News from the South - Texas News Feed
‘Throwing stones’: Lawmaker behind District of Austin bill challenged in hearing
SUMMARY: Texas lawmakers recently discussed House Bill 274, proposed by Rep. Briscoe Cain, which would turn Austin into the “District of Austin,” removing its local governing authority. Cain argued that the bill was needed due to rising crime, citing the city’s leadership decisions. However, several committee members, including Rep. Rafael Anchía, challenged his claims, pointing out that crime rates in other cities, including Cain’s district, were comparable. Data showed that Austin’s violent crime had risen 26% from 2019-2023 but decreased by 7% between 2022-2023. The City of Austin opposed the bill, citing economic growth and lower violent crime compared to other major Texas cities.
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News from the South - Texas News Feed
MAP: Where have Austin's homicides occurred in 2025?
SUMMARY: KXAN is tracking Austin homicides in 2025, with 41 reported by August 11. In comparison, 72 homicides occurred in 2024, 75 in 2023, 71 in 2022, and a record 90 in 2021. Data visualizations show trends over the years and monthly breakdowns for 2025. The report includes an interactive map pinpointing homicide locations with incident details. Monthly summaries highlight specific cases, arrests, and investigations, such as deadly shootings, road rage incidents, and murder-suicides. Authorities have made multiple arrests throughout the year. The KXAN Data Hub offers continuously updated, data-driven coverage on this and other Texas topics.
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News from the South - Texas News Feed
Grand Jury records from Epstein case to remain sealed
SUMMARY: A Manhattan judge denied the DOJ’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein’s co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell’s child sex trafficking case. Judge Paul Engelmayer ruled that releasing the records would undermine confidence in the legal process, dismissing DOJ claims that it would reveal new information as “demonstrably false.” The decision occurs amid tension among some Trump supporters upset with the DOJ investigation, while Democrats accuse Trump of using the issue to distract from political fallout. Trump had previously vowed transparency, blaming Democrats for covering up details, but the records remain sealed for now.
A Manhattan judge denied a request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the case against Jeffrey Epstein’s child sex trafficking …
News from the South - Texas News Feed
Israel targets and kills Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in Gaza as journalist toll grows
SUMMARY: Israel’s military killed Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and others in a Gaza airstrike, confirmed by Gaza hospital officials. Israel accused al-Sharif of leading a Hamas cell, allegations Al Jazeera denies, calling the strike a “targeted assassination.” The strike also killed Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Qreiqeh and four other journalists sheltering near Gaza’s largest hospital. This incident follows an intensified Israeli smear campaign against journalists documenting the war, including prior accusations against other Al Jazeera staff. The UN condemned the strike as a grave breach of international law. The Committee to Protect Journalists states at least 186 journalists have died in Gaza, marking this conflict as the deadliest for reporters.
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