Austin, TX
Austin Pets Alive Urgently Sought Support for Foster Placements. Then Community Members Emptied the Shelter
Austin Pets Alive urgently sought willing participants to temporarily foster animals ahead of the winter freeze. Then, the community came together in an unprecedented move that resulted in Austin’s Pets Alive being relatively empty by Friday.
Nick Johnson (@nickjdogg), a TikTok content creator and advocate who works with the organization, posted multiple videos on Jan. 22, which urged Austinites to consider taking on a dog during the new Texas freeze. Johnson said, “If Ted Cruz can escape to Laguna Beach, then you can help a dog…escape the shelter for a weekend.”
Johnson’s videos hit a large audience. Within a manner of hours, thousands saw a post, which as of Jan. 23, has over 15,300 views. Then, various community members offered their homes as temporary or long term placements for dogs found across the city. In later statements, Austin Pets Alive’s social media team stated, “We’ve never had this few animals on site. Our hearts are exploding. You showed up. You waited in lines. You opened your hearts and your homes to keep pets safe and warm.”
How Can Austinites Still Help Austin Pets Alive?
Based on Johnson’s post, it’s still likely that Austin Pet’s Alive is still seeking “unicorns.” That is, potential foster families with no kids, dogs, or cats. And a backyard.
But, representatives from the group have confirmed via social media that there’s a line “out the door” for fosters. That means that most of their foster needs are technically filled.
That may leave people wondering, ‘if they don’t need any additional foster placements, what’s another way to contribute?’ Well, Austin Pet’s Alive’s biggest need right now is for more people to donate supplies and funds. The rescue group is seeking monetary donations, as well as Purina One dog food (lamb and rice flavor), dog bones, and towels. Monetary donations go toward “vaccinations, flea/tick & heartworm preventatives, and routine medical exams,” as well as transfer fees. They also would appreciate donations of warm weather items like blankets, dog and cat food, bottles of water, and dog chews.
What Other Shelters Can Austinites Support?
Johnson recommended that those who cannot foster with Austin Pets Alive work with Austin Animal Shelter, another group preparing for the inclement weather. Johnson confirmed in his TikTok comments that AAS is looking for short-term and long-term placements.
Then, there are viewer suggestions to support Williamson Regional Animal Shelter, which is also urgently seeking foster placements.
What About Cat People?
For those who are not canine-inclined, there are still opportunities to contribute to Austin Pets Alive’s mission. The rescue organization is also looking for willing barn cat adoptees.
According to the organization’s post, barn cats are “independent working cats who thrive with shelter, food, and a safe place to call home.” Considering the cold weather, these cats need placement as soon as possible.
For those interested, email barncat@austinpetsalive.org.
Austin Pets Alive will be closing at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, due to the oncoming weather. On Sunday, Jan. 25, all Austin Pets Alive locations will be closed.
We’ve reached Austin Pet’s Alive via email and Johnson via TikTok direct message for more information on how to help. We’ve also reached out to Austin Animal shelter and Williamson Regional Animal Shelter via email to learn more about the organization’s current needs.
Austin, TX
APD SWAT responds to North Austin incident
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department stated that SWAT was responding to “an incident” in the 9400 block of Grouse Meadow Ln. Sunday evening.
Officials first let the public know of the incident around 7:30 p.m.
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The call came in around 5:30 p.m., and SWAT was activated at approximately 7:10 p.m.
Police stated that the call originally was reported as a robbery service after a robbery occurred a few days ago. A suspect reportedly assaulted someone inside an apartment at the address after returning there and forcing entry.
Both the suspect and the victim live at the apartment complex,
APD stated that they would provide more information in a media briefing. The time of the briefing is unknown.
CBS Austin has a crew on the way to the scene.
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This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.
Austin, TX
Carter Faith Debuts New Song “If A Man’s From Texas” In Austin | Whiskey Riff
A brand new one from Carter Faith.
Last weekend was a big one for country music. The ACM Awards took over Las Vegas, George Strait did a two-night run at Austin, Texas’ Moody Center, and Treaty Oak Revival took over Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. While most people were in one location for the whole weekend, Carter Faith was jumping around as she was opening up for George Strait, and then had to jet over to Vegas for her ACM Awards performance of “If I Had Never Lost My Mind.”
