Attorneys for an Austin family of five that were deported to Mexico after a routine traffic stop last week say Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mishandled the situation.
The children involved are ages 9, 5 and 4, and two of them are U.S. citizens.
According to immigration attorneys, ICE was informed by the family and legal advocates that the children were U.S. citizens and ICE knowingly deported them anyway.
Austin City Council meets today.
A summary of its agenda:
Today’s meeting begins at 10:00 a.m. and can be viewed live here.
Authorities responded to a rollover collision just after midnight on I-35.
All affected lanes were reopened overnight. No other details yet on the accident.
A car crashed into an apartment complex in Westlake yesterday.
A Hays County corrections officer has been fired after he was arrested on felony charges.
A 54-year-old former University of Texas professor from Round Rock has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted on multiple counts of possession of child pornography. (CBS Austin)
The Cedar Park Police Department announced that a missing 16-year-old it had been looking for has been found safe. (KXAN-TV)
Fredericksburg officials are warning of a possible measles exposure in Gillespie County, according to an alert by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Dobie Middle School students walked out of their classes Wednesday to protest the changes the Austin Independent School District has proposed for their school because of failed academic ratings.
Aiming to elevate academic performance after multiple years of not meeting state standards, the Austin Independent School District has proposed a significant overhaul for three North Austin middle schools, including Dobie. It includes the introduction of new administrative staff and academic models and would necessitate current teachers reapplying for their positions. (Austin American-Statesman)
A WARN Notice filed with the Texas Workforce Commission indicates that a third-party contractor supplying licensed employees to Tesla will lay off 50 workers located in Travis County. (KVUE-TV)
Delta Air Lines has three new nonstop routes from Austin’s airport: Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Memphis.
Hyatt Hotels Corp. plans to open “a new kind of hotel” north of Austin next year.
Hyatt Studios will open in Georgetown later this year. (Austin Business Journal)
Whataburger has plans for two new restaurants in Round Rock, with one expected to be completed later this month. (My San Antonio via MSN)
A recent report reveals that the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival spurred a record-breaking $534.8 million in economic activity for the Austin metropolitan area. (Austin Monitor)
Austin arts groups are downsizing and cancelling programming after federal grant cuts. (KUT 90.5)
Two years after voters approved the Austin Police Oversight Act, the measure remains unfulfilled. (Austin Chronicle)
CapMetro’s new police department is aiming to start patrols on June 16.
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The NWS confirmed that an EF-0 tornado touched down near Cameron in Milam County earlier this week.
Storms will move across the south and into Florida today.
The Nature Conservancy in Texas has donated 671 acres in far West Texas, specifically the Heath Canyon Ranch near Big Bend National Park, to Texas Parks and Wildlife. This land will expand the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area. (90.5 KUT)
A recent poll from the Texas Politics Project explores the political sentiments of registered Texas voters, assessing both local and national perspectives. Specifically, their latest survey analyzes Texans’ approval ratings of President Trump, among other key political indicators.
It found Trump’s approval ratings declined by 5 points among Texas voters, while his disapproval rates increased by 8 points since the February UT/TxPP poll. (Texas Standard)
This week, the Texas Attorney General’s Office reported the indictment of a Frio County judge and five others allegedly involved in a “vote harvesting” scheme. Under state law, collecting ballots in exchange for payment constitutes “vote harvesting,” a third-degree felony.
An urgent manhunt is underway for a Texas man accused of murder.
Texas DPS officials are offering reward money for information leading to the arrests of wanted criminals.
A retail electric provider startup is teaming up with other companies to create power plants in Texas that don’t rely on the usual coal or gas plants. (Houston Chronicle)
A Texas House bill proposing to arm election judges at polling places sparked heated debate Wednesday, with lawmakers clashing over gun rights and voter protection implications. (Texas Tribune)
Days after signing school choice legislation into law, Gov. Greg Abbott is turning up the pressure on lawmakers to pass another key priority: bail reform.
Driverless semi-trucks are on the road in North Texas.
SPORTS
MLS: Trailing 2-0 in the second half, Austin FC scored three times between the 73rd and 80th minutes to earn a 3-2 comeback victory over El Paso Locomotive FC in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday night at Q2 Stadium. Brandon Vazquez recorded two (2) goals and an assist in the win while Owen Wolff assisted both of Vazquez’s goals. (Austin FC)
NHL PLAYOFFS: Mikko Rantanen continued his hot streak Wednesday when he scored a second-period hat trick in the Dallas Stars’ 3-2 victory in Game 1 against the Winnipeg Jets. That ended the Stars’ streak of losing Game 1 in eight consecutive series. (Yahoo! Sports)
MLB: A much-needed win last night for the struggling Houston Astro as they defeated Milwaukee on the road 9-1. Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Peña homered and drove in four runs. Houston avoided the sweep. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Texas Rangers will attempt to win their series in Boston this afternoon after a 6-4 loss to the Red Sox Wednesday night. The series is tied 1-1. The loss dropped Texas back below the .500 mark. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Camino Real de los Tejas is a trail that stretches back to the first residents of the state, and it’s still directing the paths Texans take today. Local researchers believe a branch may cut through Dove Springs, but can they preserve this piece of history before it’s lost to rapid development?
