Austin police and the Texas Department of Safety provided updates on those arrested downtown Monday night after a peaceful protest at the State Capitol later became unruly as some of the crowd gathered in front of the J.J. Pickle Federal Building and began to vandalize it.
The number of those arrested was later updated to 13 after the Texas DPS added a fifth person arrested.
The Texas Department of Safety arrested five people Monday night.
“Texas is a law-and-order state, and the department has zero tolerance for individuals disrupting public order or endangering law enforcement officers. DPS will continue monitoring future events and their impact on public safety across the state and will adjust operations, including personnel and resources, as needed to address potential and emerging threats. Our men and women stand ready to protect and serve.”
“DPS personnel also deployed tear gas and pepper ball projectiles to ensure officer safety and maintain order during the response. While we will not discuss operational specifics, DPS collaborates with local, state and federal law enforcement partners—including APD—to ensure the safety of our citizens and state property, as well as to protect individuals exercising their constitutional rights to assembly and free speech.” — Texas Department of Safety
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson spoke about Monday night’s events:
The president of the Austin Police Association fears Monday night’s clash between APD officers and some unruly protesters might hinder their ability to attract new officers, much like what happened in 2020 when unrest in the streets of the city resulted in a “mass exodus” of officers from the force.
“I do have concerns that this type of activity is reminiscent of that and it can have a negative impact on our recruiting and retention abilities.” — Michael Bullock, president of the Austin Police Association
The Hays County Judge’s Office has issued an official proclamation calling for the “constitutional and humane” treatment of all individuals, regardless of immigration status. (KUT 90.5)
Austin police say the two bodies found in an apartment at 2425 Ashdale Drive Monday night were the result of a murder-suicide.
A man was charged with intoxication manslaughter for driving while drunk, crashing, and killing a 4-year-old child early Sunday morning.
City and county leaders announced they are seeing a decline in opioid overdose deaths.
The entire news conference:
Austin Independent School District parents rallied outside the Texas Education Agency on Tuesday, demanding more time to improve outcomes at schools with repeated failing accountability ratings.
High school students’ scores statewide and in Austin saw improvements in Algebra 1 since 2024, but declined in English tests, according to end-of-course assessment data newly released Tuesday. (Austin American-Statesman)
A serious crash on US 290 yesterday injured one person.
The first Tesla Robotaxi has been reportedly spotted driving around South Congress Avenue in Austin as the company prepares for a June 22 launch date. (InsideEVs)
A Travis County judge has sided with the City of Austin, clearing a legal hurdle for the massive redevelopment of the former Austin American-Statesman headquarters on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. The decision allows the controversial project, which promises to dramatically reshape the city’s skyline, to proceed.
Plans are on hold to redevelop the site of the old Austin Opera House off South Congress Avenue. (Austin Business Journal)
The agency tasked with building the Austin’s voter-approved light rail system—Austin Transit Partnership—has officially launched the official solicitation process for a design and construction contract worth an estimated $3 billion.
The ATX has seen some decent rain since Tuesday afternoon.
The latest from Earthquake Track:
Texas officials say they’re prepared to crack down on any civil unrest following days of protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids — demonstrations that have prompted President Donald Trump to deploy federal troops to the West Coast.
Following a night of demonstrations in the capital city, Texas is poised to enact stringent new limitations on protests at public universities. Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign a bill that will significantly curtail how and when individuals can protest on college campuses across the state. (CBS Austin)
Beginning in July, Texas car buyers will no longer receive paper license plates when they purchase a new vehicle.
Texas health officials reported two new cases of measles Tuesday tied to an outbreak in West Texas.
Amid an ongoing investigation over the fatal stabbing of high school student Austin Metcalf at a Frisco, Texas, track meet, the school district announced it has surveillance footage of the stabbing.
Why Texas is dead last in personal freedom.
An Atascosa County commissioner bonded out of jail after being booked on charges of abuse of official capacity, theft and violation of motor fuel tax regulation.
State officials broke ground Tuesday at the site of the future psychiatric hospital in Amarillo, bringing the Panhandle one step closer to inpatient mental health care. (Texas Tribune)
I-69…it’s coming.
TxDOT is planning more than $2 billion in road construction projects throughout the four-county area of the Rio Grande Valley within the next four years, according to data shown on TxDOT’s online Project Tracker, including the long-awaited Interstate 69 corridor that will connect Hidalgo and Cameron counties with all points north. (My San Antonio)
SPORTS
MLB: The Texas Rangers put up16 runs in Minnesota last night.
Kyle Higashioka had a season-high five RBIs, Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford hit home runs and the Texas Rangers beat the Minnesota Twins 16-4 on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
Losing at home to the worst team in baseball is not a good look for an AL West contender.
Luis Robert Jr. homered, Shane Smith pitched six effective innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
Both teams resume action tonight.
UT Professor Molly Cummings spends her weekdays studying fish brains and teaching biology—but when the weekend hits, she trades her lab coat for cowboy boots and heads to West Texas to forage for wild juniper. Why? Because she’s the founder of Wild Gins, a Texas-born distillery redefining how gin is made—starting with native juniper trees found only in the Lone Star State.
