Austin, TX

Researchers make concerning discovery at bottom of popular lake: ‘Shows how pervasive our impact is’

Published

4 months ago

September 15, 2025

Researchers make concerning discovery at bottom of popular lake: ‘Shows how pervasive our impact is’

Austin, Texas, has a growing microplastic problem in its soil and bodies of water.

Danielle Zaleski, a student at the University of Texas’ Jackson School of Geosciences, pulled a core sample from the floor of Lady Bird Lake in Austin. The mesh, intended to separate sediment from plastic, clogged almost instantly. The sample contained so many fragments that the count had to be abandoned.

What’s happening?

A recent report from KXAN dissected research into how microplastic pollution has built up in Austin’s lakes over time, finding that older sediment contained only a few hundred particles per sample while recent layers had thousands.

Zaleski, who works with the University of Texas and the city, has been documenting the rise of microplastics in Austin’s lakes. In older sediment, buried deeper underground, she measured about 200 particles for every 100 grams. Near the surface, the number spiked to 4,600.

The sharpest concentrations were found downtown, beneath Interstate 35, where tire dust and synthetic road debris flow directly into the water. “It’s just another one of those things that shows how pervasive our impact is,” said Brent Bellinger of the city’s Watershed Protection Department, per KXAN.

Why is microplastic pollution concerning?

Microplastics are created when larger plastics break down or during manufacturing. These particles are now found everywhere, including the air, water, soil, and even human bodies. Studies estimate that the average person ingests between 39,000 and 52,000 particles of microplastics and nanoplastics every year.

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The health risks are still being studied, but scientists have linked microplastics to respiratory problems, digestive issues, and possible chemical exposure. For cities like Austin, the concern goes beyond ecology: These lakes provide recreation, influence property values, and connect to broader water supplies. If the buildup worsens, it could threaten both public health and the city’s economy.

The problem isn’t unique to Texas. Research has documented microplastic pollution in rivers, oceans, bottled water, and even in rainfall. These findings suggest the issue is systemic, driven by the massive global use of plastics and inadequate disposal systems.

What’s being done about microplastics?

According to KXAN, Austin’s Watershed Protection Department is incorporating Zaleski’s findings into an upcoming city report, which could inform new policies on stormwater management, waste reduction, and infrastructure design. Researchers also hope the data will push for tighter controls on road runoff, one of the largest contributors.

On an individual level, reducing the use of single-use plastics remains one of the most effective ways to cut back on microplastic pollution. Simple swaps that use less plastic — such as reusable water bottles, cloth bags, or alternatives to plastic packaging — can help limit the plastic stream before it breaks down into microscopic fragments.

Communities around the country are also experimenting with bans on plastic bags and foam containers, along with efforts to clean and restore waterways.

Tackling microplastics won’t be easy, but cities like Austin now have clearer evidence of how urgent the problem has become.

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Austin, TX

Silver Alert issued for missing 73-year-old man in Austin

Published

11 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Silver Alert issued for missing 73-year-old man in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued a Silver Alert for an elderly man who has been missing since Friday afternoon in Austin.

The Austin Police Department is looking for Charles Evans, a 73-year-old man diagnosed with a cognitive impairment. Evans was last seen at 5:37 p.m. on Jan. 9 in Austin.

Silver Alert issued for missing 73-year-old man in Austin

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Police describe him as a 6’3″ tall white male, weighing 225 pounds, has gray hair, hazel eyes, and who uses a walker.

Law enforcement officials believe his disappearance poses a credible threat to his health and safety.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-5000.

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Austin, TX

Man arrested, charged for deadly shooting at downtown Austin hotel

Published

23 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Man arrested, charged for deadly shooting at downtown Austin hotel

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AUSTIN, Texas – A 20-year-old was arrested and charged with murder for a deadly shooting at the Cambria Hotel in downtown Austin, police said.

What we know:

Police said on Monday, Jan. 5, around 6:55 a.m., officers responded to a report of a gunshot at the Cambria Hotel at 68 East Avenue #824. The caller said a person had been shot.

When officers arrived, they found a man with injuries. He later died at the scene. He was identified as Luke Bradburn.

The investigation revealed that Bradburn drove and crashed a car that belonged to 20-year-old Maximillian Salinas. After the crash, Bradburn and the other people in the car left and went to the Cambria Hotel.

Salinas went to the hotel and shot Bradburn.

On Jan. 6, Salinas was arrested and charged with murder.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.

The Source: Information from the Austin Police Department

DowntownCrime and Public Safety

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Austin, TX

Austin activists hold anti-ICE protests following the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Austin activists hold anti-ICE protests following the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis

Chants of “shame” and “ICE out of Texas” rang through the street as Austin-area activists joined thousands across the nation in protesting the killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot Wednesday by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.

The protest was held in front of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security building in Pflugerville.

Good, 37, was shot in her SUV while attempting to drive away from several ICE officers who ordered her to exit her vehicle.

Scarleth Lopez with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the organization that led the protest, said the videos of the shooting in Minneapolis were “sickening.”

“Trump has lied and and said that Renee was a terrorist. She was a mother. She was an innocent bystander,” Lopez said. “We must organize to stop these people from kidnapping and murdering.”

Lorianne Willett

KUT News

Spray painted messages appeared outside of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security building in Pflugerville

Elizabeth Bope, a retired Pflugerville ISD teacher, said the claims from federal and state lawmakers that Good was attempting to strike the ICE agent with her vehicle inspired her to attend the protest.

Such claims were posted online by Vice President J.D. Vance and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Attorney General Ken Paxton reposted a statement from DHS on X, formerly known as Twitter, that said the ICE agent “relied on his training and saved his own life.”

“It’s beyond really any words that they killed this woman for no reason, but also that they’re lying about it,” Bope said. “I’m not even a radical left person, I’m just a regular old Democrat.”

Other key Texas leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have not commented on the shooting.

A group of protesters holding yellow signs reading "ICE Out of our Communities" gather during a night time protest. — Protesters gathered and held signs during a protest against ICE.

Doug Tickner, who said he works for a home building company in Austin, said he felt it was important to show up in person for Good.

“I don’t really think of Minneapolis as being that far from here, and it’s not like what happened in Minneapolis was some sort of one off unique event,” Tickner said. “This is part of a pattern, and I feel folks better wake up and realize that this is becoming more and more serious.”

The news that federal immigration officers shot and wounded two people in Portland, Oregon, broke hours before the protest.

The gathering in Pflugerville is among the first of four anti-ICE demonstrations planned across the Austin area over the next few days.

Earlier on Thursday, protesters gathered at the intersection of 45th Street and Lamar Boulevard during rush hour. A protest on Friday will be held at the Capitol and another will be held Saturday at City Hall.

Protesters bang on the outside of a building built of metal. — Protesters bang on the outside of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security building in Pflugerville.

State and federal leaders are now sparring over who should conduct an investigation into the Minneapolis shooting, according to NPR.

Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which was originally asked to conduct a joint investigation with the FBI, said in a statement it was later told the investigation would be led solely by federal authorities.

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