Austin, TX
When will Austin transit officials \ngive riders what they want? | Letters
Kudos for publishing the opinion by Barbara Epstein April 7, “What we need is public transit that actually works.” I believe she speaks for many. Officials could listen. When will they?
Susan Kleinman, Austin
The characteristics of success for a
bus system that’s worth modeling
Re: April 7 commentary, ‘What we need is public transit that actually works, April 7’
Barbara Epstein mentioned frequent service as the key to a successful bus system in Curitiba, Brazil. In addition to frequency, in Curitiba riders pay before boarding, just as on Austin’s Red Line. This allows Curitiba buses to have wide doors which permit rapid entry and exiting. The other key is bus-only lanes for the entire route. These two features allow buses to actually move faster than cars.
This model has been widely adopted, including in Mexico City and Ciudad Juárez.
Felipe Rosales, Austin
Border problems and the blame game grow
as agency marks its centennial anniversary
The Border Patrol will observe its 100-year anniversary this year. It was created due to emigration problems that existed then.
During this period the American people have elected 9 Republican and 8 Democratic presidents, and the emigration problems have escalated while the political blame game continues tearing our country apart.
Ramiro “Ray” Martinez, New Braunfels
No zero-sum game: Our economy is
stronger because of immigration
Immigrants work tirelessly to build this country, performing dangerous and demanding jobs. There’s no clearer indicator than last month’s Baltimore bridge collapse where six fathers, husbands, brothers, and uncles died while (repairing) the infrastructure of our nation. The sacrifices immigrants make for our country each and every day should be celebrated, not criminalized or demonized.
It’s time to cut through the noise and tell the truth about immigration: Our economy and country are stronger because of it. Some leaders would have us think it’s a zero-sum game when our country takes in immigrants, but that’s not true..
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the U.S. economy will grow by an extra $7 trillion over the next ten years thanks to immigrants. Moreover, in 2021 immigrants paid $524.7 billion in taxes. That’s money that fuels our nation’s K-12 schools, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Gisela Reyna, Austin
The U.S. should bill source countries
for the costs of illegal immigration
Source countries for migrants shouldThe governments of Mexico and other mass migration-source countries should be billed by the U.S. government annually for the costs to U.S. taxpayers of coping with their unlawfully-present citizens in our country. If these governments are going to argue against U.S. immigration enforcement in the U.S. Court of Appeals, they should help pay the freight.
Richard J. Douglas, Spring
Trump on abortion? Whichever way
is the most likely to win re-election
Trump’s position on abortion has been as changeable as Texas weather. In 1999, he said on “Meet the Press” that he was “very pro-choice…I hate the concept of abortion.” Over the last 25 years, he’s been all over the map. Should it be up to the states or the federal government? How does the base feel?
In Tina Turner’s song, “What’s Love Got to do With It” there is this line: “What’s love, but a second-hand emotion?”
Most people base their position on their moral values – something Trump lacks. To him, morality is a “second-hand emotion.” His decision depends on which position is most likely to win him reelection.
Carl Lloyd, San Antonio
Texans respect military history. The
Doolittle Raiders deserve our respect.
April 18th marks the 82nd anniversary of the Doolittle Raiders attack on Japan. Thirteen Texans were among 80 B-25 bomber airmen who flew off of the USS Hornet. No other state had as many. Texas high school history students are not taught about the mission that took place 132 days after Pearl Harbor.
Texans respect the military. Installations across Texas train service members. Nearly 1.5 million veterans call Texas home. The National Medal of Honor Museum will open in Arlington. National cemeteries in Dallas, El Paso, Kerrville, and Houston provide a final resting place for Texas heroes.
We don’t teach Texas students about the mission that jolted Japan’s military and began America’s comeback in the Pacific. Not including the Doolittle Raiders in our state’s public school history curriculum helps students forget about their heroics.
Alan E. Mesches, Frisco
Clarification
An editorial about free tuition at Austin Community College in Wednesday’s edition should have noted that $6.8 million in state funding nearly doubled ACC net revenue for fiscal year 2023-24.
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Following controversial comments from head coach Steve Sarkisian and recruiting battles with other contending teams, the Texas Longhorns have once again found themselves in the national spotlight ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Just like this time 365 days ago, the Longhorns are the favorites to win the SEC Championship by the time the postseason rolls around, as well as be contenders for the national championship — despite failing to gain a playoff berth in 2025.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Texas’ preseason hype centered around quarterback Arch Manning and his first year at the helm of the Longhorns’ offense. Despite predictions that Manning would win the Heisman and be the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Longhorns went on to a nine-win regular season with steady, ongoing improvements in Manning’s performance.
Now, the attention from national media seems due to the “all-in” season that the Longhorns are looking toward, with a huge roster turnover through the transfer portal suggesting that this is the make-or-break year for Texas — and Manning — to achieve any national championship hopes.
