The Week’s Biggest News in Brief: July 2-8

Disability Lawsuit Protest: Disability rights advocates gathered outside of the Capitol last Friday, July 3, to protest the state’s participation in Texas v. Kennedy, a multistate lawsuit that challenges some federal disability civil rights. The lawsuit challenges Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which protects disabled individuals from discrimination in healthcare, housing, schools, and other living necessities. Though the states are aiming to remove a 2024 federal decision that implemented gender dysphoria into the rule, advocates have raised concerns, stating that the lawsuit could put all disabled individuals’ rights at risk. As the case makes its way through court, advocates are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton to remove Texas from the suit.

Houston Man Killed by ICE: ICE agents shot and killed a Houston man on Tuesday, July 6. According to KVUE, an ICE spokesperson told them that as officers attempted to pull over Lorenzo Salgado Araujo as part of a “targeted enforcement operation,” Araujo rammed into one of the agents’ vehicles and tried to flee. Claiming that the man, who immigrated to the country from Mexico, attempted to “weaponize” the vehicle, the agency said that the agents shot and killed Araujo while acting in self-defense. The victim’s family has since spoken out against ICE’s actions, stating that Araujo was working on securing a work permit, having lived in the country for 35 years, and is now calling for ICE to release body-cam and dash-cam footage of the incident.

Lawmakers Look at Hemp: The Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met on Tuesday, July 7, to discuss the impacts of THC product consumption in the state. Those opposed to hemp expressed concerns about the impacts that consuming THC products have on individuals, specifically children. According to the Tribune, Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst said that data obtained by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services show that 1,559 children tested positive for THC at birth in fiscal year 2024 and 1,896 in FY25. This comes as hemp laws remain in limbo, with new rules implemented earlier this year, then paused due to court rulings, and most recently reinstated by the Texas 15th Court of Appeals. The next trial date that will likely determine the future of the industry in the state is scheduled for July 27.

Credit: City of Austin

City Names Auditor: Last Thursday, July 2, city staff named Public Works LLC, a public policy consulting firm, as the recommended awardee to conduct an efficiency audit of city departments. The decision comes after the city faced pressure from right-leaning PAC Save Austin Now to conduct an external audit and Mayor Kirk Watson gave the assessment the green light earlier this year. According to the city’s press release, an evaluation panel made up of members of the City Auditor’s Office reviewed proposals from 25 firms before making their recommendation. The city said that Public Works has identified annual recurring savings of at least 5% in its prior assessments of other cities around the nation. Since the announcement, Save Austin Now requested that the city provide more details on how the firm was chosen, stating that the vendor previously failed to pay state taxes, resulting in the revocation of their right to do business in the state in 2024. Austin City Council is scheduled to vote on the recommendation later this month.

Landing on Budget Cuts: Last Thursday, July 2, Kerri Lang, director of Austin Budget and Organizational Excellence, sent Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council a memo, outlining potential options to manage the city’s budget for the next two fiscal years. Lang recommended spreading out the dreaded social services cuts between FY27 and FY28, with $6 million to $8 million in cuts in FY27, followed by the rest of the cuts in FY28. Behavioral health, homelessness, clinical services, crisis response and rehabilitation, and child services would see the smallest reductions, each with cuts under 20% of their FY26 budgets. Other social services could see cuts between 26% and 38% of their FY26 budgets. With a FY26 budget of $251,431, community planning is the only social service that Lang recommended to completely end funding for. 

Travis County District Attorney José Garza Credit: Jana Birchum

Garza Dismisses Javier Ambler Case: On Wednesday, July 1, Travis County District Attorney José Garza dismissed evidence tampering charges against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and former Assistant Williamson County Attorney Jason Nassour in correlation with the murder of Javier Ambler in 2019. After deputies tased Ambler multiple times, he died in custody of Williamson County law enforcement. At the time, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office had a partnership with Live P.D., which had recorded the officers’ interaction with Ambler, but that footage was later destroyed before investigators could access it. After Chody and Nassour were accused of preventing the video from being viewed and withholding evidence, the case has been ongoing. Following the Texas 3rd Court of Appeals siding with Chody and Nassour, prosecutors asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to step in, however, the court declined. Last Wednesday, the Travis County D.A.’s Office wrote that “the state is unable to find evidence of guilt” in the case, dismissing the charges.

