Quintana Arrested For Domestic Dispute
Former Austin police officer Leonardo Quintana was arrested by Leander police yesterday. He was charged with four misdemeanors connected to a reported domestic violence incident last year. Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo fired Quintana(for the second time) over the incident late last month. The first firing was for a DWI arrest. An arbitrator ruled that punishment was too severe. Quintana is the APD officer who fatally shot Nathaniel Sanders in northeast Austin last year.
Cap Metro Votes on Fare Changes Today
The Capital Metro Board is scheduled to vote todayon proposed fare changes. Seniors 65 and over and people with disabilities would no longer get to ride regular city buses for free. They’d have to pay 50 cents a ride. Costs for people with disabilities who get MetroAccess door service would also go up.
Fares for express bus rides would also go up. Meanwhile, fares for Metrorail would go down. If approved, the new fares would go into effect January 16th.
Regents to Take Up Longhorn Network
Today the University of Texas Board of Regents is scheduled to discuss the much talked about proposal for a Longhorn Network for UT sports. Here's what the agenda says:
President Powers will outline a recommendation for the creation of a cable and satellite television network at U. T. Austin for the distribution of University of Texas video and audio content and programming via television, Internet, and other means of digital and/or online distribution. The network will have a national focus and the potential to attract millions of cable and other subscribers. U. T. Austin is currently in discussions to determine the business partners and best organizational and operational structure for the network.
The Associated Press says ESPN has confirmed it is in discussions with UT. It's not yet clear how much the deal would be worth.
WTP4 Open House
The City of Austin's holding an open house todayto discuss the controversial Water Treatment Plant 4 and Jollyville Water Transmission Main. People can stop in the Balcones Country Club to ask questions from Noon to 8 p.m. There won't be a formal presentation.
The city says it needs the plant to meet projected water demands. The Save Our Springs Alliance is opposed to the plant. They say it's a waste of money and water.