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Both presidential candidates to visit Texas Friday as Election Day looms

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Both presidential candidates to visit Texas Friday as Election Day looms


We’re now exactly two weeks away from Election Day and both Vice President Harris and Former President Trump will be making stops in Texas later this week.

Both will be here Friday, with Harris rallying with U.S. Senate Candidate Collin Allred in Houston and Trump visiting Austin to record an interview with Joe Rogan for his popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience.

Many experts believe seven states will decide who will win the bid for the White House. These are states where the presidential race is so close it’s unclear who will clench the electoral college votes needed to win. Texas is not one of those states, and while some believe the traditionally Red state can be flipped, one political expert I spoke with says either way, Texas is a powerful stage to reach voters in those battleground states.

Travis County GOP Chair Matt Macowiak says the announcement that presidential candidates Kamala Harris AND Donald Trump are coming to Texas is a bit surprising, given how close we are to the election.

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“Texas is not a state that either side is competing in at the presidential level,” Macowiak said. “These are the latest visits we’ve had in a very long time among nominees of either party. Generally, the presidential nominees come in Texas to raise money, and that’s about it.”

Travis County Democratic Chair Pooja Sethi is hopeful and believes it’s a sign the historically Republican state can still be flipped.

“People think Texas is not in play, Texas is in play,” Sethi said. “It’s always been in play, and we’ve always treated like it’s been in play.”

Rice University Political Scientist Dr. Mark Jones doesn’t hold the same belief but says Texas could help them reach the seven battleground states many experts believe will decide the election.

“They’re coming to use Texas as a platform to then send back their messages to the key battleground states, Harris on the issue of abortion rights and Trump via the podcast of Joe Rogan,” Jones said.

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Vice President Harris will be at the event in Houston that’ll be attended by women affected by the state’s restrictive abortion laws. She’ll be joined by Colin Allred who is challenging Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

“Texas was chosen specifically as an example of what she believes a Trump America would turn into, in regard to abortion rights,” Jones said.

Sethi says reproductive rights are an issue that resonates with voters on both sides of the aisle.

“That’s the country that Trump wants,” Sethi said. “Leave it to the state. Leave it to the state of Texas. We’ve had people die in the state of Texas or be near death.”

Former President Trump will be in Austin at the same time to appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast, which has more than 14.5 million followers on Spotify and more than 17.5 million followers on YouTube.

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“There are seven states that are in play, and they’re all on a knife’s edge where each candidate has a realistic prospect of winning in every one of them,” Jones said. “That means that the two candidates are going to be going all out in those battleground states.”

Macowiak thinks his appearance is a smart move, and hopes it will reach younger potential voters.

“Probably not people that have voted consistently in general elections,” Macowiak said. “If Trump can persuade them, he can win some of those votes over and that could be significant.”

Dr. Jones also expects some informal fundraising is likely to take place with both candidates, perhaps quick meetings with big donors and such. No other official campaign stops have been announced by either candidate, but Harris is scheduled to also record a podcast with Texas author Brene Brown.



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Austin, TX

Building cleared after non-credible bomb threat made in Downtown Austin

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Building cleared after non-credible bomb threat made in Downtown Austin


A Downtown Austin building was cleared after a bomb threat was made Saturday night.

Police say that the call came in at 9:38 p.m., after which officers arrived to the scene and cleared a nearby building at 311 E 6th St.

ALSO: H-E-B delights Austin airport travelers with surprise gift vending machine pop-up

The threat was found to not be credible, and no one was injured.

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Police say no one is in custody and they will be clearing the scene shortly.



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Austin, TX

The richest small town in Texas tops our most popular Austin stories

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The richest small town in Texas tops our most popular Austin stories


Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson held a press conference Friday to discuss a new deal with Southwest Airlines and its expected impact on the city.

The deal, approved Thursday by the Austin City Council, awards Southwest $2,750 for each new Austin-based hire over the next five years. In exchange, the airline plans to add 2,000 high-paying jobs with an average salary of $180,000 and invest in local workforce initiatives, including the city’s new Austin Infrastructure Academy.

Officials say the deal will strengthen Southwest’s presence at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where the carrier already handles more than 40 percent of all passenger traffic.

The partnership is expected to bring in nearly $20 million in local tax revenue, and the incentive program will last for five years and pay Southwest up to $5.5 million.

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Mayor Watson said the agreement will not only create new jobs in Austin but will improve the overall experience at AUS.

