Austin, TX

Willie Nelson mural, torn down after a fire, returns to downtown Austin

Published

8 months ago

April 9, 2025

Willie Nelson mural, torn down after a fire, returns to downtown Austin

A Willie Nelson mural is returning to East Seventh Street in downtown Austin after the original version was torn down following a building fire.

The original artist, musician Wiley Ross, says he was contacted by a developer and the owner of whiskey bar Seven Grand to replace the mural, which is now completed on the wall of 405 E. Seventh St. — only a few feet away from its original location.

Michael Minasi

KUT News

When asked how the experience painting this mural differed from a decade ago, Wiley Ross said the first one was a lot more “under the influence” and “chaotic.” This time, he said, “I could take my time.”

Ross says he wanted to celebrate the 91-year-old country music star’s illustrious career.

“I mean people love his music, but I think what they really love more is the spirit of him and what he represents,” he says.

Painted on Nelson’s shirt in the mural is “WWWND,” or What would Willie Nelson do?

“People should ask themselves that,” Ross says.

Artist Wiley Ross adds final touches to his reimagined Willie Nelson mural. — Ross says the project was entirely possible thanks to a property developer and the adjacent bar owner who reached out to him. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here,” he says. The dogs in the mural represent his friends’ pets that have died.

Ross hired some people experiencing homelessness in the area to help work on the mural, located across the street from the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless.

“We’re all a couple paychecks away from being … in their shoes,” Ross says. “It doesn’t matter who it is — whether rich, poor, homeless, homed, whatever — they all love Willie Nelson.”

A close-up of Willie Nelson's face in the mural. — The artist painted “WWWND” on the shirt in the mural, standing for, “What would Willie Nelson do?”

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Austin, TX

APD SWAT responds to barricaded subject situation in East Austin

Published

18 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

APD SWAT responds to barricaded subject situation in East Austin

AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department’s SWAT team is currently responding to a barricaded subject situation in East Austin on Tuesday night.

This is happening near the 7500 block of Compass Dr.

Police said that a Public Information Officer will provide a briefing and staging location as soon as possible.

The situation is ongoing, and further updates are expected.

This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Austin, TX

Austin Wildlife Rescue to relocate intake center to East Austin

Published

1 day ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Austin Wildlife Rescue to relocate intake center to East Austin

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Wildlife Rescue is set to move its intake center to a new location in East Central Austin starting Dec. 1.

The new center will be located at 811 E. 13th St. and will maintain its current hours of 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

The new site aims to provide easier access for the community to bring in injured and orphaned wildlife.

ALSO| More Texans hit the road for Thanksgiving

Upon arrival, animals undergo a thorough assessment, which may include medications, wound care, or X-rays to develop a treatment plan.

Animals do not stay at the intake center overnight; they are transported to the Elgin Rehab Center each evening.

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The 7,200-square-foot facility in Elgin features indoor and outdoor enclosures and a surgery suite, where young wildlife grow into healthy adults and injured animals recover before being released back into the wild.

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Austin, TX

Central Texas Food Bank, Austin Pets Alive! team up for Thanksgiving food drive

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Central Texas Food Bank, Austin Pets Alive! team up for Thanksgiving food drive

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) and Austin Pets Alive! are teaming up once again for a drive-up food distribution ahead of Thanksgiving.

On Monday, crews will operate out of a mobile pantry site located at the Delco Activity Center in Austin to distribute turkeys, fresh produce and other essential grocery items.

“Hunger doesn’t take a holiday and neither do we,” Sari Vatske, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank, said in a release. “Every turkey distributed represents the belief that no table should remain empty during the holidays.”

The CTFB expects to serve around 750 households. Drivers can pull in, load up and head out — no questions asked.

Vatske said before the government shutdown in October, food insecurity was already on the rise in Central Texas. She said the numbers have hit a 10-year high, including during the pandemic.

“People were dipping into their savings. They were maxing out credit cards,” Vatske explained. “We are now serving over 610,000 food insecure individuals throughout 21 counties, and we’ve seen those numbers double over the past month or so as people recover from the shutdown and prepare for the holiday season.”

As of early Monday morning, drivers were already lining up outside of the Delco Center hours ahead of the distribution.

“It’s a help. A blessing for everyone for food to be given and not have to be bought. Prices are so high and some families can’t afford the things that they need,” Patricia Barnett, one of the first people to arrive at the distribution, said.

Austin Pets Alive! also plans to give out pet food to those in need.

The distribution is Monday, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Delco Activity Center located at 4601 Pecan Brook Drive.

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