Protesters lined up at Austin City Hall on Thursday with a clear message: keep Americans out of the Israel-Iran conflict.
Photos: CBS Austin
In what was called a “Hands off Iran” protest, about 100 to 150 participants expressed they “don’t want our tax dollars to go towards another endless war in the Middle East” and prefer funding to go toward “community here in Austin, here in Texas to go to schools, supporting people, supporting housing”.
The group acknowledged their demonstration was “largely symbolic” but said they felt they had to take action.
The event was organized by groups including Austin For Palestine Coalition.
The ongoing missile strikes have many Central Texans worried about their family members in Israel and Iran. KVUE spoke with several people who hope the conflict ends soon.
President Trump held a Situation Room meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss US options on its involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict. Trump is considering a variety of options when it comes to Iran, including a possible U.S. strike on the country, multiple current and former administration officials said.
How would U.S. involvement in the conflict affect Texas?
Oil prices have already responded to the current conflict, with oil prices jumping 7% as Israel and Iran traded air strikes, feeding investor worries about potential disruption to Middle East oil exports.
Given that Texas is the nation’s largest oil producer and refiner, higher oil prices could initially benefit Texas producers but also increase costs for consumers and businesses.
While a full-scale conflict could disrupt global oil markets and potentially benefit Texas oil producers through higher prices, it would also create significant economic uncertainty. The state’s massive petrochemical industry along the Gulf Coast could face supply chain disruptions and increased input costs.
Texas hosts numerous military installations that would likely play important roles in any Middle East conflict. The state’s ports and energy infrastructure could become strategically important for logistics and energy security during extended military operations.
Iran has demonstrated capabilities to target energy infrastructure, as seen in previous attacks on Gulf allies. While direct attacks on Texas seem unlikely, Iran’s “shadow fleet” and network of proxies could potentially target shipping lanes or cyber infrastructure that affects Texas energy operations.
Gas prices in Texas are already starting to rise.
The Austin Chronicle reports on generational tensions at Saturday’s “No Kings” protest at the Texas Capitol, where around 10,000 people gathered for an anti-Trump rally with a circus theme. While the event was largely peaceful with speakers like Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri emphasizing anti-escalation, many younger protesters felt frustrated with the format.
College-aged attendees criticized the speaker-heavy approach, wanting more grassroots participation and direct action rather than what they saw as a “surface-level” demonstration. Some chanted “Free Palestine” during speeches and expressed desire to tackle “more complex situations.” After the official rally ended, younger protesters split off into an impromptu march through downtown Austin, which they felt had “more passion” than the Capitol lawn event.
The march resulted in some confrontations with police, leading to three officer injuries and several arrests. Mayor Kirk Watson later praised the largely peaceful nature of the main rally while criticizing those who “went rogue” during the subsequent march. (Austin Chronicle)
Juneteenth celebrations in Austin yesterday commemorated the 1865 Emancipation Proclamation, marking the 2 1/2-year delay in slaves on Galveston Island learning of their freedom.
A victim was taken to a local hospital after he was shot while driving a car in Travis County Thursday afternoon.
The shooting occurred just after noon in the 3700 block of Mims Cove, where the victim’s car crashed into a tree.
Multiple callers reported hearing gunshots in the area.
The victim was found with gunshot wounds inside the crashed vehicle and was transported to a local hospital by STAR Flight.
Deputies and air support searched the area for suspects but made no arrests at the time. Investigators believe the victim and suspects knew each other. The case remains under investigation. (Fox 7 Austin)
An accident Thursday afternoon injured one person who was briefly pinned in their vehicle.
On a 6-1 vote, Leander ISD Board of Trustees approved a budget with a roughly $20 million budget deficit Thursday, after the district was able to slash $14 million. No decision was made on any possible school closures.
The Manor ISD Board of Trustees approved a balanced budget for the district totaling almost $149 million for next school year, nearly a 20 percent reduction from the previous year’s budget. (CBS Austin)
A recent investigation found that Travis County District Attorney José Garza’s administration missed deadlines to indict suspects 263 times in 2024, allowing potentially dangerous criminals to be released and others languishing behind bars.
KVUE-TV has since identified at least five instances in which defendants were released and taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after they were not indicted within 90 days. Authorities confirm that several have been deported. (KVUE-TV)
Texas State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt and six other Texas Democrats are urging Tesla to wait until September to launch its autonomous robotaxi service in Austin, when a new state law takes effect.
