The Week’s Biggest News in Brief: April 23-29

GOP Gerrymandering Gets Green Light: In August of last year, Gov. Greg Abbott signed off on a mid-decade redistricting of the state’s congressional map, aimed to help flip five seats for Republicans come November. Shortly after, an El Paso district court blocked the map, stating that it had been racially gerrymandered. Just before the deadline to file to run in this year’s midterms, the Supreme Court temporarily restored the map for this year’s election, claiming that it was too late to resort to the previously drawn districts as the primaries kicked off. On Monday, April 27, the court finalized that decision in a 6-3 vote, allowing the new map to be used in future elections, pending future redistricting. Just two days later, on April 29, in another 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana must redraw its congressional map, altering how Section 2, which has historically ensured that minority voters are protected when redistricting occurs, is interpreted by the courts.

First Round of School Vouchers: Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced last week that the first set of students have been awarded with private school vouchers through the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program. Over 42,600 students received award notices, covering all of the students in the program’s top priority tier, which include students with qualifying disabilities in homes at or below 500% of the federal poverty line, along with their siblings. This week, a lottery is being conducted to determine which students in the second priority threshold will be granted awards. Those who receive the vouchers have until July 15 to confirm enrollment in a participating private school or homeschool. 

UT Derails KUT Festival: The inaugural KUT Festival has scrambled to find new venues after UT-Austin unexpectedly told the organizers they had to relocate over unspecified security concerns. Austin’s NPR station had spent months planning the two-day event, scheduled to take place May 1-2 across the UT campus, as a major community event including live music and guest speakers such as Sen. Cory Booker. However, only four days before kickoff, the festival organizers announced that the scale of the event would be dramatically reduced. The biggest changes would be to Saturday’s music and street fair, which will be moving to Central Machine Works and East End Ballroom in East Austin, but at press time, it was unclear how much of the programming, including panels, will still happen.

AISD Superintendent Matias Segura Credit: John Anderson

AISD Pauses Closures: In a letter sent to Austin ISD families on Sunday, April 26, Superintendent Matias Segura announced that he has suspended any additional school closures – outside of the decision to close 11 schools heading into the 2026-27 school year – until the district can get back on its feet, currently facing a $181 million budget deficit. According to CBS, the superintendent told trustees last Thursday, April 23, that he is concerned about moving forward with additional school closures, and instead going to commit to redrawing school boundaries with student success remaining the top priority. AISD will hold meetings beginning on May 11 to share plans with the public. This news comes after AISD educators and staff took to April 23’s school board meeting to voice their opposition to potential classroom cuts, as the district works to balance the $181 million budget deficit.

APD Revises ICE Policy: In February, Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis changed the department’s policies regarding how officers associate with ICE. Two months later, Attorney General Ken Paxton placed the city under investigation for the policy changes and Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to pull about $2.5 million in public safety grants from the city. In response to the threats, city leaders defended the policies and Council Member Mike Siegel brought forward a resolution that furthered protection for immigrants in Austin. Since then, the city has agreed to Abbott’s demands, altering the policy once more to satisfy the governor. Now, rather than officers having the option to contact ICE in certain situations, the language states that they “should, when operationally feasible.” It also directs officers to “not take an unreasonable amount of time” in assisting ICE agents, adding that they are not required to make more than one attempt to contact ICE officials. Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member Chito Vela have both said that the changes were necessary to maintain state funding, while Council members José Velásquez, Mike Siegel, Vanessa Fuentes, and Zo Qadri criticized the modifications, stating that it makes the city less safe.

Credit: Getty Images

TRUST Act Advances: In February, a resolution passed that limited the implementation of surveillance technology throughout the city and required the city manager to create an ordinance that would regulate the technology in Austin. The resolution is titled the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology Act, also known as the TRUST Act. Last week, the ordinance – authored by Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela – was passed by City Council. The act came after community members voiced their concerns with surveillance technology throughout the city.

