Austin - Page 33

February 18, 2022

As Austin homicides rise 19 cops are hit with felony charges, police officers furious: 'new war on cops'

Violent crime has been on the rise in the Texas capital since the early stages of the COVID pandemic, and accelerated when the Democrat-controlled city council voted unanimously to slash the Austin Police Department’s funding by about $150 million, or about a third of its budget in August 2020.

February 18, 2022

California bill to allow citizens to enforce gun ban modeled after Texas heartbeat bill draws Newsom's support

California Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed a Democratic proposal to allow citizens to sue their neighbors and businesses to enforce Golden State gun control – modeled after a Texas heartbeat bill that has been praised on the right and reviled by the left.

February 18, 2022

Texas grand jury indicts 19 police officers over protests in Austin

A Texas grand jury indicted 19 Austin police officers on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for their actions during 2020 protests over racial injustice that spread nationwide following the killing of George Floyd, according to people familiar with the matter.

February 17, 2022

Austin DA Garza creates confusion with announcement of impending indictments against multiple police officers

The district attorney in Austin, Texas has issued indictments against 19 Austin Police Department officers for their role in quelling a violent riot following the death of George Floyd in 2020.

February 16, 2022

Texas professor blasts faculty as they pass resolution promoting critical race theory: video

A finance professor at the University of Texas at Austin went viral this week after voicing his opposition to a school resolution to “defend academic freedom” by allowing the promotion of Critical Race Theory in classrooms.

February 12, 2022

Austin police academy graduate has U-haul with all his belongings stolen on first night in town

A recent graduate of the Austin Police Academy had his U-haul with all his belongings stolen immediately after moving to Austin.

February 12, 2022

Austin Water leader resigns after 4-day boil water notice caused by human error

Greg Meszaros, the head of Austin Water utility, has stepped down following a boil water notice mistakenly issued in the Texas capital for four days.

February 12, 2022

Austin DA launches over 20 grand jury cases against cops who responded during George Floyd riots

Travis County District Attorney Joe Garza has scheduled a grand jury to consider charging over twenty police officers for their response to violent riots in Austin following the death of George Floyd in 2020.

February 11, 2022

Austin city council members accuse police of antisemitism for tweet on crime, Soros DA donations

Members of the Austin City Council hurled accusations of antisemitism at the Texas city's police department after the local police officer union sounded the alarm about surging crime across the country and billionaire financier George Soros' donations to district attorney candidates.

February 9, 2022

Austin Police turn to artificial intelligence to help with 311 call backlog after defunding

Staffing shortages within the Austin Police Department continues to cause long wait times for customers calling for emergency help prompting the department to turn to artificial intelligence for help at call centers.