Austin, TX
Elijah Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and more celebrate Texas Film Awards
With South by Southwest (SXSW) in full swing, Austinites are keeping an eye out for celebrity sightings around the city. Last week’s Texas Film Awards offered an opportunity to see several celebs gathered in one place. Honoring legends of the Texas film industry, the annual fundraising event inducted new members into the Texas Film Hall of Fame, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Austin Film Society (AFS), the milestone year for the Texas Film Hall of Fame welcomed new members Michelle Rodriguez, Tim and Karrie League, and Noah Hawley. Before the event, CultureMap caught up with AFS founder and film director Richard Linklater about the anniversary.
Richard LinklaterPhoto by David Brendan Hall
“It’s very cool,” he said, “Forty years is wild. You can’t help but reflect back to year one. We grew with Austin: as Austin has grown, so have we.”
Sharing the impact of AFS grants on stage during the event, Linklater elaborated further on this symbiotic growth.
“The rising tide of Austin lifted our boat, and we grew when we needed to [without] losing our fundamental film freakiness,” Linklater said. “Forty years in, I know two things to be true: community is everything. Watching movies together connects us and builds that community. And, the love and appreciation of cinema knows no bounds: if you nurture it, it feeds you back ten fold.”Linklater is on a recent awards streak, having been honored with a Texas Medal of Arts Award in late February.
Presenting to Killeen-born and San Antonio-raised Michelle Rodriguez, director Robert Rodriguez spoke about the actress’s “unshakeable swagger” and how he wrote the character of Luz with her in mind after seeing Girl Fight.

He also introduced a surprise guest to the event, Vin Diesel, who co-starred with Rodriguez in the Fast and Furious franchise. Sauntering onto the stage in a black cowboy hat, Diesel shared that he recently discovered his Texan roots and that their Texan identity was one of many things that bind him to Rodriguez as his ride-or-die.

Actor and one-time Austinite Elijah Wood presented the award to Tim and Karrie League, founders of the Alamo Drafthouse and Fantastic Fest.

Wood praised the Leagues for their impact not just on the Austin film industry but the wider film community by redefining what a theater could be, “a place that embraces both first-run studio films, independent and international gems, and the most obscure oddities dug from the archives; a place where you can pair dinner with a movie; where themed screenings create memories beyond the film itself.”
On the red carpet before the event, Wood told CultureMap what he most misses about Austin:
“I don’t live here anymore, but it still feels like home,” he shared. “I miss the food, tons of restaurants I love like Emmer & Rye, Loro, pizza from Via 313, Olamaie, Clark’s, Fresa’s.”
For the final award of the night, Atlanta actress Zazie Beetz and Fargo actor David Rysdahl presented the award to writer and producer Noah Hawley, who is currently working on Fargo and Alien: Earth.

Austin, TX
Austin weather: Intense storms in West Texas could make it to Hill Country
AUSTIN, Texas – We will be on storm watch tonight.
Local perspective:
More of the same today with a cloud/sun mix, warm, humid and breezy conditions.
Highs heading for the 80s with wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph.
The backstory:
The West Texas dryline will be the storm machine. This is where the Gulf moisture meets up with dry air coming off the mountains.
As the two different air masses collide the air will be forced up.
The heating of the day and upper low will provide even stronger lift to generate numerous and more intense storms in West Texas.
There is a chance a few of the storms will survive their journey away from the dryline and reach the Hill Country starting this evening and overnight.
By the time they enter Central Texas, most of the storms will drop below severe limits.
The highest threat of severe weather remains west of the Hill Country.
What’s next:
Could we get redevelopment with the storms late on Wednesday?
The jury is still out because not all the models agree, so we will have to play the wait and see game.
The next game-changers will be a stronger Western Low and a cold front with bite to it entering the picture this weekend.
Expecting increasing rain chances on Saturday followed by a cooler and drier breeze the rest of the weekend.
What you can do:
Track your local forecast for the Austin area quickly with the free FOX 7 WAPP.
The design gives you radar, hourly, and 7-day weather information just by scrolling.
Our weather alerts will warn you early and help you stay safe.
The Source: Information from meteorologist Zack Shields.
Austin, TX
Texas AG to investigate Austin Police’s new policies related to ICE warrants, city says
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed concern Monday about two items on the Austin Transit Partnership Board agenda later this week, one to negotiate an office lease in a downtown office building for up to $32 million for roughly 8 years and another to furnish the space for $15 million. READ MORE: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/inappropriate-mayor-pushes-back-on-47m-light-rail-office-relocation-plan/
Austin, TX
George Strait Delivers Epic Return to Austin Stage – Austin Today
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George Strait thrilled fans with an unforgettable concert at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, delivering a set packed with his signature No. 1 hits. The country music legend’s return to the stage after nearly four years left some wondering how much longer he plans to continue performing, as Strait has hinted at retirement in the past.
Why it matters
As one of the most influential and successful country artists of all time, George Strait’s concerts have become must-see events for his devoted fanbase. This performance in Austin showcased Strait’s enduring popularity and artistry, even as he nears the end of his legendary career.
The details
Strait’s concert at the Moody Center on Thursday night was his first at the venue since April 2022. The show featured a hit-filled setlist that had the capacity crowd singing along. Strait shared a video on Instagram teasing the performance, writing ‘What a night Austin, TX! Who’s ready to do it again on Saturday?’ While the video didn’t show any full performances, it did include a snippet of Strait singing his 2024 single ‘Three Drinks Down’.
- Strait last performed at the Moody Center in April 2022.
- He is scheduled to play another show at the Moody Center on Saturday, April 13, 2026.
What they’re saying
“I have maybe five good years to sing my songs for you, folks…it’s been around 50 now. And I still love it just as much as I ever did.”
— George Strait
What’s next
Strait is scheduled to perform another show at the Moody Center in Austin on Saturday, April 13, 2026, giving fans another chance to see the country legend in action.
The takeaway
George Strait’s epic return to the Moody Center stage in Austin underscores his enduring popularity and artistry, even as he nears the end of his legendary career. Fans cherished the opportunity to witness the ‘King of Country Music’ deliver a hit-filled set, leaving them to wonder how much longer they’ll be able to see Strait perform live.
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