Austin, TX
Central Texas first responders remember 9/11 with annual hockey game benefit
First responders remember 9/11 with benefit game
The Austin First Responders Hockey Club hosted the fifth annual 9/11 memorial ice hockey game on Wednesday at the Crossover Gold Rink in Leander.
LEANDER, Texas – The Austin First Responders Hockey Club hosted the fifth annual 9/11 memorial ice hockey game on Wednesday at the Crossover Gold Rink in Leander.
People remember where they were on September 11, 2001, especially the men and women who were on the frontlines in New York City that day.
James J. Stefanich was an NYPD Detective for 14 years and an officer for six years.
“Total chaos. No one expected anything like that,” said James J. Stefanich. “We thought it was possibly World War III.”
Remembering Sept. 11, 23 years later
A day of remembrance as the nation marks 23 years since September 11. From New York to Pennsylvania and Washington D.C., Americans are taking a moment to pause and remember the thousands of lives lost that day.
While most Americans watched the attacks unfold on live television, James J. Stefanich was in the thick of it. He worked as an NYPD detective the morning the planes crashed into the World Trade Center.
“Thought maybe we’d get held over for a little over time until we saw the video of the second plane going, and my boss immediately goes, ‘go and put all your gear on. This is real,’ and it was crazy after that,” said Stefanich. “Unfortunately, nobody knew what to do. It was an unprecedented time.”
Stefanich inspired the annual fundraising game hosted by the Austin First Responders Hockey Club.
Luis Velazquez is one of James’ teammates and an officer as well.
Austin firefighters remember 9/11
Several events were held in Austin in observance of the 9/11 attacks. There was also a ceremony to recognize Texas first responders who were killed or injured in the past year.
“We thought a good way to honor him and the sacrifice of a lot of people during 9/11 was to hold a benefit game,” said Luis Velazquez.
The team donates the proceeds from their 9/11 memorial hockey game to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.
“I’m overwhelmed every year by the support, it’s beautiful,” said Stefanich. “It’s tough not being with other cops and firemen from New York during this time. So, my first year here, I was by myself, so this is a great thing for me, especially getting all this support.”
The profits from the 2024 event benefited a Round Rock firefighter whose teenage daughter recently passed away in an ATV accident.
9/11 Memorial Tower Climb at COTA
The Samaritan Center is memorializing the anniversary of 9/11 with a stair climb at the Circuit of the Americas Observation Tower. The event honors the victims and heroes from the tragedy. Tierra Neubaum has more.
“It’s a great outlet. First responders deal with a lot of stress, and getting out here every Sunday to kind of blow off some steam, I think, is a really good way to fight depression, suicides,” said Velazquez.
First responders come together to show their support and give back to others in their field.
“As long as we have a good time, I’m happy,” said Stefanich. I don’t care if I win or lose. I want to win, but I’m just happy to be here with my brothers and sisters. You know, it makes life a lot easier for me.”
They hope to bring positivity to a dark day in American history by honoring the lives lost on 9/11 and make a difference.
“If we can put a positive spin on the way we celebrate this day, I think it’d be beneficial for everybody,” said Velazquez.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ highway system dropped two spots since 2025, and now ranks at No. 27 in the country for its cost-effectiveness and overall conditions, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2026 Highway Report.
The report assessed pavement conditions, fatalities, deficient bridges, infrastructure costs and congestion levels across the United States. Texas earned the following rankings:
- 33rd in urban interstate pavement conditions
- 21st in rural interstate pavement conditions
- 39th in urban arterial pavement conditions
- 12th in rural arterial pavement conditions
- 3rd in structurally deficient bridges
- 26th in urban fatality rate
- 42nd in rural fatality rate
- 41st in traffic congestion
“More than 42,000 of the nation’s 618,923 highway bridges, nearly 7%, are still structurally deficient. Arizona, Nevada, and Texas reported the lowest percentages of deficient bridges,” the report said.
The full report can be found online.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.
A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.
“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.
Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:
- José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
- Peter Sides, who fought in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
- Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
- William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”
At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
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