AUSTIN, Texas – The University Interscholastic League is making changes to who is eligible to participate in varsity high school athletics.

UIL’s legislative council met Sunday and Monday to discuss rule changes in high school athletics across Texas. Among the changes coming is a ban on foreign exchange students from participating in UIL varsity athletics beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The change comes in response to concerns about competitive advantage and fairness to Texas student-athletes.

What they’re saying:

“Our Texas kids are not allowed to go to a town, a neighboring town, without moving there and play at the varsity level, but they are allowed to get on a plane and come across to our state and play immediately, taking the place many times of a community kid that has worked hard to get that position on an athletic team,” Dr. Aaron Hood, Robert Lee ISD Superintendent, said.

Some, like Barbers Hill ISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Poole, agreed on the decision to ban foreign exchange students from varsity sports, but hopes the measure leads the way to closing open enrollment.

“You can tell teams that have a higher percentage of foreign exchange. You can also tell teams that have a higher percentage of open enrollment athletes,” Poole said. “I understand that’s not politically popular, but I throw it out there for the sake of the coaches that I have that feel like it’s unfair. I guess I would just say I hope we pass this, and I hope it opens the door for other motions.”

The rule only applies to varsity athletics and not other areas that the UIL has policies for, like academics and music.

Other policies passed by UIL

• The council approved a two-year pilot program to allow optional water polo spring training that begins immediately. The program would allow for 15 practices in a 30-day period after the state swimming championship. The athletic committee said this would allow the sport’s practice time to be more inline with other sports.
• The pilot status is being removed from a policy that allows coaches to coach up to two players in state association all-star games. The program was given initial approval in 2024 and is being made a rule following two years of positive feedback.
• An amendment that would require all schools in a competitive district to be included in the district schedule.
• An amendment that would require all scrimmages for boys and girls soccer to be completed before the “first day for games.”
• An amendment that would modify the current requirements that a coach must be a full-time employee or a student teacher to allow for student coaches completing field-based coaching hours as part of a university program to volunteer as assistant coaches.

The Standing Committee on Athletics will continue to study some other proposals

• A proposal to add girls’ flag football
• A proposal regarding softball and baseball noisemakers
• A proposal to add an Ambulatory Adaptive Division for UIL Track and Field
• A proposal to award points for Adaptive Track and Field events at the UIL Trackand Field State Meet.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport hit another snag Monday as the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop, halting departures and delaying arrivals amid a nationwide squeeze on air traffic control staffing caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The order, lifted around 4 p.m., gave way to a ground delay program expected to continue until 7 p.m., with inbound flights averaging 39-minute delays and some waiting up to 90 minutes before takeoff.

It’s at least the third time in two weeks Austin travelers have felt the pinch. Similar slowdowns snarled flights on Oct. 13 and again Oct. 19, when Formula 1 race crowds flooded the city.

Austin’s control tower, already operating with fewer than half the controllers the FAA says it needs, is not alone. Airports across the country have been hit by rolling slowdowns as unpaid controllers—required to report for duty but now weeks without paychecks—struggle to keep the system running safely.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News on Saturday that “things will only get worse” if the shutdown continues, warning that controller fatigue and financial strain are compounding delays coast to coast.

The FAA acknowledged the ongoing issues in an out-of-office auto-reply email the American-Statesman received in response to a request for comment.

“There have been increased staffing shortages across the system,” the message said. “When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations. For real-time flight impacts at U.S. airports due to staffing, weather, or other factors, please visit www.fly.faa.gov.”

Local officials tried to keep things upbeat. The Austin airport told the Statesman the facility “has not experienced significant delays to the customer experience since the government shutdown began,” but urged travelers to arrive early and “keep an eye on flight status” as holiday season chaos looms.

AUSTIN, Texas — Habitat for Humanity is set to begin construction on 25 affordable homes in Austin’s Whisper Valley community, located in East Travis County. The project, which kicks off tomorrow, is part of a larger initiative to honor Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter by eventually bringing 500 affordable houses and condos to the area. Thousands of volunteers are expected to participate in the five-day build.

“Our faith in ourselves, our faith in each other, and our faith in god. That’s what habitat means to me,” Former President Jimmy Carter said in a video played at Sunday’s project opening.

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Austin Habitat for Humanity CEO Michele Anderson emphasized the importance of home ownership.

“Our country was built on our families being able to work hard and buy a home.” She noted that the price range for the new homes and condos will be between $115,000 and $235,000, making them accessible to the community.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson highlighted the city’s progress in land use and regulation over the past three years. He said this is an effort to continue that trend.

“It helps us change the game,” Watson said. “What we’re able to do is not only build the houses, but we’re also able to create the focus.”

Anderson added that Habitat for Humanity plans to build 75 homes annually, with the long-term project expected to be completed in the next five to seven years.