Austin, TX
Black History Month observance spotlights contributions of Army leaders, musicians
Army Futures Command held an educational salute to Black History Month on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at its command headquarters in Austin, Texas. The event featured keynote remarks by Maj. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division. “Those of us wearing the uniform for our country learn early on that success depends on teamwork,” Admiral said. “It is that teamwork and camaraderie we share with our teammates that binds us together, regardless of where we come from or how we look.”
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AUSTIN, Texas — The Army story cannot be told without recognizing the tremendous contributions of Black Americans to our country and our history.
“Black history is American history,” said Maj. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Admiral traveled to Austin from Fort Cavazos, Texas, on Feb. 13 to speak to Army Futures Command (AFC) personnel about the legacy of African American service in the U.S. Army, including how Black leaders helped shape today’s military. His remarks were part of a Black History Month educational event and cultural celebration hosted by AFC to highlight the significance of the annual observance.
“Black History Month is important. It’s important to honor and recognize those African Americans who have contributed to the shaping and the defense of this great nation. It gives all of us the opportunity to learn the stories of those we may not have known much about before. It’s an opportunity to salute those who’ve stood up and served this country despite unequal treatment in the past. And lastly, it’s the opportunity to honor the quarter million Black Americans who proudly serve America today,” Admiral said.
Black History Month occurs each February and seeks to spotlight the achievements of Black Americans in the United States. This year’s theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” offers a unique opportunity to explore the many contributions of Black artists and Veterans.
AFC’s salute to Black History Month included musical renditions by the Huston-Tillotson University choir, which performed hits by pioneering Motown Records groups like the Temptations and the Supremes, and a cultural food tasting that involved samplings of local barbecue and other specialty eats.
Members of the Huston-Tillotson University choir perform at Army Futures Command headquarters during the command’s 2024 Black History Month observance in Austin, Texas, Feb. 13, 2024.
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The observance also devoted time to remembering Soldiers like Lt. James R. Europe, a bandleader for the 369th Infantry Regiment and prominent ragtime and early jazz musician in the 1910s, and Staff Sgt. Leonora Hull Brown, who led the first all-Black female band in the Army during World War II, for their exemplary talents and service.
Presenters pointed out that Black Soldiers have answered the call to fight and win our nation’s wars since the Revolutionary War, and that 94 African Americans have received the Medal of Honor for their valor.
“When America needed servicemen and women with courage, determination and patriotism, when America needed Soldiers willing to defend our freedom, African Americans stood ready to serve with a desire to earn the same respect, honor and rights outlined in our Constitution and enjoyed by our compatriots,” Admiral said.
“We owe it to ourselves and those who will follow us to learn about those African Americans who made history, who served against odds, all too often in positions below their skill level, and whose service helped lay the foundation for the Army we have today.”
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The Army is proud to highlight its longstanding commitment to being a diverse, equal and inclusive organization where all have an opportunity to be all they can be.
To learn more about how the Department of Defense is honoring Black History Month, visit: https://www.defense.gov/Spotlights/Black-History-Month/
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As flood threats continue across parts of South Central Texas, Austin Pets Alive! has activated emergency response efforts to support animal shelters affected by the inclement weather.
In a social media post, APA! wrote, “We began offering aid last night, working to secure fosters for 10 dogs in the Castroville shelter, an open-air shelter that sits at the bottom of a valley.”
APA! said the situation escalated overnight with additional shelters reporting flooding. One shelter confirmed that floodwaters reached its facility, APA! added.
Communities overwhelmed due to weather include Uvalde, Castroville and Sabinal.
The nonprofit is asking the Austin community to foster, adopt or donate to free up capacity for animals displaced by the disaster. APA! needs to clear out its facilities to assist the animals in need of shelter.
Here are ways you can help:
- Adopt: APA! is offering a “Name Your Own Adoption Fee” on all animals.
- Foster: The shelter is seeking foster homes for a minimum of three weeks.
- Donate: Proceeds will fund vans and response teams setting up a staging and triage center at the heart of the disaster zone, along with an expanded stockpile of preventatives, PPE and additional supplies.
