Spring has sprung in many parts of the country which means only one thing (if you’re below a certain age) and that’s – Spring Break! (Woo!). But it also means that airports will most likely be packed, seeing as the TSA screened a record number of passengers in 2023 and expect the trend to continue. Yair Ben-Dor has more.
One of the best times of the year for students is just around the corner! From the tradition’s inception in 1938, spring break has grown into a sort of right of passage for those seeking higher education.
While Visual Academy identifies Fort Lauderdale, Florida has the original spring break destination, travel has since expanded across the country — and beyond. Mexico and the Caribbean are now common in spring break. Rio de Janeiro, Curacao, Tokyo, Osaka and Istanbul are some of the fastest-growing destinations, according to Expedia.
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Although many students highly anticipate spring break, the period is also known for encouraging risky behavior. Excessive drinking and unprotected sex are among the top concerns for law enforcement and medical personnel working near popular spring break spots.
Online retailer MattressNextDay has collected data on the best 24-hour cities in America to offer around-the-clock excitement for spring breakers. The first analysis ranked 30 cities across the following seven measures:
City safety score
Google search volume for “parties”
Number of events
Number of dance clubs
Prices for one-way public transportation tickets
Percentage of hotels with at least four stars
Percentage of restaurants with at least four stars
MattressNextDay conducted another study to determine the safest 24-hour cities, based on factors like crime rates, public safety measures and late-night infrastructure.
One Texas city was among the top five 24-hour cities in the U.S., and several more Lone Star State cities ranked high for safety. Is yours one of them? Here’s what the data shows.
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Austin among top 24-hour cities in US
When it comes to cities with the best nightlife and public transportation, it’s no surprise that New York City and Las Vegas topped MattressNextDay’s list of the best 24-hour U.S. cities.
You may not have guessed the Texas capital would also appear on the list. With tickets costing $1.50, Austin boasted some of the cheapest public transportation among the cities in the study. It also scored high on safety rankings and the availability of quality hotels.
New York City, New York
Las Vegas, Nevada
Boston, Massachusetts
Austin, Texas
San Diego, California
People are also reading: Plan the Ultimate Spring Break or Summer Stay in Austin with Wander’s Luxury Vacation Rentals
4 Texas cities among safest 24-hour cities in US
Even if other Texas cities aren’t as bustling with nightlife as Austin, several scored exceptionally high on MattressNextDay’s ranking of the safest 24-hour cities. El Paso topped the list as the safest among all others in the country. Austin, Fort Worth and San Antonio joined the west Texas city in the top 10.
Accident or crime scene cordon tape, police line do not cross. via Getty Images
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas – A juvenile has been arrested Saturday after an early morning double-homicide near Round Rock.
The situation ended after officials successfully negotiated a barricade situation with the minor, they say.
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Williamson County double-homicide
What we know:
Williamson County authorities got the shooting call around 2 a.m. from the 8900 block of Brushy Gate Cove, outside the Round Rock city limits.
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Williamson County sheriff’s deputies found two men dead of gunshot wounds at the scene. The suspect was barricaded inside a bedroom in the home.
Williamson County SWAT and crisis negotiators responded, and the suspect peacefully surrendered around 6:30 a.m.
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Officials say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Williamson County officials comment
What they’re saying:
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“On our arrival, we found two deceased people from the residence, adult males,” said Commander John Foster of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
“Anytime you have a barricaded subject inside of a home where we believe two people are deceased, you know, we’re going to take all precautionary measures that we can to ensure our safety and the safety of the neighbors as well,” said Foster.
Investigators say everyone involved resided in the house and that this was an isolated incident.
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“Information is going to be very limited, because this is a juvenile investigation, and certain laws protect certain information regarding juveniles,” said Foster.
What we don’t know:
The identity of the minor suspect has not been released.
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The victims were not identified.
The motive behind the shooting has not been commented on.
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The Source: Information in this article came from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
Samsung is taking steps to provide Apple with image sensors built with advanced technology for iPhones. Reportedly, the sensors for the iPhone will be manufactured in Samsung’s current Austin, Texas facility, and the company is anticipated to soon have production equipment installed for the upcoming project.
The image sensor of the iPhone is expected to have a three-stack design for better low-light performance and a higher density of pixels with multiple layers stacked vertically. This results in less power consumption, a dynamic range that’s higher, and faster speeds for readouts.
It’s believed that the new sensor will be made for the upcoming iPhone 18 in 2027. Apple and Samsung have reportedly arrived at a deal where Samsung will be supplying the component for the sensor. This marks the first occasion Apple will be going with another company apart from Sony as their main supplier for image sensors for its iPhones.
Texas football has lost its fair share of players to the NFL draft and transfer portal over the past few weeks, dwindling the roster. Despite the loss of a few big names such as linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., safety Michael Taaffe and others, the Longhorns have held onto star quarterback Arch Manning.
While it was unlikely that Manning would enter the portal, there was some hype surrounding the possibility of the first-year starter entering the NFL Draft. Why did the young star decide to forego the pros? According to Manning, his journey at Texas isn’t quite finished.
Manning Wants to Continue His Development With Texas
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Nov 28, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning keeps the ball and runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
“I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially towards the back half, and I want to keep it going,” Manning said, according to Inside Texas’s Evan Vieth. “There’s no reason to leave. I feel like I got a lot more football left to play, and excited to still be a part of this team.”
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Manning didn’t quite have the season that most fans and analysts envisioned for him, struggling at the start of the year. Despite these struggles, Manning went on to improve throughout the regular season, demonstrating why he is one of the nation’s top quarterback talents.
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At the start of the season, Manning’s accuracy and timing were a bit off. The offense as a whole seemed out of sync, and Texas was not looking like the powerhouse that was promised heading into the season.
Eventually, though, Manning found his stride, and more than just improving his stats, the Longhorn quarterback looked more comfortable. Eventually, the stat sheet reflected his improvements, posting 1,625 passing yards over the last six games of the season, alongside 16 total touchdowns.
Now, returning to Texas for what will likely be his last year in college before departing for the NFL, next season should be an exciting one for the Longhorns. Not only is Manning more experienced as the team’s top quarterback, but the wide receiving core will have developed as well.
Texas wide receivers had their struggles with drops this season, but showed improvements at some points throughout the year.
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Though it may be difficult to abstain from declaring for the draft, ultimately Manning made perhaps the best decision for his career and development. With another year to grow, by the time he enters the NFL, Manning will be much more experienced and likely better prepared.
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Manning will have one more chance to take the field this season in the upcoming Citrus Bowl, where Texas will take on the Michigan Wolverines on December 31.
