Austin, TX
Texas Evening Briefing March 11
Good evening, Texas. We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.
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Introducing Spectrum News+
Watch the latest news and more local stories from across the country.
Introducing Spectrum News+
Watch the latest news and more local stories from across the country.
Today’s Big Stories
1. Talarico plans to win over Black voters after winning primary tinged with racial tension
State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, claimed the Democratic nomination after defeating U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas. Talarico had strong support from Latinos in the primary, but he’s missing support from a key bloc of voters.
Their race was tinged with racial tension after a social media influencer alleged Talarico called former U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred a “mediocre Black man.” Talarico’s response was that he was referring to Allred’s campaign. And Crockett called an attack ad that used a filter, which darkened her skin, racist. Talarico said he had no control over the ad, which came from a pro-Talarico PAC, which the campaign can’t legally coordinate with.
2. City of Pflugerville says ‘it’s going to be a while’ before Stage 3 water restrictions lift
The City of Pflugerville is working to repair its fourth waterline break since September as residents operate under Stage 3 emergency water restrictions until further notice.
In a City Council meeting Tuesday, city officials provided a timeline of breaks to the existing raw waterline, which is a 30-inch waterline that connects the Colorado River Pump Station up to Lake Pflugerville. The first happened in September and took 12 days to fix. The next came in November and took 17 days to repair, and the third came in January and also took 17 days to fix.
Officials identified a fourth break on Feb. 6 but didn’t actually locate it roughly 20 feet under a creek until Feb. 17. Work began on a 24-inch temporary bypass waterline on Feb. 10.
3. President Trump announces first new U.S. oil refinery in 50 years to open in Brownsville, Texas
President Donald Trump announced plans to build the first oil refinery in the United States in 50 years, and it will be in Brownsville, Texas, according to a Truth Social post.
Notes for Tomorrow
Thursday, March 12
- PGA Tour golf continues
- Court hearing for Lil Nas X charged with assaulting police during arrest
- 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games continue, with three gold medals decided in a single sport
- Billy Joel honored at Michael Dorf’s annual Music Of tribute concert
- South by Southwest Festival and Conference kicks off in Austin
In Case You Missed It
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) reacts after scoring a 3-point goal during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) reacts after scoring a 3-point goal during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
University of Texas with Kevin Durant partner with NIL, Nike for KD apparel
The University of Texas athletics, with former player Kevin Durant, announced an NIL partnership with Nike to allow specific student athletes to wear KD brand apparel.
William “Bill” B. Moriarty, of Austin, Texas, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 73, following an extended battle with cancer. A devoted partner, father, brother, uncle, an…
WIMBERLY, Texas – The names of all five people killed in the Central Texas plane crash late Thursday night have been released.
Plane crash victim names
The latest:
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the names of the five victims in the Wimberly, Texas crash are as follows:
- Justin Appling (pilot)
- Hayden Dillard
- Seren Wilson
- Brooke Skypala
- Stacy Hedrick
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigators are on scene and serving as the lead investigative agencies, DPS said in their Saturday release.
What we don’t know:
The cause of the crash has yet to be determined.
Fatal Texas plane crash
The backstory:
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra says first responders received the call just after 11 p.m. April 30 about an aircraft down in the Wimberley area.
The crash happened in a wooded area in the 200 block of Round Rock Road, near the area of Ledgerock Road and FM 2325, northwest of Wimberley. The NTSB says the crash happened at around 11:03 p.m.
A post-impact fire destroyed the plane, says the NTSB.
According to FlightAware, the plane was on its way to New Braunfels from Amarillo.
The aircraft has been identified as a Cessna 421C that had five people on board. All five are confirmed dead.
A preliminary investigation shows the plane was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash, but there is no indication of a mid-air crash. A second plane traveling in the same area landed safely in New Braunfels.
Flight tracking data shows the plane had a normal takeoff, climbing to 17,400 feet, but just before 11 p.m., something went wrong. The data showed the plane suddenly started dropped, plunging more than 5,000 feet per minute. Within minutes, radar contact was lost.
The Source: Information in this update comes from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Five people were killed when a small private plane crashed and caught fire near Austin, Texas, according to state and local officials. A pickleball club identified the victims as members who were traveling to a tournament.
The crash happened at about 11:05 p.m. on Thursday in the Wimberley area, about 40 miles southwest of Austin, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety and Hays County officials. The FAA said the aircraft was a Cessna 421C.
Sgt. Billy Ray with the Texas Department of Public Safety said all five people on board were killed, including one pilot and four passengers. He also confirmed that the plane caught fire after the crash.
The Amarillo Pickleball Club identified the victims as Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala, Stacy Hedrick, Glen Appling and Hayden Dillard. The club said they were members of its “Amarillo pickleball family” and were traveling to a pickleball tournament when the crash happened.
“Today, the Club has received terrible news that we all must mourn in the loss of five members of our Amarillo pickleball family,” the club said in a statement. “Please keep their precious families in your thoughts and prayers.”
Fire and EMS personnel remained at the crash site through the early morning hours, according to Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra. Preliminary information indicated the aircraft was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact.
Becerra said there was no indication of a mid-air collision. A second aircraft that was flying nearby landed safely in New Braunfels, a city northeast of San Antonio.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
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