Austin, TX
Where is the best place to see Texas bluebonnets in 2024? Check out our map
These police officers pose in bluebonnet fields for fun
You’ve seen those cute photos of children and families posing in fields of bluebonnets but these Texas police officers took things to another level.
Monica Lopez, Corpus Christi
We’re in prime bluebonnet viewing season in Texas, which also means it’s time to break out those cameras.
The Texas state flower, known scientifically as Lupinus texensis, normally blooms from late February to early April, according to thetexaswildflower.com. The flowers are most commonly found in fields and are extremely prevalent in Central Texas.
Photos of groups of bluebonnets are stunning. Their colors can vary from blue to purple, and they’re great for personal and nature photography. To get the best shots, here are some locations in Central Texas where bluebonnets thrive:
State parks
Several state parks in Central Texas offer great bluebonnet viewing and photography opportunities, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The most notable parks are Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, Inks Lake State Park, Pedernales Fall State Park, Palmetto State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.
All of the parks are within an hour-and-a-half drive from Austin. So, make it a day trip and go see Texas’ official state flower in full bloom.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center features nearly 900 different species of plants, including the star of the show: the bluebonnet. The center allows visitors to get up close and personal with wildflowers of all varieties, making it a great place to view bluebonnets.
The center also features its very own bluebonnet photo station, according to TheAustinThings.com. There’s a small entry fee and reservations are required, but it’ll likely make your bluebonnet photos worth it.
Turkey Bend Recreation Area
Consider heading to Marble Falls to gawk at the bluebonnets growing in Turkey Bend Recreation Area and Muleshoe Bend. It’s a wildflower hotspot, according to TexasHillCountry.com, complete with more than 400 acres of land and views of the Colorado River to boot.
Marble Falls is also home to the aptly named Blue Bonnet Cafe, where visitors can enjoy all-day breakfast and the cafe’s “world famous” pies.
McKinney Falls
Some of the best views of bluebonnet fields come courtesy of McKinney Falls State Park, less than a 30-minute drive from Austin. Waterfalls complement the scenery, and Sierra Schmidt, lead writer and photographer at VeryTrulyTexas.com, recommends the park’s Onion Creek Trail for the best viewing opportunities.
St. Edward’s University
A hometown favorite for bluebonnet viewing is St. Edward’s University, a private, Catholic university situated along South Congress Avenue.
The campus’ bluebonnet fields are a major draw for students and visitors. They even prompted one student to create a map of the best spots to view the flowers.
Austin, TX
Southwest Airlines establishing new crew base in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that Southwest Airlines will establish a new pilot and flight attendant crew base in Austin.
Abbott joined the Austin mayor at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to make the announcement today.
The expansion to Austin will lay the groundwork for future operational growth in Texas. It is expected to generate 2,000 jobs in Austin by mid-2027. In addition to the pilots and flight attendants, Austin will now also be home to managerial and support staff. The new crew base will have an average salary of $180,000 a year, the Governor’s Office says.
The state is extending a $14 million Texas Enterprise Fund to the airline, as well as a $375,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus.
“Southwest Airlines was born and raised in Texas and has been a core element of the economic growth we have seen in our state,” said Governor Abbott. “We are excited to announce that today Southwest Airlines will add over 2,000 high paying jobs right here in Texas. We are the home of economic opportunity for our fellow Texans more than any other state in the United States, and we know a key reason for that is because of everything Southwest Airlines provides. We are proud to partner with everybody connected with Southwest as well as the City of Austin on such a huge announcement for our state.”
Austin, TX
Fire destroys abandoned E Austin auto shop
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin firefighters battled their second major fire Thursday afternoon, responding to an abandoned East Austin auto shop engulfed in flames.
Crews responded to 3100 Manor Road around 4 p.m., AFD said.
No injuries were reported and no one was inside the building.
ALSO | 40+ residents displaced in North Austin third-alarm apartment fire, no injuries reported
The incident was called in as a first alarm. The building is a total loss, according to officials.
CBS Austin has a crew on the way to the scene.
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Earlier in the afternoon, firefighters extinguished a three-alarm fire in north Austin.
Austin, TX
Austin road rage suspect identified, charged with criminal mischief: affidavit
AUSTIN, Texas – The suspect in a violent road rage incident on the Capital of Texas Highway has been identified and charged, according to court paperwork.
The altercation was caught on camera.
What we know:
34-year-old Ian Kevin Brinkmeyer has been charged with criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor, in connection with the Dec. 5 incident.
At around 2 p.m. that day, officers responded to a call for service on Capital of Texas Highway, where they spoke with Brinkmeyer and another man.
The affidavit says Brinkmeyer “engaged in a road rage” with the other man while traveling north on Capital of Texas Highway. Brinkmeyer drove around the other man, changed lanes in front of him and cut him off before stopping his car.
Brinkmeyer then allegedly got out of his vehicle holding a “steel knife sharpening rod”, walked over to the other man’s car and struck the driver’s side door window with the rod, shattering the entire window.
The affidavit says Brinkmeyer then quickly walked back to his car and drove off.
The entire incident was caught on video by other drivers and posted on social media.
The affidavit says that the repairs to the shattered window cost about $480, making this a case of criminal mischief with a value between $100 and $750.
What’s next:
A warrant has been issued for Brinkmeyer’s arrest. As of 12 p.m. Dec. 11, he is not in custody.
The Source: Information in this report comes from court paperwork and previous reporting.
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