The Week’s Biggest News in Brief: April 16-22

Abbott Threatens Austin: After Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis made policy changes in March that prohibit officers from arresting or detaining individuals solely based on a noncriminal ICE warrant, Attorney General Ken Paxton placed the city under investigation on April 10. Now, Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to cut state funding from Austin if the city refuses to change the policy. The city could potentially lose about $2.5 million in public safety grants, while Houston and Dallas, both of which have similar policies, are at risk of losing $110 million and $32 million, respectively. Dallas could also lose an additional $55 million in World Cup public safety funding. As Austin city leaders refuse to back down, Assistant City Manager for Public Safety Ramon Batista said that the city is negotiating with the governor, according to the Statesman. Regarding the governor’s warning, Mayor Kirk Watson said, “There is great irony that the state would try to punish the City for providing services that keep Austinites safe by threatening grants that keep Austin safe.” Read more in Brant Bingamon’s report.

Voter Registration Deadline for Runoffs: The countdown is on for the May primary runoff elections. With early voting beginning on Monday, May 18, the deadline for Texans to register to vote in the runoff is Monday, April 27. Among the runoff races within the Democratic Party that have implications on Travis County are lieutenant governor; attorney general; State Board of Education, District 5; Travis County Commissioners Court, Precinct 4; U.S. House, District 35; and Texas House, District 49 races.

The Onion Works to Acquire Infowars: Satirical news website The Onion is awaiting judge approval to acquire local conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ right-wing media company, Infowars. In late 2024, The Onion attempted to buy the website through a bankruptcy auction, but was rejected by a federal bankruptcy judge. The courts later clarified that since Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems, is not bankrupt itself, the site should be taken over by a Texas state receiver, opening the gate for The Onion after the receiver said that the potential sale “is in the best interest of the receivership estate.” According to NPR, if the deal were to go down, The Onion would pay $81,000 a month to license the website domain and brand name. The ongoing conflicts between the two companies come after Jones took to the site to spread lies about the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, in which he said the families had lied about the incident in order to increase support for gun control. Those families are still waiting to collect almost $1.3 billion after they successfully sued Jones for defamation.

Live oak tree Credit: Getty Images

Tree of the Year Awards Are Back: As we approach National Arbor Day (the last Friday of April), Austin Parks and Recreation and TreeFolks have invited the community to nominate their favorite city trees for the annual Austin Tree of the Year Awards. With nominations starting on Friday, April 24, there are five different award categories that Austinites can nominate their favorite tree for: Small Tree, Large Tree, Story Tree, Unique Tree, and Schoolyard Tree. Nominations will remain open through July 24, and voting will be held between Aug. 4 and Oct. 27. The official awards ceremony will take place during the first weekend of November, honoring Texas Arbor Day.

City Threatens Employees Over $1.4 Million: In late March, the city of Austin accidentally overpaid 675 city employees due to an employee error in Austin’s payroll system, totaling a loss of $1.4 million. Since the incident, the city has been working to reclaim the lost cash, asking the overcompensated individuals to sign a repayment agreement by April 10, “in order to fully resolve the dispute, in order to avoid a contested lawsuit, and in order to avoid any other wage issues that could arise between the parties based on (employee name) employment,” according to the Austin Current. However, as of last Wednesday 6% of the 675 had still not signed, some stating that they wanted more time to review the agreement before making a decision and criticizing how the city handled the issue.

Credit: Getty Images

Ten Commandments Forced Into Schools: On Tuesday, April 21, in a 9-8 vote, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled in favor of the state, allowing Texas to force schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, stating that the law – Senate Bill 10 – does not violate the First Amendment. The ruling comes after more than a dozen families sued and the court heard arguments in January. Those in opposition to the implementation of the religious text within Texas classrooms are expected to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The ACLU of Texas, along with other organizations representing plaintiffs in the lawsuit, released a statement on the ruling: “The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when, and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights.”

