Austin, TX

‘He had a pistol and a gun’: Man seen with firearms near schools frightens Austin parents

Published

12 months ago

December 9, 2023

‘He had a pistol and a gun’: Man seen with firearms near schools frightens Austin parents

Parents are raising alarm about a man with a long gun reportedly seen walking around several schools in North Austin this week during class drop-off and dismissal periods.

Though people in Texas are legally allowed to carry guns in public — such as sidewalks near schools — the man seen with a firearm by campuses has sparked anxiety in parents who are already on edge after police say a gunman on Tuesday shot an Austin school district police officer and killed six people in a series of shootings in Austin and San Antonio.

Holly Milch, whose daughter attends St. Francis School, said she was startled to see a man with firearms walking on a sidewalk near the private school on Huntland Drive.

“He had a pistol and a gun,” Milch said. “He had the nerve to cross over Huntland using the school crosswalk to be closer to the school.”

The federal Gun-Free School Zones Act prohibits anyone from carrying a firearm in schools or within 1,000 feet of a campus, though there are exceptions, such as for police or anyone authorized to have a gun in the facility. Similarly to federal law, state rules also prohibit people from having guns in schools. A 2021 Texas law, however, allows people to openly carry a firearm without a license in public spaces.

Other parents have also reported seeing a man carrying at least one firearm while walking near Austin school district campuses. The district confirmed to the American-Statesman that officials are aware of the situation.

The Austin Police Department also responded to multiple calls in the area and made contact with the person involved, spokeswoman Anna Sabana said.

“In light of recent events, we encourage parents, school administration, and community members to remain vigilant,” Sabana said. “If you see something suspicious, say something or call 911.”

Milch said she first saw the man last week carrying firearms near her daughter’s private school and Webb Middle School, an Austin district school, but she has continued seeing him around campuses this week. And though Milch said she and other parents have called St. Francis and police to complain about the man, they were told he’s allowed to carry firearms if he’s on a public sidewalk.

Multiple Austin district, charter and private schools are within walking distance of each other in this area of town.

“I was pretty much a wreck the entire day,” Milch said. St. Francis declined to comment on the incidents.

Eva Noyola, who has children attending Lamar Middle School and Reilly Elementary School, is also concerned about the man carrying a gun near schools.

She said though the district is aware of the person and is taking security precautions, such as placing a campus in a secure state as needed, his presence near schools still worries her.

“My fear is that this one incident breeds complacency, and if we see anybody with a weapon, we will think, ‘It’s another one of those,’” Noyola said.

Jennifer Szimanski, public affairs director for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, said though Texas law allows people to openly carry a gun in public spaces, anyone who is concerned by that act should report it to authorities.

“Just because it is legal on a sidewalk next to a school doesn’t preclude anyone from calling in suspicious activity and getting law enforcement to check on suspicious activity or suspicious behavior,” Szimanski said.

Police can stop a person who is openly carrying a gun near a school to make sure they can legally have the weapon, she and other law enforcement experts said.

However, Greg Fremin, a Sam Houston State University criminal justice professor, said that if police detain someone and verify they’re not violating any laws, there’s not much officers can do to stop someone from openly carrying a gun in public in Texas.

Fremin, who is a retired Houston police captain, said he understands why parents are alarmed by seeing someone carrying a gun near schools.

“He’s looking for a confrontation with law enforcement,” Fremin said. “He’s looking to file a lawsuit. Most people of rational mentality don’t take time out of their day to go walk in front of a school with a long gun.”

District response

The Austin district on Dec. 1 placed Webb Middle School in a secure state, which means no one can enter or leave the campus, because of a man seen with a firearm walking nearby, according to a letter to parents from Principal Michael Coyle.

The secure state was called out of an “abundance of caution while police monitored a Second Amendment demonstration in the neighborhood,” the letter said.

District police also kept an eye on the man until he moved away from the school, officials said.

Though Texas law allows people to openly carry guns near schools, it’s concerning, said state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, who has been communicating with the schools.

“Here we are in a state where it’s perfectly legal to terrorize a couple schools by your mere presence, with your prominently displayed weaponry,” Eckhardt said.

The senator doesn’t think only having 1,000-foot gun-free buffer zones around schools is enough to protect students, considering the availability of long-range weapons, she said.

“We’re looking for what’s effective, and I don’t know you could effectively create a safe display radius,” Eckhardt said.

Instead, she said, the state should create policies that promote responsible gun ownership and require people to have a license to carry a gun.

School district officials are encouraging anyone who sees suspicious behavior to report it to 512-414-1703.

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Austin, TX

Bread winners: 10 Austin bakeries you'll love

Published

5 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Bread winners: 10 Austin bakeries you'll love

Craving something sweet? Maybe something flaky? Austin may be known for tacos and barbecue, but its bakeries are the unsung heroes of the local food scene. We think it’s time to give them the spotlight they deserve.

Whether you’re looking for pastries by day or celebratory cakes by night, these locally owned bakeries are proof that life is butter with carbs.

Comadre Panadería, 1204 Cedar Ave. | Try something new at this Mexican-American bakery (which is a two-time James Beard semi-finalist) like the highly raved-about concha and pink cake.

La Pâtisserie, multiple locations | A case full of colorful macarons is the main attraction at this French bakery, which also offers pastries, cake, scones, buns, croissants, and wine.

If you’re lucky (like City Editor Morgan was), you may be able to find a frowning gingerbread man at Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery.

Quack’s Bakery, multiple locations | Keeping Austin sweet since 1983, these beloved bakeries make pies, cakes, pastries, and more from scratch with no additives. Be sure to check out seasonal offerings like Pride, Halloween, and Christmas-themed cookies.

Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop, 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Ste. #200 | Owned by award-winning pastry chef Amanda Rockman, this newly opened bakeshop is all about caffeine, gluten, butter, sugar, and booze. Grab a rip ‘n’ dip bagel, strawberry cheesecake croissant, or focaccia sandwich.

Sour Duck Market, 1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | The neighborhood bakery within this American restaurant + beer garden is not to be missed. Snag a traditional bite like a savory Danish pastry or a creative concoction like the sweet potato-chai bearclaw.

Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop, 1905 S. 1st St. | Desserts are king at this sugary locale that offers classic cupcakes, cookies, lemon + pecan bars, cakes, and mini-pies in-store, with custom offerings available for larger orders.

Texas French Bread, 2900 Rio Grande St. | Currently housed in an Airstream trailer, this small but mighty bakery (serving Austinites since 1981) sells goods on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll have to visit in person to see the full menu of bread, pastries, and sweets available each day.

Upper Crust Bakery, 4508 Burnet Rd. | This family-owned scratch bakery has it all, whether you want a cup of coffee and a pastry, a smoked turkey sandwich for lunch, or a layered cake to take home and enjoy.

Walton’s Fancy & Staple, 609 W. 6th St. | Amid a cluster of bars on West 6th Street, this bakery + deli owned by Sandra Bullock is a beacon of sweetness. Its pastries and sweet treats are made daily, but you can also order custom cakes.

Zucchini Kill Bakery, multiple locations | Calling all vegan, gluten, and soy-free folks with a sweet tooth. This woman-owned bakery is a haven for those with dietary restrictions and incorporates the spirit of punk music into its delicacies.

What’s your favorite bakery in Austin? Let us know and we might add it to this list in the future.

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Austin, TX

Texas Longhorns Release First Injury Report vs. Kentucky Wildcats

Published

13 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Texas Longhorns Release First Injury Report vs. Kentucky Wildcats

AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns and Kentucky Wildcats have released their initial student-athlete availability report ahead of Saturday’s meeting in Austin.

Texas is listing receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. as questionable due to a foot injury while linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr. is questionable after sitting out for the 20-10 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks last week.

