A tornado warning has been issued for San Marcos, Kyle, Redwood, Austin and parts of the Hays County in Texas on Thursday. The National Weather Service (NWS) has asked residents to take shelter as soon as possible. A massive twister along – along with hail storms – is expected in the area.

The National Weather Service (NWS) Fort Worth, Texas, issued a tornado watch at 1:37 p.m. CDT on Thursday. Named event number 221, the watch remains in effect until 9 PM CDT this evening for five counties in west central Texas: Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard and San Saba. This includes several cities such as Brady, Junction and Mason.

Thursday afternoon into early evening is expected to see widely scattered to scattered thunderstorms, with the potential for intense supercells capable of large to giant hail and severe gusts. The tornado risk may concentrate along a west to east wind shift in north-central Texas. Later, these storms could coalesce into a severe cluster with significant hail and wind hazards.

AUSTIN, Texas — A foundation formed 28 years ago to attract a higher education center to the city of Taylor, just northeast of Austin, has given The University of Texas at Austin a 68-acre tract that will be developed into The University of Texas at Austin – Taylor Center. The property is situated near Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s new 6 million-square-foot chip fabrication plant and will catalyze the region’s growth as a national leader in the semiconductor supply chain.

“Advancing innovation, growing education and cultivating leadership in the semiconductor space is a major area of focus for The University of Texas, and we are excited to have a presence in the burgeoning Taylor community and the opportunity to further shape the expanding footprint of the semiconductor ecosystem in Central Texas,” said President Jay Hartzell. “We are grateful to the Temple College at Taylor Foundation for welcoming UT into its vision for educational and economic opportunity in the region and to the City of Taylor for its commitment to supporting one of the nation’s most critical needs.”

The undeveloped land, adjacent to Taylor High School on U.S. Highway 79, is a gift from the Temple College at Taylor Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Taylor residents to provide higher education in the city. Its proximity to Samsung’s new $17 billion facility makes it a natural fit for UT initiatives such as the Texas Institute for Electronics (TIE), which is considering use of the site for training and research with semiconductor partners.

UT has a rich history as a leader in America’s semiconductor industry dating back to the formation of Sematech in the 1980s. The Texas Legislature has invested $552 million in TIE to better position the region to compete for federal CHIPS Act funding. TIE is using some of the state funds to refurbish existing fabrication plants at the original Sematech site on Montopolis Drive and at UT’s J.J. Pickle Research Campus on Burnet Road.

“The Temple College at Taylor Foundation has embraced a thoughtful evolution of ideas that culminated in the establishment of The University of Texas at Austin – Taylor Center,” said James Bartosh, president of the foundation and a UT alumnus. “UT’s and Samsung’s investments in Taylor will result in the advancement of education, research and quality of life in Central Texas.”

UT will work with Taylor community and industry partners to determine the highest-impact uses of the Taylor Center to grow and support Central Texas’ semiconductor workforce and supply chain. The University has assembled a site task force and is interviewing leaders across campus to determine which programs would be best fits for the new Taylor Center.

“The City of Taylor is thrilled to welcome The University of Texas at Austin,” said Mayor Brandt Rydell. “UT’s presence in our vibrant, growing community will provide even more opportunities for future generations and help solidify the city’s place as a center for progress and enrichment in Williamson County and the state of Texas.”

“If UT can change the world with Forty Acres, one can only imagine the impact the University can make with our gift of 68 acres,” said Louis Hughes, a board member of the foundation and UT alumnus.

AUSTIN — Despite much anticipation, the Dallas Cowboys missed out on selecting Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks in the 2024 NFL Draft, but one former Longhorn still managed to land with America’s Team in an under-the-radar move. 

Former Texas linebacker Byron Vaughns wasn’t selected in the 2024 NFL Draft in April, but the Cowboys have signed him as one of 12 undrafted free agents for the team’s rookie minicamp.

Vaughns was a three-star recruit out of Fort Worth for the Longhorns and former coach Tom Herman in the 2018 class. He spent two years in Austin, posting 14 total tackles and a forced fumble, but entered the transfer portal in 2020 and took his talents to Utah State. 

The move to Utah State proved to be a beneficial one. Vaughns’ numbers increased during his two years with the Aggies, which was highlighted by a 2021 season in which he posted 4.5 sacks and six passes defended. 

He then came back to his home state to play for the Baylor Bears this past season. He finished the year with 30 total tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and one pass defended. Vaughns faced off against his former team in Big 12 play this past September, but No. 3 Texas walloped Baylor in a 38-6 win in Waco. He had one total tackle in the loss.