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Emerging Battle Over Marijuana Laws Between Austin And Texas

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Emerging Battle Over Marijuana Laws Between Austin And Texas


In 2022, eighty-five percent of Austin, Texas, voters approved the Austin Freedom Act, which deprioritizes small amounts of marijuana possession. The act does not sit well with the Texas State Attorney General, Ken Paxton. According to a report from KVUE, his office has filed suit against Austin, claiming cities in the state can’t decide to decriminalize crimes set by the state legislature.

Austin is one of at least sixteen cities or counties in Texas that have stopped enforcing possession laws for small quantities of Marijuana.

According to Normal.org, larger cities like Dallas and El Paso and counties like Bexar and Nueces have done the same.

However, the State of Texas presents a counter-argument. They contend that this decriminalization goes against state law and is illegal, regardless of the community’s approval.

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Austin has responded by saying the policy is working. It is freeing up law enforcement to handle more critical and dangerous crimes. The city also maintains that historically, minorities were disproportionately targeted for enforcement.

The lawsuit was filed with the 345th Travis County District Court, with the AG’s office asking for a temporary injunction before the hearing with Judge Jan Soifar. The judge said she would take time to consider both sides before deciding.

No matter which side you are on, this is a big decision for Texas citizens. It will have lasting effects on the marijuana debate in Texas. Right now, it seems the state is doing everything it can to cool marijuana reform that would eventually lead to legalization in Texas.

Best Cities In Texas To Live

U.S. News and World Report ranked the top 150 cities to live in around the United States. The following 10 cities from Texas made the list. According to U.S. News and World Report, these are the best places in Texas to live.

Gallery Credit: Chad Hasty

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Lufkin Home After Police Standoff

This is the current state of the home after an hours-long standoff with police in Lufkin.

Gallery Credit: Dan Patrick





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Austin, TX

Antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island fell by half in 2025, ADL says

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Antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island fell by half in 2025, ADL says


There was a significant reduction in the number of antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island in 2025, according to a national Jewish advocacy group.

According to the Anti-Defamation League’s latest Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, there were 26 antisemitic incidents in the state last year. That’s down from the 52 incidents counted by the group in 2024.

Samantha Joseph, New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, says a big reason for the reduction is a steep decline in antisemitism on college campuses.

“It shows that campus administrators are taking their responsibilities very seriously to provide a safe environment for all of their students,” said Joseph.

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Brown University had over $500 million in federal funding frozen by the Trump administration last year following investigations into alleged antisemitism on campus. The funding was restored after Brown reached a settlement with the administration.

The reduction in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island reflects a wider trend in New England as a whole. According to the ADL’s report, there were 400 antisemitic incidents in the region in 2025, compared to 638 the previous year.

While she’s pleased about the overall drop in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island, Joseph says a number of concerning trends continue to persist. In particular, the state is still seeing more anti-Jewish incidents than it did prior to the October 7 attacks on Israel that launched the Gaza War in 2023.

Joseph is also concerned about the violent nature of local incidents of antisemitism.

“Even though overall incidents are down, assaults are up and assaults with a deadly weapon are up significantly,” said Joseph. “Our communities remain concerned for their safety, and our work is far from done.”

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Live blog: Severe thunderstorms possible in Central Texas

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Live blog: Severe thunderstorms possible in Central Texas


AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday evening as a cold front arrives in Central Texas. KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team will keep you updated on the weather coverage.

Risks to be aware of are damaging wind gusts that could reach as high as 60 to 75 mph and large hail up to quarter size.

Weather Resources:

Live Updates:

5:22 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued for all counties except for Milam County.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

3:51 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Mason, San Saba, and Lampasas County until 9:00 p.m.

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Storm Prediction Center- level 3/5 Enhanced risk for parts of Central Texas
Storm Prediction Center- level 3/5 Enhanced risk for parts of Central Texas

3:30 p.m.: The primary risk for Sunday’s severe weather is damaging wind gusts which could cause power outages.

3:26 p.m.: Storms will likely move toward the I-35 corridor around 6 p.m. Most of the storms will enter the Hill Country around 6 p.m. and the Austin metro counties after 8 p.m.





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Letter to the editor from Texas emeritus professor on Dell donation

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Letter to the editor from Texas emeritus professor on Dell donation


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Money and rankings don’t make a great university. Providing opportunities for disadvantaged students and protecting academic freedom, however, do.

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Case in point: Michael and Susan Dell recently surpassed $1 billion in giving to the University of Texas at Austin, launching a plan to build a new medical center and advanced research campus in north Austin.

To be sure, this is a magnanimous gift that will fund important initiatives. While enormously grateful for this contribution, I am disappointed that this gift was not accompanied with a strong message from Michael Dell admonishing the University for gutting DEI and infringing upon academic freedom.

As a colleague of mine astutely observed: “Good luck recruiting doctors and med students. The attacks on DEI and political climates will mean a lot more than rankings and money long-term.”

UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife, referencing the Dell gift, is right: “We are transforming this site into a new campus the world has never seen before.” Yes, never seen, but in a very negative and dangerous way!

Last week, I received a message from the Texas Exes: “This is your last chance to show your support during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres, UT Austin’s Texas-sized fundraising event. Can we count on you?”

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My answer: “No, absolutely not. I won’t give one dime to a university that no longer is committed to diversity and preserving academic freedom.”

Having proudly taught at UT for 41 years, I am sad to say this.

– Richard Cherwitz, Ph.D. is the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor Emeritus, Moody College of Communication and Founding Director, Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium (IE) at The University of Texas at Austin.

How to share a letter to the editor

Want to share your voice in the A-J? We’d love for you to contribute to the thoughtful and civil conversation. Please send us a letter to the editor by emailing us at newmedia@lubbockonline.com or through mail: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 710 Avenue J, Lubbock, TX 79401. Please keep submissions to around 250 words or less.

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