Austin, TX
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
Austin, TX
More dangerous Texas floods expected after at least 2 killed and hundreds of people rescued in high water, governor says – WTOP News
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — More dangerous Texas floods expected after at least 2 killed and hundreds of people rescued in…
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — More dangerous Texas floods expected after at least 2 killed and hundreds of people rescued in high water, governor says.
Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Austin, TX
Live updates: Flash Flood emergency in Kerr County as rain continues to pound Texas
KERRVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Kerrville issued a shelter-in-place Thursday morning, with heavy rain causing reported evacuations early Thursday morning. A Flash Flood Warning is currently in place for Kerr County as the Guadalupe River continues to rise.
Around 5:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said a “large and deadly flood wave is moving down” the Guadalupe River.
KXAN First Warning Weather Meteorologist Kristen Currie said approximately 11 inches of rain have fallen northwest of Kerr County since 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The Guadalupe River is expected to reach major flood stage in multiple areas.
Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter said “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.” Officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
Here are the latest headlines:
Live updates
7:03 a.m.: KXAN’s Kevin Baskar is in Gillespie County providing updates on the latest flood conditions in the area. Watch his update below.
6:37 a.m.: Kerr County officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
6:27 a.m.: Video shows emergency crews hauling boats and rescue equipment through Kerrville.
6:15 a.m. NewsNation correspondent Xavier Walton and his photographer captured a structure being swept up in river water and crashing into a Kerrville bridge. The structure appears to be some sort of shipping container, pushing against the bridge.
Watch the video below:
6:08 a.m.: Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter confirms “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.”
6:02 a.m.: The Guadalupe River at Center Point is expected to crest at 35 feet, which is the same crest as July 4, 2025.
5:57 a.m.: The National Weather Service said “a large deadly flood wave” is moving down the Guadalupe River.
5:49 a.m.: The Comfort Volunteer Fire Department said it has units in Kerrville and Centerpoint alerting people along the Guadalupe River. They’re helping Kerr County with evacuations along Highway 27 between Comfort and Centerpoint. They said all VFD personnel are OK.
5:30 a.m.: The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that it’s received reports of “street flooding in Ingram, and it’s likely many roads and city streets are flooded as well.”
Austin, TX
Austin Pets Alive! activates emergency response to assist shelters affected by flooding
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As flood threats continue across parts of South Central Texas, Austin Pets Alive! has activated emergency response efforts to support animal shelters affected by the inclement weather.
In a social media post, APA! wrote, “We began offering aid last night, working to secure fosters for 10 dogs in the Castroville shelter, an open-air shelter that sits at the bottom of a valley.”
APA! said the situation escalated overnight with additional shelters reporting flooding. One shelter confirmed that floodwaters reached its facility, APA! added.
Communities overwhelmed due to weather include Uvalde, Castroville and Sabinal.
The nonprofit is asking the Austin community to foster, adopt or donate to free up capacity for animals displaced by the disaster. APA! needs to clear out its facilities to assist the animals in need of shelter.
Here are ways you can help:
- Adopt: APA! is offering a “Name Your Own Adoption Fee” on all animals.
- Foster: The shelter is seeking foster homes for a minimum of three weeks.
- Donate: Proceeds will fund vans and response teams setting up a staging and triage center at the heart of the disaster zone, along with an expanded stockpile of preventatives, PPE and additional supplies.
If you would like to donate, click here.
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