Austin, TX
Three Central Texans among those in Austin, Texas lobbying for Special Olympics athletes
WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Special Olympics athletes from across Texas spent Wednesday at the state capital in Austin lobbying for issues that affect over 60,000 athletes statewide and the group of delegates included three from Central Texas.
Madi Potts, 19, has Down syndrome and has been participating in Special Olympics for more than four years now.
She’s enjoyed powerlifting, bowling, bocce ball and basketball.
Midway High School junior Ella Hedrick has an intellectual disability and competes in bocce ball, basketball, track, powerlifting and bowling, which her mom says is always a fan favorite.
Midway High School junior Rylee Tilsley is a unified partner with Special Olympics Texas meaning she doesn’t have a disability but teams up with an athlete to help them compete.
All three young women were in Austin for the day of activities called “Unified Under the Dome.”
“Madi was so fortunate to be included in some of the Special Olympic athletes asked to represent Special Olympics Texas at the state capital today in Austin,” Madi’s mom, Julie said. “What an amazing opportunity it was for us to advocate for inclusion and adaptive sports and requesting funding for the Texas Special Olympics program.”
The delegates and their families talked about issues related to inclusion, health services and funding for programs that support Special Olympics Texas.
They met in the offices of Senator Brian Birdwell and State Representative Pat Curry.
They were also recognized by the Texas House of Representatives, which Ella’s mom, Melinda Hedrick, said was very memorable.
“We got to go up on the House of Representatives gallery and be announced and be recognized in front of the House of Representatives which was very cool,” Melinda said. “Just an amazing day and an awesome opportunity to meet with lawmakers and to participate and show our support of Special Olympics.”
Jenson Keough is the area 12 program director for Special Olympics Texas.
She attended with the group and said the issues tackled are important in the lives of many.
“We were able to lobby for our Unified Champions Schools’ program which is one of our largest unified opportunities on campuses across the state, as well as to pitch lobbying for our Healthy Athletes’ program,” Keough said. “Special Olympics Texas offers eight different disciplines at no charge to our athletes that they may not otherwise be able to get.”
Keough says Special Olympics Texas is always in need of a financial helping hand and there’s a way later this month you can help.
The Waco Police Department and Waco Fire Department are hosting a charity basketball game on March 29 at 5 p.m. at University High school.
Special Olympics athletes, including Madi, will be playing in the game.
It’s free to attend but donations will be directed to Special Olympics Texas.
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ highway system dropped two spots since 2025, and now ranks at No. 27 in the country for its cost-effectiveness and overall conditions, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2026 Highway Report.
The report assessed pavement conditions, fatalities, deficient bridges, infrastructure costs and congestion levels across the United States. Texas earned the following rankings:
- 33rd in urban interstate pavement conditions
- 21st in rural interstate pavement conditions
- 39th in urban arterial pavement conditions
- 12th in rural arterial pavement conditions
- 3rd in structurally deficient bridges
- 26th in urban fatality rate
- 42nd in rural fatality rate
- 41st in traffic congestion
“More than 42,000 of the nation’s 618,923 highway bridges, nearly 7%, are still structurally deficient. Arizona, Nevada, and Texas reported the lowest percentages of deficient bridges,” the report said.
The full report can be found online.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.
A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.
“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.
Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:
- José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
- Peter Sides, who fought in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
- Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
- William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”
At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
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