Texas Awarded $2 million in STOP grants.
The Texas Education Agency has been awarded $2 million to address school violence. The first Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act grant will go toward providing mental health training for school staff and administrators. The second STOP grant will go toward establishing a statewide training program for school threat assessment teams. The $2 million Texas award is out of a total of $70 million in awards recently announced by the U.S. Department of Justice. To read more…
Record number of registered voters.
Yesterday marked the deadline to register to vote in Texas for the November 6th general election. According to the Secretary of State, a record number of voters have registered to vote. As of Monday, the number of registered voters was at 15,698,626. To read more…
Increased readiness level for Texas State Operations Center.
Governor Abbott has ordered the Texas State Operations Center to elevate its readiness level in preparation for severe storm systems moving across Texas this week. State and partner agencies included in this response are: Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas Military Department, Texas Department of State Health Services, American Red Cross, State Mass Care. To read more…
Only in Austin…
The 2nd and final weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival is this weekend. Missed out on last weekend? You still have another chance to catch the one and only Paul McCartney in ATX! To read more…
No. 19 Texas Longhorns and No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners meet again in Dallas this weekend for the Red River Shootout. This matchup is a big one for those in the Big 12. More interested in food, than football? Click to read about the best and worst new foods this year at the State Fair. 
The Nobel Prize for Medicine has been awarded to Dr. James Allison, MD Anderson Cancer Center’s chairman of immunology. He shares this award with Japan’s Tasuku Honjo for their research in cancer immunotherapy. This is the first Nobel Prize awarded for cancer therapy. 
If you want to vote in the November 6th election in Texas, October 9th is your last day to register. 
From now until February, Fortlandia is yours to explore at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Ten forts designed by local architects and students of the University of Texas School of Architecture make up the exhibit. What a fun way to relive some childhood memories! 
A four-mile long, 18-foot tall “wall” (really a fence) in the Chihuahuita area of El Paso along the Texas-Mexico border is in the works. Instead of the current chain-link fence, the new fence will be made of steel bollards with an anti-climbing plate at the top. The $22 million project is expected to be completed by April 2019. 
If you’re looking for one of those doohickie things for your next DIY project, look no further than the ACE Hardware in Cypress, Texas. In the 23 years that this location has been open, doohickies have been one of the most sought-after items. 
The one and only scheduled debate between Governor Greg Abbott and his Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez takes place 6pm, Friday at the LBJ Presidential Library. Moderators include: KXAN (Austin) reporter Robert Hadlock, NBC 5 (DFW) political reporter Julie Fine, Telemundo 39 anchor Norma Garcia, Andy Cerota of KPRC 2 (Houston), and DSAT 12 (San Antonio) reporter Steve Spriester. Click the link to find which local channel will broadcast live in your area. 
Effective this week, you may travel with the following approved and trained service animals on Southwest Airlines—dogs, cats, and miniature horses. Full sized horses still can’t fly. 
Senator Ted Cruz and his Democratic opponent, U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke, have agreed to three debates—September 21st in Dallas (domestic policy/moderated), September 30th in Houston (domestic policy/town hall style), and October 16th in San Antonio (1/2 foreign, ½ domestic policy/moderated). 
Fall festival season is upon us, starting with the classic Austin Pecan Street Festival in the historic 6th Street district. The festival is named for 6th Street’s original name, Pecan Street, when the east-west streets of downtown were named for trees. It’s a great festival for the whole family—arts, music, food, and fun! 
The 2019 U.S News & World Report rankings have two Texas universities in the top 50—Rice University at #16 and the University of Texas-Austin at #49. While not in the top 50, Southern Methodist University (#59), Texas A&M University (#66), and University of Houston (#171) all moved up from last year. 
Until early voting begins for the November 6th General Election. Already registered? GREAT! Not registered in Texas? Request a postage-paid voter registration form here: 
As long as its heroically. A State Board of Education workgroup initially proposed removing the word “heroic” when describing defenders of the Alamo. The removal was part of the group’s work to streamline curriculum standards for social studies. After pushback from advocates, George P. Bush, and Governor Abbott, it appears “heroic” will stay on the books. A preliminary vote is Friday. 
Governor Abbott and his Democratic challenger, Lupe Valdez, will debate in Austin on September 28th. Telemundo will also broadcast the debate with instantaneous Spanish translation. 