Where Is Ken Paxton? The beleaguered Texas attorney general and Republican Senate hopeful had his patriotic credentials questioned when footage was posted of him spending the Fourth of July in London with a so-far-unidentified woman. When Paxton realized he was being recorded, he seemingly did his best to pretend they hadn’t been arm-in-arm mere seconds earlier. However, it’s his location when he’s in Texas that may get him in real trouble. Analysis of the records of his divorce from Sen. Angela Paxton show he moved out of their home in Collin County in 2024, however, according to the Tribune and ProPublica, he never updated his voter registration. That means he may have violated state election law during the last six elections, despite calling for “free and fair elections,” consistently working to shift typical voting procedures, and blaming the Democratic Party for tampering with past elections. So much for his dedication to election integrity.

Comptroller candidate Don Huffines Credit: John Anderson

Abbott Appoints Huffines as Comptroller:  Last Wednesday, July 1, exactly a year since he took over as acting Texas comptroller, Kelly Hancock sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, informing the governor that he was planning on stepping down from the position at the end of the month. His notice comes after he announced that around 73,000 Texas students would receive initial funding through the private school voucher program known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts last Wednesday. The TEFA Marketplace, an online list of vendors that provide private school tuition, educational materials, tutoring services, and other instructional expenses, also launched on the day of his announcement. Shortly after informing the governor about his plan, Abbott appointed former Republican state Sen. Don Huffines, who is the Republican candidate currently running against Democrat Sarah Eckhardt for the position. “Don Huffines is the king of school vouchers who can’t win on his own,” Eckhardt said, “yet here goes Abbott side-stepping voters to appoint him right before an election.”

Homeless Sweeps Update: David Gray and the Austin Homeless Strategies Office sent a memo to Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council last Thursday, July 2, updating the officials on the initial progress that the city’s new homeless camp sweeps program has made. According to the memo, the department’s Homeless Encampment Management teams have conducted 456 camp visits, including repeat visits, and have removed over 300 tons of debris. Forty-four individuals have been connected to shelter or supportive services, while another 44 have declined shelter or services. The memo also stated that no arrests have been made but that officers have issued five citations for camping in a public area and four trespass notices.

Fourth of July Shootings: Two separate shootings in the area resulted in three deaths and the injury of one person over the Fourth of July weekend. The first shooting occurred late on the night of the holiday outside of Otro Pedo Sports Bar, formerly Michelobos, a Northeast Austin sports bar, where Austin Police Department officers responded and found two men that had been wounded. Law enforcement transported both men to the hospital where one later died. According to the Statesman, a suspect has been detained. Hours later, on the morning of July 5, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting outside of Bare Cabaret, a Northeast Austin nightclub. One man died at the scene and a woman later died at the hospital as a result. A suspect was taken into custody but has since been released.

Tesla Driver Charged With Manslaughter: After a man crashed his Tesla into a home in Katy last month, which resulted in the death of a woman, the driver now faces manslaughter charges. Despite claiming that the vehicle was operating in driver-assistance mode, Elon Musk and other company employees have said that the driver overrode the self-driving system. The victim’s family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both the driver and the company, seeking over $1 million. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, have launched investigations into the incident.

APD Officer Guilty in 2025 Crash: On Thursday, July 2, Austin Police Department Officer Daniel Robert Kessler Jr. pleaded guilty to two counts of speeding that resulted in the injury of two individuals last year. In January 2025, Kessler crashed into three other vehicles while responding to an emergency call. His plea agreement resulted in his conviction of speeding and orders him to pay $500 for both counts, the maximum fine in Travis County.

Teen Arrested in High-Speed Chase: On Saturday, July 4, the Manor Police Department responded to a report of a stolen vehicle, locating the car in the Carillon subdivision. According to KXAN, the driver, a 14-year-old, began evading police, leading to a high-speed chase. With assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Austin Police Department’s Air Support Unit, law enforcement officers were able to stop the teenager by using an immobilization technique. The 14-year-old, who had an active warrant for stealing the car, has been charged with aggravated robbery by APD and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and reckless driving by MPD.

