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Texas lawmakers warned of

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Texas lawmakers warned of


The Texas Department of Public Safety warned state legislators of a “credible threat” against them during Saturday’s “No Kings” protest at the state capitol building in downtown Austin.

The Texas State Capitol and grounds were evacuated at 1 p.m. local time Saturday due to the threat and remain temporarily closed. Texas DPS said that the evacuation was out of an abundance of caution. No further details were provided. 

“Just today, a credible threat was made to possibly kill members of the Texas Legislature at the Capitol,” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a post on X. “Death threats are sadly a part of serving in public life today.” 

Patrick called on the public to remain cautious and to “heed the warning of the Texas DPS until the threat is no longer active.”

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The protest at the Texas Capitol was scheduled for 5 p.m., according to the “No Kings” website. It was not immediately clear if the event would continue.  

While such threats are not often discussed, Patrick said the state handles many each month. He noted that most come from individuals who “go too far in their emails or calls,” and that they frequently retract their statements when confronted, insisting they didn’t intend harm. Still, he stressed that “all have to be taken seriously.”

Patrick highlighted the need to differentiate between acceptable discourse and unlawful threats.

“There’s a difference between free speech complaints, which we welcome, and making death threats,” Patrick said in his statement. “The latter can be a crime.”

Minnesota lawmakers targeted

The bulletin to legislators also mentioned the targeted attacks against two lawmakers in Minnesota. State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in politically-motivated shootings overnight, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Saturday morning.

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A manhunt is underway for the suspect, who remains at large. 

“Currently, it seems to be an isolated incident. However, we’re always concerned about copycats and those who this attack might inspire. Your safety is our top priority, and we are taking all necessary precautions to address any potential threats,” the bulletin said.

“What happened today in Minnesota was an absolute criminal act and a tragic loss of life,” Patrick said in his statement. “Our prayers go out to those in Minnesota.”

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Austin, TX

Man arrested, charged for deadly shooting at downtown Austin hotel

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Man arrested, charged for deadly shooting at downtown Austin hotel


A 20-year-old was arrested and charged with murder for a deadly shooting at the Cambria Hotel in downtown Austin, police said.

What we know:

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Police said on Monday, Jan. 5, around 6:55 a.m., officers responded to a report of a gunshot at the Cambria Hotel at 68 East Avenue #824. The caller said a person had been shot.

When officers arrived, they found a man with injuries. He later died at the scene. He was identified as Luke Bradburn.

The investigation revealed that Bradburn drove and crashed a car that belonged to 20-year-old Maximillian Salinas. After the crash, Bradburn and the other people in the car left and went to the Cambria Hotel. 

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Salinas went to the hotel and shot Bradburn.

On Jan. 6, Salinas was arrested and charged with murder.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.

The Source: Information from the Austin Police Department

DowntownCrime and Public Safety
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Austin, TX

Austin activists hold anti-ICE protests following the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis

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Austin activists hold anti-ICE protests following the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis


Chants of “shame” and “ICE out of Texas” rang through the street as Austin-area activists joined thousands across the nation in protesting the killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot Wednesday by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.

The protest was held in front of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security building in Pflugerville.

Good, 37, was shot in her SUV while attempting to drive away from several ICE officers who ordered her to exit her vehicle.

Scarleth Lopez with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the organization that led the protest, said the videos of the shooting in Minneapolis were “sickening.”

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“Trump has lied and and said that Renee was a terrorist. She was a mother. She was an innocent bystander,” Lopez said. “We must organize to stop these people from kidnapping and murdering.”

Lorianne Willett

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KUT News

Spray painted messages appeared outside of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security building in Pflugerville

Elizabeth Bope, a retired Pflugerville ISD teacher, said the claims from federal and state lawmakers that Good was attempting to strike the ICE agent with her vehicle inspired her to attend the protest.

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Such claims were posted online by Vice President J.D. Vance and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Attorney General Ken Paxton reposted a statement from DHS on X, formerly known as Twitter, that said the ICE agent “relied on his training and saved his own life.”

