Austin, TX

Thousands protest at State Capitol as part of nationwide 'Hands Off!' movement

Published

11 months ago

April 6, 2025

Press Room

Thousands protest at State Capitol as part of nationwide 'Hands Off!' movement

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AUSTIN, Texas – The steps of the State Capitol were packed shoulder to shoulder Saturday afternoon with protesters.

It was dubbed the “Hands Off!” movement.

What they’re saying:

“When he comes for our democracy, we’re going to say, hands off,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D).

This fight is a personal one for many of these protesters, like Terri Rogers.

“The national parks are a big issue for me. What they’re doing to the schools is horrifying, and I’m scared,” said Rogers.

Yamile Ueriv, a bilingual teacher, traveled from Manor to represent her students.

“I’ve been teaching for 20 years, and I am concerned about their education,” said Ueriv.

Speakers discussed a wide range of issues, including school vouchers, recent deportations, and mass federal layoffs, but one cause united everyone.

Protesters chanted “fire Elon Musk” over and over.

They are concerned over the role President Donald Trump has given Elon Musk in the Department Of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which aims to slash federal spending.

“It’s the corporations and the billionaires right now that are sort of speaking and not your everyday average American who just wants a roof over their head, be able to send their kids to a good school and to feel safe,” said Ellen Aiken, a Hands Off protester.

The movement drew thousands of people to the Texas State Capitol. On Saturday, the crowds in Austin joined more than 1,200 other locations in all fifty states participating in a Hands Off protest.

“It’s amazing,” said Ueriv. “It’s amazing that other people are coming out and voicing their concerns and advocating for their rights.”

A few Trump supporters like Aaron came in opposition. He was concerned about the attacks on Tesla, including the bomb investigation at a dealership in North Austin.

“I’m not the only one who’s MAGA here,” said Aaron. “I might be one of the few wearing a hat, but just, you know, promoting unity and just people getting along, condemning violence from anybody and everybody because we don’t need any more of that.”

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett also made an appearance.

“I’m going to continue working every day, as hard as I can, and I know you will too because we have no alternative but to defend the country we love,” said Doggett.

After that, protesters said they were ready to get back out and keep working.

“This is my first time to actually get out and protest, and I love the energy, and I love the commonality,” said Rogers. “I feel energized.”

Hands Off protest at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on April 5, 2025.

The protests were peaceful.

This week, Musk said he intends to step down from DOGE if he can reach his spending cut goals in the 130-day time frame permitted by federal law.

The Source: Information in this article comes from FOX7 interviews.

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Austin, TX

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Published

4 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Cedric Ricks spoke in his own defense at his 2013 murder trial, something most defendants accused of a terrible crime do not do. Ricks confessed that he had killed his girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez, and her 8-year-old son. He admitted he was aggressive and had trouble controlling his anger, stating that he was “sorry about everything.” […]

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Austin, TX

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Published

16 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Austin had a particularly itchy and drippy cedar fever season to start the year. Many winter days, from late December into February, had high or very high ashe juniper (aka cedar) pollen counts.

Central Texas has a year-round allergy season with mold popping up at any time. For the more traditional spring and fall allergy seasons, forecasters at AccuWeather are predicting some of the allergens across the country will be worse this year than average.

Texas, though, is a different story.

For grass allergies, which happen now through September, AccuWeather estimates Austin will have an average season. However, just west of the Interstate 35 corridor in the Hill Country to almost El Paso, that season is expected to be worse than normal.

“Texas may experience above-average grass pollen for a few weeks,” AccuWeather’s allergy report said, “though the season could be shorter-lived compared to northern areas.”

It all depends on the weather

How much rain we get in the next six months and the perennial Texas heat will all affect the growing season for grasses and weeds, as well as the amount of pollen trees produce. The Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmers Almanac are both predicting a wetter and warmer spring.

Rain helps plants grow, which can increase pollen production over time. However, rainfall during allergy season can also bring temporary relief by washing pollen out of the air. That’s what we’re expecting this weekend, with our first meaningful rain chance in nearly three weeks. Tree and weed pollen levels might briefly drop, but mold could spike because it thrives in damp, humid weather.

If spring continues with excessive heat like we saw in February, it could limit the growth of some plants and trees. Extreme heat can reduce how much they grow, and how much pollen they produce. On the other hand, if we get a healthy balance of rain and only slightly above-normal temperatures — not extreme heat — pollen counts could climb. That’s especially true as we head into April, typically our windiest month of the year, which helps spread pollen more easily.

How can you treat allergies in Austin?

If you are feeling the effects of allergies, here are some things you can do to lessen them:

Start taking allergy medication at least two weeks before your allergen’s season is supposed to start. Keep taking your allergy medication throughout your allergen’s season, even on low-pollen days.
Vary your allergy medication. You can take a nasal spray, an eye drop and an oral antihistamine at the same time to treat the different symptoms. If one kind of allergy medication isn’t working, consult your doctor about whether you should add a second one or switch out the medication.
Take a shower before going to bed.
Take off outside clothes or shoes when you get into the house.
Do a daily nasal wash such as a neti pot or saline spray.
Consider seeing an allergist to get drops or shots to lessen your reaction to the allergen.

Consider these household tips to improve your chances of keeping allergens away:

Change the filters in your house regularly during cedar fever season.
Vacuum and sweep regularly.
Change your sheets, especially your pillow regularly.
Keep doors and windows closed.
Clean out the vents in your home.
Have your home tested for indoor allergens such as mold.
Wash and brush the animals in your house to lessen the amount of allergens in the air.
Wear a mask outside or inside while you are trying to lessen the pollen or mold indoors.

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Austin, TX

Texas Primary: Breakdown of Texas races

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Democrats tried to stop a mid-decade redistricting effort, but were unsuccessful. Now, we are starting to see some of the candidates emerging in those newly drawn districts. FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski gives a full breakdown.

Posted March 3, 2026 10:32pm CST

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