Austin, TX
Nearly 1 million people asked to avoid drive-thru lanes in Austin, Texas
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.
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.
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.
As three teens face charges in a string of weekend shootings and robberies, mental health is becoming part of the broader conversation in Austin. One suspect’s mother told KXAN her 15-year-old son had struggled with substance abuse and suicidal thoughts — not as an excuse, she said, but as context for how mental health can affect a young person’s decisions. READ MORE: https://www.kxan.com/news/simplehealth/travis-county-launches-childrens-mental-health-plan-as-teen-crime-case-raises-concerns/
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms and flooding are possible in Central Texas Tuesday evening into early Wednesday. Here’s the latest forecast from the First Warning Weather team.
Here are the main headlines:
- A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for northern Burnet and northern Llano counties until midnight.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for central Williamson County until 9:15 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Blanco, Burnet, northeastern Gillespie, northwestern Hays, southeastern Llano, northwestern Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 9:15 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for southern Blanco, Hays, Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 10 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Gillespie, Llano, Mason and San Saba counties until 11 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Milam, Travis and Williamson counties until 1 a.m.
- The Storm Prediction Center has issued a level 2 of 5 (slight) severe weather risk for all of Central Texas. Large hail and strong winds are the main concerns.
- The Weather Prediction Center has issued a level 2 of 4 flood threat for all of Central Texas.
- RESOURCES: Latest forecast | Radar | Rain totals | Download the KXAN Weather app | Sign up for severe weather alerts | 2026 weather data
Live updates
8:54 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for southern Blanco, Hays, Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 10 p.m. Winds gusts up to 70 mph and quarter-size hail are possible with this storm.
8:49 p.m.: Wind gusts are strengthening in Williamson County. The National Weather Service now says wind gusts of 70 mph are possible, which could cause “considerable tree damage.” A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 9:15 p.m.
8:51 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in this video heading towards Marble Falls.
8:35 p.m.: The National Weather Service said the severe thunderstorm in central Williamson County is now capable to producing ping pong ball-sized hail. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 9:15 p.m.
8:20 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Blanco, Burnet, northeastern Gillespie, northwestern Hays, southeastern Llano, northwestern Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 9:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
8:18 p.m.: Texas Game Wardens have been activated and are prepared to provide support in areas affected by the potential severe weather.
8:11 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for central Williamson County until 9:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
8:10 p.m.: KXAN’s Jordan Belt is monitoring the storms and sent in this video from Burnet.
7:51 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in this video from just north of Burnet.
7:45 p.m.: A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for northern Burnet and northern Llano counties until midnight.
7:43 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for central Burnet County until 8:30 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
7:40 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northwestern Williamson County until 8:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
7:28 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for western Burnet county and Llano County until 8:30 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
7:16 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Northeastern Burnet County until 8:15 p.m. Ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
7:06 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Southeastern Lampasas County until 8:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
6:56 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northern Williamson County until 7:30 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and half dollar-sized hail are possible with this storm.
6:55 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in this video from just south of Lampasas.
6:45 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in these photos from Marble Falls.
6:33 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Burnet County, northern Llano County and northwestern Williamson County until 7:30 p.m. Ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
6:27 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northeastern Williamson County until 7:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
6:12 p.m.: The Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been extended to include Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Milam, Travis and Williamson counties until 1 a.m.
6:11 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northwestern Mason County until 7:15 p.m. Golf ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
5:54 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for western Burnet and central Llano counties until 6:45 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
3:56 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Gillespie, Llano, Mason and San Saba counties. It will be in effect until 11 p.m.
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Austin, TX
Austin shooting suspect named, timeline of terror revealed after teens’ alleged 28-hour, 12-attack rampage
Texas police have released the mugshot of one of the three juveniles arrested over the weekend in connection with 12 separate shooting incidents across Austin that injured four people, as well as a timeline of the alleged 28-hour rampage.
Cristian Fajardo Mondragon, 17, was taken into custody Sunday after allegedly partaking in a citywide shooting spree that left four people injured, struck two fire stations and triggered a shelter-in-place order in South Austin, the Austin Police Department said in a statement.
Mondragon was arrested alongside two additional suspects, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, police said. Their names have not been released due to a statewide law regarding what information can be made public involving juvenile suspects.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11:30 a.m.
Officers received a report of a stolen firearm from a local business. Surveillance footage subsequently revealed the vehicle driven by the suspects had also recently been stolen, according to authorities.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 3:58 p.m.
Less than five hours later, authorities confirmed the first alleged shooting at a trailer residence. However, no injuries were reported.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 4:30 p.m.
Officers responded to another shooting at the Whisper Hollow apartment complex, in which multiple vehicles and an occupied apartment were struck by gunfire. Witness descriptions and surveillance footage of the suspects led authorities to believe the two shootings were connected.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 6:08 p.m.
Approximately two hours later, a third shooting was reported after witnesses observed a suspect wearing a black hoodie exiting a black sedan at another apartment complex and firing through the door of a third-floor unit, police said.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7 p.m.
Authorities said that a group of suspects matching previous surveillance footage of the alleged shootings stole a Hyundai Elantra from a Motel 6 parking lot, with another shooting being reported just 90 minutes later.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:49 p.m.
Authorities said a suspect fired a gun into an Austin Fire Department station while firefighters were inside. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:55 p.m.
Just six minutes later, authorities received a report that suspects matching the same description had fired shots from their vehicle and struck the windshield of an occupied car. One victim inside the vehicle was injured by broken glass, according to police.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:50 a.m.
Police said the suspects allegedly stole another vehicle, with authorities discovering a previous vehicle containing bullet damage abandoned near 1800 E. Stassney Lane hours later.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 8:46 a.m.
Authorities received a report regarding a victim who had been shot in the back and stomach near 7409 Janes Ranch Road by a suspect matching previous witness descriptions surrounding the alleged shootings.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 9 a.m.
Shortly after, officers recovered several other stolen vehicles believed to be connected to the alleged shooting spree.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:46 a.m
A second incident involving shots being fired into another Austin Fire Department station was reported to authorities, with the suspects allegedly stealing yet another vehicle — a white Kia Optima — three hours later.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:44 p.m.
Authorities said two victims were shot in a drive-by shooting involving a white Kia Optima, with two additional shootings being reported within 20 minutes.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 2:29 p.m.
Authorities said surveillance footage showed a white Kia sedan approaching a victim before the individual fell to the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was subsequently transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:23 p.m.
About one hour later, officers with the Manor Police Department spotted the Kia sedan believed to be connected to the alleged shootings, prompting a pursuit in which the three suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
One suspect was immediately detained, with authorities taking the other two individuals into custody separately after a brief search.
The incidents led to the injuries of four people and five vehicles being stolen, police said.
“At this time, investigators believe the incidents were a mix of random and targeted shootings,” APD said in a statement. “Some victims were known to the suspects, while other incidents appeared to occur without any known connection.”
Davis went on to describe the investigation as “complex” because of the sheer number of crime scenes, stolen vehicles and random shootings throughout the city.
Formal charges against the three suspects remain under review, but are expected to include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault/motor vehicle, deadly conduct, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest, theft of a firearm and other related offenses, APD said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Austin Police Department for comment.
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