Austin, TX

Texas lawmakers discuss state Air Force to battle wildfires

Published

10 months ago

January 16, 2025

Texas lawmakers discuss state Air Force to battle wildfires

Lawmakers consider Texas firefighting Air Force

Texas state lawmakers are considering a plan to create a Lone Star Air Force to battle wildfire outbreaks. The operators of an aerial firefighting company were at the Capitol Thursday to help get the idea off the ground. FOX 7 Austin’s chief political reporter Rudy Koski has more.

AUSTIN, Texas – With wildfires still burning in California, Texas lawmakers are considering a plan to create a Lone Star Air Force to battle outbreaks here.

Operators of an aerial firefighting company came to the Capitol to help lawmakers get the idea off the ground.

Texas House move forward after new speaker election

The 89th Texas Legislative Session is now underway. With new leadership roles in place, lawmakers are focusing on which bills to start moving forward.

The backstory:

More than 80 aircraft have been used to battle the wildfires in California. The fleet includes assets from Bridger Aerospace. Planes known as Super Scoopers were flown to LA from the company’s airbase in Montana.

“I think large fires are becoming more of an issue and year-round readiness is paramount,” said Sam Davis.

Davis is the CEO of Bridger Aerospace. He was in Austin on Thursday not just to talk about the California fires. His company is trying to help Texas build its own “fire response” Air Force.

“What we want folks to know is that having these assets on contract or owned or operated by the state of Texas at their disposal is the first and foremost strategy of getting ahead of these fires, pre-positioning, responding quickly and doing what we call initial attack when these fires even high threat is in place. Having them at the ready is very key,” said Davis.

What happened during the Panhandle Wildfire hearings?

Texas lawmakers evaluate Panhandle wildfires

State lawmakers evaluated what went wrong during the February wildfires in the Texas Panhandle. The fire was the largest in state history and had devastating impacts that are still being felt.

The backstory:

State lawmakers evaluated what went wrong during the February wildfires in the Texas Panhandle. The fire was the largest in state history.

The historic wildfires burned across more than 1.2 million acres, killing two people and thousands of livestock. Not to mention, the fire destroyed hundreds of properties and farmers’ livelihoods.

“The big fire started when a power pole blew over, that started the Smokehouse Creek Fire. The other three fires were started in that old oil field that’s over 100 years old,” a speaker said.

The Panhandle Wildfire hearings last year is where the idea for a Texas Air Force was pitched. The recommendation came after landowners complained about the slow response, and how locally owned aircraft, at times, were grounded.

What they’re saying:

The Thursday briefing at the Texas Capitol by Bridger Aerospace was for legislative staffers.

“So, the conversation is how do we get aircraft pre-positioned in the state of Texas? How do we get them responding on a very initial attack when this fire happens so we can work on keeping it small,” said Mel Holtz with Bridger.

The briefing is a chance to get out information ahead of any new hearings that may take place during the legislative session.

“I think it’s really important for the appropriators and for the emergency management people, including the governor’s office, to be engaged in these seminars, to see what their options,” said State Rep. Carl Tepper.

Tepper, a Lubbock Republican, indicated he is leaning toward some type of public private partnership.

“You don’t just jump in the aircraft and fight fires. The aircraft have very extensive maintenance schedules. The crews have very specialized training. There’s even X-rays. The aircraft are X-rayed regularly for cracks and structural integrity. So, there’s a lot that goes into this firefighting. And owning any aircraft, any aircraft owner will tell you there’s a lot of extensive maintenance. And so, the state needs to be careful and cautious about what type of contracts we enter into, what type of aircraft we buy, if we do indeed buy any,” said Rep. Tepper.

California wildfires continue to burn

Millions of people across SoCal are facing a critical fire threat as crews try to gain more control over two of the most destructive fires in the region’s history

A spokesperson for State Senator Kevin Sparks (R) Midland sent FOX 7 a statement about the briefing.

“We have a responsibility to vet and utilize the latest tools and technology to better mitigate all types of natural disasters. The heroic efforts during the 2024 Texas Panhandle wildfires showed the need for greater investment in disaster response including ground and aerial support to protect our communities. By investing in these resources, the state can lead in wildfire preparedness and relief,” said Katie Fields, the Policy Analyst for Sen. Sparks.

An option also under consideration involves the state providing dedicated airfields and refueling pads for contracted aircraft. That kind of footprint is similar to a temporary site built at ABIA several years ago after a fire outbreak across central Texas.

“Selfishly, we want to see this done right, you know, at the state level. And I think this is the right way to see this done right. And take some of the no offense, but a little bit of the federal dysfunction out of the play,” said Davis.

What’s next:

There was no discussion on Thursday about how much this idea would cost Texas taxpayers.