“It’s beyond really any words that they killed this woman for no reason, but also that they’re lying about it,” Bope said. “I’m not even a radical left person, I’m just a regular old Democrat.”

Other key Texas leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have not commented on the shooting.

A group of protesters holding yellow signs reading "ICE Out of our Communities" gather during a night time protest.

Lorianne Willett

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KUT News

Protesters gathered and held signs during a protest against ICE.

Doug Tickner, who said he works for a home building company in Austin, said he felt it was important to show up in person for Good.

“I don’t really think of Minneapolis as being that far from here, and it’s not like what happened in Minneapolis was some sort of one off unique event,” Tickner said. “This is part of a pattern, and I feel folks better wake up and realize that this is becoming more and more serious.”

The news that federal immigration officers shot and wounded two people in Portland, Oregon, broke hours before the protest.

The gathering in Pflugerville is among the first of four anti-ICE demonstrations planned across the Austin area over the next few days.

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Earlier on Thursday, protesters gathered at the intersection of 45th Street and Lamar Boulevard during rush hour. A protest on Friday will be held at the Capitol and another will be held Saturday at City Hall.

Protesters bang on the outside of a building built of metal.

Lorianne Willett

/

KUT News

Protesters bang on the outside of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security building in Pflugerville.

State and federal leaders are now sparring over who should conduct an investigation into the Minneapolis shooting, according to NPR.

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Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which was originally asked to conduct a joint investigation with the FBI, said in a statement it was later told the investigation would be led solely by federal authorities.





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Austin, TX

Flesh-eating screwworm may be moving closer to Texas on its own, ag commissioner says

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Flesh-eating screwworm may be moving closer to Texas on its own, ag commissioner says


A Texas agency is concerned that the flesh-eating New World screwworm could be getting closer to Texas without commercial livestock movement.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is sounding the alarm again for livestock owners to remain vigilant in watching for signs of the parasite in their animals.

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Screwworm sighting near Texas

The latest:

Miller said in a Thursday release that a screwworm had been detected in a cow in González, Tamaulipas, a little more than 200 miles from the southern Texas border. 

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According to the commissioner, the cow had no reported history of movement outside Tamaulipas, and is the third active case reported there. 

Officials in Mexico have not reported a known population of the worm in Tamaulipas. They’re working with U.S. authorities to investigate further into the new case. 

What they’re saying:

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“The screwworm now may be moving closer on its own, with no apparent link to commercial animal movement,” Commissioner Miller said. “Texas producers must act now—stay informed, stay vigilant, and prepare immediately. We cannot drop our guard for even a moment.”

Inspect livestock for screwworm

What you can do:

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Miller urged immediate action from ranchers along the Texas border.

“Inspect your animals daily,” Miller said. “Check every open wound. If anything looks suspicious, report it right away. Better a false alarm than a delayed response—early detection and rapid reporting are our strongest defenses against this devastating pest.”

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U.S. plan to fight screwworm in Texas

Big picture view:

The threat to cattle has been deemed so potentially devastating to the U.S. food supply that the federal government is committing $850 million to fight it.

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Most of that money will be spent on building a sterile male fly production facility near the border.

The facility will produce 300 million sterile male flies a week to be dropped into target areas where the screwworm is now. Those male flies help to reduce the population size through mating without reproducing.

A much smaller portion of the funding will be used for screwworm detection technology.

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In addition, the federal government has already spent $21 million on a sterile fly production facility in Mexico.

What are New World screwworms?

Dig deeper:

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The insect gets its name because it’s only found in the Americas. 

It lays its eggs in the open wounds of animals, and its larvae become parasites, threatening livestock, domestic animals, and even people.

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The screwworm was mostly eradicated in Texas and the rest of the United States in the 60s. But now, it’s moving north up from Panama and has a known presence a little over 300 miles south of the Texas-Mexico border.

The Source: Information in this article comes from Sid Miller.

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