Efforts to clean up homeless encampments in Austin parks may soon get a $1 million boost.
“We know from history that there are several parks, numerous parks that have high populations. Some of these are more wooded areas more remote areas – think green belt, Barton Creek Green Belt, south side of Zilker Park, Bouldin Creek, but really the entire city.” — Richard McHale, director of Austin Resource Recovery.
@DocumentingATX on X has been bringing these camps to the public’s attention for a while now. Mainstream media and local officials are starting to take notice.
Austin police will hold a press conference today at 11 a.m. to discuss a homicide investigation from last November on the 400 block of East Wonsley Drive. Six people were arrested for murder the 20-year-old Xavier Jones. (KXAN-TV)
Authorities in Round Rock are investigating a road rage incident Monday that injured one.
In Hays County, officials are still on the lookout for a hit-and-run suspect and their vehicle.
The victim killed in a San Marcos domestic violence shooting on Friday has been identified as 43-year-old Victoria Valadez.
Valadez was allegedly shot and killed by Juan Yanez who was later arrested and charged with murder. He is being held at the Hays County Jail on a $100,000 bond. (Fox7 Austin)
A man was arrested after making threats at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport early Saturday morning. (CBS Austin)
At least one person is dead after two planes collided at an airport in Arizona on Monday. One of the planes left Austin for Scottsdale before it collided with another jet that was parked on private property.
Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency may be setting their sights on upgrading the nation’s air traffic control system. Meanwhile, Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett continues to call for more staffing at Austin’s airport.
Two new nonstop flights begin March 6 at ABIA with Southwest Airlines set to begin previously announced service from Austin to Milwaukee and Reno.
The nonstop route to Milwaukee will operate on weekdays while the Reno route will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays before becoming daily flights in June. (Austin Business Journal)
A theft ring in Central Texas involving up to thirty people has been uncovered. It involves renting heavy equipment from Home Depot locations and selling them in an online marketplace. One person has been arrested in Alabama and others are being sought. (KVUE-TV)
The principal of an Austin Independent School District campus said staff has noticed fewer students coming to school. (KXAN-TV)
Austin firefighters were busy early Sunday with a house fire.
The $522 million purchase of the Sail Tower (Block 185) in downtown Austin was one of the biggest real estate purchases of 2024.
How the deal came together. (Austin Business Journal)
Austin is considering parking code changes for the first time in fifteen years.
Safety concerns surrounding electric scooters, particularly their impact on Austin’s disabled community, were a key topic at a recent meeting of the Mayor’s Committee for People With Disabilities. (Austin Monitor)
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A persistent February storm system will bring snow and travel disruptions to areas from the mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys to the mid-Atlantic coast this week, according to AccuWeather. A separate area of dangerous ice is also forecast for the I-77 and I-81 corridors in the southern Appalachians and Piedmont.
Spring forward? Maybe not in Texas as lawmakers mull ending daylight saving time.
Texas Republicans are again pushing to increase religious influence in public schools with two bills introduced Monday in the state Senate. (Austin American-Statesman)
Do the Ten Commandments belong in classrooms? (KXAN-TV)
According to the Texas Tribune, in 2024, Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred collectively raised over $192 million for the U.S. Senate race, making it the most expensive Senate race in the nation. In the end, Cruz defeated Allred by over 8 percentage points. (Texas Tribune)
Republican U.S. Representatives Chip Roy of Texas and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia have introduced legislation permanently abolish the U.S. Agency for Development, aiming to enshrine President Donald Trump’s disruptive executive into law. (Austin American-Statesman)
Sen. John Cornyn is facing what could be the toughest primary challenge of his career as the state party takes a decidedly rightward turn and his popularity among Republican voters dips from 2020 highs. (Texas Tribune)
Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating Richardson ISD.
A career librarian in Montgomery County says she was fired by local officials after being influenced by conservative Christian groups. (Chron)
The U.S. Coast Guard detained 11 Mexican fishermen after intercepting four lanchas illegally fishing off the coast of South Texas last week.
Coast Guard personnel seized approximately 1,595 pounds of red snapper, nine sharks, fishing gear and highflyers. (Lonestar Live)
Border Patrol agents seized more than $498,000 worth of cocaine over the weekend.
More than 300 Texas National Guard troops will arrive in Laredo to assist U.S. Border Patrol with immigration enforcement. (Texas Public Radio)
A Customs and Border Protection officer from El Paso was arrested after being accused of smuggling undocumented immigrants and drug trafficking. (Lonestar Live)
Texas Game Wardens busted a man for hunting in a port-a-potty converted into a deer blind.
Like a lot of things in Texas, the Texas Lotto jackpot keeps getting bigger.
No one correctly matched all five numbers in last night’s drawing which raised the jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing to $80.75 million. (Texas Lottery)
An Austin resident claimed a $1 million dollar prize from a Texas Lottery scratch-off ticket.
Tuna sold at H-E-B, Costco and Walmart is being recalled over a botulism risk.
Texas-born soft drink Dr. Pepper is introducing its first new flavor in a couple years.
Dr Pepper Blackberry was announced by the Waco-founded company, a blend of the original 23 Dr Pepper flavors and blackberry. (Chron)
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The latest AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll shows Texas A&M moving into the top ten while Texas Tech holds its 12-ranked position from last week. (Associated Press)
Texas (15-9, 4-7 SEC) vs. #2/1 Alabama (20-3, 9-1 SEC)
Tipoff is at 8:00 p.m. tonight at Moody Center.
The 8th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies host the Georgia Bulldogs tonight. (Yahoo! Sports)
NBA: Victor Wembanyama had 31 points and 15 rebounds to help the San Antonio Spurs hold off the Washington Wizards 131-121 on Monday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 42 points, including a baseline floater with 2 seconds left in overtime, and the Sacramento Kings beat the depleted Dallas Mavericks 129-128 on Monday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
Houston, San Antonio and Dallas all have the night off tonight.
Mavericks fans are still raging at team ownership after the Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers.
The Dallas Maverick’s new CEO spoke to WFAA-TV:
Texas has a new invader, the Australian redclaw crayfish. Aquatic biologists discovered the invasive crayfish in the Rio Grande Valley and are now worried that it might spread.
That and more on the latest episode of Texas Parks & Wildlife produced by PBS.