Texas Dems Feud: After three dozen Texas Democrats signed a letter urging Kendall Scudder to give up reelection as chair of the Texas Democratic Party due to alleged operational mistakes and fostering a “hostile work environment,” around 800 individuals signed their own letter, supporting Scudder’s leadership of the party. The party is set to elect a chair to a four-year term at the party’s convention in June. The ongoing internal conflict has raised concerns among Democrats who have said that the party must remain focused on November.

Dell Family Funds UT Medical Center: According to Statesman reporting, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation is set to give UT-Austin over $750 million to build a new medical facility at the institution’s former 300-acre West Pickle Research Campus in North Austin, marking over $1 billion given to the university by the Dell family. By implementing AI from the get-go, the new medical campus is expected to reimagine modern health care, with the estimated cost originally set at $2.5 billion, expected to change as plans evolve.

Austin Light Rail station rendering Credit: Austin Transit Partnership

Light Rail Status: At Austin Transit Partnership’s April 15 meeting, an operations and maintenance building contract and a resolution to acquire land for the project was approved. ATP also selected Kiewit Austin Partnership as the design-build contractor, approving a contract not to exceed $25 million for the development of the operations and maintenance facility, which will essentially serve as the light rail’s headquarters, where trains will be cleaned and serviced, according to Community Impact. The light rail’s operators will also work at the location. ATP also approved a resolution to acquire up to 18 parcels of land, nine of which are along the light rail alignment and the other nine relating to the operations and maintenance facility. The resolution is not to exceed $230 million.

Texas Lawmakers Tour Camp Mystic: The Texas Senate and House General Investigating Committees on the July 4 floods met to tour Camp Mystic for the first time on Monday, April 20. According to KXAN, dozens of Hill Country residents lined up along Highway 39 to demonstrate during the day, multiple protesters holding signs that read “119” – the number of Kerr County residents who passed as a result of the floods. The meeting at the camp where 28 individuals died, including 25 campers, two counselors, and Camp Mystic owner Dick Eastland, comes after last week’s hearing on the lawsuit filed by parents of Cile Steward, an 8-year-old camper who died as a result of the floods. With five separate lawsuits filed by parents, the first is set to go to trial in May 2027.

As AI Develops, Student Concerns Grow: As artificial intelligence continues to advance, enrollment in computer science programs around the state is dropping, according to the Tribune. What once served as a reliable gateway to a high-paying job in the tech industry is now becoming a dwindling path, as unemployment rates for recent college grads holding computer science and computer engineering degrees have risen to 7% and 7.8%, respectively, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Universities around the state have begun implementing AI into their curriculum, including UT. “The students are anxious, the faculty are anxious, it’s a natural human tendency when things are uncertain,” said Peter Stone, chair of UT’s computer science department.

Hutto Data Center Withdrawn: As part of the rapid development of data centers across Central Texas, local developer Zydeco Development Corp. – which is behind multiple data center projects in the area – had its sights set on constructing a data center at 450 Ed Schmidt Blvd. in Hutto. Proposed to the Hutto Planning and Zoning Commission on April 7, a representative from the company told commissioners that the site would be a 225,000-square-foot, single-story building at about 42 feet tall. However, following a legal protest filing from Hutto residents, which would force a supermajority vote from City Council to approve the rezoning, the developers have withdrawn their request to rezone the 41 acres to support the construction of the data center, according to the Statesman.

Texans to Save on Emergency Supplies: From Saturday, April 25, to Monday, April 27, Texans will be able to purchase emergency supply items free of sales tax, as part of the state’s Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. These items include household batteries, fuel containers, flashlights, and other minor emergency tools that are priced less than $75; hurricane shutters and emergency ladders priced less than $300; and portable generators that cost less than $3,000. Comptroller Kelly Hancock expects the weekend to help Texans save around $2.4 million. A full list of supplies can be found on the comptroller’s website. 

City Seeks Housing Services Support: In partnership with Travis County Health and Human Services, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations is searching for qualified social service organizations to help provide support to Austinites experiencing homelessness living in permanent supportive housing. With $6.7 million in funding available over the next five years, the city hopes to award contracts to up to three experienced providers for a 12-month term beginning in September. Proposals are due by Tuesday, June 2, and applicants must have housing vouchers and be site-based.

