60 Years Later: Remembering the UT Tower Shooting
On August 1, 1966, the University of Texas at Austin campus became the site of one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history to that point.
Charles Whitman, a 25-year-old engineering student and former Marine, first killed his mother and wife at their homes before carrying an arsenal of weapons to the 28th-floor observation deck of the UT Tower.
For over 90 minutes, he fired on people below on campus and along the nearby Drag. Fifteen people were killed and more than 30 were injured in the attack, with the death toll later rising as additional victims succumbed to their injuries.
The siege ended when Austin police officers Houston McCoy and Ray Martinez reached the tower’s top and killed Whitman.
Their legacy continues to be officially recognized in Central Texas.
For instance, the Travis County Precinct 4 office building in Southeast Austin is named the Ray Martinez Office Building in his honor. He has lived for many years in retirement in New Braunfels, following a long career as a Texas Ranger and a Comal County Justice of the Peace.
On the 40th anniversary of the tower shootings, the City of Austin proclaimed August 1, 2006 “Ramiro Martinez Day”
In 2021 he was honored as a “Living Legend” by the Braunfels Foundation Trust.
Houston McCoy passed away at the age of 72 in 2012, in the rural West Texas town of Menard.
A Lasting Impact
The tragedy reshaped how American law enforcement responds to active shooters and left a lasting mark on Austin and the university community. In 2016, on the 50th anniversary, UT dedicated a memorial on campus honoring those who lost their lives.
Remembering Today
Today, on the 60th anniversary, Austin pauses to remember the victims, survivors, and first responders whose courage that day changed history.
(Episode from July 31, 2026)
Today, the tower is undergoing a $77 million restoration project that is about 40% complete.
Austin’s Social Services Squeeze: Budget Cuts Meet a Troubling Audit
Central Texas nonprofits are bracing for another round of pain.
After voters rejected the Proposition Q tax increase last November, Austin already trimmed $5.2 million from its social services contracts for FY26. Now the city is eyeing up to $16.8 million more in cuts over the next two budget cycles — out of a roughly $75 million portfolio that funds everything from rapid rehousing to youth crisis counseling.
Programs on the chopping block include Easterseals Central Texas’ early childhood behavioral health services and Integral Care’s addiction recovery program. Council members are searching for alternatives, like trimming consulting contracts instead, but a real budget gap remains.
Complicating things further: a new city audit found that 19 of 25 sampled nonprofit contracts failed to meet performance targets — even though the city paid them in full.
For more than half the measures reviewed, actual service delivery came in over 40% below what was promised.
City officials say the problem is weak contract oversight, not bad-faith nonprofits, but the findings have sparked a public fight over transparency, with advocacy groups demanding the city release the names involved.
Bottom line: Austin’s most vulnerable residents are caught between shrinking budgets and questions about whether existing dollars are even being spent effectively.
Amid an ongoing budget crunch and a scorching summer that has compelled residents to cool off in city pools or shady public green spaces, Austin park advocates warn that if City Council does not call a bond election, some aging facilities could be at risk of closure. (Austin Current)
Police arrested a man Friday after the SWAT team responded to the same South Austin address for the second time less than 24 hours. (FOX 7 Austin)
Residents of the neighborhood want answers from Austin police about why they did not get alerts about the back-to-back SWAT calls.
The Austin Police Oversight office has officially launched an expanded “Know Your Rights” initiative, designed to help residents better navigate police encounters with confidence.
A longtime Manor Road pub is recovering after a masked burglar forced entry. Nearby business owners said it isn’t an isolated incident.
An Elgin man says his family’s sense of safety was shattered after four masked men armed with guns burglarized his property.
An Austin couple who hosted a graduation party are being charged with supplying the alcohol that Austin police say contributed to the death of college student Caleb Peterson. Petersen left the party before crashing his Camaro into the rear corner of an 18-wheeler at about 2:24 a.m. May 17 in the 11400 block of northbound Research Boulevard in Northwest Austin.
Under Texas law, furnishing alcohol to a minor rises to a felony only if the minor’s intoxication causes serious injury or death to another person. Because Caleb was the only person killed, the case remains a misdemeanor. (Austin American-Statesman)
Williamson County authorities responded to a fatal two‑vehicle collision at Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Elizabeth Park Boulevard Friday.
Two firefighters were injured while battling a fire involving two Pflugerville homes. No civilians were hurt, and crews prevented the fire from spreading to nearby houses.
A $1 million prize from a Texas Lottery Powerball ticket will go unclaimed. (Austin American-Statesman)
An Austin-based developer is keeping years-old plans for a downtown high-rise tower alive after acquiring the site earlier this year. (Austin Business Journal)
Lammes Candies officially closed its doors on Thursday, after 141 years of continuous family operation.
