Residents in Austin, Texas, and the surrounding metropolitan area were asked to avoid restaurant drive-thru lanes on Monday to avoid worsening ozone conditions in the area.
On Sunday afternoon, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) declared an Ozone Action Day for the Austin and San Antonio area on Monday. This includes the nearly 1 million residents living in Austin, according to recent census data.
“Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the San Antonio area on Monday,” said the air quality alert, which was shared on the National Weather Service (NWS) website.
“You can help prevent ozone pollution by sharing a ride, walking or riding a bicycle, taking your lunch to work, avoiding drive through lanes, conserving energy, and keeping your vehicle properly tuned,” the alert said.
Advertisement
A customer receives a drive-thru order at a restaurant. On Monday, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality declared an Ozone Action Day for the Austin/San Antonio area, asking people to avoid drive-thru lanes as well… A customer receives a drive-thru order at a restaurant. On Monday, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality declared an Ozone Action Day for the Austin/San Antonio area, asking people to avoid drive-thru lanes as well as other activities that worsen ozone levels.
NewSaetiew/Getty
Ozone season runs roughly from March to November in Texas, according to the TCEQ. Each day during that time, the TCEQ alerts residents if an Ozone Action Day is in place, which is when ozone levels are higher than normal and can have an impact on health. It’s possible another Ozone Action Day will be declared for Tuesday. If so, the alert will be issued by 3 p.m. local time on Monday.
Newsweek reached out to the TCEQ by email for comment.
Air quality changes depending on the time of day and weather conditions, the NWS said. However, some factors contribute to unusually high and persistent levels of ozone pollution, including “increased emissions of chemicals and faster ozone formation rates due to heat, along with low winds and stagnant weather.”
Hot weather has been occurring across the Austin area, according to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the NWS office in San Antonio/Austin.
“The broken record pattern of dry weather, warm to hot days and seasonally mild nights continues,” the office posted over the weekend.
Advertisement
AirNow, a coalition between the U.S. government and tribal agencies that monitors air quality, says members of sensitive groups may experience health effects when the air quality index is between 101 and 150. AirNow’s forecast shows that air quality is expected to reach that level across Austin on Monday. Tuesday’s forecast shows slight improvement, with a moderate AQI expected.
The air quality is considered moderate when the index measures between 51 and 100. Anything below 50 is considered good quality. Unhealthy levels are reached when the index is 150 to 200, very unhealthy is when levels are 201 to 300, and hazardous levels occur when the index is 301 or higher.
People can take certain actions to reduce emissions that worsen ozone, according to the TCEQ alert, including avoiding drive-thru lanes, as idling vehicles can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, conserving energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn can help prevent a worsening of the ozone readings.
Air quality also can be affected by pollution and wildfire smoke.
Accident or crime scene cordon tape, police line do not cross. via Getty Images
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas – A juvenile has been arrested Saturday after an early morning double-homicide near Round Rock.
The situation ended after officials successfully negotiated a barricade situation with the minor, they say.
Advertisement
Williamson County double-homicide
What we know:
Williamson County authorities got the shooting call around 2 a.m. from the 8900 block of Brushy Gate Cove, outside the Round Rock city limits.
Advertisement
Williamson County sheriff’s deputies found two men dead of gunshot wounds at the scene. The suspect was barricaded inside a bedroom in the home.
Williamson County SWAT and crisis negotiators responded, and the suspect peacefully surrendered around 6:30 a.m.
Advertisement
Officials say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Williamson County officials comment
What they’re saying:
Advertisement
“On our arrival, we found two deceased people from the residence, adult males,” said Commander John Foster of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
“Anytime you have a barricaded subject inside of a home where we believe two people are deceased, you know, we’re going to take all precautionary measures that we can to ensure our safety and the safety of the neighbors as well,” said Foster.
Investigators say everyone involved resided in the house and that this was an isolated incident.
Advertisement
“Information is going to be very limited, because this is a juvenile investigation, and certain laws protect certain information regarding juveniles,” said Foster.
What we don’t know:
The identity of the minor suspect has not been released.
Advertisement
The victims were not identified.
The motive behind the shooting has not been commented on.
Advertisement
The Source: Information in this article came from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
Samsung is taking steps to provide Apple with image sensors built with advanced technology for iPhones. Reportedly, the sensors for the iPhone will be manufactured in Samsung’s current Austin, Texas facility, and the company is anticipated to soon have production equipment installed for the upcoming project.
The image sensor of the iPhone is expected to have a three-stack design for better low-light performance and a higher density of pixels with multiple layers stacked vertically. This results in less power consumption, a dynamic range that’s higher, and faster speeds for readouts.
It’s believed that the new sensor will be made for the upcoming iPhone 18 in 2027. Apple and Samsung have reportedly arrived at a deal where Samsung will be supplying the component for the sensor. This marks the first occasion Apple will be going with another company apart from Sony as their main supplier for image sensors for its iPhones.
Texas football has lost its fair share of players to the NFL draft and transfer portal over the past few weeks, dwindling the roster. Despite the loss of a few big names such as linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., safety Michael Taaffe and others, the Longhorns have held onto star quarterback Arch Manning.
While it was unlikely that Manning would enter the portal, there was some hype surrounding the possibility of the first-year starter entering the NFL Draft. Why did the young star decide to forego the pros? According to Manning, his journey at Texas isn’t quite finished.
Manning Wants to Continue His Development With Texas
Advertisement
Nov 28, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning keeps the ball and runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
“I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially towards the back half, and I want to keep it going,” Manning said, according to Inside Texas’s Evan Vieth. “There’s no reason to leave. I feel like I got a lot more football left to play, and excited to still be a part of this team.”
Advertisement
Manning didn’t quite have the season that most fans and analysts envisioned for him, struggling at the start of the year. Despite these struggles, Manning went on to improve throughout the regular season, demonstrating why he is one of the nation’s top quarterback talents.
Advertisement
At the start of the season, Manning’s accuracy and timing were a bit off. The offense as a whole seemed out of sync, and Texas was not looking like the powerhouse that was promised heading into the season.
Eventually, though, Manning found his stride, and more than just improving his stats, the Longhorn quarterback looked more comfortable. Eventually, the stat sheet reflected his improvements, posting 1,625 passing yards over the last six games of the season, alongside 16 total touchdowns.
Now, returning to Texas for what will likely be his last year in college before departing for the NFL, next season should be an exciting one for the Longhorns. Not only is Manning more experienced as the team’s top quarterback, but the wide receiving core will have developed as well.
Texas wide receivers had their struggles with drops this season, but showed improvements at some points throughout the year.
Advertisement
Though it may be difficult to abstain from declaring for the draft, ultimately Manning made perhaps the best decision for his career and development. With another year to grow, by the time he enters the NFL, Manning will be much more experienced and likely better prepared.
Advertisement
Manning will have one more chance to take the field this season in the upcoming Citrus Bowl, where Texas will take on the Michigan Wolverines on December 31.
