Austin

Census Shows Boom in Minority Populations

We all know Texas is growing, but new Census figures released yesterday give us a clearer picture of exactly how and where Texas is growing. Figures show minorities accounted for much of the state's growth over the past ten years.

Austin police think they've solved a case that's seen hundreds of tires slashed in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Austin's Parks and Recreation Department has decided that Bull Creek District Park will continue to be an on-leash facility for dogs.

A leash requirement was put in place on a trial basis last summer, after fecal contamination was discovered in Bull Creek.  After analyzing results, they concluded that the off-leash dog use was the most likely source of the contamination.

City Council to Vote on AISD Budget Resolution

The Austin City Council is voting on a resolution today that would get the ball rolling for the city to help the Austin Independent School District deal with its projected $114 million budget shortfall.  Superintendent Meria Carstarphen and school board president Mark Williams met with the council yesterday.  The resolution, if approved, would direct the city manager to help AISD look for efficiencies and partnerships.

Nationwide bookseller Borders filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week, and the fallout will impact its Austin stores. 

Eanes ISD Parents Hear about Budget Woes

One of the wealthiest school districts in Central Texas is not exempt from state budget cuts.  Some state lawmakers delivered a reality check to more than a hundred parents at the Westlake Performing Arts Center last night.  The Eanes Independent School District is estimating a budget deficit of $6.3 million. That’s about 10 percent of its budget.

In response to feedback about how the University of Texas can better inform students, faculty, and employees about emergency situations, U.T.'s Office of Campus Safety and Security has developed a webpage and will distribute posters that clarifies the definition between “shelter in place” and “lockdown.”

The two terms had been undefined by officials in the past and were being used interchangeably by some media outlets after the September 28, 2010 shooting incident at the university's Perry-Castaneda Library.

Former Austin City Council Member Eric Mitchell has died. 

He served just one term on the City Council, from 1994-97.  Bruce Todd was Austin's mayor at the time, and he recalls Council Member Mitchell's forceful style on the dais.

"Sometimes his style was to challenge people coming up to speak to us about one thing or the other, whatever it might be that supported his cause or expressed his interest.  So he was forceful, but that's what you elected officials for," the former mayor told KUT News.

Texas Senators Investigating Power Outages

Two Senate committees will hear testimony this morning about the state’s power emergency earlier this month that led to rotating power outages. Senators are hoping to get to the bottom of why so many power plants went offline on February 2 and why the state's grid operator was slow to communicate about it.  KUT's Matt Largey has more in his story below.

AISD's Board Takes Up Job Cuts

A delegation of nine Boy Scouts from across America delivered their annual Report to the Nation to House Speaker John Boehner this morning. Austin Eagle Scout Jonathan Hillis was among them.  

Hillis is shown in the picture above. He's directly to the right of Speaker Boehner.

AISD Considers 1,000 Job Cuts

Tonight the Austin Independent School District's Board will consider a plan to cut more than 1,000 jobs.  771 would be campus based positions, and 246 would be Central Office positions.  The District says it has to cut jobs to close a budget shortfall, estimated to be nearly $100 million. 

IH 35 Reopens

After weekend construction at the intersection of Ben White and IH35 had drivers taking detours, TxDOT said the intersection will be reopened by this afternoon. Meantime, area tollways are still toll-free during construction.

AISD Emergency Work Session Monday

Not all parts of Austin are created equal when it comes to rolling blackouts. 

As you may have heard, the power outages that hit the city on February 2nd left some parts of town in the dark for hours, while other areas were spared completely. 

Former TYC Inmates Speaking Out About Abuse

Testimony continues in Lubbock today in the trial for a former administrator of a West Texas youth lockup.  The Associated Press reports a third former inmate of the State School in Pyote is expected to testify against John Paul Hernandez. Hernandez is accused of sexually abusing young inmates in closets and classrooms. 

Austin is a music town, sure, but naming a city department after Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst? Why not? More than 29,000 votes have been cast to rename the City of Austin’s Solid Waste Services Department the “Fred Durst Society of the Humanities and the Arts. ” 

Republican leaders in the US House unveiled a list of proposed spending reductions that would cut more than $74 billion from President Obama's budget request for the current fiscal year. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers today said he would like to increase that cut to $100 billion.

