Governor Greg Abbott has not yet decided whether to sign or veto Senate Bill 3, which would ban most THC products in Texas. The bill has sparked intense debate, with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick strongly supporting the ban, calling THC-infused products a public health risk, while business owners, veterans, and hemp industry leaders are urging Abbott to veto the bill, citing its impact on medical use and the economy.
Abbott has until June 22 to make a decision. If he does nothing, the bill will automatically become law without his signature. Meanwhile, opponents have delivered thousands of letters to his office, arguing that the ban would harm veterans and small businesses. Some businesses say they may have to shut down if the bill is enacted.
Abbott has indicated that he will review the bill alongside other cannabis-related legislation, including House Bill 46, which would expand medical marijuana access. His final decision is expected in the coming weeks.
“Abbott is often reluctant to clash directly with Patrick. For Patrick, this does seem to be a matter of commitment and principle.” — Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson
SMU political scientist Cal Jillson believes the governor will sign the bill into law to avoid conflict with his lieutenant governor. (San Antonio Current)
The Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin found that 55% of Republicans believe Texas’ marijuana and cannabis laws should be less strict or left as they are now, compared to 40% who said they should be stricter. (Texas Tribune)
In a The Watson Wire issued Tuesday, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson walked through what impact Texas’ legislative session will have on the city.
An inmate who escaped from a hospital in Austin has been captured in Houston, the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday.
Grimes County Sheriffs Department
A body was discovered in Lady Bird Lake early Tuesday near Riverside Drive and South Lamar Boulevard. Authorities believe it may be a teenage paddleboarder who went missing on Sunday while out on the lake with his family.
Investigators say the teen stepped off an underwater shelf and did not resurface.
Texas law requires life jackets in certain situations on Lady Bird Lake.
While adults aren’t required to wear life jackets, having one on board is mandatory. Authorities strongly recommend wearing them, especially for paddleboarders and kayakers.
Swimming in Lady Bird Lake is illegal. The Austin City Council banned swimming in the lake in 1964 due to safety concerns, including strong currents, underwater debris, and past drownings.
Police in Mustang Ridge say someone jumped out of a moving vehicle yesterday along northbound Highway 130.
Hays County authorities provided details on a SWAT team situation Tuesday night.
Austin police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a robbery suspect.
A suspect wanted for a fatal shooting in Houston has been arrested in Travis County, according a release from the Houston Police Department.
A man facing accusations in the 2023 hit-and-run that claimed the lives of an Austin father and daughter in east Austin has now been charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony, as stated in a Travis County arrest warrant affidavit. (KXAN-TV)
Austin Fire officials say the house fire early Monday morning that killed twio people has been ruled accidental by arson investigators.
AFD added that due to the conditions inside the home, determining the cause of the fire is unlikely. (Fox7 Austin)
The Austin Public Safety Commission voted to recommend a halt to the police department’s automatic license plate reader program Monday.
Austin City Manager TC Broadnax postponed the vote on license plate readers Tuesday during a City Council work session due to community concerns and outstanding questions from council members, despite the Austin Police Department’s confidence in their responsible use for public safety.
The entire Austin City Council work session on the license plate reader program:
Austin City Council meets tomorrow for its regularly scheduled meeting.
Read their complete agenda here.
After more than five hours of public comment and deliberation, the San Marcos City Council voted early Wednesday morning to reject a controversial proposal that would have doubled the city’s network of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras.
Travis County is now offering free training on how to use naloxone, also known as Narcan, the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. (KVUE-TV)
City officials said Monday that new infrastructure construction could potentially start on 6th Street in 2027.
“I think what we will see through the summer months during any busy travel season are more ground stops and delays that are extremely inconvenient.” — U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin)
Air traffic controller staffing shortages at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport could affect summer travelers. (Fox7 Austin)
UPDATE: Fatal accident in Cedar Park.
All lanes of I-35 in Georgetown are now open after a shutdown early this morning, according to TxDOT.
The crash was a collision between two commercial vehicles. First responders on the scene needed to cut the trucks apart to separate them for safe removal.
In other traffic news…
Austin Parks and Recreation Department held a prescribed burn yesterday at the Decker Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
A microburst storm left a trail of damage through parts of Austin last week.
Austin 3-1-1 says between the time that storm hit and now, they received more than 1,300 requests for service. (KXAN-TV)
Despite the ongoing drought, recent precipitation brought a rare occurrence for the city—an entire month of above-average rainfall, something not seen in nearly a year. Meteorologists predict that this late spring rainfall will influence both temperatures and humidity as summer approaches. (KUT 90.5)
WEATHER
A Dallas man drowned last night during flooding in the area.
More than 9,000 power customers in the DFW lost service. (WFAA-TV)
The development chances for an area of disturbed weather off the southern coast of Mexico continue to grow, and a tropical depression is likely to form in the Eastern Pacific as soon as this weekend.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott signed three bail reform bills in Houston Tuesday. Two became law immediately.
The gubernatorially appointed boards that oversee Texas universities soon could have new powers to control the curriculum required of students and eliminate degree programs. (Associated Press)
Houston ISD will be under state control for at least two more years, the Texas Education Agency announced Monday. (Texas Standard)
San Antonio authorities and Texas Department of Safety are searching for a missing teen.
Texas health officials are reporting four new cases of measles tied to an outbreak in West Texas. (Texas Department of Health Services)
Months after detaining 47 people accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization in Austin, authorities have offered no evidence of such activity. (Texas Tribune)
Texas lawmakers did not include funding for Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer in a budget bill passed last week, placing the future of the train between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City in jeopardy after a year that saw a 11% increase in ridership. (Trains)
Texas bore an estimated $187.5 billion cost from opioid use disorder in 2024, according to a comprehensive new analysis. (Axios San Antonio)
San Antonio police say they have no evidence to back up the claim that the shooting death of King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss was a hate crime.
Will Texas be able to keep the lights on and water flowing til the next legislative session?
SPORTS
MLB: Lance McCullers Jr. pitched six sparkling innings for his first win since 2022, and Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes hit late home runs as the Houston Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
It was a rough night in Tampa for the Texas Rangers.
Drew Rasmussen extended his MLB-leading scoreless streak to 23 innings with five innings of one-hit ball and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
Both teams resume play tonight.
The Texas Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee has selected the candidates for both the Primary and Veterans Ballot for their Class of 2026. (KXWT-TV)
Texas Southern athletic director Kevin Granger has been placed on leave by the university following reports of a sexual assault lawsuit lodged against him. (HBCU Sports)
In Walker County, in the county seat of Huntsville, is the Texas Prison Museum.
