Austin, TX
Texas attorney general threatens Austin over City Council's effort to protect health care for transgender people – Austin Monitor
Shortly after City Council acted Thursday to protect transgender people from discriminatory health care laws, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a threatening statement, vowing to “consider every possible response to ensure compliance” with state law prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors.
Against this backdrop of escalating anti-trans rhetoric within the Republican Party, Council passed a resolution to protect the health, welfare and safety of trans and nonbinary people, as well as those who provide care or assist in facilitating gender-affirming care.
The resolution, which passed on a 10-1 vote, with Council Member Mackenzie Kelly voting no, is significant given recent developments in Texas such as the 2023 law banning gender-affirming health care for youth and Gov. Greg Abbott’s insinuation last month that trans teachers should be prohibited from wearing clothing that aligns with their gender identity.
Council Member Chito Vela sponsored the resolution and noted before the vote the dangers LGBTQIA+ people face in their daily lives. He thanked the speakers, “especially given the intimidation tactics used by some opponents (who) apparently sent armed individuals to intimidate supporters as they entered City Hall. That’s very disappointing and troubling,” he said. “Violence should not be a part of, or even threats of violence, should not be a part of our political discourse.”
The resolution directs that no city personnel or resources be used to investigate, prosecute or impose penalties on people seeking transgender health care, and that Austin police should make investigating such cases their lowest priority.
Many members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies spoke in support of the resolution, while others spoke against the measure and based their opposition on either religious views or the likelihood that the state would punish Austin, as later evidenced by Paxton’s statement.
Speaking in support, Morgan Davis, a transgender man who serves on Austin’s Human Rights Commission, grew emotional when they recounted what it was like working as an investigator for Child Protective Services at a time when the agency was directed to look into reports of minors receiving gender-affirming care. Davis resigned instead, on grounds that “I took an oath to protect children. … Good people lost their jobs because they could not morally continue” to investigate trans kids, Davis said.
Before casting a dissenting vote, Kelly said that Austin, as a home rule city, “does indeed have a significant degree of autonomy. However … our autonomy should not be construed as a license to continually undermine state law. Repeated actions like this by our Council not only undermine the rule of law but also invite significant cost of litigation, which diverts valuable and limited city resources away from other critical services.”
Mayor Kirk Watson asked to be added as a co-sponsor to Vela’s resolution prior to the vote. Co-sponsors included Council members Ryan Alter, Zo Qadri, José Velásquez and Vanessa Fuentes. A Watson aide said the mayor would not comment on Paxton’s statement. Vela’s office did not respond by press time.
Photo by Emgann444, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers donors from time to time, we are careful to keep business and editorial efforts separate while maintaining transparency. A complete list of donors is available here, and our code of ethics is explained here.
You’re a community leader
And we’re honored you look to us for serious, in-depth news. You know a strong community needs local and dedicated watchdog reporting. We’re here for you and that won’t change. Now will you take the powerful next step and support our nonprofit news organization?
AUSTIN, Texas – Three fugitives who were on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders list were arrested in three separate operations throughout the state.
The arrests involve local agencies from Hidalgo, Plano and Houston, as well as state and federal law enforcement agencies, according to DPS officials.
3 Texas Most Wanted Sex Offenders Captured
Local perspective:
53-year-old Leroy Lewis Jr. was arrested June 22 at a residence in south Houston.
Leroy Lewis Jr. (Texas DPS)
DPS special agents assigned to the Texas Anti-Gang Center worked with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department and the Texas attorney general’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit to locate and arrest him.
Lewis had been wanted since March on a Harris County warrant charging him with failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
According to DPS, Lewis was convicted in the 1990s of murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping. Authorities said the kidnapping involved a 20-year-old woman whom Lewis intended to sexually abuse. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison, paroled in 2012 and required to register as a sex offender.
Tip leads to capture of Plano fugitive
Dig deeper:
64-year-old Kenneth Wayne Patterson was arrested on June 24 at a Plano apartment complex after investigators followed up on a tip.
Kenneth Wayne Patterson (Texas DPS)
DPS special agents, Plano police officers and members of the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force made the arrest. Patterson had been wanted since December 2025 on a Dallas County warrant alleging failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
Patterson was convicted in Dallas County in 1989 of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl and sentenced to eight years in prison, according to DPS. Authorities said he has a history of failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
Hidalgo border arrest
What’s next:
32-year-old Eduardo Quinones Fuentes was arrested on June 22 at the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, after U.S. authorities took him into custody upon his return from Mexico.
Eduardo Quinones Fuentes (Texas DPS)
DPS identified Fuentes as a documented Tango Valluco gang member who had absconded to Mexico. Fuentes had been wanted since October 2025 on parole violation and obstruction warrants. A Hidalgo County warrant charging him with failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements was issued in November 2025.