Budget Bummer: Budget deliberations got underway at City Council last week as city officials presented a five-year financial forecast. It was the expected bad news. The Budget Department’s Kerri Lang told Council members that Austin’s general obligation fund is growing at about the same rate as inflation. Still, the city needs to cut $17 million in spending on social services and $20 million in transfers to affordable housing and facility rehabilitation projects in order to balance the budget. Council members expressed reservations about a proposal to stop providing millions of dollars in housing vouchers that provide permanent supportive housing to formerly homeless people in city-developed residences. Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela said that without the funding, upward of 300 people might become homeless once more. “We can’t let that happen,” Vela said, “both for our projects and for the people that are in them.” 

AISD headquarters Credit: John Anderson

Paxton AISD Investigation Heightens: Back in March, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that he has placed the Austin Independent School District under investigation for violating Senate Bill 8, also known as the “Bathroom Bill,” requiring individuals to use public restrooms that are aligned with the sex listed on their birth certificate in government-controlled buildings. On Monday, April 27, the A.G. announced that he had sent AISD an additional letter, demanding documents containing district policies and enforcement actions. In the announcement, Paxton said that the second letter comes after a “new complaint alleging that, on or about April 2, a male student entered and used a girls’ restroom at the AISD Performing Arts Center.” If AISD were to be found in violation of SB 8, the district would have to pay a $25,000 first-time violation fee, and $125,000 for any following violations.

AFD Overtime Abuse: After Austin Fire Department Captain Chelsea Caloia was fired in early February due to allegations of falsifying overtime hours, the department has canned another top-ranking firefighter last week for similar allegations, according to the Statesman. Fire Chief Joel Baker let go of Division Chief Stephen Truesdell for failing to uphold proper procedures that allowed for inaccurate work hours logged. Now, the Austin Police Department is involved in investigating widespread overtime abuses within the department’s fire prevention division, as employees continue to lose their jobs, receive suspensions, and get demoted.

Electricity (That’s What I Call It): Austin’s City Council approved a trio of measures developed by Austin Energy last week to generate and store energy. Two projects will generate solar power. One will create 8 megawatts of solar energy at a former city landfill on FM 812. Another will generate 30 megawatts of solar at dozens of city-owned properties across the region. A third project will allow Austin to store 40 megawatts of power in batteries for use by the city when needed. Council Member Marc Duchen said the projects will “help Austin grow our local energy production and make us more resilient, more cost effective, and more environmentally friendly.” 

AISD Celebrates Pride, Now Under Investigation: Austin ISD is currently under investigation by the Texas Education Agency after the school district celebrated Pride Week, according to KUT. The launch of the investigation comes after State Board of Education Member Brandon Hall said that the district is attempting to “indoctrinate” students and that “it’s time to defund AISD and criminally investigate Superintendent Matias Segura.” Despite participation in AISD’s Pride activities remaining voluntary and taking place outside instructional periods, Hall said that the district violated Senate Bill 12, which prohibits DEI in K-12 schools and bans clubs that are based on gender identity or sexual orientation.

Camp Mystic Hearing: During the Camp Mystic hearings regarding the July 2025 floods that resulted in the deaths of 25 campers, two counselors, and one of the camp’s co-owners, allegations that the teenage counselors did not receive proper training for the disaster were brought forward, according to the Statesman. Edward Eastland, son of late co-owner Richard “Dick” Eastland, said that camp also did not have a complete flood evacuation plan at the time. As the summer approaches, Camp Mystic could potentially be denied a renewal of its license to reopen to the public. As the hearing concluded on Tuesday, April 28, family members who own and operate the camp made their apologies known; however, they also defended the staff’s actions in response to the tragic event.

Lammes Candies to Call It Quits: Since 1885, family-run business Lammes Candies has been providing sweet treats to the community. On April 24, the owners made the decision to close the business’ Round Rock location, citing “changing market conditions” as the reason for the closure. Their flagship location on Airport Boulevard remains open “a bit longer so that everyone has the opportunity to purchase their favorite Lammes Candies treat,” according to a sign posted in the Round Rock shop’s window. 

Shooting Outside Sam’s BBQ: A shooting took place in East Austin, outside of Sam’s BBQ, on Sunday, April 26, leaving six people injured. Law enforcement said that after two men were fighting, gunfire was exchanged, hitting nearby pedestrians. One of the men, 24-year-old Wesley Earl Brown, was taken into Travis County Jail on Monday morning on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge. The six wounded individuals are in stable condition, as law enforcement searches for the second suspect.