If you would like to donate, click here.
AUSTIN, Texas — With heavy rain expected across parts of Central Texas this week and flooding top of mind, the city of Austin is proposing to put more money toward flood mitigation improvements in next year’s budget.
The proposal would invest in new flood infrastructure, add staff, and help move flood mitigation projects forward, according to city leaders. Austin City Councilmember Ryan Alter said the investments are aimed at keeping the city prepared for future flooding.
Residents who live near waterways say they have seen how quickly conditions can change. David Haderspeck, who lives near Shoal Creek, said the creek “fills up pretty fast” and “gets a lot higher than you’d expect.” He said he has watched the water rise dramatically after rain.
“I’ve seen it come up probably 10 to 15 feet to the ordinary high-water mark,” he said.
This week, parts of Central Texas, including the Hill Country, are expected to get heavy downpours. While Austin is not expecting the same impacts as parts of the Hill Country, leaders said the city is using this year’s budget planning to continue investing in flood safety.
Alter said the city has the expertise to address flooding risks but needs to follow through on projects.
ALSO| Central Texas urged to prepare as heavy rainfall sits in forecast over next two days
“We have the experts. We just have to put the plans into practice, and that’s what we’re doing in this budget,” he said.
Under the budget proposal, the city would provide about $134.5 million for the Drainage Utility Fund, which helps pay for flood mitigation, drainage infrastructure and watershed protection efforts.
Alter said the proposal would shift more of the funding balance toward building new infrastructure.
“What we’re going to do is shift that balance a little bit more to building new infrastructure so that when we do have large flooding events, we’ve got that infrastructure in place to keep people safe,” he said.
The proposal also adds staff and invests in both new and existing flood mitigation projects across the city.
Asked whether the proposed investments would be enough moving forward, Alter said, “I do…I think we’re doing the right thing and just making sure that our residents have the infrastructure to stay safe.”
Alter said heavy rain cannot be prevented, but the city’s goal is to have infrastructure in place to help keep people safe when it happens.
FILE – LinkedIn logos are displayed on an iPhone and computer screen. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Attorney General’s office has opened an investigation into LinkedIn over allegations that the professional networking platform misleads consumers with advertising and profiting from misleading or fake job listings, otherwise known as “ghost jobs.”
LinkedIn investigation
In this photo illustration a Linkedin logo seen displayed on a mobile phone. (Photo Illustration by Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
What we know:
Texas announced on Tuesday it has issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) seeking documents, data and internal communications related to LinkedIn’s advertising, marketing, job listing verification practices and its Premium subscription services.
The investigation centers on whether LinkedIn violated Texas’ consumer protection laws by promoting paid subscription services while allegedly failing to disclose that some job listings on the platform may not actually be representative of hiring opportunities.
What is a ‘ghost job’?
An image of a woman holding a cell phone in front of a LinkedIn logo displayed on a computer screen. On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Dig deeper:
LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft and the world’s largest professional networking platform, with more than 1 billion registered users worldwide.
A “ghost job” generally refers to a position advertised online that either is no longer available or that an employer has no immediate intention of filling. The attorney general’s office cited independent studies estimating that ghost jobs account for between one-fifth and one-third of online job postings.
Texas AG targets Premium Subscription Fees
Photographer: Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images
What they’re saying:
According to the office of the attorney general, LinkedIn does not independently verify the hiring status of most job listings on its platform. Ken Paxton’s office alleges that the company’s marketing for its Premium subscription services does not disclose that a significant number of postings could be inactive, unfilled or not reflect genuine employment opportunity.
“I will use every resource available to my office to help job-seeking Texans find and secure real employment opportunities,” Paxton said in a statement. “LinkedIn has a duty to provide the services it advertises and ensure that consumers paying for Premium subscriptions are receiving access to legitimate job postings.”
Texas officials said LinkedIn’s Premium Career and Premium Business subscriptions cost about $39.99 and $69.99 per month, respectively, and are marketed to jobseekers looking to improve their employment prospects.
What’s next:
The investigation does not include any formal allegations of wrongdoing, and no lawsuit has been filed.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
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