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LGBTQ+ advocates rally at Texas Capitol against legislation targeting transgender Texans

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LGBTQ+ advocates rally at Texas Capitol against legislation targeting transgender Texans


Supporters of Texas’ LGBTQ+ community rallied at the state Capitol in Austin on Friday, just hours before the Texas House was scheduled to take up two bills advocates say would negatively impact transgender people in Texas.

“I don’t know about you, but I think it’s a little bit of bad luck to continue to say, ‘This can’t get worse.’ It can get worse if we do nothing,” Rep. Venton Jones said.

Jones, a Dallas Democratic and Texas House member, was among several to speak before a sign-waving crowd gathered in the outdoor Capitol rotunda Friday morning.

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Michael Minasi

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KUT News

State Rep. Venton Jones speaks during a LGBTQIA rally.

While House Bill 229 and House Bill 778 address different topics, Emmett Schelling with the Transgender Education Network of Texas said both were “another step further in pushing the trans community out of public life and out of existence.” If passed, HB 229 would require that Texas government agencies define and collect sex-based data using strict binary terms — as in: man, woman, male, female. Members of the LGBTQ+ community and advocates told the crowd the legislation is unnecessary and harmful to people who are intersex.

Ash Hall, a policy and advocacy strategist with the ACLU of Texas, believes the legislation is deliberately hateful.

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“House Bill 229 enshrines a narrow, exclusive, transphobic definition of sex into our state’s laws, erases intersex people, and makes it harder for trans people to have legal recognition,” Hall said during Friday’s rally.

But supporters of the legislation disagree. Cindy Asmussen, public policy advisor for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, testified last month in favor of the proposal, saying scripture is clear.

“Gender is God-given, and these gender distinctions are rooted in creation and manifested in clear biological differences that transcend social customs and cultural stereotypes,” Asmussen said before a panel of House lawmakers in April.

The bill also defines “female” and “woman” as an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to produce eggs — language that’s troubling to some women who’ve already gone through menopause.

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Attendees hold signs during a LGBTQIA rally on Friday, May 9, 2025, at the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin, Texas. The rally was organized largely in response to two bills being debated in the Texas House — H.B. 229 and H.B. 778.

Michael Minasi

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KUT News

A sign on display during the LGBTQIA rally.

Meanwhile, HB 778 would require health care plans to cover costs of “gender transition adverse effects and reversals.”

Martha Shoultz, a mother from Dallas, testified in favor of the bill earlier this session, saying the proposal could help her child who began taking hormones while in college.

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“Please help all our confused children by making insurance coverage mandatory for the consequences of gender transition,” Shoultz asked lawmakers.

Brad Pritchett is the interim CEO of Equality Texas. He said, while that last part may sound like it would be a helpful change to Texas law, the real world impact could mean health insurance will be harder to come by.

“It would make it so expensive to cover healthcare for trans people that it would be out of reach for most trans Texans,” Pritchett said. “Now, it looks like insurance. But it feels like a tax on trans existence.”

That bill has already passed the Senate, while HB 229 does not have a companion bill in the Senate.

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Austin, TX

Bike MS Texas MS 150 returns April 25–26 with routes up to 96 miles and Leap Ahead option

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Bike MS Texas MS 150 returns April 25–26 with routes up to 96 miles and Leap Ahead option


Bike MS: ACC Texas MS 150 is rolling back into Central Texas April 25–26 and it’s bigger, better, and bolder than ever. Sponsored by American Communications Construction, this legendary two-day ride is the largest fundraising event in the Bike MS series and brings riders from across Texas together to fund research and support for people living with MS.

Riders of all levels can find a distance to match their goals. Route distances this year include day-one options of 96, 75, 50 and 38 miles and day-two options of 55 and 82 miles. Plus the fan-favorite “Leap Ahead Route” on Day Two that lets riders skip forward and roll into the finish at Texas A&M’s campus amid cheering crowds.

New for 2026 is a scenic 38-mile option launching from Bastrop and winding through Buescher State Park and the Lost Pines, a tree-lined, single-day alternative for riders who want the full Bike MS experience without the two-day format.

The ride funds the National MS Society’s work. Bike MS has helped raise more than $1.4 billion for research, care and advocacy, funding treatments, navigator programs and partnerships that connect people affected by MS to resources. Your miles and dollars make a direct impact.

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One of the largest and most visible teams on the ride is Team Tacodeli, founded in 2004 and proudly sponsored by Austin’s Tacodeli. What began as a dozen riders and roughly $10,000 raised has grown into one of the MS 150’s most successful volunteer-led fundraisers. Team Tacodeli consistently ranks among the state’s top fundraisers and has raised millions for the cause. For team details and how to join or volunteer, visit TeamTacodeli.org.

Team Tacodeli also hosts an annual fundraiser (admission $30; kids 12 & under free) featuring a Tacodeli buffet, New Belgium beer and non-alcoholic drinks (while supplies last), a full cash bar, live music, silent auction, kids’ activities and more , with 100% of proceeds benefiting the National MS Society. Riders for the ACC Texas MS 150 are asked to meet a fundraising minimum (Team Tacodeli minimum: $400).

Want to ride, volunteer or support? Register for the ACC Texas MS 150 or learn more about the event and how funds are used at the National MS Society’s website.

