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More Texas communities issue disaster declarations ahead of Great North American Eclipse

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More Texas communities issue disaster declarations ahead of Great North American Eclipse


AUSTIN, Texas – More communities across the Lone Star have issued disaster declarations due to the threat their populations might triple as spectators around the U.S. grapple with what locale will have the best view of the Great North American Eclipse.

Officials in Kerr, Bell and Travis counties have stated that disaster declarations or state of emergencies will go into effect before a rush of visitors swarm the Central Texas communities on April 8.

The counties sit in what is called the path of totality, where the Moon will completely block the Sun for several minutes, leading to temporary darkness.

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More than 30 million Americans are estimated to live in the path of totality, but for most of the Lower 48, only a partial eclipse is expected to be visible, leading many to plan excursions to parts of some 15 states.

“We expect that kind of visiting traffic here to cause extreme traffic congestion on our roadways, place an enormous strain on our first responders and hospital systems, drain our food and fuel supplies and strain our city and county infrastructure to, quite possibly, over capacity,” Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly stated.

TEXAS COUNTY DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AHEAD OF GREAT NORTH AMERICAN ECLIPSE

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Other cities that are in the path of totality outside of the Lone Star State include Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, and parts of Syracuse.

In Central Texas, the eclipse will begin just after noon local and reach its maximum extent about an hour later. The episode of complete totality is expected to last for less than 4 minutes and varies by location.

In downtown Austin, the start of the eclipse is expected to begin around 12:17 p.m. local time, with totality starting around 1:36 p.m. The peak is expected to only last for less than 2 minutes, and the entire event will be over just before 3 p.m.

During the eclipse, spectators are strongly encouraged to wear specialized safety glasses if they plan to look directly at the Sun.

According to ophthalmologists, looking directly into the giant star can damage your retinas, leaving you with permanent vision loss.

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The American Astronomical Society (AAS) has compiled a list of suppliers of glasses and other filters that can be used on the big day.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT APRIL’S SOLAR ECLIPSE

In addition to eye protection, local officials are warning residents to prepare as if a natural disaster is on the way, so they don’t get caught off-guard by the increased traffic and demands for food, gas and other supplies.

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“I encourage you to stay off the roads and at home, if possible, on the day of the event. Also, in the week preceding the event, I would encourage you to make sure your vehicles are tanked up, that you have sufficient grocery supplies, that your prescriptions are filled and that you are stocked up on provisions for any animals in your care over the duration of eclipse weekend,” Kelly stated.

If you miss April’s event, the next wide-reaching total solar eclipse won’t happen until 2045, when the path of totality will start over the Pacific Ocean and travel over the country through the East Coast.



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Austin, TX

UT Austin College of Pharmacy Leads Texas in New U.S. News Rankings

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UT Austin College of Pharmacy Leads Texas in New U.S. News Rankings


U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 rankings for colleges, universities and higher education programs across the United States. The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy ranked No. 8 in the nation and remains the top pharmacy school in Texas.

UT Austin earned a 4.2 on a 1-5 scale. Respondents represented schools and programs offering Doctor of Pharmacy degrees accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

“As the link between patients and medicine,” says U.S. News & World Report, “pharmacists must be experts on prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, understanding use, side effects and interactions.” Texas Pharmacy continues to rank among the nation’s best, remaining rigorously competitive among peer institutions.

“Our students, alumni, faculty and staff are proud to be among the leading colleges of pharmacy in the country,” says Samuel M. Poloyac, Pharm.D., Ph.D., dean of The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy and James T. Doluisio Regents Chair. “We strive for excellence and impact as we shape the future of our profession through innovative care for our communities and groundbreaking health discoveries.”

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View the Best Pharmacy Schools rankings to see how UT Austin stacks up against its peer institutions.



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Austin, TX

Aaliyah Crump plans to transfer from Texas: report

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Aaliyah Crump plans to transfer from Texas: report


AUSTIN (KXAN) — According to a report by On3Sports, Texas freshman guard Aaliyah Crump will enter the transfer portal.

On3’s Talia Goodman reported Monday that Crump is headed out of Austin, leaving head coach Vic Schaefer without one of the most coveted recruits of the 2025 class.

Texas guard Aaliyah Crump, center, battles Vanderbilt forward Sacha Washington, left, and guard Aubrey Galvan, right, for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Crump averaged 17.4 minutes per game over 24 games played this season, missing almost the entire nonconference schedule with a foot injury. She scored 7.9 points per game, with a high of 18 against Texas Southern on Nov. 16, and about one steal per game.

She was one of Texas’ top perimeter shooting threats, making 23 of 73 3-point attempts for 32%.

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Crump, a 6-foot-1 guard from Minnetonka, Minnesota, will have three seasons of eligibility left. She was ranked as the No. 5 recruit in her class by ESPN, and she was on the Team USA U16 squad that won gold at the FIBA Americas Championships in 2023.

Aaliyah Moore, who missed the entire season after having surgery on both knees, also intends to transfer from the Longhorns.



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Austin City Council members ask to begin process of renaming Cesar Chavez Street

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Austin City Council members ask to begin process of renaming Cesar Chavez Street


AUSTIN, Texas — Some members of the Austin City Council are calling on the city manager to develop a plan for renaming Cesar Chavez Street after allegations of sexual abuse came out against the late labor leader earlier this year.

According to a memo on Friday to City Manager T.C. Broadnax, José Velásquez, Vanessa Fuentes, José “Chito” Vela and Zohaib “Zo” Qadri requested Broadnax develop a community outreach plan to gather input and assess the cost to the city, residents and businesses on renaming the street.

“The City of Austin is committed to upholding the dignity and safety of all people and affirms its unwavering support to survivors of sexual violence,” the memo said. 

The council members outlined how the outreach plan should be developed and what should be included.

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For the development of the plan, council members asked Broadnax to do the following steps:

  • Work with the Equity Office, Transportation and Public Works Department, and other appropriate departments as needed.
  • Engage Latino Community Leaders, labor unions, City Commissions and residents, businesses, neighborhood associations located on East and West Cesar Chavez Street.
  • Assess estimated renaming costs to the city.
  • Assess estimated renaming costs to residents and businesses on East and West Cesar Chavez Street.
  • Follow additional guidelines provided by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).

And the council members said the outreach plan should include:

  • A series of hybrid listening sessions with at least two in-person sessions and one virtual session.
  • An online survey for the public.
  • A stakeholder survey for residents and businesses on East and West Cesar Chavez Street to understand the impacts of renaming the street.

The council members requested that Broadnax come up with a report by May 26 that included a plan, cost estimates and a proposed timeline for the renaming, according to the memo.

César Chávez was known for his work with the farmworker movement and co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America, with Dolores Huerta. Huerta said she was one of the young women and girls who were groomed and sexually abused by Chávez, which resulted in two pregnancies. She gave birth to the two children and sent them to live with other families.

In her statement, Huerta said she did not know about the other women and girls and that she stayed silent for 60 years because she worried that her coming forward would hurt the farmworker movement.

Other Texas cities have already distanced themselves from Chávez. In Fort Worth, the city removed the street toppers that honored Chávez.

The Cesar E. Chavez Legacy & Educational Foundation — the foundation that hosted the nation’s largest César Chávez march in San Antonio for 29 years — announced it will soon dissolve. The City of San Antonio moved the Cesar Chavez city holiday to Good Friday, and it is requesting the public’s feedback on renaming César E. Chávez Boulevard.

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Also, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has directed all public schools to suspend any instruction or activities related to Chávez.

Chávez died on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66.



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