Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Travis County have settled a lawsuit regarding the county’s decision to allocate $115,000 for security enhancements to Travis County District Attorney José Garza‘s home.
Attorney General Paxton subsequently sued, alleging that the Commissioners Court violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by not providing adequate public notice about the expenditure. (Austin American-Statesman)
- In March 2024, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved funding for security enhancements for District Attorney Garza, including his residence.
- The Austin American-Statesman reported that the agenda item describing this expenditure used vague language.
- The settlement requires Travis County to comply with the Texas Open Meetings Act in the future. However, the county did not admit to any violation of the Act.
- As part of the settlement, the Commissioners Court agreed to ensure that future discussions and votes on similar matters are conducted with proper public notice and transparency.
- The settlement concludes one of two lawsuits between Paxton and Travis County related to the security allocation for Garza.
In San Marcos, a pickup truck struck a group of pedestrians in a downtown crosswalk around 1 a.m. Thursday, injuring six people, according to police. While none of the injuries were life-threatening, all of the injured were transported to hospitals.
Austin police and homicide detectives have released details concerning the shocking murder Wednesday night aboard a CapMetro bus on South Lamar Boulevard.
New information is out concerning a homicide that occurred back in early March.
In Williamson County, a Georgetown man was arrested in connection with a murder three weeks ago.
Authorities in Kyle are looking for a suspect who has been kicking in doors on residences in the area.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrests of two individuals who allegedly impersonated nurses and are facing charges of exploitation and theft from elderly persons.
Gina Hernandez, 32, and Elsa Vasquez, 30, both out of Austin.
A new report shows 43% of Austinites want more traffic enforcement from the APD.
APD Chief Lisa Davis released the results of her 100-day Action Plan.
Cedar Park officials are warning residents of a bat that has tested positive for rabies in the area.
Several people in Hays County have been attacked by foxes in the past week, and many of them needed treatment because of rabies.
Austin City Council is set to vote on a resolution to install solar panels on city buildings, a move that could save millions in energy costs. (CBS Austin)
Austin’s guaranteed income programs that typically offer low-income people monthly cash payments with no requirements on how that money can be spent may soon be under attack from state lawmakers. (KUT 90.5)
The City of Austin is preparing to redevelop Santa Rita Courts, an East Austin public housing complex that was built 85 years ago.
The Santa Rita Courts was the first public housing project in the United States when it opened in 1939. The redevelopment aims to modernize the property while preserving its historic significance. (CBS Austin)
A new 47-story mixed-use tower at 415 Colorado is nearing completion in downtown Austin.
The high-rise broke ground in early 2022 and is projected to be finished later this summer. The building features over 300 apartments and office space, which is targeted towards smaller businesses, setting it apart from other downtown properties. (Austin Business Journal)
Good news: A new 2-gigawatt data center is coming to Lockhart, scheduled to open in 2028.
Bad news: Data centers threaten to have a detrimental effect on Texas’ energy infrastructure. (KUT 90.5)
According to July 2024 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Austin is the slowest-growing major city in Texas.
The city’s population was estimated at 993,588, having added just over 4,000 residents in the preceding 12 months, averaging about 11 new residents per day. (Austin Business Journal)
WEATHER
Thursday’s temperatures broke more records. Camp Mabry broke a record that stood for more than a century.
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The Texas heatwave is making national headlines.
Professors, students and education advocates gathered at the State Capitol yesterday to Texas Senate Bill 37 , a priority higher education bill that they say would drastically change faculty governance, core curriculum and regents’ authority over hiring.
The bill has been left pending in the House Higher Education Committee since May 7. The Senate approved the proposal last month. (Austin American-Statesman)
As a key legislative deadline passed at midnight on Thursday, Texas House lawmakers celebrated, knowing that hundreds of bills would not move forward this session. (Texas Tribune)
Texas public school funding remains hanging in the balance.
Following a joint investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune that revealed some Texas school districts were not posting campaign finance reports online as required, state lawmakers are now seeking to impose significant penalties on local governments that fail to comply with online posting requirements. (Texas Tribune)
The Texas House on Thursday approved changes to the state’s “junk science” law.
On Thursday, the Texas House voted 72-55 to preliminarily approve House Bill 1738, which would remove from state statute the unenforceable 1973 law that bans “deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex.” Twelve Republicans joined with Democrats to vote for repeal. (Newsweek)
The Texas Senate has approved legislation that would shut down the Texas Lottery Commission. (Fox7 Austin)
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has requested a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restrict the purchase of unhealthy foods with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, Abbott proposed the change, which would impact the over 3.3 million Texans who rely on SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. (Fox7 Austin)
There’s legislation that would make it possible for minors as young as 15 to be transferred to adult facilities if they commit a second felony – such as assaulting staff – or for what’s termed as ‘delinquent conduct’. (Texas Standard)
The Texas House gave preliminary approval Thursday to a bill requiring prisons to have air conditioning by the end of 2032. (Texas Tribune)
Can Texas make its housing more affordable?
An undocumented immigrant in Houston is the final suspect to be convicted in a nationwide scheme to sell fake Texas paper vehicle tags. (Fox7 News)
A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Trevor McEuen, a North Texas man wanted for capital murder. He’s been on the run since May 5 after cutting off his ankle monitor and missing a court hearing. McEuen is accused of killing 35-year-old Aaron Martinez in 2023.
San Antonio City Council voted Thursday to create a new tax zone that could be a major funding source for a new downtown Spurs arena.
Walking Tall actor and Texas native Joe Don Baker has died. He was 89.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Max Belyeu’s three-run homer in the ninth inning was the difference in Texas’ 7-4 win at Oklahoma on Thursday night. Due to its victory at L. Dale Mitchell Park and Arkansas’ 10-7 loss to Tennessee, Texas has secured the Southeastern Conference’s outright championship in its first year in the league. (Texas Longhorns)
The three-game series resumes tonight in Norman.
MLB: Jacob deGrom went eight innings to win his fourth consecutive start for the Texas Rangers, who got Jake Burger’s solo home run off Hunter Brown in a 1-0 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night in an anticipated pitchers’ duel that certainly lived up to expectations. (Yahoo! Sports)
Game 2 of the four-game series between the Astros and Rangers will be broadcast exclusively on Apple TV+, while the game will be blacked out on Space City Home Network (SCHN), Houston’s usual broadcaster. (Houston Chronicle)
Meanwhile, former Houston Astros left fielder Tony Kemp announced his retirement on Thursday after nine seasons in the major leagues. (Houston Chronicle)
NHL PLAOFFS: Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 22 saves for his second consecutive home shutout as the Dallas Stars lost 4-0 in Canada last night. The Jets cut the Stars’ series lead to 3-2. Game 6 is tomorrow in Dallas. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Daytripper is hungry for Viet-Cajun seafood in Katy.
