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Texas troopers assisting with Austin policing crisis redirected to the border

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Texas troopers assisting with Austin policing crisis redirected to the border


Texas troopers who had been making up for a 500-officer shortfall in the Austin Police Department have been redirected to the border — leaving the city in disarray.

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers have been redirected to border communities overwhelmed with migrants crossing into the US as Title 42 ended.

In the days leading up to expiration of the federal policy, cities like El Paso and Brownsville were flooded with migrants and extra officers have been needed to help keep the border secure and support border officers dealing with overcrowded facilities.

“Because of needs that the state sees with the expiration of Title 42, DPS sees the border as a higher priority for its resources at this time,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson told The Post.

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DPS officers had been called in by Watson to aid the emaciated Austin Police Department in late March as the capital faces a 488 officer shortfall, according to the police union, due to extreme left-leaning policies leading to mass defections.

Texas DPS officer stand shoulder to shoulder with El Paso Police Department officers to patrol an area of the downtown El Paso known as a migrant hot spot.
AFP via Getty Images

“It just shows how big this [border] problem is because DPS is having to be pulled away from other areas of Texas that still need their help because they have to respond to the greater threat,” one officer who spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity said.

“Right now the greater threat is stopping terrorists from entering our country, sex offenders, child molesters.”

DPS officers had a significant impact in Austin and in less than two months of having boots on the ground according to Police Chief Joseph Chacon, who said they made a high number of arrests, took stolen guns and vehicles from the streets and recovered large quantities for illegal narcotics.

Violent crime such as sexual assault, crimes with weapons, murder and robbery went down 25% across the city, the chief said, adding in the specific crime-ridden areas where troopers were assigned, a 58% reduction in criminal activity was reported.

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“You see more of a law enforcement presence everywhere you go — when you have that, that greater visibility of law enforcement, it is a deterrent,” Chacon added.


The Austin Police Department is understaffed by nearly 500 officers-- 388 vacancies plus 150 officers that the city defunded in 2020, the officers' union told The Post.
The Austin Police Department is understaffed by nearly 500 officers– 388 vacancies plus 150 officers that the city defunded in 2020, the officers’ union told The Post.
The Washington Post via Getty Images

Texas DPS troopers have been securing the US-Mexico border in Texas as part of "Operation Lonestar."
Texas DPS troopers have been securing the US-Mexico border in Texas as part of “Operation Lonestar.”
REUTERS

“If people think there is a chance that they’re going to get caught, may just go ahead and decide that they’re not going to commit the crime.”

For months, Austin police have been redirecting 911 calls to the non-emergency 311 line because there aren’t enough officers to respond.

The beleaguered department has also pulled detectives from solving cases to act as patrol officers.

However, with extra assistance they were able to get to calls quicker, lowering response times from 9.5 minutes to 7.5 minutes citywide.

However, now Austin police are facing the same problems as before.

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“You’re left to having to prioritize the greatest calls for service, your highest risk calls, with what little staffing you have,” the Austin officer said.

“It’s going to continue to add to the strain, the burnout that is happening. Sadly, the criminal element is going to continue to thrive in Austin.”


Gov. Greg Abbott has also used the Texas Military Department to patrol the Rio Grande, the river that separates the US from Mexico and serves as the international boundary.
Gov. Greg Abbott has also used the Texas Military Department to patrol the Rio Grande, the river that separates the US from Mexico and serves as the international boundary.
Getty Images

Texas National Guard members have been stationed in El Paso since December, as the Texas city is the ground zero for the border crisis.
Texas National Guard members have been stationed in El Paso since December, as the Texas city is the ground zero for the border crisis.
AFP via Getty Images

Mayor Watson told The Post the city would remain in contact with DPS to see when they could return.

“It is anticipated the effort at the border will be DPS’ priority for at least two weeks,” Watson explained.

Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott is calling in border reinforcements from other states.

“Idaho will send State Police to support our response to the border crisis & help stop drug & human smuggling,” Abbott tweeted Monday.

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Idaho are sending member of their state police to the border with the aim of helping stop deadly drugs being smuggled into the country, while Florida has offered to send hundreds of Florida National Guard troops as well as drones.

