Connect with us

Austin, TX

Texas DPS to patrol Austin streets amid 911 response delays

Published

on

Texas DPS to patrol Austin streets amid 911 response delays


DPS troopers will help the Austin Police Division in patrolling the town, officers introduced Monday. Picture: Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos

State troopers will help the Austin Police Division with patrolling the town amid staffing shortages that police say have led to 911 response delays and fewer officers on the streets.

Driving the information: In a Monday afternoon information convention, Mayor Kirk Watson and different metropolis officers mentioned the transfer comes without charge to the town.

  • Officers wouldn’t disclose what number of troopers can be tasked to Austin policing.

Why it issues: The partnership between APD and the Texas Division of Public Security is uncommon, and displays the extra hand-in-hand posture towards Republican state officers promised by a pragmatic-minded Watson, who was narrowly elected in a December runoff.

The large image: How one can method public security stays a lightning rod within the post-George Floyd period, with Austinites divided about police spending.

Advertisement

What they’re saying: Watson mentioned the plan will cut back site visitors fatalities, response occasions and enhance police presence throughout the town.

  • “My prime precedence is that the individuals of Austin each are protected and really feel protected,” Watson mentioned. “This can be a recognition that the police division wants extra workers and we’ve a companion that may help us. This partnership will enhance security and supply a runway as we recruit extra officers and work to retain these presently on the power.”

Between the traces: Metropolis officers and the police union stay at odds over civilian oversight and pay as negotiations over a brand new police labor contract proceed.

  • Watson insisted that the plan occurred organically from a dialog he had with Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
  • “That is assist and complement,” Watson mentioned. “Not override and overtake.”

Flashback: Two years in the past Austin voters rejected Proposition A, which might have put extra officers on the road.

  • Metropolis finance officers mentioned Prop A would have value as a lot as $600 million over 5 years, and critics of the measure mentioned it could not have offered complete public security reform.
  • Prop A opponents additionally mentioned spending extra on regulation enforcement would take away from different metropolis packages.

By the numbers: Police chief Joe Chacon instructed KVUE final fall that APD has 1,534 officers on the power, down 65 officers from one yr prior.

  • The division acquired funding for 1,812 officers in 2022, though it had greater than 1,900 officers only a few years in the past.
  • In the meantime, 167 officers had resigned or retired throughout the earlier yr, Chacon instructed KVUE.
  • 911 response occasions have elevated from 7 minutes in 2018 to 10 minutes in 2022, interim metropolis supervisor Jesús Garza mentioned Monday.

Of notice: DPS, which is chargeable for the safety of the Capitol advanced and different state buildings, has helped different Texas cities, together with Dallas and San Antonio, and the division helped Austin police make arrests in February’s unlawful “road takeovers.”

What’s subsequent: Residents ought to anticipate to see a rise in DPS troopers throughout the coming days, DPS director Steve McCraw mentioned.

  • “We purposely do not discuss what number of troopers, however you may definitely see a bigger variety of these uniforms round city,” McCraw mentioned.
  • There isn’t a set time for when the settlement will finish, in accordance with Watson.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Austin, TX

Austin, TX's Rising Pop Star Aline Garza Empowers Bullying Victims With New Single “Superhero” – That Eric Alper

Published

on

Austin, TX's Rising Pop Star Aline Garza Empowers Bullying Victims With New Single “Superhero” – That Eric Alper


After Aline Garza’s successful kickstart in music with her heartfelt breakout single “Day One” while going viral on Instagram with over 2.4 million views, the Texan artist now captures a tremendously powerful and utterly necessary message in her new single “Superhero”.

On top of an upbeat, hopeful and catchy melody, Aline Garza evokes nostalgia with a 2010’s Pop/R&B sound and spreads a heartwarming message to all bullying and harassment victims:

Advertisement

They only talkin’ cause they’re jealous
They so unhappy with themselves
They insecure so they’re projectin’
So don’t be tough on yourself

And, much like a warm ray of sun on a freezing day, Aline Garza shows her unconditional support for all going through a tough time in the chorus:

I wish I was a superhero
Who could save the day
A superhero
to make everything OK
A superhero
To stand by your side and take
All the pain away put a smile on ya’ face

Sadly, like millions of kids across the globe, Aline Garza experienced an isolating feeling at the age of 10, which sparked her to write and sing about it: “Writing Superhero at 10 years old was a feeling of being left out” and addresses how bullying has evolved in many other dangerous ways: “Now as the years have come, I see bullying happening more frequently in different ways including rumors, cyberbullying, physical contact, teasing, emotional, social, and verbal.”

The artist also shares that people who bully are actually reflecting their own internal fights in others: “People can be insecure so they’re negatively projecting”, and sheds light on the importance of self-confidence: “First believe in yourself, then others will too”, as well as addressing our own mental health: “Bullying causes people to not socialize and stay to themselves which can later cause mental issues”.

Aline’s musical journey began almost before she can remember, at the age of 5, and she’s won awards such as “Best New Artist” in her age group at the Vocal Star New Year’s Gala Competition and emerged as a finalist in prestigious competitions like Dream Night in 2021.

Advertisement

Now, following the guidance of her label XOXO Entertainment Corp. and relying on the endless support from her family, she’s ready to make a difference in the music industry! From pop to R&B, to even Gospel music, be ready for versatile and timeless hits from the young Texan artist.

Apart from her label and family, Aline expresses her gratitude to producer and co-writer Adam H. and mixer Orlando Calzada, 5x Grammy Award Winner with credits including Lady Gaga, One Direction, Beyonce and Destiny’s Child.