Governor Abbott has appointed Courtney Phillips as the new Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Phillips currently serves as the CEO of Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services. Phillips will take over from acting commissioner Cecile Young on October 19th. 
With the State Fair of Texas just around the corner, Texans are getting creative again with fair food. The 2018 Big Tex Choice Award winners are still as sweet and/or as fried as you can get! Most Creative- Cotton Candy Taco; Best Taste (Savory)- Fernie’s Hoppin’ John Cake with Jackpot Sauce; Best Taste (Sweet)- fried Arroz con Leche. 
We are in the 2nd week of Austin Restaurant Week(s), benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank. From August 16-September 3rd, some of the best restaurants in Austin offer set menus with a portion of the specially-set price going directly to the Food Bank. Now is the time to try that restaurant you’ve always wanted to eat at and feel good about it at the same time. 
Until the November 6th General Election. Take a look at the candidates on the ballot. Don’t forget to register by October 9th. Early voting will run October 22- November 2. 
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has appointed Toby Baker as its new executive director. Baker stepped down as a TCEQ Commissioner to accept the position. Governor Abbott has appointed Emily Lindley as the next commissioner. Lindley comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) where she served as chief of staff for Region Six. 
On September 1st, Ted Mitchell will take over as Chancellor for the Texas Tech University System. Mitchell is currently President of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. 
You may have passed the “We Rock” billboard for Nature’s Treasures on I-35, but have you ever stopped to visit? What you’ll find is a 7,000 sq. ft. showroom filled with crystals, fossils, gemstones, and jewels. Outside is a rock yard where you can sift through mounds of bulk rough rock and boulders. It’s an amateur geologist’s dream! 
On September 18th, Democrat Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) and Republican Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton) will face off in a special election runoff to fill the Texas Senate seat formerly held by Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio). Early voting runs September 10th – 14th. 
Former state Senator A.R. “Babe” Schwartz (D-Galveston) died Friday at the age of 92. Although he served in the 1960s and ‘70s, he remained a fixture at the Capitol as he continued to champion environmental and conservation causes. He and his stories will be missed. 
Looking for one more summer road trip? The Texas Film Commission has put together the Texas Film Trails project to guide film buffs around Texas sites featured in famous films. Self-guided trails include—Fear the Walking Dead Trail, Texas Classics Trail, and the Richard Linklater Trail. There is something for everyone. 
Once Captain Quackenbushes Intergalactic Dessert Company and Espresso Café was Austin’s first coffeehouse and located on The Drag. Now on 43rd Street and with an abbreviated name, Quack’s Bakery is still a local go to for sweet tooth satisfaction and caffeination. All bakery goods are baked on site and from scratch. “Meet me at Quack’s!” 
After a Teacher Retirement System vote to lower the expected rate of return on investments, Texas retired teachers are looking to lawmakers to make sure funding for the TRS pension fund is shored up. Without support from the Legislature, pension benefits and contribution rates could be decreased. 
Since 1895, Texas game wardens have been an integral part of law enforcement, including land, water, and air patrols; search and rescue missions; and other tactical operations, all while protecting Texas’ natural resources. We congratulate the newly commissioned class of Texas game wardens. 
Since 2011, Juiceland has served up refreshing juices and smoothies to Austinites. There are now dozens of locations to choose from, including a few in Houston, Dallas, and even Brooklyn, New York. What started as menu with only four smoothie options has expanded exponentially and includes vegan-friendly salads and wraps. 
State Sen. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston) has submitted her resignation letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, effective January 2, 2019. Garcia is essentially the rep-elect for U.S. Congressional District 29. In her letter she asks Governor Abbott to call a special election on November 6th, General Election Day, to fill her Senate seat. 
The Texas Legislative Council has always been a one stop shop for legislative research and information. It’s also the agency responsible for assisting legislators with drafting and analyzing proposed legislation. The TLC website has recently undergone an impressive renovation. Check it out! 
Recently, the Austin Fire Department responded to a different type of fire—one caused by the spontaneous combustion of tortilla chips. The factory recently changed its disposal method, grinding chips to powder and storing them in boxes outside. The 100+ degree temps caused the boxes to self-combust! 
With the crazy summer heat, being in the water is one of the only ways to enjoy being outside right now. The Barton Creek Greenbelt offers several places where you can access some of Austin’s best swimming spots. Some of these may take a little hiking to get to, but you’ll be rewarded with a refreshing dip in the water.