Austin, TX
Austin flights delayed after FAA staffing shortage triggers ground stop
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport hit another snag Monday as the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop, halting departures and delaying arrivals amid a nationwide squeeze on air traffic control staffing caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The order, lifted around 4 p.m., gave way to a ground delay program expected to continue until 7 p.m., with inbound flights averaging 39-minute delays and some waiting up to 90 minutes before takeoff.
It’s at least the third time in two weeks Austin travelers have felt the pinch. Similar slowdowns snarled flights on Oct. 13 and again Oct. 19, when Formula 1 race crowds flooded the city.
Austin’s control tower, already operating with fewer than half the controllers the FAA says it needs, is not alone. Airports across the country have been hit by rolling slowdowns as unpaid controllers—required to report for duty but now weeks without paychecks—struggle to keep the system running safely.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News on Saturday that “things will only get worse” if the shutdown continues, warning that controller fatigue and financial strain are compounding delays coast to coast.
The FAA acknowledged the ongoing issues in an out-of-office auto-reply email the American-Statesman received in response to a request for comment.
“There have been increased staffing shortages across the system,” the message said. “When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations. For real-time flight impacts at U.S. airports due to staffing, weather, or other factors, please visit www.fly.faa.gov.”
Local officials tried to keep things upbeat. The Austin airport told the Statesman the facility “has not experienced significant delays to the customer experience since the government shutdown began,” but urged travelers to arrive early and “keep an eye on flight status” as holiday season chaos looms.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man walking his dog with his son was fatally shot by a neighbor Friday evening in Northwest Austin, police said.
Billy Carlisle, 41, was shot at the intersection of Gardenridge Hollow and Wallace Drive at approximately 6:06 p.m. May 8. Austin-Travis County EMS attempted lifesaving measures, but Carlisle was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m.
Hunter Buchmeyer, 36, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
According to APD, Carlisle was walking his dog with his son when he and Buchmeyer, also walking his dog, got into a verbal altercation. The two neighbors had “prior history,” APD said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | APD investigating deadly shooting in NW Austin; suspect in custody
The dispute escalated to the point that Buchmeyer called 911 to report the altercation before shooting Carlisle. According to police, Buchmeyer yelled at someone to “get back” before the call disconnected.
Buchmeyer remained at the scene and attempted CPR on Carlisle before officers arrived.
No charges have been filed. APD said the investigation remains open.
The case is being investigated as Austin’s 23rd homicide of 2026.
Anyone with information is asked to contact APD at 512-974-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip through Capital Area Crime Stoppers at austincrimestoppers.org or 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest.
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.
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.”
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.
3:51 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Mason, San Saba, and Lampasas County until 9:00 p.m.
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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