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What Austin is talking about
public safety
An ICE agent shot Wilber Rafael Garcés-Pérez during a Sept. 20 traffic-stop encounter in North Austin; local officials said he was hospitalized in serious but stable condition, and DHS said he was in federal custody pending removal. On Oct. 15, Democratic members of Congress held an informal or “shadow” field hearing in Austin on ICE shootings and detention conditions in Texas, with Garcés-Pérez’s case a central focus. The hearing was not an official committee proceeding and did not determine legal responsibility for the shooting.
via kvue.com·2d agoDetails →
elections
Austin’s general municipal election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, alongside the statewide general election. Five single-member City Council seats—Districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9—will be on the ballot. City voters will also decide two general-obligation bond propositions totaling $295 million and eight proposed City Charter amendments, labeled Propositions C through J.
via austintexas.gov·2d agoDetails →
government
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has set the 2027 annual cost-of-living adjustment at 3.6%, calculated from the change in the CPI-W between the third quarters of 2025 and 2026. The adjustment applies to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income payments, though their first increased payment dates differ. SSA says the COLA affects about 76 million Americans, including nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries.
via ssa.gov·2d agoDetails →
education
Del Valle ISD, a roughly 12,000-student district in the Austin area, appointed Matthew Gutierrez superintendent in October 2024. The district says Gutierrez is leaving to join the Region 4 Education Service Center in Houston, which supports public education across eight counties. The board has not yet announced a successor or detailed transition plan.
via dvisd.net·2d agoDetails →
aviation
Southwest Airlines is pursuing a more premium strategy while retaining its distinct brand identity, after recent moves away from open seating and free checked bags. The Dallas-based carrier is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s dominant airline, carrying more than 40% of the airport’s traffic, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Its newly named Icon Lounge network is planned to begin with locations in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville in late 2027.
via statesman.com·2d agoDetails →
weather
Severe storms and flash flooding beginning July 14, 2026, prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a Texas disaster declaration that initially covered 59 counties. The declared area later encompassed 62 counties, while FEMA approved a major disaster declaration for 23 counties on September 1. On October 15, Abbott asked the U.S. Treasury Department for federal tax relief for taxpayers throughout the 62-county state-declared area.
via gov.texas.gov·2d agoDetails →
government
Lions Municipal Golf Course, known as Muny, sits on University of Texas-owned land along Lady Bird Lake but has been operated by the City of Austin since 1937. The historic course opened in 1924 and became the first public golf course in the South to desegregate in 1950; it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a civil-rights landmark. The proposed deal is part of amendments to the 1989 Brackenridge Development Agreement governing UT-owned property around Lake Austin Boulevard.