Learn more about Team Tacodeli: https://teamtacodeli.org/



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Austin, TX

Texas’ Gorgeous State Park Northwest Of Austin Is A Rustic Haven With Caves And A Stunning Waterfall – Islands

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Texas’ Gorgeous State Park Northwest Of Austin Is A Rustic Haven With Caves And A Stunning Waterfall – Islands






The landscapes around Austin are a natural wonderland for outdoor adventures, from diving into pristine swimming holes to kayaking on the beautiful lakes of the Texas Hill Country. But one destination northwest of the city is a particularly gorgeous escape. Colorado Bend State Park, about two hours away by car, is home to ethereal caves and a 70-foot spring-fed waterfall.

The 5,300-acre park has 35 miles of hiking trails, including one that leads to the park’s most famous feature, Gorman Falls. The rugged 3-mile round-trip hike is considered moderately challenging to difficult, with steep, rocky sections, slippery areas, and little shade from the sun. The trek is worth it for the chance to view the cascades, towering high above the river and fed by a mineral-rich spring. “The falls were beautiful, natural, and peaceful!” said one hiker on AllTrails. If you’re interested in other nearby adventures, be sure to check out all the breathtaking waterfall destinations tourists can find in Austin. 

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Sometimes the water at Gorman Falls is rushing, and other times the waterfalls are quieter, according to traveler reviews. “This is a beautiful trickling fall that is right out of a storybook about fairies,” said one review on Google.  Many agreed that the hike itself isn’t easy. “Very rocky and challenging but worth the effort,” commented another. Several people mentioned that the trail may not be appropriate for beginners, kids, or dogs, that it gets very busy on weekends, and that it’s important to bring more water than you think you’ll need. 

Plan an escape to Colorado Bend State Park

Another of the park’s key attractions is its system of underground caves, which visitors can explore on a guided tour with Nichols Outdoor Adventures. The intermediate-level Adventure Tour ($25 per person), billed as “an introduction to what Texas caving is all about,” is a 1.5-hour excursion that takes participants deep underground to crawl through cavernous passageways. “It was a fabulous experience,” said one recent guest on TripAdvisor. “[The guide] did a great job of explaining the topography, how the caves were formed, and answering any and all questions throughout the tour.” The activity is only for travelers ages 8 and up, and though long pants, headlamps, and closed-toe shoes are required, helmets and knee pads are provided. You can book your tour online.

Whether you’re touring the caves or hiking to waterfalls, you’ll need to pay a day-use fee ($5 per person) to access Colorado Bend State Park. It’s smart to reserve your pass online, since the park has a limited capacity and often fills up. If you’re hoping to camp in the park, you’ll want to make arrangements even further in advance. Simple campsites (without hookups) start at $10 per night, while larger group sites start at around $35.

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Colorado Bend State Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s less than a two-hour drive from Austin’s international airport. If you love Colorado Bend, consider a detour to the secluded Inks Lake State Park, an idyllic getaway with shady trails and peaceful waters.





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Sunday storms expected in Austin. Here’s how long rough weather could last.

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Sunday storms expected in Austin. Here’s how long rough weather could last.


While we saw severe weather across parts of the state on Saturday, the bulk of the action happened in North Texas but don’t let your guard down yet. That system will influence our weather in Central Texas throughout much of next week, bringing daily chances for rain and thunderstorms. 

Saturday’s cold front has stalled across South Texas, and the next weather feature to watch is a closed system of low atmospheric pressure lingering near the Baja California coast. That system will send several atmospheric disturbances into Texas that will keep rain chances high across the region.

Overcast skies, spotty showers, light north winds, and cooler temperatures will welcome us Sunday morning. Temperatures will be in the middle and upper 50s through mid-morning and then climb about 10 to 15 degrees by the afternoon. Afternoon temperatures will remain closer to climatological normals for early March, in the upper 60s and low 70s.

While we do expect to see some thunderstorms across the region at times on Sunday, severe weather is not on the menu. Rain chances are about 50% with rainfall totals between a half-inch to an inch. 

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The comfortable temperatures and north winds will not hang around long once low pressure develops to our north and opens the door to winds from a more southerly direction by Monday. We’ll have a small rain chance, about 30% to 40%, on Monday with a few afternoon thunderstorms possible. Temperatures will be warm, though, with the morning near 60s degrees and the afternoon reaching the low 80s. 

Rain chances look to ramp up again from Tuesday through Thursday with the potential for some strong and severe thunderstorms. 

“For now, it looks like late Tuesday into Wednesday will be favored as a closed low (pressure system) moves across West Texas into Central Texas,” the National Weather Service wrote in a forecast bulletin. “We will likely see some changes in the path of this upper low, but the current latitude looks favorable for a line of convection (storm activity) along a Pacific cold front to accompany the passage of this system.”

“The latest guidance shows a 60 to 90% chance of at least 1 inch of rain for most of our area with a 40 to 60% chance of at least 2 inches for areas north of I-10,” the weather service said. “There is a potential for multiple inches across some areas.” 

Once this storm heads east by Thursday afternoon, cooler and drier weather will filter in with temperatures closer to our March normals of 50 degrees and 71 degrees. 

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