The Austin Daily Drop

U.S. Representative Chip Roy , whose district 21 includes gerrymandered chunks of Austin, is considering a run for the chair of the House GOP Conference, following the ouster of Wyoming's Liz Cheney. Austin's camping ban is back in place but so are encampments - the city is taking a gradual, phased approach to enforcement. Travis County DA Jose Garcia announces a firearm surrender policy as a requ...

The UT sports and Westlake communities mourn Texas football player Jake Ehlinger , who has died at 20. The Texas Legislature presses forward on bills related to voter access restrictions , abortion restrictions and punishment for Texas cities that cut policing budgets , while a state lawmaker who has been vaccinated since February tests positive for COVID . Prop B's passage has the City of Austin...

Our weekly survey of the re-awakening of the Live Music Capital of the World finds worthy action from Robert Earl Keen, Gina Chavez, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sun June, Kevin Fowler, a rescheduled Bob Schneider gig, Dale Watson, Sir Woman, Clint Black, two New Orleans acts and a fun day-show benefit for local farmers. Be sure to fire up our playlist Incoming! to explore and immerse yourself in the sounds...

Busy and controversial times at the Texas Legislature as bills allowing permitless carrying of handguns , limiting abortion access and banning public camping statewide make progress towards law. A bill that would have handicapped Austin's ability to regulate loud, late-night sound from live music venues effectively dies in the House . Two 17-year-old accused murderers are loose in Austin after hav...

Happy Cinco de Mayo ! Lots of news from the Legislature: a Senate-approved bill targeting transgender student athletes in Texas stalls in committee . Another broadside from corporations against new laws limiting voting access arrives. Faith leaders and Texas doctors weigh in against new laws limiting abortion access . The Texas House overwhelmingly votes in favor of dropping the "law of parties" i...

Resolution of yesterday's Amber Alert as 4-year-old Wyatt Crowley is found safe , and his father Joshua Crowley is arrested for a Sunday morning shooting in Burton. City officials scramble for solutions as the restored ban on public homeless encampments is one week from returning, while neighbors of the Candlewood Suites hotel in Williamson County continue their opposition to a City of Austin home...

BREAKING: an Amber Alert has been issued for four-year-old Wyatt Crowley. Brown hair, brown eyes, last seen wearing a Spider-Man shirt. Wyatt was last seen with his father Joshua Crowley who was driving a black 2011 Mazda MZ3, license number 737-763-C. Saturday's high-turnout election sees the passage of Prop B, which will restore the ban on public camping lifted in 2019 next Tuesday, May 11. Also...

Lots of action at the Capitol yesterday: allegations of a date-rape drugging are found short of criminal charges by investigators. "Constitutional Carry" legislation continues progress thru the Senate . Two marijuana-decriminalization bills also continue making progress . And the Texas House lifts the requirement for indoor masking in its chambers, which critics say they'd been ignoring anyway. Lo...

Welcome to the FIRST of our weekly bonus episodes covering the best live music options in Austin over the next week, plus a heads-up on tickets for future shows going on sale tomorrow, Friday April 30th. These bonus episodes will be posted each Thursday, after the regular Austin Daily Drop. Plus, check out our weekly-updated playlist, Incoming! It features about three hours of music from the artis...

Austin hits high turnout marks during early voting on those eight municipal propositions - one day left to vote, Election Day on Saturday May 1. Austin Police Department Interim Chief Joe Chacon will join other law enforcement leaders across Texas this morning to discuss pending "Constitutional Carry" legislation. The State has released most of that large Federal stimulus outlay for schools , but...

Body camera video of a January APD-involved shooting death is to be made public today . Governor Greg Abbott pledges to sign "Constitutional Carry" legislation into law should it make his desk. Another bill targeting transgender youth in Texas appears likely to clear the Senate this week. The last day of early voting in the current municipal election sees a major turnout spike . Austin Public Heal...

The release of new U.S. Census data results in a gain of two seats for Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives - the biggest gain for any state in the nation. Death row inmate Rodney Reed's appeal hearing is rescheduled for July. Travis and Williamson Counties continue widening their distribution of vaccine opportunities, scaling back mass-vax projects in favor of clinics and pharmacies. A Lake...

