Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated on Monday that his office is suing the Austin Independent School District (AISD) as part of an inquiry into a potential “unwritten policy” of teaching critical race theory.
The Texas Legislature banned the inclusion of critical race theory and materials from the 1619 Project – a New York Times Magazine effort highlighting slavery’s impact on the nation’s origins – in public school curricula in 2021.
Is critical race theory valid, or is it a problem? Does it unite us or divide us? Is it racist or anti-racist? (All Sides)
After some schools received failing grades from the TEA, Austin ISD is looking at “turnaround plans” for certain campuses to avoid a districtwide state takeover.
Parents and community members are expressing concern after the Eanes Independent School District terminated its contract with the operator and partner of the district’s athletic and aquatic facilities, a move that has now resulted in a lawsuit against the district. (KVUE-TV)
When do local districts end classes for the 2024-25 school year?
Austin police have provided more details about a homicide in the city early Saturday.
A man was shot, hit by a vehicle, and killed while trying to get his family’s car back from burglars in Del Valle.
Austin’s 24th homicide of the year occurred Sunday morning.
San Marcos Police searching for suspect involved in deadly hit-and-run over the weekend.
Austin police arrested four people on drug and weapons charges during a targeted operation in North Austin last week.
No injuries were reported after a kitchen fire Monday in southeast Austin.
The Austin Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 9-year-old girl who hasn’t been seen since December 2017.
Police said Ava Marie Gonzales was last seen by family and friends in December 2017 when she was 2 years old, in the custody of her mother, Virginia Gonzales.
Last month in Del Valle, 33-year-old Virginia Gonzales was arrested for allegedly imprisoning her 7-year-old daughter in a closet for several weeks. The child was reportedly found barricaded in a bedroom closet by her grandmother on April 3. (CBS Austin)
This week’s episode of Fox7 Crime Watch…
The Travis County Attorney has filed a lawsuit against Austin investor Nate Paul for $2,305,264 in unpaid taxes on eight businesses.
This lawsuit follows a federal judge’s order less than a month prior, which mandated that Paul pay $1 million within two years in a protracted federal financial crimes case. At that time, Paul also received a five-year supervised release sentence, including four months of home confinement.
Paul, an Austin-based American real estate developer and convicted felon who founded World Class Capital Group, is central to the abuse-of-office allegations that resulted in the 2023 impeachment and suspension of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. In fact, Paul is specifically named in 6 of the 20 impeachment articles against Paxton.
(Austin American-Statesman)
The Pflugerville Driving School in Round Rock shut down unexpectedly, leaving students and parents in the dark about the status of their paid driver education courses. (CBS Austin)
Austin City Council is expected to vote Thursday on three separate loan applications that would bring in as much as $120 million to the city of Austin for several major water infrastructure projects.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson sat down with KXAN-TV to talk about the investments…
Meanwhile, a City Council work session will be held this morning.
On the agenda for discussion:
- I-35 Cap and Stitch design and bond capacity update
- North Lamar and South Congress Transit Center Station Area vision plans
- Discuss legal issues related to Sam Kirsch v. City of Austin…a lawsuit about an as-yet unidentified Austin police officer who shot Plaintiff Sam Kirsch in the face to punish him for participating in a peaceful protest against police brutality on Interstate 35 in 2020.
An assortment of arts organizations in Austin were among the hundreds across the nation that learned late Friday that their most recent round of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts was being withdrawn. (Austin Monitor/NPR)
Moviegoers faced canceled screenings over the weekend at the Austin-founded theater chain Alamo Drafthouse due to worker strikes protesting severe understaffing, excessive workloads, and stagnant wages. The labor action follows Sony Pictures Experiences’ acquisition of the Texas-based company last June and subsequent corporate-level layoffs earlier this year. (My San Antonio)
Crafts and supplies chain Joann Fabrics and Crafts has gone bankrupt and is closing all of its stores, including its two locations in Austin.
Their buildings and property here have already been scooped up by Burlington Coat Factory. (Austin Business Journal)
ACL Fest officials this morning announced the lineup for this year’s festival in October.
Artificial Intelligence made its predictions before the official lineup was announced. How close was it?
Delta Air Lines will launch a new nonstop route between Austin and Palm Springs, California, in November.
The seasonal route will launch November 8th. Flights will operate on Saturdays only, by Delta Connection, through April 26, 2026. (KXAN-TV)
A temporary ground stop was ordered yesterday at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport during severe weather that moved through the area. (KUT 90.5)
Residents in Burnet County are still cleaning up after last week’s storms.
Emergency crews are searching for a girl who was swept away by rising waters near Fireman’s Park in Brenham in Washington County, according to the Brenham Fire Department. Swift water rescue teams were sent to find the missing 10-year-old as severe weather moved through the region.
WEATHER
The rain has finally arrived in Austin.
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
How much rain would it take to get out of drought conditions? (Fox7 Austin)
Facing a deadline in less than 30 days, Texas lawmakers in Austin must decide whether to extend or discontinue the state lottery. This decision carries significant weight, as it impacts $2 billion in annual public school funding and millions more for veterans’ programs. (Texas Tribue)
With less than a month to go before the planned conclusion of the legislative session, where do we stand? (Texas Public Radio)
During a Texas House Ways and Means Committee meeting yesterday, an updated version of House Bill 9, a property tax relief proposal, failed to pass.
It proposed to increase the BPP exemption to $250,000 from $2,500. An updated version was sent to the Senate floor with a 9-0 vote on Monday. The BPP exemption allows homeowners to write off parts of their property if used for their business. (KXAN-TV)
A judge ruled late last week that a lottery courier suing the Texas Lottery Commission over a new rule – one the company claimed would force it to close – is likely to win its case. (Austin American-Statesman)
In a clear demonstration of protest against the removal of books from school libraries and classrooms, suburban Texas voters, including those around Houston, overwhelmingly voted out school board trustees who championed these removals and elected first-time candidates who stood in opposition. (Houston Chronicle)
Texas Department of Safety officials are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of wanted child sex predator.
CBP officers recently seized four thousand rounds of ammunition after tasing man at the Bridge of Americas.
More cases of measles have been confirmed in North Texas.
Subsidence, a slow-moving yet widespread hazard, is causing several Texas cities, including Corpus Christi (according to a Business Insider report on Monday, May 5th), to slowly sink; these cities are among 13 identified in the report. (My San Antonio)
Just a little north of Austin is one of the richest archeological sites in the country and is the subject of a new documentary.
SPORTS
MLB: The Houston Astros seem to be struggling lately.
Last night’s loss in Milwaukee was their fourth in their last five games, dropping them back to .500 (17-17) as the Mariners and Athletics are surging in the AL West.
The Texas Rangers had Monday off to travel to Boston where they begin a midweek series against the Red Sox tonight. The Astros continue their series in Milwaukee.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: The Texas Longhorns (38-8) host Lamar this evening in a non-conference matchup.
NFL: The Houston Texas are planning to move their practice facility to a new location…but where?
We’re taking a day trip to Hutto.
