Latest Uvalde developments: Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas House and Senate to convene special legislative committees to address school and gun safety in the wake of last week’s school shooting in Uvalde, but stopping short of calling for a full special session of the Legislature. Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez, whose jurisdiction includes Uvalde, has accused Governor Abbott of attempting to "bamboozle" grieving locals with empty promises of legislative action. Five people remained hospitalized with injuries suffered in the shooting as of Wednesday, including a 10 year old girl who remains in serious condition. The Girl Scouts have posthumously honored shooting victim Amerie Jo Garza with its Bronze Cross, which is granted to members who display life-threatening heroism.
A Wednesday night mobile home fire in north Austin has claimed the life of a young child.
The City of Austin has filed a challenge with the U.S. Census Bureau, contesting the count in the most recent census in 2020 - we are the largest U.S. city so far to do so.
The Austin Police Department is pushing for the reinstatement of automated license plate readers, or ALPR's - a tool that was suspended alongside budgetary modifications following the George Floyd protests in 2020. Meanwhile, five APD officers facing indictments over their use of force during those protests are suing the city, saying the “less than lethal” rounds employed during the demonstrations were defective, and that they were insufficiently trained in their use.
TXDOT has begun an extensive project to remove those pesky stoplights from part of Loop 360.
The criminal justice org Mano Amiga reports it has reached the necessary number of petition signatures to force a local vote on marijuana decriminalization in San Marcos.
Texas French Bread announces its return, at first with sales via local farmers markets. The future of the historic building on 29th Street, largely destroyed by fire, remains uncertain.
Texas Longhorns Men's Golf has won a national championship - its first NCAA title since 2012.
Weekend live music features a boatload of interesting road shows: Friday includes The Mavericks at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, The Warlocks at Hotel Vegas, The Suffers and Emily Wells at the Parish, Night Drive at the Far Out Lounge, and KUTX's Rock The Park show witih Joe McDermott and Sir Woman at Mueller Lake Park. Saturday shows: Whores at the Parish, Diane Coffee at the Mohawk, and Symphony X at Empire Control Room. On Sunday, Steely Dan plays ACL Live, Lawrence and Misterwives are at Stubb's, and Lunar Vacation is at the Parish. Meanwhile, Panic! At The Disco will kick off their upcoming world tour with a show at Austin's Moody Center on September 8.
And after a couple of cooler days with decent rain chances, "Mama Nature gets rude" - a string of potentially record-setting triple-digit days is on the way next week.