They had planned to close yesterday, but they sold out their remaining inventory on Thursday.
Austin’s airport is in the midst of a major expansion.
Friday, they provided an update on the Midfield Taxiways project.
CapMetro released its safety numbers for June 2026.
To help residents understand real wildfire risk, the City of Austin is holding a Wildfire Symposium on Wednesday.
WEATHER
FRIDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A look ahead to what’s normally our hottest month of the year.
Illinois has already seen more tornado reports than it has in any year since records began, while “tornado alley” states like Texas are lagging behind this year in the annual tornado tally. (AccuWeather)
Over the past several weeks, investigators in Llano County, along with state authorities, have conducted multiple narcotics investigations that resulted in the arrest of several individuals and the seizure of illegal drugs, firearms, and equipment used in the manufacture and distribution of controlled substances.
Bexar County will soon join the list of emissions counties in Texas — those are communities that require vehicles to pass an emissions test before being registered.
Two data center projects in Guadalupe County are now the subject of a lawsuit.
Local residents and the Data Center Action Coalition are challenging the approval of CloudBurst and Palomino Alpha, claiming the county violated open meetings laws and that conflicts of interest influenced the decision-making process.
Texas officials reportedly told election leaders to immediately put some voters back on the rolls after a federal program incorrectly flagged them as potential noncitizens.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham sent a cease and desist letter on Friday to Customs and Border Protection and federal contractor Barnard Construction, accusing the company of illegally clearing state land in Presidio County, on the U.S-Mexico border. (Texas General Land Office)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to keep one of its largest and most expensive detention facilities open for at least another year despite calls to close it over reported human rights abuses, according to a notice published last week. (Associated Press)
The guys discuss a marathon committee hearing on all things electricity and the GOP’s desperate effort to unify and mobilize rural Texas.
State Representative Shelley Luther explains why she doesn’t think the bad blood from the GOP primary will last through the midterms, and why independents remain crucial.
State Representative Christina Morales tells us why Democrats are confident with three months to go, and why the party truly believes Texas is in play in 2026.
And Dallas Council Member Zarin Gracey discusses the city’s $51 million budget hole and whether he thinks jobs are on the line.
(Episode from July 31, 2026)
Johnson County Sheriff Adam King was arrested again on Friday after a grand jury returned new felony indictments accusing him of retaliation and tampering with physical evidence.
Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled a slate of housing affordability proposals Friday, including a plan to penalize cities and counties that circumvent state law by imposing costly homebuilding mandates, while also clarifying that his concerns about data center construction extend beyond rural Texas. (Texas Scorecard)
One of Houston’s most recognizable anchors is at the center of an ethics review after a report alleged she accepted complimentary tickets to a FIFA World Cup match and a Bruno Mars concert from the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation. (Houston Chronicle via MSN)
SPORTS
MLB: The Houston Astros pounded out 18 hits and got home runs from Christian Walker, Yainer Diaz and Isaac Paredes to blow past the Texas Rangers 11-2 Friday night at Minute Maid Park, with Yainer Diaz driving in the offensive charge by going 4-for-5. Hunter Brown worked into the sixth inning to pick up the win, while Nathan Eovaldi took the loss for Texas after allowing six runs on 10 hits.
The victory put Houston in first place in the American League West for the first time since the first week of the season.
Houston had been a season-worst 11 games under .500 on May 20.
| Rank | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Astros | 56 | 55 |
| 2 | Rangers | 55 | 55 |
| 3 | Mariners | 53 | 58 |
| 4 | Athletics | 45 | 65 |
| 5 | Angels | 42 | 68 |
ON THE SCHEDULE
The MLB 2026 trade deadline is coming up fast — it hits on August 3 at 6 p.m. ET
MLS: Austin FC hits the road again tonight to face off with Colorado Rapids at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park. The match will begin at 8:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. MT. (Austin FC)
(Episode from July 31, 2026)
Austin FC announced Friday that the Club signed midfielder Jorge Alastuey to a Major League Soccer contract.
COWBOYS: The Cowboys have completed two of their three ramp-up training camp practices.
TEXANS: The Houston Texans offense enters training camp with new pieces, increased depth and major expectations.
34 DAYS UNTIL TEXAS FOOTBALL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian and Rich Eisen discuss his expectations for starting QB Arch Manning this season, how the proliferation of NIL money is making college football more and more like the NFL, and how expanding the CFP field would impact the sport’s regular season.
You don’t have to fly to Vietnam to get a truly authentic bowl of pho. You just have to make your way to Rosenberg, Texas, where Country Pho is quietly serving up some of the best Vietnamese food in the state.
