ISD police arrested a high school student accused of bringing a gun to a campus in South Austin. (Fox7 Austin)
Austin police continue their investigation of a deadly shooting Monday, Austin’s 42nd homicide of the year, at an apartment complex on South Pleasant Valley Road and they are seeking the public’s help for any information in the case.
A police chase in southeast Austin ended in a crash and arrest early Sunday morning, according to an arrest affidavit. (KEYE-TV)
The Hays County Criminal District Attorney says murder charges will not be filed against a man who shot and killed a teenager in Buda earlier this month.
A Texas judge is to decide if an Austin man convicted in a 1991 murder should be exonerated. (Austin American-Statesman)
According to court documents, the 18-year-old accused of murder and aggravated assault in the fatal Juneteenth Celebration shooting in Round Rock has a history of violent crimes. (KEYE-TV)
All lanes of North MoPac Expressway northbound reopened Thursday afternoon after a crash before the Far West Boulevard exit. (KXAN-TV)
Authorities responded to a crash late last night on I-35 northbound that killed one person. It occurred just after 11:00 p.m. near 15th Street on the upper deck of the interstate.
Another late night crash had responders busy…
Multiple people were injured in a crash involving a semi-truck and two other vehicles Thursday afternoon in Leander. (KEYE-TV)
The Texas Department of Transportation will host an in-person and virtual public meeting later this week about a proposed improvement project for State Highway 21.
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Board of Directors voted Wednesday to establish the maximum speed limit to 65 miles per hour on the State Highway 71 toll road. (KXAN-TV)
CapMetro began the rollout of its revamped all-electric bike system last month, which includes an all-electric bike fleet, more docking stations and a new rental app. All stations are expected to be fully installed later this fall. (Daily Texan)
Starting at sunset this evening, no watercraft will be allowed on Lake Austin. The city’s annual ordinance will lift Tuesday at sunrise. The ban applies to personal watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards and similar devices. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are allowed. (KXAN-TV)
The Austin Parks & Recreation Department announced Barton Springs Pool is temporarily closed for maintenance. (KXAN-TV)
A new project that will help Barton Springs in drought conditions was approved Thursday. (KXAN-TV)
Austin Energy unveiled its advanced AI-driven early wildfire detection system.
At least one Dallas police officer was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting Thursday night.
The city of Austin is settling two more lawsuits related to the police response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests after the Austin City Council voted to pay out nearly $2 million at its meeting Thursday. (Austin American-Statesman)
The City of Austin is moving forward with allocating funds for women traveling out of state to seek an abortion, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes confirmed on Thursday, despite facing a lawsuit over those funds. (KEYE-TV)
On Thursday, Austin City Council approved a resolution condemning Senate Bill 4 which empowers law enforcement to arrest people they suspect of being in the country without proper immigration documents. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law in March, but it has been tied up in federal court since then. (KUT 90.5)
A recent audit by the Office of the City Auditor found Austin’s efforts to retain employees are falling short, with compensation, career progression and telework policies standing out as problem areas. (Austin Monitor)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially sued the City of Dallas over the State Fair of Texas’ new gun policy. (Fox7 Austin)
A national organization that represents progressive-minded businesses filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against two top Texas officials alleging that a law enacted in 2021 designed to protect the oil and gas industry violates constitutional free speech rights. (Austin American-Statesman)
UT Student Affairs announced Thursday Katie McGee has been picked to serve as the UT Austin’s next associate vice president and dean of students. (Austin American-Statesman)
Texas AMBER Alerts may soon start popping up on your TikTok feed. (Fox7 Austin)
A Dallas County judge granted a motion to dismiss charges against a Texas man who was initially convicted in 1987 of murder. (Texas Tribune)
Kamala Harris gave her first interview since entering US presidential race. She appeared on CNN last night with her running mate, Tim Walz.
Domald Trump responded to last night’s interview.
Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign said it will launch a national bus tour highlighting reproductive rights and freedoms from Donald Trump’s own backyard in Florida. (Palm Beach Post)
In different events the past couple days, Donald Trump focused on the Midwest while Kamala Harris on Georgia. (Washington Post)
High school football officially got underway last night across the Lonestar State.
In Central Texas, the annual Taco Bowl kicks off the season. Last night’s match was a high-scoring affair.
All the scores from high school action Thursday. (KXAN-TV)
College football season begins tomorrow as the Texas Longhorns host Colorado State University.
The Longhorns enter the 2024-2025 season with some injuries.
Predictions: What will the Texas Longhorns’ 2024 season look like?
In baseball, the Houston Astros won at home in the opening game of a weekend series against the Kansas City Royals, 6-3. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Texas Rangers wrapped up a successful series against the White Sox in Chicago yesterday with a 2-1 win. (Yahoo! Sports)
A teen from Cedar Park set a personal best while competing for Team USA in the Paralympics in Paris. (KVUE-TV)
Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer and many Texans are likely heading to the beach.
What are some of the top beaches in Texas?
