Austin, TX

Texas lawmakers urged to ramp up laws to fight human trafficking

Published

11 months ago

January 30, 2025

Texas lawmakers urged to ramp up laws to fight human trafficking

Human trafficking awareness month

January is human trafficking awareness month. Advocates for victims gathered at the state capitol to urge lawmakers to pass major reforms.

AUSTIN, Texas – January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Advocates for victims gathered Thursday at the state capitol. They are urging lawmakers to pass major reforms.

Texas’ drive to eliminate human trafficking

The backstory:

The State of Texas launched a comprehensive drive to eliminate human trafficking 20 years ago.

Since then, many bills have been passed to crack down on the problem. But lawmakers were told this fight is far from over during a rally held on the south steps of the Texas Capitol Thursday.

In 2023, more than 2,300 people from Texas contacted the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Advocates for victims gather at Capitol

What they’re saying:

In a prepared statement, Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of Children at Risk, noted the work accomplished in previous Legislative Sessions.

“Our state has made great strides in strengthening zero tolerance for human trafficking, but there is still work to do,” stated Sanborn in a news release.

The rally at the Texas Capitol involved members of organizations and agencies that advocate for victims of human trafficking. Cosponsors of the event included:

Allies Against Slavery
Crime Stoppers
Demand Disruption
Dallas CASA
Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office
Gracious Hearts
Houston 20
Lone Star Justice Alliance
No Trafficking Zone
North Texas Coalition Against Trafficking
Project Protect Our Children
Reflection Ministries
Texas Family Leadership Council
Texas Society of Medical Assistants
Street Grace
Traffick 911
Unbound Now

The coalition is pushing several legislative priorities for the regular session. Key issues include:

Screening and prevention for vulnerable youth
Improving protections and support for survivors
Training frontline workers to recognize human trafficking
Reducing illicit massage businesses
Improving laws that protect children and hold traffickers accountable

The group also wants legislation to get local prosecutors to do more to shut down sex-exploitation businesses.

“When we think about ending trafficking, there’s so much that needs to be talked about. And one of the big things is collaboration and collaboration with the legislative branch here in Austin and with all the great groups across the state of Texas that are focusing on ending trafficking now. Those that are really focused on making sure that every single victim, survivor of human trafficking is taken care of, that we are beginning to work at ending demand in our state,” said Sanborn during the rally.

The number of businesses involved in illicit digital massaging has more than doubled in Texas in the past six years, according to information released by Sanborn.

The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski

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Austin, TX

Southwest Airlines establishing new crew base in Austin

Published

12 minutes ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Southwest Airlines establishing new crew base in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that Southwest Airlines will establish a new pilot and flight attendant crew base in Austin.

Abbott joined the Austin mayor at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to make the announcement today.

The expansion to Austin will lay the groundwork for future operational growth in Texas. It is expected to generate 2,000 jobs in Austin by mid-2027. In addition to the pilots and flight attendants, Austin will now also be home to managerial and support staff. The new crew base will have an average salary of $180,000 a year, the Governor’s Office says.

The state is extending a $14 million Texas Enterprise Fund to the airline, as well as a $375,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus.

“Southwest Airlines was born and raised in Texas and has been a core element of the economic growth we have seen in our state,” said Governor Abbott. “We are excited to announce that today Southwest Airlines will add over 2,000 high paying jobs right here in Texas. We are the home of economic opportunity for our fellow Texans more than any other state in the United States, and we know a key reason for that is because of everything Southwest Airlines provides. We are proud to partner with everybody connected with Southwest as well as the City of Austin on such a huge announcement for our state.”

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Austin, TX

Fire destroys abandoned E Austin auto shop

Published

12 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Fire destroys abandoned E Austin auto shop

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin firefighters battled their second major fire Thursday afternoon, responding to an abandoned East Austin auto shop engulfed in flames.

Crews responded to 3100 Manor Road around 4 p.m., AFD said.

No injuries were reported and no one was inside the building.

ALSO | 40+ residents displaced in North Austin third-alarm apartment fire, no injuries reported

The incident was called in as a first alarm. The building is a total loss, according to officials.

CBS Austin has a crew on the way to the scene.

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Earlier in the afternoon, firefighters extinguished a three-alarm fire in north Austin.

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Austin road rage suspect identified, charged with criminal mischief: affidavit

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

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Austin road rage suspect identified, charged with criminal mischief: affidavit

AUSTIN, Texas – The suspect in a violent road rage incident on the Capital of Texas Highway has been identified and charged, according to court paperwork.

The altercation was caught on camera.

What we know:

34-year-old Ian Kevin Brinkmeyer has been charged with criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor, in connection with the Dec. 5 incident.

At around 2 p.m. that day, officers responded to a call for service on Capital of Texas Highway, where they spoke with Brinkmeyer and another man.

The affidavit says Brinkmeyer “engaged in a road rage” with the other man while traveling north on Capital of Texas Highway. Brinkmeyer drove around the other man, changed lanes in front of him and cut him off before stopping his car.

Brinkmeyer then allegedly got out of his vehicle holding a “steel knife sharpening rod”, walked over to the other man’s car and struck the driver’s side door window with the rod, shattering the entire window.

The affidavit says Brinkmeyer then quickly walked back to his car and drove off.

The entire incident was caught on video by other drivers and posted on social media.

The affidavit says that the repairs to the shattered window cost about $480, making this a case of criminal mischief with a value between $100 and $750.

What’s next:

A warrant has been issued for Brinkmeyer’s arrest. As of 12 p.m. Dec. 11, he is not in custody.

The Source: Information in this report comes from court paperwork and previous reporting.

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