“We’re building lives and careers at the same time we’re building tarmacs and terminals,” Watson said. “Southwest is choosing Austin because our people, our workforce, and our future make us a smart investment. This deal creates thousands of good-paying jobs, improves the passenger experience, and ensures the benefits flow directly to Austin workers, families, and tourists. This agreement is proof that Austin means business and cares about the success of its people.”

Read the full story at KVUE.com.



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Austin, TX

Austin, TX, Proves It’s a Ski Town at Ikon Pass Stoke Night – SnowBrains

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Austin, TX, Proves It’s a Ski Town at Ikon Pass Stoke Night – SnowBrains


Austin Loro Stoke
Austin skier Ricky Stillwell and his son are stoked to be heading to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Alyeska this coming season. | Photo: Bob Witowski

You might ask, “Why is there an Ikon Pass Stoke Event in Austin, Texas?” 

Fact: There are more skiers and snowboarders in Texas than in Colorado. According to a 2017 Snowsports Industry Association study, Texas is home to roughly 800,000 skiers and riders, compared to Colorado’s 500,000. That impressive number puts Texas third in the nation for total ski and snowboard participants, behind only California and New York. Texans alone make up about 6% of all U.S. ski and snowboarders. And the proof is on the slopes: Ski areas in Colorado and New Mexico report that a staggering 70% of their out-of-state visitors hail from the Lone Star State. Yes—the legend of Texans being everywhere on the mountain is absolutely true.

Fact: Every Texan who skis is a destination skier. With no local ski resorts that are a quick Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake City or short interstate drive away, Texans go big: they travel, stay longer, and spend more at Ikon Pass Destinations. As Kristin Rust, Vice President of Communications for Alterra Mountain Company, puts it, “Texas is a huge market, and Austin has a great number of pass holders.” With Ikon Pass offering such a wide network of resorts, and Texas home to so many skiers, Austin is a natural place for a Stoke Event.

This year’s Ikon Pass Stoke Event took place at Loro, the wildly popular South Lamar hangout blending Asian smokehouse flavors with laid-back Austin vibes. The gathering drew a lively crowd of local Ikon Pass holders. Guests enjoyed a spread of standout dishes—Oak-Grilled Edamame, Wonton Chips and Dip, Arugula & Melon Salad, and Oak-Smoked Brisket—paired with beer, wine, soft drinks, and Austin-meets-après cocktails like an Old Fashioned and, of course, the non-traditional slope-side margarita, a playful nod to Jimmy Buffett and the city where Margaritaville was written.

Austin Loro StokeAustin Loro Stoke
Adam, Kailee, and Darius leaning into the Austin ski vibe and good times at Loro in Austin. | Photo: Bob Witowski

Attendance was strong, and the outdoor, under-the-oaks setting added an easy, welcoming feel. The energy was high as skiers swapped plans for upcoming trips to Ikon Pass destinations including SkiBig3 in Banff, Jackson Hole, Killington, the six Utah resorts on the pass, and the perennial “home resorts” for Texans—those in Colorado and New Mexico. Members of Austin Skiers, the city’s long-standing ski and travel club, were out in force and buzzing about club trips to the Ikon Pass resorts of Snowmass, Mt. Bachelor, SkiBig3, and Steamboat.

Austin Loro Ikon Pass StokeAustin Loro Ikon Pass Stoke
Austin Skiers—Joyce, Ann, Crystal, Bob, Susie, and Stuart—are buzzing with excitement as they get ready to chase fresh snow at their favorite Ikon Pass destinations this season. | Photo: Bob Witowski

A major hit of the night was the CMH Heli-Skiing virtual-reality experience, a full 3D immersion complete with helicopter-ride visuals of the Canadian Rockies and a run down untouched powder with a small ski group. Riders found themselves carving turns, watching skiers float past, and looking up, down, and across the alpine terrain—an astonishingly vivid taste of what a heli-ski trip feels like. The CMH station stayed packed all evening.

Austin Loro StokeAustin Loro Stoke
CMH Heli Skiing’s Virtual Reality experience amped up the stoke and had everyone dreaming of deep turns this season. | Photo: CMH Heli Skiing, Fox Wang

The night wrapped up with a spirited swag giveaway, where lucky attendees scored prizes including Yeti mugs, a coveted Shot-Ski, and an Ikon Pass. What a great way to top off a fantastic night!

In the end, the Ikon Pass Stoke Event proved to be a fantastic celebration of Austin’s vibrant ski community—a chance to meet fellow snow lovers, swap stories, and get excited about the season ahead. For one night, Austin truly became a “Ski Town.”

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