The ACM Album of the Year nominee blew her performance out of the water and was riding a high all weekend as she had just announced a deluxe edition of her debut record, Cherry Valley Forever. Cherry Valley is filled with wild nights, heartbreak, growth, and lyrics that cut like a knife. The project turned a lot of heads here at Whiskey Riff, earning the title of the Best Debut Album of 2025 and landing at #15 on the 40 Best Country Albums of 2025. But beyond what we think here at Whiskey Riff, it turned heads by the big players securing a nomination for Album of the Year at the upcoming ACM Awards.
I am very excited to see how she expands on this sensational era, and she’s given fans a taste of what the deluxe record’s five additional tracks will feature by releasing “Ain’t Over Me Yet” in celebration of Cherry Valley Forever‘s announcement. Sonically, this tune fits perfectly into the Cherry Valley frame as Faith delivers the heartbreaking lyrics of meeting up with a former lover, knowing that the relationship is and has been over for quite some time. But she has a glimmer of faith that they might be able to turn things around and find that spark again. In the end, she ends up hurting her own feelings, having one night of pleasure.
Riding the high that release, Faith was on a roll of sharing new music, debuting a brand new song titled “If A Man’s From Texas.” Fitting to debut this one in Austin. The song is set to appear on Cherry Valley Forever, and, in true Carter Faith fashion, it’s a warning for women to watch out for boys who disguise themselves as men from Texas. The southern drawl might lure you in, but sure enough, you will see his true colors, and those Southern manners might be thrown out the door.
The upbeat tune has a slight Texas swing tempo that makes you want to dance, which is exactly what Faith does as she works the crowd, moving to every corner of the stage while delivering these catchy lyrics.
Cater Faith is on a roll, and I can’t wait to hear the studio cut of this one come July 24.
Check it out:
@heather2194 CHERRY VALLEY FOREVER TRACKS IN AUSTIN #CHERRYVALLEY #carterfaith #GEORGESTRAIT @Carter Faith ♬ original sound – Heather
And before you go, fire up “Ain’t Over Me Yet,” too:
Austin, TX
Arizona State softball falls late to Texas, faces do-or-die Game 3
Arizona State softball thrives with Red Mountain alum Brooklyn Ulrich
Arizona native Brooklyn Ulrich talks about her time growing up at Red Mountain and her journey to playing at Arizona State.
The Texas Longhorns refused to die, rallying late with a pinch-hit, two-run homer to overcome Arizona State, 4-3, in Game 2 of the Austin Super Regional Saturday night, May 23.
The Sun Devils have one more shot to beat the Longhorns and earn a trip to the Women’s College World Series, which would mark their first trip back since 2018. Game time on Sunday was still listed as TBD Saturday evening.
Arizona State catcher Samantha Swan, a native of nearby Georgetown, Texas, hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning, but the Sun Devils were unable to hold the 3-2 lead.
Each coach had a tough decision before the action began.
Arizona State’s Megan Bartlett chose to start Meika Lauppe instead of sending her ace, Kenzie Brown, back to the circle after a powerful performance in the Sun Devils’ Game 1 win.
Texas’ Mike White, albeit in a different position with his team’s season on the line, sent out his ace, Teagan Kavan for a second consecutive day.
ASU struck first when Brooklyn Ulrich doubled in Katie Chester in the top of the second inning.
Kavan appeared to run out of gas in the third inning as Taylor Windle doubled to lead off, and Kaylee Pond singled.
White replaced Kavan with Citlaly Gutierrez, but Swan drove home Windle, giving ASU a 2-0 lead.
Lauppe was able to keep Texas off the scoreboard through four innings, though she put runners on first and second with nobody out in the third before inducing a flyout and an inning-ending double play.
An error by third baseman Emily Schepp on a Kaia Altmeyer ground ball leading off the Texas fifth ended the night for Lauppe, who was replaced by Brown.
The Longhorns touched up the ASU ace with a double by Katie Stewart to knock in Altmeyer, and a game-tying base hit by Reese Atwell to score Stewart, but Brown struck out Leighann Goode to prevent further damage.
An inning later, leading by a run after the Swan homer, Brown allowed a one-out single to Ashton Maloney, retired Altmeyer on a fly to left, but then served up the pinch-hit blast by Victoria Hunter.
Gutierrez shut down the Sun Devils in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
Swan had two of ASU’s six hits, and Brown allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with five strikeouts over her three innings of relief.
(This story has been updated to add information.)
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