Attorney General Ken Paxton Credit: Jana Birchum

Paxton Sues ActBlue: Paxton has been going after ActBlue, a political donation platform primarily used by Democrats, for some years now, claiming that he had found evidence that “bad actors can illegally interfere in American elections by disguising political donations” in a letter to the Federal Election Commission in 2024. Now, he has filed a lawsuit against the organization, claiming that ActBlue allows invalid donations from international individuals, according to the Tribune. He is now urging a Tarrant County judge to no longer allow the organization to receive donations via gift cards and prepaid debit cards, and implement fines of $10,000 per violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Travis County Job Fair: On Wednesday, April 29, Travis County will host the public at the county’s downtown Administrative Building for a job fair, showcasing over 100 part-time and full-time available occupations within county departments. In a press release, the county stated that it is seeking community members of all backgrounds and experiences, “especially veterans, individuals over the age of 50, people with disabilities, and those reentering the workforce with a past criminal conviction.” Hiring managers from different departments and HR agents will be available to answer attendees’ questions, along with Spanish and American Sign Language interpreters. 

Residential Solar Leasing: Austin Energy announced that it is now giving community members the opportunity to lease residential solar equipment, where solar panel systems, owned and maintained by a third-party company, are installed on an individual’s property for a monthly fee. Austinites who choose to participate in the program will receive credits on Austin Energy bills for the solar energy generated, federal tax credits, as well as a $2,500 rebate. Prior to opting into the program, community members have access to Austin Energy’s Home Solar Guide, Solar Rebate Quiz, and a standardized disclosure form, in an attempt to ensure transparency before making a decision.

2025 State of Our Environment Report: Austin Watershed Protection released its 2025 State of Our Environment Report on Wednesday, April 22, showcasing the city’s environmental conditions, growing trends, and the work that the city department has conducted over the last year. Among the highlights from the report include how drought conditions have continuously strained water resources; in spite of funding and policy obstacles, the Climate Equity Plan continues to advance; air pollution has improved while ground-level ozone pollution has worsened; and Austin acquired over 80 acres of parkland and permanently conserved around 300 acres of wildlands.

Austin Community College Stabbing: On Friday, April 17, Austin Community College police responded to a report of a stabbing in a wooded area near its Riverside Campus. ACC PD found two injured individuals and a third individual who was detained within minutes of the department receiving the call. The university issued an emergency notification to all employees and students following the incident. The two victims are in stable condition, the suspect was transported to the Travis County jail with aggravated assault charges pending, and the university’s police department is continuing its investigation.

AUS Earns Negative Label: According to the Statesman, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is one of the worst airports in the country for flight delays. In the first quarter of 2026, travel-tech company AirAdvisor found that the average flight delay at AUS was nearly three hours, marking the airports as the third worst in terms of delay length. Nonetheless, the company’s study found that this time actually improved from 2025, cutting around 55 minutes of wait time. 

CapMetro Showcases Student Artwork: In partnership with Creative Action, CapMetro unveiled four of its vehicles that showcase local youth artwork on Wednesday, April 22. Both middle and high school students participated in CapMetro’s sixth year of the “Art on the Bus” program, creating original artwork that is now wrapped around select CapMetro buses and Pickup vehicles. The students’ art will be featured on the vehicles for up to one year.

Park Ridge Ribbon Cutting: Austin Parks and Recreation is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, April 24, to commemorate the opening of the Park Ridge Neighborhood Park. Funded through Austin’s Parkland Dedication program, the 2-acre park is a culmination of a partnership between the city and Fairfield Residential, which developed the adjacent Cala Apartments. Fairfield Residential dedicated land for public park use and constructed amenities as part of the Parkland Dedication process.

City Council Member Mike Siegel Credit: austintexas.gov QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I absolutely believe we cannot sell our values for $2.5 million. The people want us to do the right thing, what’s legal, what’s appropriate, and what makes us safer, and complying with the governor’s demands would not do that.”

City Council Member Mike Siegel on Abbott’s threats

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