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Austin among best cities to celebrate Valentine’s Day, study says

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Austin among best cities to celebrate Valentine’s Day, study says


AUSTIN, Texas — When it comes to the day of love, one Texas city outshines the rest. In a study by WalletHub, Austin landed in the top 20 best cities to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The capital city took the No. 12 spot on WalletHub’s list of the 100 largest U.S. cities. Each one was ranked based on budget, activities, gift accessibility and weather forecast.

Cities were also judged on more specific metrics, including the most affordable cities to get a three-course dinner for two. Texas dominated the list with two cities in the top 5 — Garland at No. 2 and Plano at No. 5. On the other end of that, a few Texas cities landed in the bottom for having the least amount of florists and chocolate shops per capita.

According to WalletHub, Americans are expected to spend $29.1 billion on gifts for that special someone this year, with the average person dropping $200 for the holiday. But having a memorable day doesn’t have to break the bank.

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WalletHub has these tips for those who are looking for cost-effective ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day:

  • Planning a homemade dinner date
  • Giving personalized DIY gifts
  • Exploring free or low-cost activities like picnics in the park, nature walks or stargazing
  • Setting a budget and sticking to it
  • Planning ahead for discounts and deals

“It’s common to spoil your partner on Valentine’s Day, but inflation can certainly put a damper on those plans. Fortunately, the best cities for Valentine’s Day offer a wide variety of affordable date activities, food options and places to buy gifts, so you can show that you care without breaking the bank. It’s never a good idea to go into debt just to enjoy a holiday or give a gift,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.



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Antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island fell by half in 2025, ADL says

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Antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island fell by half in 2025, ADL says


There was a significant reduction in the number of antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island in 2025, according to a national Jewish advocacy group.

According to the Anti-Defamation League’s latest Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, there were 26 antisemitic incidents in the state last year. That’s down from the 52 incidents counted by the group in 2024.

Samantha Joseph, New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, says a big reason for the reduction is a steep decline in antisemitism on college campuses.

“It shows that campus administrators are taking their responsibilities very seriously to provide a safe environment for all of their students,” said Joseph.

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Brown University had over $500 million in federal funding frozen by the Trump administration last year following investigations into alleged antisemitism on campus. The funding was restored after Brown reached a settlement with the administration.

The reduction in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island reflects a wider trend in New England as a whole. According to the ADL’s report, there were 400 antisemitic incidents in the region in 2025, compared to 638 the previous year.

While she’s pleased about the overall drop in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island, Joseph says a number of concerning trends continue to persist. In particular, the state is still seeing more anti-Jewish incidents than it did prior to the October 7 attacks on Israel that launched the Gaza War in 2023.

Joseph is also concerned about the violent nature of local incidents of antisemitism.

“Even though overall incidents are down, assaults are up and assaults with a deadly weapon are up significantly,” said Joseph. “Our communities remain concerned for their safety, and our work is far from done.”

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Live blog: Severe thunderstorms possible in Central Texas

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Live blog: Severe thunderstorms possible in Central Texas


AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday evening as a cold front arrives in Central Texas. KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team will keep you updated on the weather coverage.

Risks to be aware of are damaging wind gusts that could reach as high as 60 to 75 mph and large hail up to quarter size.

Weather Resources:

Live Updates:

5:22 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued for all counties except for Milam County.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

3:51 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Mason, San Saba, and Lampasas County until 9:00 p.m.

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Storm Prediction Center- level 3/5 Enhanced risk for parts of Central Texas
Storm Prediction Center- level 3/5 Enhanced risk for parts of Central Texas

3:30 p.m.: The primary risk for Sunday’s severe weather is damaging wind gusts which could cause power outages.

3:26 p.m.: Storms will likely move toward the I-35 corridor around 6 p.m. Most of the storms will enter the Hill Country around 6 p.m. and the Austin metro counties after 8 p.m.





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Letter to the editor from Texas emeritus professor on Dell donation

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Letter to the editor from Texas emeritus professor on Dell donation


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Money and rankings don’t make a great university. Providing opportunities for disadvantaged students and protecting academic freedom, however, do.

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Case in point: Michael and Susan Dell recently surpassed $1 billion in giving to the University of Texas at Austin, launching a plan to build a new medical center and advanced research campus in north Austin.

To be sure, this is a magnanimous gift that will fund important initiatives. While enormously grateful for this contribution, I am disappointed that this gift was not accompanied with a strong message from Michael Dell admonishing the University for gutting DEI and infringing upon academic freedom.

As a colleague of mine astutely observed: “Good luck recruiting doctors and med students. The attacks on DEI and political climates will mean a lot more than rankings and money long-term.”

UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife, referencing the Dell gift, is right: “We are transforming this site into a new campus the world has never seen before.” Yes, never seen, but in a very negative and dangerous way!

Last week, I received a message from the Texas Exes: “This is your last chance to show your support during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres, UT Austin’s Texas-sized fundraising event. Can we count on you?”

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My answer: “No, absolutely not. I won’t give one dime to a university that no longer is committed to diversity and preserving academic freedom.”

Having proudly taught at UT for 41 years, I am sad to say this.

– Richard Cherwitz, Ph.D. is the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor Emeritus, Moody College of Communication and Founding Director, Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium (IE) at The University of Texas at Austin.

How to share a letter to the editor

Want to share your voice in the A-J? We’d love for you to contribute to the thoughtful and civil conversation. Please send us a letter to the editor by emailing us at newmedia@lubbockonline.com or through mail: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 710 Avenue J, Lubbock, TX 79401. Please keep submissions to around 250 words or less.

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