A violent attack on a CapMetro bus on South Lamar Boulevard last night resulted in Austin’s 25th homicide of the year.
Around 6:45 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of South Lamar Boulevard after receiving multiple calls about a man covered in blood on a CapMetro bus.
CapMetro released a statement on the incident:
A suspect was found and arrested at a local business nearby. Police said this was an isolated incident. There is no threat to the public. Authorities did not say if the victim was shot or stabbed on the bus. The victim’s identity was also not identified.
A motive for the killing and the suspect’s identity were also not released.
Central Texas continues to bake in an early wave of extreme summer-like heat.
ERCOT, the state power grid’s operator, broke its demand record for May yesterday.
According to ERCOT’s website, at around 5 p.m., it peaked at more than 78 gigawatts. The last record was 77 gigawatts.
While it looks like yesterday may have been the peak of this weather pattern in terms of high temperatures, the area will continue to feel well above average heat into next week.
A more detailed and comprehensive look at the forecast can be found further down this post in WEATHER.
A wildfire in Gillespie County has been fully contained.
Meanwhile, Travis County officials announced a new wildfire readiness initiative.
Austin firefighters battled several structures fires Wednesday in the extreme heat.
Austin Fire Department
X user @DocumentingATX (DASH) suggested a cause for the blaze.
Early this morning, three people were rescued from a house fire in North Austin.
Austin Crime Stoppers is seeking the public’s help identifying and locating a fugitive from justice.
The APD is also looking for help in identifying a robbery suspect.
A narcotics investigation in Georgetown resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the confiscation of multiple controlled substances, according to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. (CBS Austin)
A routine traffic stop in Mustang Ridge yesterday led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle.
Elgin police provided an update on an incident that led to multiple firearms charges against a 19-year-old man.
A missing teen in Kyle has been found.
Hays County officials are alerting residents to be aware of fox sightings. One person was recently bitten several times while jogging.
The Pflugerville City Council has approved starting formal talks with Travis County to secure funding for expanded emergency medical services in the city. (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin’s Planning Commission met Tuesday with a busy agenda.
The Planning Commission also approved the inclusion of a proposed 66-story tower at 701 W. 6th Street in the city’s downtown density bonus program, effectively allowing the project to double its floor area ratio from 15:1 to 30:1. (Austin Business Journal)
Google is seeking subtenants to occupy the uppermost six floors of the 35-story building at 601 West 2nd Street, known as the Sail Tower.
A public filing indicates that it may have already found a major subtenant for at least some of the space. (Austin Business Journal)
The YMCA of Central Texas has started construction on a nearly $12 million expansion project at the Twin Lakes Family YMCA campus in Cedar Park. (CBS Austin)
Capital Metro is putting plans back on track to build a new commuter rail station near the Domain. But the project’s price tag has ballooned. (KUT 90.5)
The creation of a new district plan is being recommended to help steer long-term efforts in and around Austin’s traditional downtown.
The city is considering expanding its Downtown Austin Plan to include more neighborhoods, renaming the larger area the Center City/Central District Plan area. This expanded district could incorporate the West Campus area (currently under the University Neighborhood Overlay), a significant portion of the University of Texas’ main campus, and the South Central Waterfront. (Austin Monitor)
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Forecasters say the forming heat dome, which is creating the current extreme temperatures, will warm the waters in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea ahead of hurricane season, which starts in just over two weeks. (Washington Post via MSN)
A Texas mother was arrested this week and accused by authorities of buying ammunition and tactical gear for her son, who allegedly planned “mass targeted violence” at a school in San Antonio.
A bomb threat caused a ground stop to be ordered at DFW Airport yesterday.
New population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau today, Thursday, indicate that suburban communities in Texas continue to experience the most rapid growth statewide. Fulshear, Celina, and Leander are among the top five fastest-growing U.S. cities with populations exceeding 50,000. (KXAN-TV)
Former Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris, facing criminal charges of lewd or indecent acts with a child, claims he is owed retirement benefits.
Senators will hold a hearing today on their counterproposal to the House’s school funding bill. House Democrats and public education advocates have criticized the upper chamber for not moving faster to advance the legislation. (Texas Tribune)
The Texas House of Representatives has voted in favor of establishing a grant program that would facilitate a public-private partnership aimed at advancing ibogaine through FDA-approved clinical trials. The trials would explore ibogaine’s potential in treating opioid use disorders, as well as other neurological and mental health conditions where the substance has shown promise. (Texas Public Radio)
Today, Thursday, the Texas House is expected to vote on House Bill 1738, which aims to repeal a 1973 law on homosexuality. (Texas Tribune)
Driven by the desire to maximize ticket sales, the Texas Lottery Commission permitted professional gamblers to circumvent state regulations. These gamblers reportedly bought nearly every possible number combination in a Lotto Texas drawing, guaranteeing their win of the $95 million jackpot, as detailed in an internal investigation conducted by the agency. (Houston Chronicle)
SPORTS
NFL: The National Football League released schedules for the 2025 season for all 32 teams.
Dates Cowboys and Texans fans should mark on their calendars…
MLS: Austin FC drew 1-1 with Atlanta United FC on Wednesday night at Q2 Stadium. Brandon Vazquez continued his hot streak in front of goal, scoring for the fourth time in the team’s last three matches. (Austin FC)
Next up…
COLLEGE BASEBALL: The Texas Longhorns (40-10 overall and 20-7 SEC) are in Norman, Oklahoma for the next three days for the final games of the regular season.
The Sooners are 32-17 overall and 13-14 in SEC play.
Game 1 of the series is tonight at 6:30 p.m. (Texas Longhorns)
MLB: The Texas Rangers had their brooms ready.
Wyatt Langford and Adolis García hit opposite-field, two-run home runs and Patrick Corbin struck out six consecutive batters among a season-high nine for the Rangers as they defeated the Colorado Rockies 8-3 Wednessday.
Colorado becomes the first team in baseball’s modern era to lose 36 of their first 43 games. (Yahoo! Sports)
Jeremy Peña had a season-high four hits, capped by a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning, to give the Houston Astros a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Astros and Rangers will clash in a four-game intrastate series beginning tonight in Arlington.
NHL PLAYOFFS: The Dallas Stars take their 3-1 series lead over the Winnipeg Jets to Canada tonight for Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Th Stars are one win from a trip to the Western Conference finals. (Yahoo! Sports)
Loving County holds a unique distinction: it is the least populated county of all 254 Texas counties.