Ultimately, it is vital to have artists who bring attention to unjust situations, share a message of hope and, above all, who have the charisma and sensitivity that Aline has. In her own words: “I like to make music that people can relate to and has a positive message”. Aline is the true meaning of a Superhero!



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Austin, TX

Texas softball run-rules Northwestern in Austin Regional

Published

on

Texas softball run-rules Northwestern in Austin Regional


The top-overall seed Texas softball and head coach Mike White have taken care of business without much trouble in the first two games of the Austin Regional this weekend. Texas defeated Siena 5-0 behind a perfect game from Mac Morgan on May 17.

Texas continued its winning ways in its second game of the Austin Regional on May 18, taking down the Northwestern Wildcats in five innings. The Longhorns run-ruled their first opponent of the postseason, dismantling the Wildcats by a score of 14-2 this afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

Texas never trailed in this game, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead behind home runs from Alyssa Washington and Kayden Henry in the bottom of the second inning. Washington notched two of her three runs batted in on the afternoon on the two-run shot to left to get the Texas bats going in the second.

Advertisement

After Northwestern cut Texas’s lead in half in the top of the third inning, on a two-run homer against Citaly Gutierrez, the Longhorns responded in the bottom half. Reese Atwood got Texas’s lead back to three runs with a sac-fly in the bottom of the third.

The bottom of the fourth is when the Longhorns really piled on Northwestern offensively. An offensive outburst led by Mia Scott and Washington in the bottom of the fourth inning saw the Longhorns score a whopping nine runs on over a half dozen hits in that half inning.

Scott hit a three-run home run to right field, driving in three runs. The three-run shot from Scott in the bottom of the fourth got Texas to double-digit runs on the day. It also got the Longhorns in the run-rule territory against the Wildcats.

After Texas’s pitching shut down the Northwestern bats in the top of the fifth inning, the Longhorns achieved their first run-rule win of the postseason by a convincing margin of a dozen runs today.

Advertisement

Scott, Washington, and the Longhorns now await the winner of the loser’s bracket game in the final of the Austin Regional on May 19. Northwestern faces the winner of Siena vs. Saint Francis (PA) to decide the Austin Regional on May 19 at 12 p.m. CT.

You can view the live updating bracket for the Austin Regional in the college softball postseason on NCAA.com here.





Source link

Continue Reading

Austin, TX

Austin's Fierce Whiskers Debuts Bourbon, Takes Jabs at KY

Published

on

Austin's Fierce Whiskers Debuts Bourbon, Takes Jabs at KY


(Photo: Fierce Whiskers)

This month, a young distillery is launching its first bourbon in Austin, Texas — and it has a message for Kentucky.

Fierce Whiskers released its first bourbon — a 3-year-old release distilled, aged and bottled at 98 proof in Austin — on May 10. It’s available now at retail stores across Texas with a suggested retail price of $46.99.

Fierce Whiskers began distilling its first batches of bourbon in September 2020. In 2021, it opened its tasting room in southeast Austin. Since then, it has launched multiple releases, including a wine-infused whiskey, two carbon-neutral rye whiskeys and a dual gin release.

Advertisement

Its first retail-available product, Fierce Whiskers Straight Texas Rye, debuted in June 2023.

“The success of the Rye was everything we hoped and gave us great confidence for the Bourbon,” founder and CEO Tri Vo. “Our team is exceedingly talented and willfully dedicated to the stubborn spirit needed to make whiskey in Texas, and that heart comes through in every spirit we release. We are so thrilled that after three years in the making, the bourbon is finally among those spirits.”

With an advertising campaign crafted by independent brand studio Butler, Fierce Whiskers made some brash, bold statements around Austin, which Butler showed off on its Instagram page.

“Kentucky, you still have the horse-thing,” a billboard reads. “The next great bourbon ain’t from Kentucky,” says a magazine ad.

In an Instagram post from the distillery showed off two other billboards, one reading “Kentucky, we’ve got the next round.”

“Kentucky, you had a good run,” says another.

Advertisement

Kentucky has a long, storied tradition of making great bourbon — so much so that many people are under the false impression that bourbon has to be made in Kentucky. While that’s not true, it is highly, highly unlikely that Kentucky will ever be dethroned as the king of America’s native spirit.

With that said, there’s plenty of great bourbon coming from all around the U.S. — including in Fierce Whiskers’ backyard. Still Austin is one of the best craft distilleries around.

Fierce Whiskers to Celebrate Launch With ‘Bourbon Bash’

Fierce Whiskers will celebrate its official launch from 4-8 p.m. Saturday with a “Bourbon Bash” at the distillery (5333 Fleming Ct, Austin, TX 78744). The event is free to the public and will feature food from include Uchiba (free onigiri to the first 150 guests), KG BBQ and small bites from Tare Austin, Castel Provisions, The Salty Donut, OMG Squee and Ululani’s, the latter of which will serve Hawaiian shaved ice, plus an option incorporating bourbon.

Bawi, the agua frescas brand, will provide refreshments including a Fierce Whiskers x Bawi cocktail. The Concord Botanical café and dispensary will park its school bus on the lawn for drink infusions.

Join the Whiskey Raiders Bottle of the Month Club, where you will receive hard-to-find bottles curated by Whiskey Raiders staff with a 90+ rating on whiskeyraiders.com plus live virtual tastings. Sign up here!

Advertisement

This post may contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site. This helps support Bottle Raiders at no additional cost to you.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending