Austin, TX
APD Seeking Tips in Credit Card Fraud Case
The Austin Police Department is asking for community help in identifying a pair of individuals believed to be connected to fraudulent use of a vehicle burglary victim’s credit cards.
APD asked for help identifying the two individuals captured on security footage at the Walmart and Murphy Gas Station. According to the press release, the two suspects were recorded making unauthorized purchases at both stores after a vehicle burglary.
The victim’s vehicle was burglarized on the morning of Dec. 22 in the 300 block of Atlanta Street while the victim was jogging.
The two suspects were seen in a white, four-door sedan with extensive damage to the front left quarter panel. APD released photos of the vehicle and of the two men.
Anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program online or by calling 512-472-8477.
APD also offered a few safety tips to help residents avoid become victims of vehicle burglaries. The tips include:
- Make a habit out of locking the vehicle, even if you’re only leaving it for a short time.
- Hide or take any valuable items with you.
- When possible, park in well-lit and high-traffic areas.
- Use anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks, alarms, or GPS tracking devices.
- Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
There is evidence to suggest that popular parks and trails in Austin are often hot spots for car burglaries. In response, the department announced last year a coordinated initiative alongside the District Attorney’s Office, the County Attorney’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The effort was aimed at coordinating enforcement, prosecution, and prevention efforts. Contact the department’s Burglary Unit for more information.
Austin, TX
Judge Albright, who oversaw patent litigation boom in Texas, to resign
Austin, TX
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.
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.
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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Austin, TX
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)
AUSTIN, Texas – 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:
- 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.
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.
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.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and previous FOX Local reporting.
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