The recommendation from the Panhandle hearing suggested allocating $50 million for six aircraft. But that amount, like the plan itself, is far from being set.

The Source: Information from the 89th Texas Legislative session

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Austin, TX

Austin woman honored for decades of kindness and service

Published

7 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Press Room

Austin woman honored for decades of kindness and service

Austin, TX — For 39 years, Gabriela Olivares has been showing up for others, in her classroom, her church, and her community.

Now, her friends are returning the favor with a Cash for Kindness surprise. Nominated by her friend Patricia González-Villaseñor, Gabriela is known as the person who always puts others first. She’s the one organizing birthday get-togethers, checking in after a loss, and driving hours to support a friend, all without expecting anything in return. In her nomination letter, Patricia wrote in part, “Gabriela is a great friend and human. There are not enough words to describe how incredibly kind and selfless she is. She is the kind of friend everyone wishes they had, always thinking of others, always showing up without expecting anything in return.”

She added, “Her generosity knows no limits, and she lead with such humility that it’s easy to overlook just how much effort and love she puts into everything she does. She makes this world brighter simply by being in it, and everyone who knows her is lucky to call her a friend. She is a beautiful soul and a great individual.”

Her kindness extends beyond her circle of friends. Gabriela recently planned a recognition dinner for nearly 100 church volunteers, coordinating, decorating, and even funding the event herself.

After decades of giving, her friends decided it was her turn to be celebrated. During a birthday celebration at El Mercado Restaurant on Burnet Road, CBS Austin’s Allison Miller surprised Gabriela with $500 from Air & Plumbing Today, to thank her for the countless ways she’s made life brighter for others.

“I just love helping people, that’s what makes me happy,” Gabriela said.

Through Cash for Kindness, CBS Austin honors Central Texans who go above and beyond to make a difference.

If you know someone trying to make our world a little brighter in our Central Texas community, you can nominate them for our Cash For Kindness spotlight. Each winner will receive a $500 Amex Gift Card provided by Air & Plumbing Today and will be featured in an upcoming ‘Cash For Kindness’ segment. Click HERE for the form.

Austin, TX

Texas’ Fastest-Growing City Is An Austin Suburb With Shops, Classic Barbecue, And Ample Outdoor Adventure – Islands

Published

1 day ago

October 30, 2025

Press Room

Texas’ Fastest-Growing City Is An Austin Suburb With Shops, Classic Barbecue, And Ample Outdoor Adventure – Islands

Trong Nguyen/Shutterstock

If it seems to Austinites like their city keeps growing year by year, they’re not wrong. Barring a minor dip from 2019 to 2020, the Texas capital not only continues to keep it weird, but also attracts more people day by day — especially from California. New residents join the nearly 2.5 million Texans within the Austin metro area (as of 2023) in enjoying Austin staple Torchy’s Tacos, pronouncing the neighborhood of Manchaca as MAN-shack, and taking a dip in Barton Springs in Zilker Park. And while the Austin metro area now spans past Round Rock in the north and the food-and-booze-infused San Marcos to the south, another Austin suburb is growing even faster than its parent city: Leander, along Route 183 about half an hour from downtown Austin.

A mere 7,600 people called little Leander home in 2000. In 2025, that number has exploded to nearly 93,000. Much of this completely bananas population growth can be attributed to the obvious, namely, Leander’s proximity to Austin. Owning a home in Austin is more expensive, making Leander an attractive alternative.

But Leander’s got a lot going for it, aside from cheaper prices. Though definitely a spread-out, decentralized suburb, Leander still has some of the same top-notch Texas barbecue places that folks can expect from Austin or anywhere else in the Lone Star State, some of which live along the gloriously-named Hero Way. Leander’s also got its fair share of independent boutiques that have absorbed some of Austin’s nearby quirk, like Wildfire Artisans, which operates out of an old train car. Then there’s Leander’s natural spaces, which are possibly its standout attraction. From the sprawling Garey Park to the picnic-perfect Devine Lake Park, Leander’s got no shortage of outdoor activities at the ready.

Dig into Leander’s extensive barbecue and shopping options

RFondren Photography/Shutterstock

Any Texan or would-be Texan worth their salt — or sauce — will die on the hill of Texas barbecue being the greatest of barbecues. Super slow-cooked and juicy brisket stands at the forefront of Texas barbecue offerings, and a Leander barbecue joint like Stubblefield’s is no exception. Located right off Route 183, which runs all the way down the length of Leander, Stubblefield’s has a near-5.0 rating on Google. In a place like Texas, this is quite the high bar. And because we’re living near food truck heaven in Austin — a city with over 2,000 food trucks (although Hawaii takes the food truck crown) — Stubblefield’s is, naturally, a truck.