Since 2016, Fuentes has been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, sexual assault, assault, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and human smuggling, according to DPS.
Rewards and 2026 Arrest Stats
What they’re saying:
DPS said 44 fugitives on its 10 Most Wanted lists have been arrested so far this year, including 32 sex offenders and eight documented gang members. The agency said $61,500 in Crime Stoppers rewards has been paid in connection with those arrests.
Texas Crime Stoppers offers rewards for information leading to the arrest of fugitives on the state’s 10 Most Wanted lists.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Austin, TX
Home Automation Austin Brings Personalized, Full-Service Home Automation to Homeowners in Austin
A Smart Home Partner for Every Stage of the Project
AUSTIN, Texas, June 30, 2026 (Newswire.com)
–
Home Automation Austin, a premier smart home installation company, is helping homeowners rethink the way they live by delivering customized home automation in Austin that unites lighting, audio, video, climate and security into a single, easy-to-use system.
For more than 18 years, the company has designed and installed integrated technology systems that let clients control their homes from any networked device, whether they are across the room or across the globe. From whole-house audio and video distribution to motorized shades, energy management and home theaters, Home Automation Austin builds each system around a client’s lifestyle rather than a one-size-fits-all template. A typical installation lets homeowners dim individual lights, monitor security cameras, adjust the thermostat and stream music to outdoor speakers, all from a single app.
Demand for home automation in Austin continues to climb as new construction and remodeling projects across Central Texas increasingly include smart technology. The company works directly with homeowners, builders and designers from the earliest planning stages, holding project kickoff meetings to keep systems on time and on budget.
“Home automation in Austin has moved from a luxury to an expectation, and our clients want technology that simply works without a learning curve,” said Adam Besetzny, CEO of Home Automation Austin. “We design every system around the way a family actually lives, so controlling lights, music, climate and security feels effortless from day one.”
Unlike many providers that rely on subcontractors, Home Automation Austin employs its own technicians and designers, a distinction the company says ensures accountability and consistent quality. The firm is a certified dealer and integrator for respected brands including Control4, Crestron, Lutron, Savant, Sonos and Sonance, and it backs its work with what it calls the best warranty in the industry.
The company also emphasizes long-term support, a point of difference in an industry where service often ends once installation is complete. Home Automation Austin offers 24/7 service and support plans, keeping clients connected long after the final device is mounted.
“Most companies disappear the moment the job is finished, but that is when the relationship should really begin,” Besetzny said. “We stay involved, we answer the phone and we make sure the technology keeps performing for years, not just on installation day.”
Home Automation Austin serves Austin and surrounding communities, including Georgetown, Leander, Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Dripping Springs and San Marcos. The company is fully licensed and insured and holds a Google five-star rating along with multiple industry credentials.
Homeowners interested in home automation in Austin can schedule a design consultation by calling 512-515-3456 or visiting https://homeautomationaustin.com/.
About Home Automation Austin
Home Automation Austin is a premier smart home installation company in Austin, TX, specializing in design, installation, and support of advanced home automation, audio and video, and lighting control systems. With more than 18 years of experience and partnerships with top-tier brands, the company delivers personalized solutions that combine innovation, performance, and long-term reliability.
Media Contact:
Adam Besetzny, CEO
512-851-6474
adamb@capitoltechnologygroup.com
SOURCE: Home Automation Austin
Source: Home Automation Austin
Posted:
Updated:
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is asking the community for help in locating three people involved in a May 31 robbery at a 7-Eleven at 411 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Three suspects allegedly entered the gas station at 2:50 a.m. and ran for the exit while stealing alcohol, according to an APD press release. A store clerk tried to intervene and was tackled, resulting in significant injuries, police said.
If anyone has information, APD is requesting they contact APD’s Robbery Unit at 512-974-5092. You may submit an anonymous tip through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.
A reward up to $1,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
-
Movie Reviews9 minutes ago‘Supergirl’ Movie Review
-
World17 minutes agoMap: 6.0-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Off Mexico’s Coast
-
News24 minutes agoIn the United States, Every World Cup Team Is a Home Team
-
Lifestyle1 hour agoHow does the Kennedy Center board make decisions? This legal filing sheds some light
-
Technology1 hour agoMeta is adding ridiculous ‘rate limits’ and a soft paywall to its smart glasses
-
World1 hour agoBoy, 2, pulled alive from rubble six days after Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes
-
Politics1 hour agoSocialism goes west as DSA-backed challenger ousts longtime Democrat
-
Health1 hour agoAmericans are giving up multivitamins for a different daily health habit, study finds
