Dozens of protesters gathered Saturday afternoon outside a suspected Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility near the intersection of Highways 130 and 45 in Pflugerville. Demonstrators chanted and held signs calling for change. Two Department of Homeland Security officers and their vehicles were present at the scene.
“I was just really desperate to find her because I didn’t know where she was.” — Thalia Gutierrez, whose mother, Tatiana Luna Bonito was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on Wednesday
Austin ICE detainees face uncertain futures at the J.J. Pickle Federal building in downtown Austin that is being used as an immigration facility. (CBS Austin)
Many Central Texas school districts this week released general guidance to staff and families on how to handle potential interactions with federal immigration agents attempting to apprehend targets on or near campuses. (Austin American-Statesman)
“A lot of fear going on.” (CBS Austin)
According to a statewide poll released by the University of Houston, most Texans say there should be away to allow immigrants without legal authorization to remain in the U.S. if they meet certain conditions.
Of the 768 respondents (64% of 1,200) who supported a path to legal status for immigrants, 80% believed those with felony convictions should be deported, and 60% felt the same about those with misdemeanor convictions. (Austin American-Statesman)
An Austin man has been charged with murder following a deadly shooting Friday night.
The Kyle Police Department has received a $188,280 mental health grant. The funding will be used to establish a full-time mental health clinician position, covering the costs of training and equipment. (KXAN-TV)
Approximately 30 acres were burned after a fire in Bastrop County late Saturday afternoon. No structures were lost in the fire. (CBS Austin)
Israeli investors are flocking to Austin. With rising antisemitic sentiments across the United States, Austin is also becoming an attractive site for Israeli founders looking to expand their operations in the country. (CTech)
President Donald Trump’s hefty tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China began yesterday, the beginning of potential trade wars that could raise costs in Austin and throughout the United States on everything from toys to construction products. (Austin Business Journal)
On the first day of Black History Month, hundreds of people came together in East Austin to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A ceremony was held Saturday at the Taylor City Cemetery to honor hundreds of Black residents whose gravestones have disappeared over the past century. Attendees included Taylor city leaders, members of The Taylor Conservation and Heritage Society, and local residents. (Fox7 Austin)
Austin residents may have recently received a purple “public notice” slip in the mail, detailing two proposed changes to the city’s land development code.
What do they mean? (Fox7 Austin)
WEATHER
Central Texas is on track for a warmer-than-usual February.
Thousands of people gathered in Pennsylvania early this morning waiting for Punxsutawney Phil to awake and hint at more winter or an early spring. So…did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow this year?
Move over Punxsutawney Phil, Texas has our own animal forecaster… Bee Cave Bob!
Gov. Greg Abbott will lay out his priorities for Texas today during his 2025 State of the State address.
The hour-long broadcast begins at 5 p.m. with Abbott’s speech. It will be followed by a response from the Texas Democratic Party and a roundtable with members of the legislature and Nexstar reporters.
The address can be seen on the following Texas television stations:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is calling on state resources to work closely with the Feds in cooperating with deportations. A look at some of the costs associated with this as the Governor asks for $11 billion in reimbursement for Operation Lone Star. Also, the head of the Department of Public Safety reveals he needs more money for more State Troopers as they devote efforts to border security.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick told CBS News Texas the state will do whatever it takes to secure the southern border.
This week’s episode of “Inside Texas Politics” features San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg on ICE operations that have spread fear throughout several communities.
Donald Trump’s newly-imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China have even his supporters in Texas nervous. (Texas Tribune)
Dallas has begun a nationwide search for a new police chief.
Longhorn cattle took over the streets of downtown San Antonio yesterday. (MySanAntonio)
SPORTS
NBA: The Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world last night with the announcement of a three-team blockbuster trade that will send Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers to acquire fellow star Anthony Davis. (Sports Illustrated)
The Mavericks were idle Saturday. They’ll be in Cleveland today. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Brooklyn Nets won consecutive games for the first time since November with a 110-98 victory over the short-handed Houston Rockets on Saturday night. (Yahoo Sports!)
Bam Adebayo hit a 19-foot jumper as time expired to give the Miami Heat a 105-103 victory over San Antonio on Saturday night with Spurs star Victor Wembanyama sitting out because of an undisclosed illness. (Yahoo! Sports)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Graduate forward Kadin Shedrick recorded a double-double with a season-high 16 points and 10 rebounds, while graduate guard Tramon Mark added a season-high 18 points to lead Texas (15-7, 4-5 SEC) to an emphatic 89-58 victory at LSU (12-9, 1-7 SEC) on Saturday evening in the Maravich Assembly Center. The 31-point win marked UT’s largest margin of victory in a road conference game since a 31-point victory (83-52) at Texas Tech on Jan. 11, 2011.
A season-high 25 points from Wade Taylor IV lifted the 13th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies to a hard-fought 76-72 road victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday. (12thMan)
No. 22 Texas Tech extended its winning streak to six and ended No. 6 Houston’s 13-game winning streak with an 82-81 overtime win on Saturday. (Texas Tech Athletics)
COLLEGE BASEBALL: The Texas Longhorns held their annual alumni baseball game.
Texas’ baseball season kicks off on February 14 against Louisville in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown.
NHL: The Dallas Stars were idle yesterday but will be hosting Columbus today at 5:00 p.m. (Yahoo! Sports)
A visit to the only dedicated Voodoo shop in the state of Texas.
