Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is preparing for the holiday season rush of travelers in the coming days, however, there are concerns over a shortage of air traffic controllers that could lead to flight delays.
This year is set to see a 6.2% increase over last year’s crowds, according to the TSA. The agency expects to screen almost 40 million people between December 19 and January 2.
Many of those 40 million travelers will be passing through U.S. terminals on three key dates: December 20, December 27, and December 30.
ABIA officials do not expect the airport to break any records for the busiest holiday season or busiest year because airlines are offering slightly fewer flights this year than last year.
Meanwhile, Austin’s airport expansion project is moving forward.
The airport is spending $241 million to modernize its baggage handling system. The upgrade includes 1.5 half miles of new conveyor belts to move bags from check-in, through security and onto planes. (KVUE-TV)
Emergency crews freed a CapMetro employee and a passenger from a bus after it crashed and rolled over in south Austin Wednesday morning.
A Pflugerville man is facing a murder charge for allegedly dealing someone fentanyl. (CBS Austin)
A Travis County jury sentenced a man to 40 years in prison for the murder of a 22-year-old woman in a road rage incident. (Fox7 Austin)
A murder suspect has been convicted in Travis County for a 2023 shooting that left a teenager dead. (CBS Austin)
A former Texas DPS trooper has pled no contest as part of a plea deal in relation to a charge over excessive force. (KVUE-TV)
A Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) correctional officer was arrested after she was accused of performing a sexual act with an inmate at the Travis County State Jail over the weekend. (KXAN-TV)
Austin police have released more information about a home invasion and burglary that took place two weeks ago on Springdale Road.
Two arrests have been made but authorities are still looking for others connected to the crime.
Orlen Guillen and Nefi Amed Gomez-Lopez
Authorities have released the identity of a woman found dead in Lady Bird Lake on December 1. (KXAN-TV)
Initially, police were seeking Nguyen’s next-of-kin but they were eventually located.
A well-known local music venue/bar that recently closed reported on social media that their warehouse had been robbed of music equipment and were asking for the public’s help in recovering stolen goods that may be sold online.
More information has been released on Tuesday’s fatal crash involving a car and motorcycle.
TxDOT says it is now using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make our roads safer.
More self-driving taxis are coming to Austin.
The emergence of the Austin metropolitan area as a data center hub shows no signs of slowing. (Austin Business Journal)
The Big Top Candy Shop on South Congress Avenue has been named the Best Candy Shop in Texas by Southern Living Magazine. (Austin American-Statsman)
Starting in 2025, you’ll have to schedule your bulk pickup in Austin. (KUT 90.5)
Austin city leaders are looking to improve access to the Pennybacker Bridge Overlook by using the powers of eminent domain to acquire about 1.5 acres near the Loop 360 overlook.
The land along Courtyard Drive will allow for safer access, public parking and expanded sidewalks and trails at the overlook.
A strong cold front blew through Central Texas early Wednesday morning, pushing out the warmer, moist air and leaving behind cooler, drier conditions. Temperatures dropped up to 15 degrees within minutes in most areas.
This is what it looked like.
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The current extended forecast for Christmas Day shows Austin looking at partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 70s. (AccuWeather)
Are meteorological signs pointing towards a warmer-than-normal winter in Texas? (Lonestar Live)
When will La Niña begin? How its delayed arrival affects weather patterns in North America. (Lonestar Live)
Texas health officials are warning about bird flu. It comes after the CDC confirmed the first severe case of bird flu in the country.
One person is dead, and four others were injured after a tractor trailer was struck by a train in Pecos on Wednesday. (KXAN-TV)
The federal government is investigating reports of mysterious drones in White Settlement in North Texas.
A San Antonio special education teacher was arrested last week after he reportedly dropped a bag of meth while on the job. (MySanAntonio)
At least a third of landowners approached by state officials have refused to let the border wall be built on their properties. That’s forced the state to largely build on ranchland in remote areas, or erect sections that are full of gaps. (Texas Tribune)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against selling unused pieces of the border wall.
The University of Houston is set to ban TikTok, alerting those on campus that the popular video social media app will be outlawed from its network in the new year. (Chron)
Former Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo is expected in court on Thursday. He has asked a judge to throw out charges against him that accuse him of not taking action during the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The 9-2 Texas Longhorns are in action tonight at Moody Center hosting New Orleans (2-7) at 7:00 p.m. (Texas Longhorns)
It’s Clemson vs. Texas in about 48 hours.
Ticket demand for Saturday’s game isn’t exactly robust. (Lonestar Live)
MLB: A new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays continues to be surrounded by questions leading to speculation that if the team were to relocate, Austin would be a prime contender as a new home. (KVUE-TV)
NHL: The Dallas Stars lost at home last night to the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3. (Yahoo! Sports)
NBA: No games Wednesday but Dallas, Houston and San Antonio are all in action tonight. (Yahoo! Sports)
Dallas Cowboys got you down? There are still some bright spots in Texas sports. (KERA-FM/NPR North Texas)
Leading up to Christmas, we continue to enjoy popular holiday light displays and shows in Texas.
Last year, a brilliant 1,499-Christmas drone show retelling the Nutcracker ballet was held at the Birdville FAAC football stadium in North Richland Hills, Texas with 1,499 drones, marking the largest and tallest drone show ever witnessed in the Lone Star State, towering at 700 feet.
