Austin, TX
Solar eclipse leads to increase in traffic on major Texas roads
Traffic picks up after solar eclipse
With thousands and thousands of people coming into Central Texas for the total solar eclipse, TxDOT prepared for increased traffic to come along with it.
AUSTIN, Texas – Drivers faced long drive times on major Central Texas roads following the eclipse.
“We opened the Emergency Operations Center over the weekend so that we could be on top of this and make sure that we were prepared for anything that came our way,” said Brad Wheelis, TxDOT spokesperson.
According to Wheelis, light traffic was seen throughout the morning with trouble spots being in the Blanco and Burnet areas. However, things started to cool down while people watched the eclipse.
For those watching at a park in Marble Falls, the clouds parted at the perfect time to catch the tail end of the show.
Eclipse viewing party at Long Center
Austinites and travelers gathered together to share a once-in-a-lifetime moment at the Long Center.
“It was all cloudy and then boom. It came through, and it was beautiful,” said Cooper Craig.
These folks caught around four minutes of totality. Those watching said the eclipse was a once in a lifetime experience.
“It was morning, nighttime, and then morning again. It looked like an alien ship,” said Wesley Craig.
MORE ON THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
It was after the eclipse, when people started to head home, the traffic began.
“Immediately after totality, we started seeing traffic stack up in the Burnet area,” said Wheelis.
FOX 7 Austin also saw traffic in and around Marble Falls and in the Hill Country. Hays County officials also reported a 30-minute traffic delay on the highway from Wimberley to San Marcos.
“None of us have been through an eclipse like this here in Texas. This is a special event, a once in a lifetime, really and so we wanted to make sure that our crews were deployed. They could respond to any incidents that happened along the roadways,” said Wheelis.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man walking his dog with his son was fatally shot by a neighbor Friday evening in Northwest Austin, police said.
Billy Carlisle, 41, was shot at the intersection of Gardenridge Hollow and Wallace Drive at approximately 6:06 p.m. May 8. Austin-Travis County EMS attempted lifesaving measures, but Carlisle was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m.
Hunter Buchmeyer, 36, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
According to APD, Carlisle was walking his dog with his son when he and Buchmeyer, also walking his dog, got into a verbal altercation. The two neighbors had “prior history,” APD said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | APD investigating deadly shooting in NW Austin; suspect in custody
The dispute escalated to the point that Buchmeyer called 911 to report the altercation before shooting Carlisle. According to police, Buchmeyer yelled at someone to “get back” before the call disconnected.
Buchmeyer remained at the scene and attempted CPR on Carlisle before officers arrived.
No charges have been filed. APD said the investigation remains open.
The case is being investigated as Austin’s 23rd homicide of 2026.
Anyone with information is asked to contact APD at 512-974-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip through Capital Area Crime Stoppers at austincrimestoppers.org or 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest.
There was a significant reduction in the number of antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island in 2025, according to a national Jewish advocacy group.
According to the Anti-Defamation League’s latest Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, there were 26 antisemitic incidents in the state last year. That’s down from the 52 incidents counted by the group in 2024.
Samantha Joseph, New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, says a big reason for the reduction is a steep decline in antisemitism on college campuses.
“It shows that campus administrators are taking their responsibilities very seriously to provide a safe environment for all of their students,” said Joseph.
Brown University had over $500 million in federal funding frozen by the Trump administration last year following investigations into alleged antisemitism on campus. The funding was restored after Brown reached a settlement with the administration.
The reduction in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island reflects a wider trend in New England as a whole. According to the ADL’s report, there were 400 antisemitic incidents in the region in 2025, compared to 638 the previous year.
While she’s pleased about the overall drop in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island, Joseph says a number of concerning trends continue to persist. In particular, the state is still seeing more anti-Jewish incidents than it did prior to the October 7 attacks on Israel that launched the Gaza War in 2023.
Joseph is also concerned about the violent nature of local incidents of antisemitism.
“Even though overall incidents are down, assaults are up and assaults with a deadly weapon are up significantly,” said Joseph. “Our communities remain concerned for their safety, and our work is far from done.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday evening as a cold front arrives in Central Texas. KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team will keep you updated on the weather coverage.
Risks to be aware of are damaging wind gusts that could reach as high as 60 to 75 mph and large hail up to quarter size.
Weather Resources:
Live Updates:
5:22 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued for all counties except for Milam County.
3:51 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Mason, San Saba, and Lampasas County until 9:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.: The primary risk for Sunday’s severe weather is damaging wind gusts which could cause power outages.
3:26 p.m.: Storms will likely move toward the I-35 corridor around 6 p.m. Most of the storms will enter the Hill Country around 6 p.m. and the Austin metro counties after 8 p.m.
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