Legal Services for Immigrant Children: On July 2, in a 2-1 ruling, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals voted against a Trump administration policy that would require ICE agents to keep undocumented immigrants in custody until they are deported, instead deciding that the federal government cannot detain immigrants for over 90 days without a bond hearing. According to the Tribune, the decision stems from a case in which three men – each of whom have lived in the country for over a dozen years and have American citizen children – were arrested by Texas state troopers and moved to ICE custody, where they were held in detention without access to a judge. After federal judges decided that detaining them without a bond hearing violated their due process rights, the three individuals were eventually released. The case is expected to go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Big Bend Border Wall Status: As lawmakers on both sides of the aisle continue to raise concerns about Trump’s plans to increase border security within the Big Bend region, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s most recent plans show that two 30-foot walls could be built in two parts of Big Bend Ranch State Park, spanning 2 miles of the park’s westernmost areas. According to Tribune reporting, a CBP spokesperson said that the agency is still in the planning stages of strengthening border security in the area. In May, a $1.7 billion contract was awarded to the Department of Homeland Security “for border wall in Big Bend,” though a CBP spokesperson denied that those funds would be used to build a wall in either the state or national parks. Early last month, a $2.6 billion contract was awarded for “border barrier design build” in Terlingua, just a few miles west of Big Bend National Park.

White Supremacist Fourth of July March: Patriot Front, the North Texas-based white nationalist hate group, was spotted in Washington, D.C., on the Fourth of July, marching near the U.S. Capitol donned in America-themed attire and wielding shields and American and Confederate flags. As the group marched throughout the Eastern Market neighborhood and rode on the metro, word began to spread on social media. Founded by Thomas Rousseau, a native Texan, the group has been demonstrating for years, with 31 members arrested and charged with conspiracy to riot in 2022 in Idaho as they gathered near a Pride event. 

U.S. Rep. Bill Archer Dies: At 98 years old, former U.S. Rep. Bill Archer died on Saturday, July 4, in Virginia, according to the Tribune. Archer began his political career as a Democrat in 1967 before flipping to the GOP two years later, serving two terms in the Texas House, one on each side of the aisle. He was elected to serve as a Republican U.S. Rep. in the West Houston area in 1970, where he would spend the next 30 years before retiring. After leaving office, Archer established the Archer Center, with over 2,000 students participating in the center’s fellowship program since its inception.

Launch of Texas Stock Exchange: The Texas Stock Exchange, a Dallas-based startup, launched on Monday, July 6, open now to approved broker-dealers, banks, and trading firms before becoming available for public trading, which is expected to roll out throughout the month. Those involved hope that the launch of the TXSE will strengthen the state’s economy by competing with the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Both the NYSE and NASDAQ have implemented Texas branches, NYSE Texas and NASDAQ Texas, which experts have said validates the TXSE. 

$23 Million for Local Creatives: Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment announced that it has launched a $23 million fund for four different grant programs: the Austin Live Music Fund, Elevate, Heritage Preservation Grant, and Thrive. Supported by the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue, local creatives can apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 with a deadline of Aug. 18. The funds can be used for a variety of different creative projects, with contracting beginning in January 2027 and awards issued as either one- or two-year agreements. There are additional resources on ACME’s website for interested artists to utilize prior to applying for a grant.

Water Line Project Creates Closures: The Krieg Athletic Complex’s sand volleyball courts are set to close and the Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metropolitan Park trail will be rerouted ahead of an Austin Water project to reinstall a reclaimed a water line and replace a damaged stormwater drain line. The water line was destroyed during the 2015 Halloween flood. In an Austin Parks and Recreation press release, the department said that the project will begin on Monday, July 20, and is expected to be completed in May of next year.

Liz Carpenter Splash Pad Closed: The city announced on Friday, July 3, that the Liz Carpenter Splash Pad at 201 Dawson Rd. is currently closed. The water play area is undergoing repairs after the splash pad pump room flooded. It is unknown when the space will reopen.

Trump Involved in Everything: The 2026 World Cup has taken the country by storm over the last few weeks as individuals from around the world have visited for games across the nation. The U.S. men’s team got off to a hot start, winning their group after claiming victories in their first two games of the tournament. The team then faced Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the team’s top goal scorer, Folarin Balogun, received a red card in the second half that left many U.S. fans in disarray, convinced that the card was uncalled-for. Although the team won the game 2-0, Balogun was set to miss the U.S.’s next game against Belgium due to foul. That was until Donald Trump decided to step in, as he typically does. After fans and members of the team, including U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino, voiced their complaints with the foul, Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask him to intervene and allow Balogun to play. Following his request, FIFA ended up suspending Balogun’s suspension for one year. The only time that a similar decision was made was when FIFA suspended two games of a three-game ban against Portugal soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo last year. Still, Balogun’s ability to play did not have major implications on the match, as the U.S. ended up losing 4-1 against Belgium on Monday, July 6. 

Credit: cp4.harriscountytx.gov QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The Trump administration has broken public trust and constitutional rights with its extremist immigration enforcement. … I support a thorough, transparent, and accurate review for the public to see exactly what happened.”

Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones on ICE killing Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

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