KUT founder Robert Schenkken passed away Wednesday.  It was his  hard work and fierce determination played a big role in public broadcasting as we know it today. He was also a driving force in the creation of public TV station KLRU. Schenkkan worked long and effectively for the enactment of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.  No funeral arrangements have been announced yet.

KUT's Founder Bob Schenkkan Has Passed Away

Schenkkan died yesterday afternoon.  His hard work and fierce determination played a key role in public broadcasting as we know it today.  In the mid 1950s Schenkkan was a professor of Radio Television and Film at UT Austin’s School of Communications.  He was also a driving force in the creation of public TV station KLRU.  Schenkkan's efforts also led to the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.  No funeral arrangements have been announced yet.

It’s frigid and windy in Central Texas! Don't expected it to get any warmer today.  Daytime highs will only be about 30 degrees.

Then try a City Council Work Session!

In what may become a regular feature of Austin city business, the City Council meets today for a pre-council meeting "work session." The sessions, which may precede every Thursday council meeting, allow members to discuss council business in a public forum.

UPDATE at 8:20 a.m.:  Radar shows much of the rain forecast for Central Texas has passed to the southeast, though there may be some leftover precipitation in some spots.  The National Weather Service says a winter weather advisory is in effect in Central Texas until 1 p.m.  A wind advisory is in effect until 6 p.m.  Be careful on your morning commute, as ice has already been spotted on some Central Texas roads and overpasses. 

Texas Governor Rick Perry just gave his State of the State speech before a joint session of the Legislature. He was optimistic and praised the comparative strength of Texas’ economy.  And he had a message for those who’ve been painting a doom and gloom picture for Texas because of the state’s multi-billion dollar budget hole, "The core elements of our economy are strong and Texas is still the envy of the nation."

Former PEC Exec Sentenced

The former general manager of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative has been sentenced to 300 days in jail.  A state district judge Monday also sentenced Bennie Fuelberg to five years of probation.  He's required to do community service and to pay $126,000 in restitution.  

Obesity in Texas could cost businesses in the state more than $30 billion a year by the year 2030, if obesity rates and health care costs continue to increase as expected.  That’s according to a report released Monday morning by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

Former TYC Administrator Headed for Trial 

Jury selection is expected to start today in Lubbock for a former Texas Youth Commission official accused of sexually molesting teenage inmates.  John Paul Hernandez was the principal at the West Texas State School in Pyote.  The Associated Press reports Hernandez pleaded not guilty.  His trial comes six years after the investigation began into sex abuse at the TYC.

Texas Education Budget Cuts Back in the Spotlight Today

The snow is melting but freezing conditions overnight could make travel difficult. Here' s a developing list of cancellations and delays for tonight and tomorrow. If you would like to add anything, post it in the comments below.

We have some creative KUT listeners! We asked you during Morning Edition to send us photos of the snow in Austin, Texas and our inbox was flooded.  Thank you for sharing your photos with us!  Our first slideshow was here. Check out all the rest below: 

Updated at 12:15 pm: People are out in the streets playing in the snow this morning! A winter storm warning is in effect until noon today.  Austin police say there is ice on some roads and that some cars are slipping and sliding.  APD says there are more accidents out there this morning than usual.  Police have closed eastbound SH 71 in the 19500 block, due to icy conditions.  APD have also barricaded the intersection of East 8th St. and San Jacinto Blvd., because of icy condition at that hilly intesection

Most streets in Austin are clogged with compacted snow and ice, making for very slick conditions. In the past 12 hours, Austin Fire Department has responded to about 100 collisions.

AFD reports 50 alarm activations, many of which were related to broken water pipes.  Learn how to shut off the water to your home by watching this video.

There are some flight delays and cancellations at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, as well.  Check with ABIA or your carrier for up-to-date information.  Capital Metro busses are operating on a Sunday service level.  No MetroRail or UT shuttles service today.

Read our list of closures here: