Austin, TX

Lawmakers split on solution for improved water infrastructure

Published

9 months ago

February 6, 2025

Lawmakers split on solution for improved water infrastructure

AUSTIN, Texas — One of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items for the current session of the Texas Legislature concerns upgrades to the state’s water infrastructure. He’s seeking to increase the state’s investment in water by allocating $1 billion a year for 10 years to tap into new water supplies and repair existing pipes to save billions of gallons of water each year.

What You Need To Know

Gov. Greg Abbott named water infrastructure among his emergency items during his State of the State address on Feb. 2

The governor would like to allocate $1 billion per year for 10 years to tap into new water supplies and repair existing pipes

While Texas lawmakers agree on the need for investment in water infrastructure, there is no agreement on solutions

Some lawmakers see reservoirs as a viable solution, but there is opposition, and there are other solutions on the table

“We need to Texas size that investment,” Abbott said during his State of the State address on Sunday.

The need is urgent according to Texas Agriculture Secretary Sid Miller. Miller says the state is running out of water for crops and livestock. And with more than a thousand people a day moving to Texas, the need for water will only grow — as will the search for solutions.

“Reservoirs will be a part of that answer. But I think what the Legislature is also looking at is how we can lean into innovation in technology. What we’re talking about here is desalination, water reuse, conservation, fixing leaking pipes,” said Jeremy Mazur, director of natural resources policy with Texas 2036.

Julie Nahrgang with the Water Environment Association of Texas says there needs to be support for sustained funding and flexible spending in water infrastructure.

“The Texas Water Development Board (is) essentially the lending entity that oversees the disbursement of a lot of water loans and grants. They need to have maximum flexibility of where to put that money so that it best serves Texans,” said Nahrgang.

But not everyone thinks reservoirs are the best answer.

The Marvin Nichols Reservoir is a nonexistent structure that looms over the constituents in Republican Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s northeast Texas district.

“That reservoir represents one of the largest, the largest land grab in Texas history,” said VanDeaver.

The reservoir has been part of the state’s water plan since the late 1960s as a solution to the growing need for water miles away in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. In January, the Texas Water Development Board reported that the reservoir could begin pumping water to DFW within the next 25 years. But the project has been stalled due to opposition from landowners and conservationists.

“The environmental destruction is incalculable. It’s just enormous because you’re flooding some of the richest wildlife lands possible,” said Janice Bezanson with the Texas Conservation Alliance.

This legislative session Rep. VanDeaver is trying to demolish the threat of the reservoir’s existence. He filed two bills. One prohibits an engineering firm from both planning and constructing the reservoir, and the other bill removes a proposed reservoir project from the state water plan if construction has not begun within 50 years of being included in the state plan. That includes the Marvin Nichols Reservoir.

“If something has been in the plan for 50 years and we haven’t had a need to build it, then probably it shouldn’t have been put in the plan 50 years ago,” said VanDeaver.

Because water planning for the state is divided into regions, a failure to build the reservoir won’t preclude statewide water sourcing.

“One regional planning group sees it as necessary and another regional planning group has a totally different vision on it because it does involve eminent domain and it does involve potential buying out of property and using that space,” said Nahrgang.

There is a legislative proposal to buy water from neighboring states, such as Arkansas, in order for Texas to meet its needs, but there is also a focus on cleaning and reusing the water the state already has.

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Austin, TX

Texas Longhorns: 4 takeaways from critical 35-10 SEC loss to Georgia

Published

7 hours ago

November 16, 2025

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Texas Longhorns: 4 takeaways from critical 35-10 SEC loss to Georgia

Texas Longhorns receiver Ryan Niblett (21) is tackled during the game against Georgia at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 in Athens, Georgia.

Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

In the end, it wasn’t a dramatic ending or a big play or even a big mistake that decided No. 10 Texas football’s 35-10 loss Saturday night to No. 5 Georgia. Simply put, the Bulldogs outplayed the Longhorns, had Texas’ offensive line playing on its heels, won all three phases of the game and Georgia coach Kirby Smart outcoached Steve Sarkisian.

Put all those together and you’ve got Georgia’s big win and Texas’ big loss — the Longhorns’ third loss takes them out of the SEC championship game conversation and virtually dooms their College Football Playoff hopes. Blame that Oct. 4 loss in Gainesville. The best Texas can do from here out is win out, play spoiler to Texas A&M, win on early National Signing Day next month and win its non-CFP bowl game.

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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo (1) drops a pass during the game against Georgia at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 in Athens, Georgia.

Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

Texas quarterback Arch Manning was sacked three times, but he was hit and hurried all night long. The Longhorns were just 2 of 12 on third-down conversions finished with only 274 yards of total offense, ran for only 23 yards and committed nine penalties to Georgia’s one. Texas cut the lead to 14-10 on a Ryan Wingo touchdown catch late in the third quarter, but two fourth-down conversions, one touchdown and one surprise onside kick later, Georgia got the win.

WHAT CED SAID: So far, the Texas Longhorns sure do have a Georgia Bulldogs puzzle in the SEC

MORE: Does Texas coach Steve Sarkisian have a big game problem? Let’s look at the numbers.

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Here’s what we saw from Saturday’s loss:

Kirby Smart outsmarts Steve Sarkisian once again

It’s hard to argue against the facts: In three meetings between Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and Georgia’s Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs boss has coached circles around Sarkisian. To be fair to the fifth-year Texas coach, Smart has coached circles around almost everyone in his decade with Georgia, but it’s especially obvious in his matchups with Texas. Smart is a defensive-minded coach while Sarkisian’s coaching roots extend deep on the offensive side of the ball; in three meetings over the past two years, Texas has scored a total of 44 points. Oh, and Smart’s sassy onside kick Saturday in the fourth quarter was an added dash of spice that came after a touchdown drive fueled by two gutsy calls to go for it on fourth down.

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Georgia pummeled Texas through the air

The return of Michael Taaffe and Jelani McDonald from injury did not resolve Texas’ difficulties defending the pass. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton completed 24 of his 29 attempts for 229 yards and four touchdowns, becoming the third straight signal-caller to shred the Longhorns’ secondary. Mississippi State’s Blake Shapen threw for 382 yards and five TDs in Texas’ victory Oct. 25, then Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia blitzed Texas for 365 yards and three TDs a week later.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) snaps the ball during the game against Georgia at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 in Athens, Georgia.

Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

Non-existent running game did Arch Manning no favors

Yes, Texas quarterback Arch Manning got sacked three times for 16 yards. But take away those sacks and Texas still ran for only 36 yards on 11 carries. The Longhorns’ offense is completely reliant on Manning at this point of the season, and that imbalance shows in a matchup against an elite squad like Georgia. Manning played well with 251 yards on 27-of-43 passing, but he can’t carry the Texas offense — at least in his first season as a starter.

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Texas fails on special teams against Georgia (again)

The Longhorns did not learn from the special teams mistakes they made the last time they met these Bulldogs. Kirby Smart’s team guzumped Texas on special teams once again Saturday night, attempting and recovering a surprise onside kick in the fourth quarter with an 11-point lead. The Bulldogs used their positive field position to score a touchdown that extended the lead to 18. Texas fans will remember last year’s SEC championship game when a fourth-quarter fake punt changed the dynamic of the contest, along with a pair of missed field goals by the Longhorns.

Up next for Texas: Arkansas

Next Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium. Kickoff will be either at 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.

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At least the Longhorns won’t have to recover from Saturday’s disappointment by traveling to Fayetteville. It’s the first of two home games to close the regular season, with No. 3 Texas A&M on tap the day after Thanksgiving.

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Texas high school football playoffs: Scores from Austin area games

Published

1 day ago

November 15, 2025

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Texas high school football playoffs: Scores from Austin area games

Anderson wide receiver Jay Fullmer (21) hurdles McCallum defensive lineman Tucker Satterfield (53) as the McCallum defense attempt to bring him down in the first half of the Shoal Creek Showdown as the McCallum Knights and Anderson Trojans open their football season at House Park in Austin, Aug. 28, 2025. The Trojans won the game 37-2.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Twenty Central Texas high school football teams won their opening bi-district matchups of the 2025 state playoffs, and the Anderson Trojans, who host Friendswood Saturday, hope to make it 21.

These are the first-round playoff scores involving Austin-area teams that were played Thursday and Friday.

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MORE: Our staff breaks down the Austin area’s prospects for the 2025 playoffs

MORE: As LBJ trainer clings to hope for transplant, Jags players lift him up

Westlake Chaparrals Jarren Lopez (6) goes down under Vandegrift defense in the fourth quarter as the Chaparrals and Vipers face off in a Class 6A Division II bi-district round playoff game at Monroe Stadium, Nov. 14, 2025.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Central Texas playoff scores

Class 6A Division I

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Lake Travis 41, Round Rock 14

Class 6A Division II

Vandegrift 16, Westlake 14

Dripping Springs 38, Vista Ridge 14

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San Marcos 42, Eagle Pass 10

Class 5A Division I

Georgetown 42, Burleson Centennial 11

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Midlothian 36, East View 16

Cedar Park 50, Tyler John Tyler 43

Friendswood (6-4) vs. Anderson (9-1), 3 p.m. Saturday, House Park

Class 5A Division II

Pflugerville 64, S.A. Sam Houston 35

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Connally 65, S.A. Jefferson 0

Liberty Hill 62, S.A. Lanier 0

Bastrop 62, S.A. Burbank 0

Class 4A Division I

LBJ 37, Fredericksburg 15

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Somerset 70, Manor New Tech 26

Canyon Lake 63, Taylor 19

Class 4A Division II

Wimberley 59, Carrizo Springs 0

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S.A. Davenport 62, Eastside Memorial 0

Lampasas 52, San Angelo Lake View 14

Class 3A Division I

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Class 2A Division I

Class 2A Division II

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Austin, TX

Is Matthew McConaughey Running For Governor? Why Campaign Signs Have Been Spotted In Austin, Texas | Whiskey Riff

Published

2 days ago

November 14, 2025

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Is Matthew McConaughey Running For Governor? Why Campaign Signs Have Been Spotted In Austin, Texas | Whiskey Riff

Is Matthew McConaughey finally throwing his name into the hat of politics?

The Oscar-winning actor and author has been teasing a political run for years. Back in 2024, McConaughey really seemed to be entertaining a run for the governor of Texas. During the election year, the man known for such hit films as Interstellar and Dazed and Confused was asked about his interest again and again.

When he spoke with Forbes about the matter, he didn’t immediately shut the idea down. Rather, he thinks it’s something that he could enter into after he learns more about it:

“Yes. I have thought about running for office, getting into this category. I’m on a learning tour and have been for probably the last six years of understanding what this category means. Do I have instincts, intellect that it would be a good fit for me and I would be a good fit for it. That would be useful. I’m still on that learning tour, and, you know, days like this. I’m learning a lot.”

So considering the fact that “McConaughey for Governor” campaign signs have been spotted in Texas recently, could his learning tour be over?

Lone Star State residents have been freaking out as signage for a Matthew McConaughey political run have popped up in North Texas. People have even reported seeing billboards and yard signs teasing the actor’s transition into politics. In addition, social media users have seen (and videoed) various campaign set ups, and even a large stage installation, on various occasions. As you might imagine, those have gone viral on social media.

Here’s a video of the aforementioned stage installation, which features Texas flags all over the place and “McConaughey for Governor” signs that have a tagline that harkens back to one of his most famous movie roles:

“Be Pretty Cool if You Voted.”

But here’s the deal… Matthew McConaughey is not running for governor of Texas, even though Texans would be alright, alright, alright with him doing so.

As the caption included in FOX4’s post describes, the sightings of “McConaughey for governor” signs are actually for an upcoming Apple TV+ show that will feature Matthew playing a fictionalized version of himself:

“These highly realistic visuals are merely props for ‘Brothers,’ an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series where McConaughey plays a fictionalized version of himself running for political office alongside his close friend, actor Woody Harrelson.”

So to be clear, anything and everything that Texas residents have seen about a potential McConaughey gubernatorial run are actually just realistic (and based on the internet’s response, confusing) set pieces. You can’t blame people for thinking that it might have been real with the Oscar winner publicly showing interest in running for governor in 2022, and teasing political runs in the years since.

While knowing that he isn’t running for office might be a let down, it’s fun to hear that he and Woody Harrelson will be working on a show together that will soon find a home on Apple TV+. And hey, this all might be for a TV series… but maybe they are also doing all of this to gauge how the public would respond to McConaughey running?

Sorry, I’ll take my tinfoil hat off…

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