The murder charge against former Austin officer Christopher Taylor has been dropped in the Michael Ramos case.
Last year, he was convicted of deadly conduct and sentenced to two years in prison for the 2019 shooting death of 46-year-old Mauris DeSilva.
Taylor is out of jail on an appeals bond and is still going through the appeals process for another officer-involved shooting case.
The recent extreme cold temperatures in the Austin area have resulted in several cases of people being hospitalized for hypothermia and other weather-related illnesses.
“Tuesday, one group of people, probationary employees, were told they were fired and to come in the next day with all their equipment and return their laptops and everything else. On Wednesday, they got to another group of people and told them the same thing.” — Eddie Walker, President of the National Treasury Employees Union Austin Chapter
The IRS is letting go of roughly 7,000 workers around the country, including several hundred in the Austin area which is home to an IRS center.
Layoffs are underway at the eleven Central Texas Veterans Affair sites. (Austin American-Statesman)
Over a dozen advocacy and community organizations across Texas gathered to call for dignity, safety, and liberation for working-class Texans.
A group rallied at the Texas State Capitol Friday.
Tesla, Inc. has received citations from federal regulators for violating workplace safety rules after the death of a worker at its Austin-area factory last summer. (Reuters)
A dead bird found in Hays County has tested positive for bird flu, according to the Hays County Health Department.
The measles outbreak in West Texas has surged, nearly doubling to 90 cases across seven counties in just one week and now reaching New Mexico. (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin doctors are urging for measles vaccination amid the West Texas outbreak. (KUT 90.5)
According to records obtained by KXAN-TV through the Texas Public Information Act, at least 17 Central Texas school districts fielded at least 56 threats in September alone.
That number doesn’t include Austin Independent School District, the region’s largest district, which is still processing KXAN’s request. (KXAN-TV)
The Austin Police Department is asking for help identifying a robbery suspect.
A federal grand jury in Austin has indicted Marcelo Olvera-Moreno, a Mexican national, for illegal firearm possession. The charge follows an incident in Hutto on January 24. (CBS Austin)
An Austin woman claims a naked man attacked her near Moody Center.
This week’s Crime Watch from Fox7 Austin:
Austin firefighters responded to structure fire overnight.
Austin Fire Department
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is recommending new senior and rec centers in priority areas and highlighted some renovation and repair needs at existing facilities. (Austin Monitor)
Austin’s airport parking capacity is about to grow larger.
Changes to Austin’s Wildland Urban Interface Code (WUIC) are being considered.
WEATHER
The region tied a record for Friday’s high temperature of 38 degrees.
National Weather Service / Austin – San Antonio
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Winter’s grip will lose its mojo by the beginning of the work week.
The fight over school choice in Texas is gaining national attention.
PODCAST: The latest episode of Texas Matters looks at the worsening measles outbreak in West Texas.
Also…a discussion of since Texas banned abortion, there has been an abundance of evidence that this is leading to additional death and major health risks for pregnant women and infants.
Listen here.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was cleared of wrongdoing by the Federal Elections Commission after complaints that the company that syndicates his podcast contributed nearly $1 million through a series of payments to a super PAC supporting his reelection bid. (Texas Tribune)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is joining nearly two dozen other attorneys general in criticizing new proposed federal dietary guidelines concerning the consumption of red meat.
The Texas Observer reports that a Dallas-based ICE prosecutor has made numerous racist and white supremacist statements online, including calls for mass deportations, declarations of white national identity, and denunciations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
A California man was found guilty of buying firearms at gun shows in Texas and selling them on Instagram without a license. (Fox7 Austin)
TxDOT is warning residents of a phone text scam involving unpaid tolls.
Veramendi, a New Braunfels master-planned community, filed paperwork to construct a massive $10 million development that will feature over 480 acres of parks that will have a greenbelt and trails. It will also have sports courts, ballparks, pools, playgrounds, picnic areas, community centers, and pools. (MySanAntonio)
At least 24 Dairy Queen locations in Texas have closed and folks are not happy.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants the NCAA to require gender testing for athletes who compete in women’s sports.
SPORTS
Nico Estévez will make his Q2 Stadium debut as Austin FC’s head coach tonight as the VERDE & Black welcome Sporting Kansas City for their 2025 MLS season opener at 7:30 p.m. CT. (Austin FC)
COLLEGE BASEBALL: No. 16 Texas jumped out to an early lead and sophomore right-handed pitcher Thomas Burns recorded the final five outs to seal the series opener over Dartmouth, 4-3, on Friday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. (Texas Longhorns)
The two teams play again today at noon.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The Texas Longhorns travel to Columbia to face the South Carolina Gamecocks tonight at 7:30 p.m. (Texas Longhorns)
A big top ten matchup today between 6th-ranked Tennessee and 7th-ranked Texas A&M. (Yahoo! Sports)
Also in the top ten, the 5th-ranked Houston Cougars host 8th-ranked Iowa State.
9th-ranked Texas Tech hosts West Virginia. (Yahoo! Sports)
NBA: Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, P.J. Washington Jr. had 20 of his 24 points in the first half and the Dallas Mavericks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Friday night for their third straight victory. (Yahoo! Sports)
Jalen Green scored 35 points, Alperen Sengun added 24 points and 13 rebounds and the Houston Rockets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-115 on Friday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
Cade Cunningham had 25 points and 12 assists and keyed a 19-0 run as the Detroit Pistons won their fifth straight game, 125-110 over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
San Antonio Spurs fans are wishing Victor Wembanyama a speedy recovery. However, they’re also worried about what his absence means for the team’s season.
NHL: The Dallas Stars are back in action after a break in the regular season. They’re in New Jersey this evening. (Yahoo! Sports)
A fascinating tour of the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville.
