Two crashes prompted the closure of both the upper and lower levels of Interstate 35 overnight, the Texas Department of Transportation reported. Austin-Travis County EMS stated that one person died after being struck by a vehicle on I-35 around 1:25 a.m. Saturday. Medics performed CPR on the adult pedestrian, but they were pronounced dead at the scene.
In a separate crash, TxDOT said all lanes were closed on southbound I-35 at Dean Keaton on the lower deck.
“The Austin Police Department is aware of the preliminary toxicology reports for Solomun Weldekeal-Araya. At this time, the APD Vehicular Homicide Unit is working with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office to determine specific charges.”
Solomun Weldekeal-Araya, the big rig driver facing intoxication manslaughter and assault charges for a fatal multi-car crash on North Austin’s Interstate 35 last month, tested negative for drugs and alcohol. This finding, based on a private lab analysis of a blood draw, was confirmed Friday by both Weldekeal-Araya’s attorney and the Austin Police Department.
Expect to see a heavier police presence downtown the next few weeks.
Local law enforcement agencies announced the arrest of wanted fugitives from justice.
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Attorney General’s Office have reached a settlement in a lawsuit regarding the release of information about a secret $115,000 security allotment received by DA José Garza last year. The legal action followed Attorney General Ken Paxton’s October ruling that Garza and the Travis County Auditor’s Office were required to release certain records requested by local media. (KVUE-TV)
A Travis County judge has ruled that the Texas Attorney General’s Office must pay nearly $7 million to whistleblowers within the office who reported Attorney General Ken Paxton to the FBI. This judgment follows a lawsuit filed by the whistleblowers, who alleged they were improperly terminated. The case is connected to the same circumstances that led to Paxton’s impeachment by the Texas House in 2023, though he was later acquitted in the Texas Senate. (KVUE-TV)
Austin firefighters responded to a hazmat call Friday.
A woman was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a major crash involving six vehicles in Leander Friday morning. (CBS Austin)
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport experienced near-record passenger traffic in 2024, and projections indicate another exceptionally busy year ahead in 2025. The airport handled approximately 21.7 million passengers last year, a slight decrease of about 333,000 compared to the record-setting 2023, but still a significant increase of roughly 675,000 over 2022 figures. (KXAN-TV)
Austin transit leaders met this week and said they want to reassure the public that the city’s light rail project is indeed moving forward even though no ground has yet been broken.
A mixed-use project that will transform East Austin has begun construction.
Colony Park is projected to have up to 3,000 residential units, about 230,000 square feet of office space, 130,000 square feet of retail space and 42 acres of parks, trails and open space on 208 acres of city-owned land. Affordable housing is part of the plan. (Austin Business Journal)
The MoPac entrance at Steck Ave. is closed this weekend for the183 Mobility Project construction.
Construction is underway on TxDOT’s Capital Express North and South projects. (Fox7 Austin)
The Austin American-Statesman Cap10K is tomorrow and will result in road closures.
Austin is now home to at least eleven billionaires. (Austin Business Journal)
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The Texas health officials on Friday reported 59 new measles cases in three days, bringing the total to 481 in the state, while New Mexico added six more infections, as the disease spreads across the United States.
Cases in Gaines County, the center of the outbreak that started in late-January, rose to 315 from 280 on April 1, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. Hospitalizations rose to 56 from 42.
Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman announced that the Western District of Texas filed 259 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases between March 28 and April 3. (KVUE-TV)
A massive law enforcement operation in the Houston area earlier this week dismantled a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling and money laundering conspiracy, resulting in numerous arrests. Described by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei as one of the largest operations in the Southern District of Texas, the scheme allegedly generated over $22 million.
Sixteen individuals have been charged in connection with the conspiracy, with 14 currently in custody. An additional 31 people were arrested during the operation and face immigration and firearm charges. (Austin American-Statesman)
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) says a trade war would cost jobs, spur prices and be terrible for Texas. (Texas Tribune)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the City of San Antonio over the city’s plans to spend up to $100,000 on out-of-state abortion travel.
Texas senators have taken up two pieces of legislation that would reform the impeachment process for elected officials. (Texas Scorecard)
New Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder discusses how the party should respond to Trump. He also comments on how Democrats are preparing for 2026.
An addition has been made to Texas’ Ten Most Wanted List.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASEKTBALL: Freshman guard Jordan Lee posted a team-high 16 points, but No. 5/5 Texas dropped a 74-57 decision to No. 2/2 South Carolina (35-3) in a NCAA Tournament Final Four contest on Friday night in Amalie Arena. With the loss, the Longhorns conclude the 2024-25 season with a 35-4 record while making their fourth Final Four appearance in program history and first since 2003. (Texas Longhorns)
MLS: Austin FC is back at home tonight for the team’s fourth home match of the season. The VERDE & Black will take on Portland Timbers at Q2 Stadium at 6:45 p.m. (Austin FC)
MLB: Tyler Mahle rebounded from a rough opening start to pitch one-hit ball over five shutout innings for his first win since April 3, 2023, and Kyle Higashioka’s RBI double highlighted a four-run third inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Friday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Houston Astros were idle Friday. Both the Astros and Rangers are back in action today.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Behind a career night from left-hander Jared Spencer, No. 5 Texas took the series opener over No. 3 Georgia, 5-1, Friday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. (Texas Longhorns)
NBA: Only the Houston Rockets came out victorious last night.
San Antonio and Houston are off today. The Mavericks and Clippers go at it for the second night in a row.
NHL: The Dallas Stars return to the ice tonight to try and make it eight wins in a row.
Another episode of the old time radio classic Tales of the Texas Rangers.
Today’s episode is “Ex-Con” and originally aired June 29, 1952.