However, a “make-or-break” season isn’t necessarily what’s ahead for Texas in 2026.
Texas’ Championship Hopes Aren’t Necessarily Over After 2026
It’s fair to assume that the Longhorns are going all in for a national championship in 2026, given the emphasis on experienced transfer portal talent, coaching staff changes and even talk from some players about what the team’s goals are over the offseason.
But considering 2026 as the Longhorns’ last chance for a trophy in the immediate future isn’t as easily justifiable, especially when Texas may not be considering much of a rebuild after this season ends. Sarkisian himself didn’t deny that Manning may come back for another year with Texas in 2027, and many key playmakers on both offense and defense have several more years of eligibility left.
Especially looking at Texas’ incoming class of freshmen and history with the transfer portal, it’s likely that the Longhorns are setting themselves up for longevity more than immediate success. If Manning does decide to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft, incoming freshman quarterback Dia Bell will be an exciting prospect for Texas to bank on when looking for its next offensive leader.
It’s natural that the Longhorns should continue to generate national excitement, especially with the newest five-star commit to the 2027 class. Even so, Texas has a habit of bucking the trends and national predictions. The pressure was on in 2025 to win a national championship in Manning’s first year as a starter, and as more mock drafts continue to slate him as a first-rounder, that pressure has only heightened in what most onlookers see as his last year playing college football.
Whether the Longhorns will buckle under that pressure this go-around will be seen, starting with their home opener against Texas State on Sept. 5.
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AUSTIN, Texas — Austin city leaders gathered on East 11th Street on Juneteenth to celebrate the “Black Artists Matter” mural before it must be removed under an order from the Texas Department of Transportation. The mural and the city’s rainbow crosswalk are slated for removal in compliance with a Texas Department of Transportation directive requiring cities to remove political ideologies from roadways. Last October, Gov. Greg Abbott directed TxDOT to enforce the policy.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson stood on the blocked-off street where the yellow letters spelling “Black Artists Matter” are painted on the roadway’s surface. “We will never forget that when the state decided to target our murals, the community stood together to celebrate our city’s diversity, spirit, and creativity,” Watson said.
Watson criticized the state’s actions, saying, “The state government engages in negative rhetoric and threats, it targets communities that it disagrees with and seeks retribution.”
In response to the order, Watson formed the Public Spaces Task Force to identify other ways to celebrate diversity in Austin.
ALSO| Screwworm medications straining animal shelter budgets across Texas
KEYE
Daphne McDole, chief executive officer of the African American Cultural Heritage District and a member of the task force, said she wanted the event held on Juneteenth because of its significance. “I wanted to do it on Juneteenth, it was significant to me because I knew that that was the day my community would be in the district. We will be celebrating over here all day, so it was appropriate,” McDole said.
Task force members said they are exploring alternatives to honor East Austin’s history and diversity. They noted that city leaders in San Antonio created rainbow sidewalks after removing rainbow crosswalks, but said Austin will pursue its own approach.
Task force chair Steven Rivas said the community is focused on preserving the meaning behind the markings. “We chose to come together as a community and find a way to respect what these markings mean and build upon them. If we can’t have them in the street, we’re going to put them off the street,” Rivas said.
AUSTIN, Texas — The screwworm outbreak is having a major impact on animal shelter budgets across Texas. Instant kill and preventative medications for dogs and cats are an unprecedented expense.
Paul is a rescue dog from South Texas, where he was living on the streets and starving. He is now at Austin Pets Alive! getting Screwworm prevention medication and the treatment he needs to get healthy.
“Any dog that enters our shelter period, but especially if they look like this, we are going over them with a fine-tooth comb and looking for anything that might be a wound where a screwworm might have been able to gain access,” said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, CEO and President of Austin Pets Alive!
RELATED| FDA authorizes generic over-the-counter drug to treat New World screwworm in pets
Dr. Jefferson says dogs and cats need regular checks of their eyes, noses, ears, and underneath their fur. But Austin Pets Alive! says the best protection is a combination of Capstar, which is an instant-kill medication for existing active screwworm larvae, and prescription preventatives that provide ongoing protection when administered every 30 days.
“Just to buy the initial Capstar for our program, it was close to $10,000,” said Rebecca Giamona, Asst. Medical Care Director at Austin Pets Alive!
Giamona says preventative meds are also putting a heavy financial strain on the nonprofit’s budget at a cost of around $70,000.
“We need about 5,000 doses of the monthly preventative, and they are roughly $14 to $15 per dose,” said Giamona.
Products with the active ingredients ending in l, a, n, e, r are highly effective at preventing and treating infestations. But keeping Paul and every shelter animal up to date will take help from the public.
“Donations, and hopefully some more donations,” said Giamona.
An infestation of New World Screwworm can be painful, disfiguring, and potentially deadly for animals. Most cases involve livestock, especially cattle, but dogs and cats can also get infestations.
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