The president of the Austin Police Association, Michael Bullock, made remarks this week in the wake of the sentencing of former APD Officer Christopher Taylor that police officers should stop responding to mental health calls. (CBS Austin)
“It comes from the feelings that a lot of officers are feeling, which is frustration. Quite honestly, it’s scary. It’s a lot of things that get stirred up with officers wondering if they can follow their training.” — Michael Bullock
Austin-Travis County EMS Division Chief Stephen White agrees:
“When there’s not a danger or a threat, then maybe law enforcement isn’t the right person to respond to these calls, and EMS would be better equipped and better trained.” — Stephen White, ATCEMS
Yesterday, APD Chief Lisa Davis responded to those remarks:
White males continue to make up the majority of Austin sworn public safety personnel, but police, fire and emergency medical services appear to be making strides in recruitment and diversification efforts. (Austin Monitor)
The Austin Police Department said it was searching for multiple suspects in connection with a Nov. 8 aggravated assault with a deadly weapon investigation that occurred in northeast Austin.
A man has been charged with first-degree murder after selling fentanyl that led to a man’s death last year.
Police are looking for a suspect after a report of a bank robbery Thursday afternoon in Round Rock.
Austin police announced on Thursday they identified two drivers who were allegedly responsible for a hit-and-run in the spring that injured six people. One of the drivers was arrested and another is still at large, according to police. (KXAN-TV)
A Manor man must serve 40 years in prison and pay more than $12 million in restitution for wire fraud and money laundering charges. (KXAN-TV)
A 17-year-old Vista Ridge High School student allegedly killed a goat that belonged to another student and is now facing a charge of animal cruelty. (KXAN-TV)
Austin firefighters responded to an apartment fire overnight.
ATCEMS reported early this morning they responded to an accident late last night that resulted in a fatality.
Austin city leaders plan to formally extend operations at the Marshalling Yard Emergency Shelter in southeast Austin next week.
The proposed transformation of most of the downtown portion of Congress Avenue, turning much of the street into a pedestrian- and multimodal-focused corridor and removing almost all vehicular traffic, has received support from the Urban Transportation Commission. (Austin Monitor)
After a decline last year, Travis County homeowners should expect a return to rising property taxes. (KUT 90.5)
On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar was elected as the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), the highest-ranking leadership position for progressives in the U.S. House. (CBS Austin)
Austin Water has reported that the city’s public drinking water contains little to no traces of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly called “forever chemicals” because of their persistence. (Austin Monitor)
Austin and Travis County officials have launched a new resource hub to research opioid cases in the area. The hub provides data reports and a dashboard, treatment/recovery centers, tools and educational resources, including where to find Naloxone/Narcan.
Austin, Texas and Limerick, Ireland are now Sister Cities.
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Austin has experienced regular flooding, but the 1981 Memorial Day flood, where more than a foot of water fell in less than three hours, killing 13 people and causing extensive damage, is the most devastating in our lifetime.
Since then, Austin has created a flood warning system.
Texas Democrats have chosen Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, to chair the House Democratic Caucus for the 2025 legislative session. (Texas Public Radio)
The Texas Ethics Commission adopted a rule that requires officials to disclose properties they hold in a blind trust if they have “actual knowledge” of the properties, which means Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton may have to disclose more information about his recent real estate buying spree. (KUT 90.5)
Cannabis advocates in Texas have responded strongly to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s Wednesday announcement of a proposed all-THC ban, saying it’s “tremendously out of step” with most Texans. (Lonestar Live)
A comptroller’s report found that deporting the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants living in Texas in 2005 would have cost the state about $17.7 billion in gross domestic product. (Texas Tribune)
The Texas Juvenile Justice Department board of directors voted on Thursday to approve a land purchase in Ellis County for a new secure facility. (Texas Public Radio)
A former Corpus Christi assistant principal accused of planting a vape pen on students while she was a school administrator in March 2023 was arrested and charged with crimes in connection with that incident Thursday.
A teacher in Conroe is accused of not letting students use the bathroom.
Texas is one of the top states where people are vulnerable to becoming victims of fraud. (Lonestar Live)
T.D. Jakes, Dallas pastor of the megachurch The Potter’s House, is suing a man for defamation after Duane Youngblood went on a podcast aired on YouTube and made comments that Jakes tried sexually assaulting him. (Austin American-Statesman)
SPORTS
In Indiana last night, Madison Booker scored 20 points and Rori Harmon came up with clutch plays to send the game into overtime, but the Texas women’s basketball team came up short on the road against No. 10/10 Notre Dame in an 80-70 defeat on Thursday, their first loss of the season. (Texas Longhorns)
In volleyball, No. 13 Texas made quick work of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Thursday, sweeping the Islanders in the first round of the NCAA volleyball tournament at Gregory Gym. (KXAN-TV)
The SEC Championship Game is tomorrow in Atlanta.
Bevo, the Longhorns’ beloved mascot, will not be traveling to Atlanta.
A bottle-throwing incident at DKR Memorial Stadium back in October during a game with Georgia has resulted in no one being caught or charged because an investigation couldn’t identify any of the culprits. (KXAN-TV)
In the NBA Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks handed the Washington Wizards their 16th straight loss, 137-101. (Yahoo! Sports)
In San Antonio, the Spurs lost to the Chicago Bulls, 139-124. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Houstin Rockets lost on the road at Golden State, 99-93. (Yahoo! Sports)
Dallas and Houston have tonight off while San Antonio hosts Sacramento. (Yahoo! Sports)
In the NHL tonight, the 16-9 Dallas Stars are in Las Vegas to face the Golden Knights (17-7-3). (Yahoo! Sports)
Gruene Hall in Gruene, Texas is the oldest dance hall in the state. Not much has changed in the century that it has existed.