Tesla is planning to launch its fleet in the city this Sunday.
Austin is home to several fleets of autonomous vehicles.
Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett continues to sound the alarm over air traffic controller shortages at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
In 2024, Austin city-owned pipes seeped and spilled 9.3 billion gallons of treated water – a 31% increase over the previous year, according to annual audits submitted to the Texas Water Development Board. (KXAN-TV)
A Texas federal court dismissed a class action lawsuit filed by airline passengers against Austin-based CrowdStrike following a software outage that led to nationwide flight delays.
The lawsuit was filed in the Western District of Texas on August 5, 2024, by three individuals claiming travel disruption.
A content configuration update to CrowdStrike’s system on July 19, 2024 crashed more than 8 million Microsoft Windows-based computers worldwide, leading to disruptions at airlines and other companies. (Fox 7 Austin)
Sixty recipients of Austin’s Live Music Fund grants are currently in non-compliance with the city’s reporting requirements, leaving more than half a million dollars in hotel tax funds unpaid and effectively frozen. (Austin Monitor)
Austin’s Tapestry Dance Company is grappling with the aftermath of losing its $30,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant last month. The funding loss forced the organization to make an unprecedented decision: canceling its Annual Soul to Sole International Tap Festival, an event the company has successfully produced for 25 consecutive years. (KVUE-TV)
Hamilton Pool Preserve will remain closed to swimmers for at least another week.
Friday is summer solstice, marking the official start to the season of summer.
That also means it will be the longest day of the year. (Austin American-Statesman)
WEATHER
A large bubble of heat will drift slowly across the United States into next week, shifting out of the West and into the Central States and finally the East. The heat wave will bring the highest temperatures of the year so far, with some areas possibly reaching triple digits. (AccuWeather)
Current Texas drought monitor:
Former state Sen. Kelly Hancock will soon be stepping into Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s shoes following his appointment as Chief Clerk on Thursday.
Texas lawmakers have sent two controversial bills to the governor’s desk, and his next move could impact classrooms and businesses across the state.
Texas Republicans are considering whether to hold a special legislative session to undertake a rare mid-decade map-drawing that supporters hope could result in the GOP picking up as many as five additional seats. (CNN)
San Antonio city officials said a suspect was taken into custody Thursday as law enforcement looked into “threats to commit a mass shooting at a Jewish facility.”
A 55-year-old San Antonio man was accused of making violent threats against Democratic politicians, federal judges, and pride parade attendees through YouTube comments, highlighting the growing concern of online radicalization and political extremism in social media spaces. (KSAT-TV)
A Jacksonville, Texas man has been sentenced to life in federal prison for child sex trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas. (Fox 7 Austin)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids continue to echo across Texas and the nation, the latest spotted taking place near a San Antonio tourist hotspot. Agents were seen at a construction site near the Historic Pearl district and on the River Walk. (My San Antonio)
Twenty-three individuals have been detained on charges related to drug trafficking, firearms, and money laundering in Texas, following extensive law enforcement operations in the Houston/Galveston and Rio Grande Valley areas. (My Texas Daily)
While state law bans quotas on speeding tickets, it says nothing about quotas on traffic stops. Not much different, is it?
Texas Instruments’ $60 billion investment in North Texas is larger than the GDP of many countries, creating 3,000 high-paying jobs and numerous indirect employment opportunities.
SPORTS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Longhorns’ redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning will be among the players representing Texas at SEC Media Days in Atlanta July 13-17. (24-7 Sports)
MLB: A night to forget for the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.
Both teams begin new series on the road tonight.
The Houston Astros placed second baseman Brendan Rodgers on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain before Wednesday’s game against the A’s. (Houston Chronicle)
MLS: The U.S. Men’s National Team overcame a gritty Saudi Arabia side 1-0 in the Concacaf Gold Cup Group Stage second match on a warm, humid night at Q2 Stadium.
There are lovely small towns all across the Texas Hill Country. One that probably doesn’t get the recognition it deserves is Mason. It’s a lovely small town in with an interesting history. It also has more of a classic “old west” look than most towns in this part of Texas. Also, a stop in Rocksprings, on the far western edge of this region.
