News by Austin Journal Reports

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport recently celebrated Earth Day with an event at the Barbara Jordan Terminal, where they highlighted their sustainability efforts. One of the team members at the event shared, "Yup, you heard that right, I’ll bet you didn’t know AUS achieved Level 3+ Carbon Neutrality for the 3rd straight year through the ACI – Airports Carbon Accreditation Program!"The airport's commitment to sustainability is evident in various initiatives. For instance, AUS has achieved Level 3+ Carbon Neutrality for the third consecutive year, making it one of just...

Homicide Investigation Unfolds at Research Boulevard in Austin

A tragic incident unfolded at the 11200 block of Research Boulevard in Austin, Texas, leading to the death of Jose Rubio, a Hispanic male born on April 29, 1988. The suspect, Javier Vega-Funes, a 29-year-old Hispanic male, has been arrested in connection with the crime.According to the Austin Police Department (APD), the events transpired on Monday, April 22, 2024, around 5:58 p.m. Multiple callers reported the incident, with one witness stating they saw a man running and shooting. Another caller mentioned a shooting near the back of an apartment complex, while a third...

LBJ Theatre students advance to UIL One Act Play Area Contest

LBJ Jaguar Theatre students at LBJ High School in Austin have advanced to the UIL One Act Play Area Contest for the first time in the school's history. The competition, held at Bastrop ISD, saw LBJ emerge as the only 5A school in Austin ISD to progress to the Area level this year, breaking new ground after years of competing with the Liberal Arts and Science Academy.

APD and Travis County Medical Examiner's Office Seek Help Identifying Deceased Person's Relatives

The Austin Police Department (APD) and Travis County Medical Examiner's Office are seeking the public's help in identifying the relatives of a deceased individual.The incident occurred on December 2, 2023, at around 1:21 p.m. when APD officers responded to a report of a body found in a retention pond near Slaughter Lane and the 8800 block South Congress Avenue. Despite initial concerns, the death was determined not to be a homicide.The deceased individual has been identified as Jose Lopez, a Hispanic male. He is also known by the aliases Carlos Jose Lopez, Francisco...

Death Investigation in the 5800 block of Spring Meadow Road

The Austin Police Department (APD) is currently conducting a Death Investigation in the 5800 block of Spring Meadow Road following the discovery of a deceased individual. The deceased has been identified as Cristian Rangel, a Hispanic male born on June 4, 1999.According to reports, officers responded to the scene on Friday, April 19, 2024, at approximately 7:06 p.m. and found Rangel already deceased. Detective and Crime Scene Specialists were called in to process the area where Rangel's body was located.Rangel had been reported missing by the Austin Police Department...

Austin students participate in ‘Food of the Future’ for Earth Week

Students from Austin ISD High Schools celebrated Earth Week by creating dishes using sustainable ingredients such as seaweed, crickets, mushrooms, and plant proteins. The initiative, known as ‘Food of the Future,’ aims to promote sustainable food habits and plant-based choices among students while practicing their culinary and marketing skills.

Attorney General Ken Paxton defends Texas Election Integrity Law

The Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) declined to hear a case brought by a political group challenging Texas’s age-based restrictions on mail-in voting. This decision marks the end of a lengthy legal battle that saw Attorney General Ken Paxton successfully defending the Texas law on mail-in voting, ensuring its continuity.Texas law mandates that most eligible voters must vote in person, with exceptions for individuals aged 65 and above, disabled persons, those out of the county during elections, individuals about to give birth, or those confined in jail. The...

Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Stay From Texas Supreme Court Pausing Harris County’s Unlawful “Guaranteed Income” Program

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has successfully obtained a temporary administrative stay from the Supreme Court of Texas (“SCOTX”) to halt Harris County's distribution of public money through its controversial "guaranteed income" program. The program, which provided $500 cash payments for 18 months to selected residents with no citizenship requirements, was deemed to violate the Texas Constitution.Attorney General Paxton took legal action against Harris County, arguing that the program went against the state constitution's prohibition on granting public money to...

Attorney General Ken Paxton takes action against 'guaranteed income' program

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action against Harris County's "guaranteed income" program, which he believes violates state law. Paxton filed for emergency relief with the Supreme Court of Texas to block the program, which had previously been the subject of a temporary injunction sought by the Office of the Attorney General.

Austin Small Business Week Celebrates Entrepreneurship and Local Business Community

The Economic Development Department is thrilled to announce a weeklong series of small business training sessions tailored for entrepreneurs, creatives, non-profits, and cooperatives during Austin Small Business Week from April 29 to May 3. These sessions are in person at the Economic Development Department office at 5202 East Ben White Blvd., Suite 300. Attendees will gain access to a diverse range of educational topics covering small business management, marketing, finance, and more. All sessions and events are open to the public at no cost."Austin Small Business Week...

Art On and Off the Wall: Lamar Senior Activity Center Hosts Annual Spring Art Show and Sale

The Lamar Senior Activity Center is gearing up for its annual Art On and Off the Wall event, a celebration of creativity and talent among senior artists. Scheduled for Saturday, May 4, the event will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 2874 Shoal Crest Ave, offering a diverse selection of handcrafted items for attendees to explore and purchase.Visitors to the event can look forward to a wide array of artistic creations, as highlighted by the organizers: "Browse paintings, drawings, polymer clay art, fiber arts, jewelry, multi-media work, kitchen items, handmade soaps, latch...

Earth Day dollars: Austin Energy awarded part of a $250 million Solar for All federal grant

Austin Energy and the Texas Solar for All Coalition are celebrating Earth Day 2024 and a quarter-billion-dollar federal grant that will give millions of low-income households access to affordable and resilient renewable energy."We are incredibly excited about how this grant helps the City of Austin reduce pollution, create green jobs and directly benefit our historically disadvantaged communities as we create Austin’s clean energy future," expressed Austin Energy Vice President of Customer Energy Solutions Richard Génecé. He emphasized, "By focusing on expanding access to...

UT Austin study leads to smart windows breakthrough

A study conducted by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has led to a breakthrough in the development of smart windows using common, sustainable materials such as amylose, a natural polymer found in corn, potatoes, and beans.

Seattle Children’s Hospital agrees to withdraw from Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced that Seattle Children’s Hospital will be withdrawing from conducting business in Texas following an agreement reached between the institution and the state. This decision comes after an investigation was initiated into the hospital's provision of "gender transition" treatments to Texas children at its Seattle, Washington facility.

Austin-Bergstrom celebrates start of construction on key Journey With AUS expansion project