“Idaho is proud to support the State of Texas’ efforts to fight fentanyl,” tweeted Idaho Gov. Brad Little. “The training our team will receive while in TX will help keep Idahoans safe and save lives.”

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Abbott’s office declined comment on specifics of the operation, but on Tuesday, he had called on governors in the rest of the nation to help his state in a letter.


Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made the border crisis the centerpiece of his time in office, pouring millions of state dollars into security and starting "Operation Lonestar," a state law enforcement mission with Texas National Guard members and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made the border crisis the centerpiece of his time in office, pouring millions of state dollars into security and starting “Operation Lonestar,” a state law enforcement mission with Texas National Guard members and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
AP

“Texas alone should not have to shoulder the financial burden of protecting our nation.” Abbott stated — adding that the Lone Star State has already spent $4.6 billion on border security and could spend the same in the next two years.

Nearly 3.5 million migrants have crossed into Texas since 2020 — about half of all the came into the US through the southern border, according to federal statistics.





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Austin, TX

Texas, Oklahoma say bye to Big 12 and hello to SEC

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Texas, Oklahoma say bye to Big 12 and hello to SEC


Bye-bye Big 12, hello SEC. Texas and Oklahoma are finally making their long-awaited conference switch. But first, it’s time to party with Bevo (the longhorn) and Pitbull (the human). The three-years-in-the-making switch to the Southeastern Conference for two programs that were co-founders of the Big 12 Conference in 1996 officially happens today.



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Austin, TX

Taking a Look Back at Ole Miss’ Matchups vs. Newest Members of the SEC

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Taking a Look Back at Ole Miss’ Matchups vs. Newest Members of the SEC


July 1 marks the first day the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners will officially be members of the Southeastern Conference, a day that will be exciting for not just their fans, but college football fans as a whole.

The SEC landscape is changing, and with that will comes the budding of new rivalries that you wouldn’t have thought possible just five years ago. Alas, the SEC will be more toxic than ever, and as college football fans, can you ask for anything more?

While the Ole Miss Rebels have rarely faced Oklahoma and Texas, it has happened in the not-so-distant past. Let’s take a look at the last time Ole Miss has matched up against these two teams.

Oklahoma — 1999

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On a chilly New Year’s Eve in Shreveport, the Oklahoma Sooners and Ole Miss Rebels met for the first and only time in the 1999 Independence Bowl.

A battle of first-year head coaches David Cutcliffe and Bob Stoops also featured first-year offensive coordinator Mike Leach on the Oklahoma sideline. This game featured some familiar names as Josh Heupel (now Tennessee’s head coach) ran the show at quarterback for the Sooners.

The 1999 season was anything but fun for the Rebels as all of their losses that season were one-possession games, but they did have Deuce McCallister, and on that cold night in Shreveport, he definitely was loose.

Deuce had a monster game with 121 yards on the ground plus 55 yards receiving on three receptions. Quarterback Romaro Miller had a great first half where the Rebels held a 21-3 lead entering halftime.

Heupel led a fiery comeback in the second half, but the Rebel lead held at 27-25, giving them their third bowl win in a row and finishing 22nd in the polls.

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The Sooners and Rebels will meet again in October at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the second act of what could turn out to be a nice little rivalry sooner rather than later.

Texas — 2013

The Longhorns and Rebels have met five times in their history, but in 2012, they saw their first meeting since 1925.

The home-and-home series between Texas was a very exciting endeavor for the Rebels as fans weren’t used to the team playing blue-blood competition that didn’t reside in the SEC.

In 2012, the Rebels got embarrassed in the Vaught, so in 2013, they decided to return the favor in Austin.

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Jeff Scott had a monster game for the Rebels on the ground as the Longhorn defense had no answers for the potent Ole Miss rushing attack. Scott and quarterback Bo Wallace had the read option humming as they continued to gash the Horns up front all night.

Scott ended the night with 164 yards and a score. Wide receiver Donte Moncrief got in on the action as well with a touchdown catch, and the Rebels made a statement to the rest of the country that they could play with the big boys.