Stubblefield is also just five minutes away from two more barbecue places, Smoky Mo’s BBQ and Blue Corn Harvest Bar and Grill, on the aforementioned Hero Way. This is all on the north side of Leander, by the way. The south side has a similar barbecue strip along Whitestone Boulevard with four more barbecue places right in a row. One of them is even another Smoky Mo’s.

After swelling up with so much meat, why not poke around some of Leander’s quirky, cool, rustic, and sometimes twee shops? Leander Marketplace sits at the top of the list, an antiques-meets-oddball-goods flea market only open on the first Saturday of the month. It makes a perfect pair with the Hill Country Community Ministries Thrift Store, a short six-minute drive away. The women-focused boutique Turquoise Peacock Boutique, meanwhile, offers some beautiful, curated goods for customers, while The Hobby Shop is basically a brain-melting dream for any fan of high-quality model cars.

Explore Leander’s copious natural spaces

Balcones Wildlife Refuge pavilion and trail

Steve Heap/Shutterstock

Leander is so festooned with natural spaces of all sizes and types that it’s almost more accurate to think of the city as Texan countryside with human habitation sprinkling within it. This is where we see the additional benefit of choosing to live in Leander rather than Austin, one enjoyed by its massive influx of residents. For potential residents who don’t mind the daily trade-off of city culture for nature (but keeping the barbecue and some of the shops, mind you), Leander is for you. And for travelers wanting a break from cities, but wanting to stay close enough to the city not to get lost in the wilderness, Leander is also for you.

Balcones Canyonland National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most prominent outdoor offerings around Leander, about 30 minutes west of the city. Around 1,000 acres of the 27,000-acre preserve are open to the public, acres that illustrate that Texas’ natural environment is way more complex than mere sand in the desert. Hiking and wildlife watching are the most obvious draws for visitors, as the park is home to 245 bird species (and brought the black-capped vireo back from being endangered). Ranger-led activities are also an option, as is limited hunting with a permit and via lottery.

Folks sticking directly within and around Leander will have no problem finding natural spaces, either. A small spot like Quest Village Park is basically a neighborhood park with a playground suitable for family ventures, dog walking, and so forth. Brushy Creek Lake Park, on the other hand, is a 90-acre, trail-focused, waterside park with a boat launch, exercise area, pavilions with grills, and more. Such options make it clear why Leander continues to grow so rapidly.

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Austin, TX

Federal investigators call for stricter enforcement of seatbelt regulations

Published

2 days ago

October 29, 2025

Press Room

Federal investigators call for stricter enforcement of seatbelt regulations

AUSTIN, Texas — Federal investigators are urging Leander school officials to ensure the proper use of seat belts on school buses following a review of an Aug. 13 school bus crash.

In an “urgent report” issued Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board found few students were wearing seatbelts despite the bus being equipped with passenger lap and shoulder belts. Investigators concluded the Leander school district “did not take sufficient action to ensure passengers were properly belted.”

The rollover crash occurred when a Leander school district bus veered off the road along Nameless Road near Palomino Drive. 46 elementary and middle school students and one adult were aboard the bus. Following the accident, seventeen people were taken to the hospital, but all were released the next day.

Texas code requires passengers on school buses equipped with seat belts to wear them; however, video footage showed that of 42 visible students, only six were wearing their seat belts, according to investigators.

The section of Nameless Road where the bus crashed is curved, and weather conditions at the time were rainy; however, investigators said the bus left the road “for an unknown reason,” according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Students who were unbelted or wore only the lap portion of a seat belt were more susceptible to injuries than those who wore a seat belt across their lap, the report said.

Investigators urged Leander schools to implement enforceable policies and procedures to ensure proper seat belt usage by every student and driver on a school bus equipped with seat belts. The report recommended mandatory driver instructions and routine audits to ensure passengers are properly wearing seat belts.

In a statement to families, Tracie Franco, the district’s senior director of transportation services said Leander “appreciate(s) the NTSB’s thorough review, which offers important lessons for school districts nationwide about ensuring consistent seat belt use on school buses,” according to the Austin American-Statesman.

The recommendations follow statewide initiatives to improve student transportation safety.

All Texas buses must carry seat belts, but currently many older buses don’t.

A new law enacted this year, Senate Bill 546, eliminated an exception for buses built before 2018 and required districts to report by the end of the year how many buses they operate or contract lack seat belts, have only two-point seat belts or have three-point seat belts. Districts must also report the cost of transitioning their bus fleets to three-point safety belts, seat belts that cover a rider’s lap and chest.

By Jan. 1, 2027, the Texas Education Agency must outline a report for the cost to equip all state school buses with seat belts.

This conversation follows a deadly bus crash in Bastrop County on March 22, 2024, that left a prekindergarten student and a 33-year-old man dead. The school bus did not have any safety belts.

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