Austin, TX

Travelers headed to Austin for SXSW should be ready for spiking gas prices amid tariffs

Published

10 months ago

March 8, 2025

Travelers headed to Austin for SXSW should be ready for spiking gas prices amid tariffs

Lately, the back-and-forth of tariffs across North America may have consumers feeling like spectators at a tennis match.

And the dizzying on-again off-again tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may be playing a part in the fluctuation of gas prices.

While Texas is known for having cheaper gas, its metros are seeing prices rise and drop unpredictably. Now, after more increases, and with an influx of travelers ready to pour into Austin for the South by Southwest Conference and Festival, visitors should expect higher-than-normal gas prices.

Austin gas prices remain higher than other Texas metros

According to data gathered by the American Automobile Association, the last week has brought increased gas prices for most cities across the state.

In Texas’ capital, that week-to-week increase was more muted at eight cents from $2.71 per gallon last week to $2.79 this week, however, it does represent the stabilization of prices at a higher mark.

This was also the seventh-highest increase in the state, as many cities in North Texas saw significant upticks in pricing. Cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Denison and San Angelo all saw spikes of over 10 cents per gallon.

The Dallas area had previously been an anomaly in that it was a major metro with falling gas prices. Now, it seeing the highest increases at 18 cents week-over-week in both Dallas and Fort Worth.

Despite these notable increases, of the 27 cities surveyed in AAA’s data, 14 saw decreases in gas prices from last week to this week.

What Texas cities have the cheapest gas? And what is the statewide average?

According to the latest AAA data, Houston currently has the cheapest gas among major Texas metros at $2.66 per gallon. San Antonio sits in the middle of Texas’ metros at $2.80, just ahead of the rapidly increasing Dallas and Fort Worth metro areas — both at $2.84.

By far, the most expensive gas in a Texas metro is in El Paso, averaging $2.97 per gallon this week. This is noticeably higher than the $2.73 state average and is the highest price among all Texas cities surveyed in AAA’s data.

While El Paso is certainly more expensive to gas up in than other cities in Texas, it is important to note that it is still a healthy amount below the national average of $3.11.

Why are gas prices increasing right now?

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration, gasoline demand is decreasing year over year, something that is expected to continue. Also, the total domestic gasoline supply dropped from 248.1 million barrels to 247.9. Gasoline production also decreased last month, averaging 9.2 million barrels per day.

These composite decreases have resulted in surging prices across the country, but especially in California — where maintenance has stymied oil production.

As President Donald Trump threatens reciprocal tariffs across the globe, this, too, could potentially drive prices up. Canada, Mexico and Brazil are all notable suppliers of U.S. gasoline and have been threatened with tariffs by Trump.

Given that these countries make up roughly 30% of the U.S. crude oil market, an escalating trade war could provide these nations, especially Canada, with some leverage over gas prices.

Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@gannett.com.

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Austin, TX

Silver Alert issued for missing 73-year-old man in Austin

Published

3 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Silver Alert issued for missing 73-year-old man in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued a Silver Alert for an elderly man who has been missing since Friday afternoon in Austin.

The Austin Police Department is looking for Charles Evans, a 73-year-old man diagnosed with a cognitive impairment. Evans was last seen at 5:37 p.m. on Jan. 9 in Austin.

Silver Alert issued for missing 73-year-old man in Austin

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Police describe him as a 6’3″ tall white male, weighing 225 pounds, has gray hair, hazel eyes, and who uses a walker.

Law enforcement officials believe his disappearance poses a credible threat to his health and safety.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-5000.

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Austin, TX

Man arrested, charged for deadly shooting at downtown Austin hotel

Published

15 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Man arrested, charged for deadly shooting at downtown Austin hotel

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AUSTIN, Texas – 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:

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.

Salinas went to the hotel and shot Bradburn.

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

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

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

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.”

“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

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.

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. — 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.

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. — 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.

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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