An allegation of a date-rape drugging of a Texas State Capitol staffer by a lobbyist has led to outrage and investigations . U.S. Rep Lloyd Doggett (D-35) leads an effort to persuade Governor Greg Abbott to release federal funds granted weeks back to support school districts and students statewide, which have been withheld by State officials . Williamson County officials and homeowners protest the...

Austin City Council votes to continue reallocating municipal functions (and their funding) from the Austin Police Department to other City entities. Major long-term traffic woes - four months worth - can be expected in north Austin as the flyover from NB IH-35 to NB 183 is set to be demolished on Sunday night. Four Austin men are arrested and charged in a February murder. Two registration-optional...

Earth Day 2021 sees celebrations of nature and environmental protection around the city, and a new report on Texas' explosive growth in solar energy capacity - unfortunately, it also sees the beginning of a major effort to clear vegetation killed in the February winter freeze , including as many as 90% of Austin's palm trees. A new federal lawsuit accuses former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Ch...

The conviction of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd could have significant local implications . Vaccines keep getting easier to find, with Austin Public Health extending registration hours to almost 24/7 and offering two walk-up vaccination opportunities in East Austin tomorrow and Friday - Williamson County is also soon to shut down its mass-vaccination centers. 4/20 yesterday saw a push...

The victims of Sunday's triple murder in north Austin are identified, and the Elgin community is shaken to its core. Good pandemic news on vaccine availability and the continued push towards herd immunity - not so good news as Texas A&M identifies an anti-body resistant variant . The Texas Competes business coalition warns lawmakers at the Capitol against new laws targeting LGBTQ Texans , whil...

BREAKING: Law enforcement has captured fugitive Stephen Nicholas Broderick , who is suspected of killing three people in the Arboretum area yesterday. Early voting begins in a local election on eight city policy propositions, including a possible reinstatement of Austin's public camping ban . Austin FC makes its official MLS debut , marking the dawn of a new era in Austin sports. Matthew McConaugh...

Local and federal law enforcement agencies continue their search for fugitive Stephen Nicholas Broderick , who is suspected of killing three people in the Arboretum area yesterday. Early voting begins in a local election on eight city policy propositions, including a possible reinstatement of Austin's public camping ban . Austin FC makes its official MLS debut , marking the dawn of a new era in Au...

As the post-pandemic boom starts booming, the clearest sign of recovery in Austin is our insane real-estate market, which heavily favors sellers right now. At the Texas Legislature, progress for bills concerning the open carrying of firearms , abortion restrictions , law enforcement partnerships with reality TV productions , and the option for the owners of ritzy Lake Austin shoreline properties t...

Austin Public Health will release vaccine appointments tonight at 6 - considering Monday's 10,000 appointment shortfall, it should be easy to get on the schedule - APH is also putting on a special session on Monday for Austin musicians and service industry pros (the access code is "atxmusic"). The ongoing Johnson & Johnson pause is disproportionately impacting vulnerable Texas populations. Aft...

Texas gets an uncomfortable reminder of the February winter energy disaster in the form of a springtime power shortage alert from ERCOT . Austin Public Health ends up with over 10,000 leftover vaccination appointments on Monday, leading to calls for changes to our local distribution model. A Round Rock ISD trustee suggests relaxing masking requirements for students on campus. A new map of Austin-a...

FDA and CDC call for a pause in use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID vaccine after severe side effects show up in six women. Corporations and the NCAA speak up against pending Texas legislation concerning voting rights and transgender students . Texas lawmakers are also working on a bill that would allow businesses to deny paid sick leave to workers , and another that would ban public camping acro...

Austin Public Health expands eligibility for vaccines to all Austin residents 18 and older. The decline in local COVID statistics is beginning to slow as experts predict a good chance for another spike , while stats related to hospitalizations and deaths continue to improve - get your shots, and don't be afraid of the side effects . A weekend wildfire in the Bastrop area was scary but is now large...

Gun violence dominates the news cycle this Friday: an overnight APD-involved shooting wounds an officer and a suspect, Governor Greg Abbott decries Federal efforts to regulate guns and offers prayers for Bryan mass shooting victims within an hour, and interim APD Chief Joe Chacon announces new Federal cooperation on Austin gun violence cases. Bloomberg opines on Austin's explosive tech growth - an...