Downtown Train Derailment: On Thursday, April 23, a freight train derailed in the Downtown area near Third and Bowie streets, according to Statesman reporting. The Austin Police Department said that no injuries were reported, as the 230-car train was not transporting any passengers or hazardous materials. The incident resulted in the closures of several Downtown streets on Thursday morning as railroad employees worked to clean up the mess. Railroad and state officials are investigating what caused the seven cars to jump the track.

Credit: Image via U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

San Marcos Police Officer Called ICE: Last month, a San Marcos police officer conducted a traffic stop that resulted in Gerardo Reyes Gonzalez – a father of three – being arrested and later sent to an ICE detention center after an immigration detainer was placed on him, according to the Statesman. Now that officer, Jaciel Cortina, has been placed on administrative leave, though law enforcement officials and the city have yet to say what prompted the decision. Both Reyes Gonzalez’s family and Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra have requested that the San Marcos Police Department releases the body cam and dash cam footage, as the city continues to investigate the incident.

Water Safety Day Rally: State leaders are set to gather at the Capitol on Friday, May 1, to raise awareness about Texas Water Safety Day, and encourage best practices to prevent potential risks that water poses. Hosted by the Texas Water Safety Coalition and sponsored by state Rep. Vikki Goodwin and Dean Sen. Judith Zaffirini, the rally will host over a dozen organizations focused on life-saving water practices. “In 2023, we championed House Bill 59, better known as Cati’s Law, to strengthen water safety protections for Texas children,” Zaffirini said. “We must continue to raise awareness and encourage safe practices to prevent future tragedies.”

City Urges Austinites to Get Vaccinated: As World Immunization Week comes to a close, Austin Public Health is reminding community members about the cruciality that vaccinations play in society and encouraging Austinites to receive necessary vaccines. The city department provides immunizations to uninsured or Medicaid recipient children, as well as uninsured adults. In the press release, Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said that the city has “unfortunately seen the effect of a drop in vaccinations with the spread of measles. Let’s follow the science and protect ourselves by getting vaccinated today.”

Community Police Review Commission Seeks Commissioner: Austin Police Oversight announced last week that the Community Police Review Commission – a city board, independent of and separate from the Austin Police Department and Austin Police Oversight – is accepting applications to serve on the commission. The board, which meets once a month to discuss how to make the city safer, is made up of 11 unpaid, qualified volunteers from the community that are appointed by the city manager for four-year terms. Those interested in learning more about the role are invited to attend the next board meeting on Friday, May 15, at City Hall. Applications can be submitted at atxpolicecommission.org, with the deadline being May 22.

Keep Austin Cool Day: As temperatures continue to rise, Austin Public Health is hosting Austinites at three separate locations to spread awareness of risks that come with heat and to distribute resources to the community on Saturday, May 2. As part of Keep Austin Cool Day, the public is invited to join the city at Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center, Gus Garcia Recreation Center, or Dove Springs Rec Center. City staff will also hold an anonymous assessment at the events to get a clearer picture of how residents utilize cooling centers.

White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting: A gunman breached security at the Washington Hilton Hotel in D.C. as politicians, including Donald Trump, JD Vance, and other high-profile Republicans, and journalists attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 25. As shots were being fired, guests reportedly sought cover under dining tables as Secret Service agents worked to take down the shooter. None of the guests were wounded as a result of the incident. At least one agent was injured along with the suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, who was taken into custody. Allen appeared in court on Monday, April 27, and was charged with attempted assassination of the president, with more potentially on the way. Following the incident, conspiracy theories have spread, with growing public belief that the shooting was potentially staged. Texas politicians from both sides of the aisle have spoken out, condemning the acts of violence.

Credit: Candidate's Facebook QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The Supreme Court did not protect the Constitution today. It protected Greg Abbott’s racist map and gave Donald Trump exactly what he demanded from Texas Republicans: stolen seats, weaker Black and Latino voting power, and a rigged path to keep control of Congress.”

Texas House Rep. Gene Wu regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the GOP gerrymandered map

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