Austin, TX
Swims You Might Have Missed On The Final Day Of The 2026 Austin Pro Swim Series
2026 PRO SWIM SERIES – AUSTIN
As the Austin Pro Swim Series draws to a close, there were a few swims on the final night that you may have missed.
Van Mathias made a lot of noise in the breaststroke events this week, but had a stunning swim to take 2nd in the 50 fly last night. He hacked six tenths off a second off his best of 23.62, set in the semi-finals, to notch 23.06 and rise to third in the world this season. Not only that, but he is now the 5th-fastest U.S. man in history in the event.
Ryan Erisman has thrown down some speedy swims on freestyle in Austin, but closed out the meet with the 200 fly, an event he hadn’t swum since 2024. He knocked 1.47 seconds off his best of 1:59.47, going 1:58.00 for 3rd place.
Bobby Finke also tried the 200 fly on for size, swimming the third-fastest time of his career in 1:59.34. That included a 29.11 final 50 which took him from 8th to 4th.
Brinkleigh Hansen set a big best time en route to silver in the women’s 800 free, knocking seven seconds off the 8:42.75 she swam 18 months ago. She swam 8:35.78 tonight, beating Claire Weinstein by over a second, and now ranks 39th in the 15-16 age group.
Luc Dionne notched another breaststroke personal best, slicing a second and a half off in the 200 to go 2:13.31. He also ranks highly in the 15-16 age group, moving up from 18th to 6th, just ahead of American Record holder Matt Fallon.
Emma Harvey lowered her own Bermudian record in the women’s 50 fly last night, shaving eleven-hundredths off to go 26.59 and place 4th overall. She neared her nati0nal standard of 28.34 in the 50 back later in the session, swimming 28.70 for another 4th place finish.
Austin, TX
Antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island fell by half in 2025, ADL says
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, TX
Live blog: Severe thunderstorms possible in Central Texas
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.
Austin, TX
Letter to the editor from Texas emeritus professor on Dell donation
Video of new Texas Tech System chancellor home at historic Lubbock property
The Texas Tech System is acquiring the historic Tudor Revival ‘English Home’ in Lubbock to serve as the new chancellor’s residence.
Money and rankings don’t make a great university. Providing opportunities for disadvantaged students and protecting academic freedom, however, do.
Case in point: Michael and Susan Dell recently surpassed $1 billion in giving to the University of Texas at Austin, launching a plan to build a new medical center and advanced research campus in north Austin.
To be sure, this is a magnanimous gift that will fund important initiatives. While enormously grateful for this contribution, I am disappointed that this gift was not accompanied with a strong message from Michael Dell admonishing the University for gutting DEI and infringing upon academic freedom.
As a colleague of mine astutely observed: “Good luck recruiting doctors and med students. The attacks on DEI and political climates will mean a lot more than rankings and money long-term.”
UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife, referencing the Dell gift, is right: “We are transforming this site into a new campus the world has never seen before.” Yes, never seen, but in a very negative and dangerous way!
Last week, I received a message from the Texas Exes: “This is your last chance to show your support during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres, UT Austin’s Texas-sized fundraising event. Can we count on you?”
My answer: “No, absolutely not. I won’t give one dime to a university that no longer is committed to diversity and preserving academic freedom.”
Having proudly taught at UT for 41 years, I am sad to say this.
– Richard Cherwitz, Ph.D. is the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor Emeritus, Moody College of Communication and Founding Director, Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium (IE) at The University of Texas at Austin.
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