“What we’re expecting this week is reliability. We’ve been preparing for the last week knowing this weather was coming in, coordinating with a lot of the market participants, the generators, the transmission companies, the Public Utility Commission.” — ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) says the state’s electrical grid is stable and will remain reliable as snow moves into North Texas on Thursday (a Winter Storm Warning goes into effect Thursday morning for Dallas/Fort Worth) and perhaps some icy conditions emerge further south along the Hill Country.
Austin Energy says they are also prepared.
CBS Austin
When asked, most Austin residents said they were more concerned with the power staying on than road conditions.
KXAN-TV
More on the impending winter weather and a complete forecast can be found further down this post in WEATHER.
The Round Rock Police Department said a man is dead after an officer was involved in a shooting near Interstate 35 and Westinghouse Road on Tuesday night.
Round Rock Police Department via Facebook
KXAN-TV
No police officers were hurt in the incident.
In a move that took most by surprise, University of Texas President Jay Hartzell is leaving UT to become the next president of Southern Methodist University.
KVUE-TV
Attorneys for former Austin police officer Christopher Taylor are seeking a new trial.
Taylor’s defense team has submitted that request to the judge who oversaw his October trial on charges he fatally shot a mentally ill man in 2019, saying they have new grounds for a retrial.
KVUE-TV
The Pflugerville Public Library plans to reopen today, according to the Pflugerville Police Department.
U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett has announced $15 million in federal funding to install more electric vehicle charging ports across Austin. (CBS Austin)
Capital Metro says two new Rapid bus lines and a new on-demand service zone are set to launch early this year.
“The majority of tolling points on Mobility Authority roads will see a 2.44 percent increase, consistent with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), equating to rates approximately $0.01 – $0.05 greater than the current rates.”— Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority
The agency says the annual increases are made to keep up with inflation. (CBS Austin)
City of Austin officials say they’ve finished improvements to Trinity Street and San Jacinto Boulevard downtown.
KVUE-TV
Infrastructure firm AECOM will work with the Austin Transit Partnership to construct and deliver the first phase of light rail in Austin, the firm announced in late December.
CEO of META, Mark Zuckerberg, announced content oversight teams will be relocating to Texas.
KVUE-TV
Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas DPS to bolster anti-terrorism efforts after the terror attack in New Orleans last week. He is calling for an expansion of in-state anti-terrorism programs and an increase in federal partnerships. (Texas Tribune)
COTTON BOWL: Will the weather in North Texas be a factor in the Cotton Bowl?
WFAA-TV
Officials in Arlington are ready.
CBS Texas
For Quinn Ewers, the Cotton Bowl is just another game. He prides himself on staying calm in the chaos.
KVUE-TV
NBA: Quinten Grimes had 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Dallas Mavericks snapped a five-game skid with a 118-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
National Basketball Association
Jalen Green scored 22 of his 29 points in the third quarter and the Houston Rockets routed the short-handed Washington Wizards 135-112 on the road Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
National Basketball Association
The San Antonio Spurs had Tuesday off but will be in Milwaukee tonight to face the Bucks at 8:30 p.m. (Yahoo! Sports)
Dallas and Houston have tonight off.
NHL: Jamie Benn scored on a power play 2:17 into overtime and the Dallas Stars rallied from an early three-goal deficit to defeat the struggling New York Rangers 5-4 on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
National Hockey League
Just west of Houston, Stephen F. Austin State Park is a perfect getaway from city life. The wooded park, nestled on the banks of the Brazos River, offers hiking, mountain biking, camping and fishing.