“He’s progressing this week,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said of Moore Jr. during Wednesday’s SEC Weekly Teleconference. “We’ll see if he’ll be ready to go here Saturday, but we’re surely a better team when he’s out there.”

Fortunately for Texas, running back Jaydon Blue was not listed on the report after being seen in a sling following the Arkansas game.

Here’s the full report for both teams:

Texas vs. Kentucky injury report / secsports.com

Sarkisian provided an injury update on Moore Jr., Blue and Blackwell Jr. on Monday during his weekly press conference.

“I think Blue’s good,” Sarkisian said. “Like I said, he went with us today and worked this morning. So we’ll see how it goes. … Mo Blackwell was out last week. … I’m hopeful we can get him back this week. We’ll see how it goes. … DeAndre got nicked up during the game with a foot injury. Again, those two guys (Blackwell) are integral parts to our program, not only on offense and defense, but on special teams. They’re critical. So hopefully we get both those guys back.”

No. 3 Texas and Kentucky will kick off from DKR on Saturday at

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Austin, TX

UT Energy Expertise To Guide New Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, Bolster U.S. Energy Supply

Published

21 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

UT Energy Expertise To Guide New Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, Bolster U.S. Energy Supply

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin will partner with industry and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to build and expand a hub for hydrogen energy production along the Texas Gulf Coast that will help increase and diversify the nation’s energy supply. UT serves as founding member and lead academic organization.

The HyVelocity Hub (HyV), a regional energy consortium, aims to become the largest hydrogen hub in the nation. It will leverage the region’s high concentration of existing hydrogen production and end-use assets to develop low-carbon intensity hydrogen that can power trucks, industrial processes, ammonia production, refining and petrochemical production, and marine shipping fuel.

“Texas is the nation’s energy capital, and UT is the energy university, and we are no stranger to playing a leading role in America’s energy innovation,” said UT President Jay Hartzell. “The success of the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub is critical to our nation’s future energy security. We are excited to work with our industry partners and apply our vast energy, business and policy expertise to develop the hydrogen workforce and accelerate production along the Gulf Coast.”

UT will provide expertise to support community benefits activities and hydrogen workforce development efforts. UT, through the IC2 Institute and the RESET lab in the Cockrell School of Engineering, has a significant track record of working with over 80 communities in Texas and bordering states to understand community needs and connect these to economic development initiatives to improve the lives of all community members. The hydrogen proto-hub demonstration facility at the Center for Electromechanics will serve as a key resource for hands-on workforce training activities. UT researchers will also conduct life-cycle and techno-economic analyses for the projects. For example, they will provide the analyses required for meeting emissions criteria, clean hydrogen standards, and cost benchmarks, and will report these data to the Department of Energy.

“UT Austin’s role in the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub will be vital to both providing the research and expertise needed to accelerate the global market for hydrogen, and to developing the workforce needed to support the industry’s advancement over the long term in Texas and the Gulf Coast,” said Brian Korgel, the Rashid Engineering Regents Chair Professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering and the director of the UT Energy Institute. “We are proud to be part of this important project that will advance secure and sustainable energy in the U.S. and all over the world.”

HyV’s work will be at the forefront of maintaining and expanding Texas as a global leader in hydrogen energy development. With $22 million in the first tranche of funding, HyVelocity is expected to create up to 45,000 well-paying jobs over its lifetime and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7 million metric tons per year — equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 1.5 million gasoline-powered cars. The Department of Energy is investing $1.2 billion in the project.

As the nation’s premier university for energy innovation and excellence, UT brings an unmatched scale, depth and breadth of expertise and a pragmatic approach to advancing solutions across the full spectrum of energy. Situated in the heart of Texas, UT is in the center of the energy capital of the world. The University boasts numerous top-10 academic programs and a vast community of minds spanning a multitude of energy departments, centers and institutes. UT’s extensive industry partnerships and field research extend from the oil fields of West Texas to the other side of the world, with faculty, students and staff engaged in applied research in hydrogen, carbon capture, wind, solar, batteries and more.

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