The Longhorns in the 2010s were not the Longhorns of the Vince Young era, as they were not built to stop the run. The Rebels exploited that weakness and had a field day on the ground.

While this win looked good on paper, the Rebels went into Tuscaloosa the next week and got beat 25-0 to slow some of that momentum.

The 2013 Rebels were similar to the 1999 Rebels in the fact that they lost a lot of close ballgames to some talented teams. The Rebels would go on to beat Georgia Tech in the Music City Bowl to finish the year 8-5.

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Ole Miss won’t play Texas for the next couple of years, but the reinstatement of this game should be fun for both fan bases to travel and enjoy two of the top towns for college football.



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Austin, TX

How to protect your vehicle from the Texas heat this summer

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How to protect your vehicle from the Texas heat this summer


AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s summertime in Texas, and with it comes more extreme heat and the possibility of severe weather. Paired with more intense weather patterns is summer vacation, a time when many Texans will likely hit the roads seeking a little rest and reprieve.

Before a storm front rolls in or you venture off for a road trip, here are some key areas you should check on your vehicle to ensure you’re traveling safely.

Your summertime car care checklist

“Starting off, severe weather or not, [you should be] making sure that your tires are in good condition, your tire thread has good life on it,” said AJ Garza, a regional manager for Jiffy Lube with oversight on the San Antonio and Austin markets.

During the summer months, the extreme heat radiating off roadways can threaten your tires if they’re more worn down and in need of replacement, Garza said. Ensuring they’re in good condition can help drivers avoid a blowout while driving, he added.

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Three other key checkpoints on your vehicle include wiper blades, lights and the battery. Wiper blades eventually wear down after exposure to extreme temperatures, especially when paired with grime and debris and extended use. AAA recommends replacing them at least once a year if not more frequently, given Texas’ more intense climate.

For lights, Garza said this is especially critical if drivers are anticipating severe weather, such as rainstorms. Checking to make sure the lights work will ensure you can safely navigate roads, should you get caught in a downpour or other intense storms.

As for the battery, it’s no surprise that monitoring its condition and lifespan is especially crucial in Texas. Extremely high temperatures can overwork a battery and cause them to die.

“The extreme heat just completely puts a huge damper on your battery, so it can drain your battery out,” Garza said. “The extreme heat also breaks down your coolant and antifreeze a lot faster, which can lead to a vehicle overheating.”

Garza recommended checking to make sure your backup and spare reservoirs are at the proper level and the fluid is within its lifespan and hasn’t broken down.

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Finally, with air conditioners, he said drivers should check to make sure their Freon — the non-combustible gas used in ACs — has been replenished. Garza added most manufacturers recommend drivers add new Freon in every two to four years.

A standard re-up item on a car Garza warned drivers not to forget about is their brakes. Those should be inspected routinely by a service center any time you’re getting an oil change.

There are also plenty of shops that’ll do a free visual brake check. He cautioned drivers to stay on top of routine maintenance so they’re not waiting until they’re in the “red zone” to do something about it.

“[Jiffy Lube operates] in green, yellow and red, which green is in good condition, yellow is for your consideration and red is for immediate attention,” he said. “So when it comes to brakes, nobody ever wants to wait for your brakes to meet in the red.”

What should you always have on hand in your car, in case of an emergency?

One guarantee is that you never know when you might run into an issue with your vehicle, but Garza said drivers can prepare themselves with a few simple items.

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The first is a first aid kit, in case a situation arises and someone needs lower-level medical care. From there, he stressed the value of having jumper cables tucked away into your car.

A spare gas container is also recommended in case you run out of gas and you need to go fill up the extra container to replenish fuel levels.

Handheld air compressors are a small but mighty tool that can refill a tires in a pinch. Keeping extra phone chargers on hand in the event of an emergency is also one way to keep people safe and seek out help, as needed.

Garza suggested carrying a couple of spare blinkers or headlights, in case one goes out.

“If you know what your headlight is, it’s always good to just have one extra on your blinkers or your license plate lights,” he said. “Because you always want to be able to not only see but be seen.”

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