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City Warns Austin Residents to Beware of Toxic Algae in Public Waterways

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City Warns Austin Residents to Beware of Toxic Algae in Public Waterways


As spring approaches, the City of Austin is reminding residents to be extra careful around local waterways due to the presence of blue-green algae mats that may be toxic.

Austin Watershed Protection staff observed the algae in Austin’s lakes and creeks over the winter, according to a Tuesday press release. The mats look like dark blobs floating on the water surface and can sometimes mix in with other types of algae.

Upcoming spring weather conditions will be more favorable to the algae, and the Watershed Protection department expects to see more buildup in local waterways. Residents should avoid contact with the algae and take the following precautions before entering water.

Before You Enter Public Waterways

  • Look for algae along the shoreline.
  • Watch for stagnant, warm, or murky water.
  • Don’t enter the water if there is scum, surface film, or visible algae.
  • Avoid water altogether if there has been rain in the past three days.

After Entering Public Waterways

  • Don’t drink water from any natural water bodies.
  • Avoid contact with algae.
  • Rinse skin and animal fur thoroughly after contact with water.
  • Don’t allow dogs to lick their fur before rinsing.

Of course, accidents happen. If you or your pet experiences sudden and unexplained illness after swimming, immediately contact your medical provider or a veterinarian. Residents are highly encouraged to report suspected human or animal illnesses related to algae using the city’s online reporting form.

Residents should note that there is always some level of risk when spending time in public waterways. Natural water bodies contain algae, bacteria, parasites, and other hazards. The Watershed Protection department monitors water quality in the city’s lakes and creeks to understand how the urban environment affects our water bodies, but it does not regularly test for recreational use.

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Judge Albright, who oversaw patent litigation boom in Texas, to resign

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Judge Albright, who oversaw patent litigation boom in Texas, to resign


U.S. District Judge Alan Albright, who before relocating to Austin, Texas, last year helped transform a tiny courthouse in Waco into a hub for much of the patent litigation in the United States, ​plans to resign, a person familiar with the matter said.



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Appeals court rules Texas can require public schools to display Ten Commandments in class

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Appeals court rules Texas can require public schools to display Ten Commandments in class


DALLAS (AP) — Texas can require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, a U.S. appeals court ruled Tuesday in a victory for conservatives who have long sought to incorporate more religion into schools.

WATCH: Texas school board approves new course material that includes Bible passages

It sets up a potential clash at the U.S. Supreme Court over the issue in the future.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals said in the decision that the law did not violate the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom and prevents the government from establishing a religion.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, called the ruling “a major victory for Texas and our moral values.”

“The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our nation, and it’s important that students learn from them every single day,” Paxton said.

Organizations representing the families who challenged the law, including the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement that they were “extremely disappointed” by the decision.

“The court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority. The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights,” the statement said.

The law is among the pushes by Republicans, including President Donald Trump, to incorporate religion into public schools. Critics say it violates the separation of church and state while backers argue that the Ten Commandments are historical and part of the foundation of U.S. law.

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The ruling, which reverses a district court’s judgment, comes after the full court heard arguments in January in the Texas case and a similar case in Louisiana. The appeals court in February cleared the way for Louisiana’s law, requiring displays of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 12-6 to lift a block that a lower court first placed on the law in 2024.

Texas law took effect on Sept. 1, marking the largest attempt in the nation to hang the Ten Commandments in public schools. About two dozen school districts had been barred from posting them after federal judges issued injunctions in two cases against the law but went up in many classrooms across the state as districts paid to have the posters printed themselves or accepted donations.

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Texas DMV launches authorization system for automated commercial vehicles

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Texas DMV launches authorization system for automated commercial vehicles


Waymo self-driving car navigating city traffic, San Francisco, California, August 20, 2024. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is launching a new authorization system for companies looking to operate automated motor vehicles.

A new goes into effect next month that requires companies using automated vehicles to be authorized by TxDMV with the following requirements:

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  • Complies with all applicable Texas traffic and motor vehicle laws
  • Is equipped with a recording device
  • Uses an automated driving system that complies with federal law
  • Can achieve minimal risk condition in the event of a system failure
  • Has a proper title and registration
  • Maintains motor vehicle insurance

The process allows companies to submit their applications online through the Texas Motor Carrier Credentialing System.

The new laws outlined in Senate Bill 2807 go into effect on May 28.

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Automated vehicles in Texas

The backstory:

Autonomous driving services are already operating in major Texas cities. Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio are all serviced by the driverless ride-share company Waymo.

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In Austin, the service has received dozens of complaints about vehicles stalling, speeding and crashing.

There have also been complaints of vehicles illegally passing school buses.

In March, Swedish company Einride announced plans to bring autonomous freight trucks to Central Texas.

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The Source: Information in this article comes from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and previous FOX Local reporting.

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