Southwest
All criminal trespassing charges dropped against anti-Israel UT Austin protesters
Prosecutors in Texas have dropped criminal trespassing charges against nearly 80 anti-Israel agitators who demonstrated on the University of Texas at Austin campus in April during the height of the college campus protests, with UT Austin leaders slamming the decision.
Travis County Attorney Delia Garza announced that all 79 people who were arrested on April 29 had their charges thrown out. At an earlier protest at the campus, 56 arrests were made with criminal trespass charges dropped the following day.
The news comes after dozens of anti-Israel protesters who occupied and barricaded themselves in buildings on the Columbia University campus in April had their charges dropped last week.
“After examining and weighing all the evidence presented, we have determined that we cannot meet our legal burden to prove these 79 criminal trespass cases beyond reasonable doubt, and they will be dismissed,” Garza said, according to Fox 7.
UT AUSTIN PROTESTS DESCEND INTO CHAOS, ANTI-ISRAEL STUDENTS YELL AT POLICE: ‘PIGS GO HOME!’
University of Texas police officers arrest a man on the campus. (Jay Janner/American-Statesman)
“At the time, I voiced my concerns about the large volume of arrests on the low-level non-violent charge,” Garza said.
Garza said a team of prosecutors spent 90 hours evaluating these cases before a decision was made. She said her team reviewed evidence including body camera footage and hundreds of pages of offense reports, the law and concerns about violations of constitutionally protected rights of free speech.
“We also have the responsibility to determine if pursuing any case is in the interest of justice, in the interest of public safety, and aligns with the values of this community,” Garza said.
UT Austin released a statement expressing the institution’s dissatisfaction with the decision.
GUNS CONFISCATED FROM ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS AT UT AUSTIN, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
“We respect the law and are deeply disappointed by the County Attorney’s actions,” the statement reads, per Fox 11.
“The University will continue to use the law enforcement and administrative tools at our disposal to maintain safety and operational continuity for our 53,000 students who come to campus to learn, regardless of whether the criminal justice system shares this commitment. Free speech is welcome on our campus.”
“Violating laws or rules is not. Actions that violate laws and institutional rules should be met with consequences, not with political posturing and press conferences.”
The dismissals only apply to criminal trespassing cases, and UT police also charged a man who they say illegally carried a loaded gun on campus during the protest. Two additional charges from the protest for obstructing a highway or passageway and interfering with public duty are still pending, according to the Austin-American Statesman.
A professor was also arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety for allegedly grabbing a trooper’s bike and yelling expletives. The professor was subsequently fired by the university, the publication reported.
Protesters at the demonstration were heard chanting “Pigs go home!” at the Texas law enforcement officers on the scene. The keffiyeh-wearing protesters attempted to set up tents similar to other campuses.
Dozens of arrests were made at anti-Israel protests at UT Austin. (KTBC)
Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, denounced the protests at the time as lawless and antisemitic.
“These protesters belong in jail,” Abbott wrote. “Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.”
Fox News’ Lawrence Richard, Andrea Vacchiano and Bryan Preston contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Los Angeles, Ca
Fire breaks out under roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain
A brush fire ignited underneath the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia Thursday.
Los Angeles County fire crews responded to the 26100 block of Magic Mountain Parkway around 12:21 p.m.
Footage from the scene showed a palm tree was engulfed in flames underneath the coaster on the west side of the park.
The fire eventually spread to other trees and nearby brush, burning about half an acre and blanketing the area in smoke, according to video news service Key News Network.
Fire crews worked quickly to stop the blaze from threatening nearby attractions or structures.
Reports indicated that no evacuations were issued at the park and no injuries were sustained by any guests or firefighting personnel.
Authorities remained at the scene to monitor for additional hotspots. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Los Angeles, Ca
Southern California police officer accidentally shoots colleague in ‘horseplay’ incident
The Pasadena Police Department released video on Thursday of an officer who accidentally shot a colleague while engaged in “unsafe and out-of-policy horseplay” with loaded firearms.
It happened around 6:18 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2025, in the department’s parking structure, located at 240 Ramona Street, according to Chief Gene Harris.
In the cruiser dashcam video, a police car can be seen pulling into the parking garage in front of two uniformed officers, who were standing at the rear of a police SUV that had its trunk open.
As the cruiser approached, an officer could be seen drawing his gun and pointing it directly at the approaching cruiser, which the police chief called “inappropriate.”
A few moments later, the officer reholstered the weapon as he and his colleague smiled.
The video didn’t capture what happened next inside the vehicle, put Chief Harris said the officer seated in the patrol car driver’s seat drew his handgun and “pointed it towards the other officer. During this interaction, the driving officer’s firearm discharged.”
The round smashed through the cruiser’s windshield and hit one of the officers in his left shoulder, the chief said.
In the video, all you see is the dashcam suddenly shaking, with a cloud of dust coming from the car and one of the officers grabbing his shoulder, clearly injured.
The officer inside the car then rushed out of the vehicle to help him to the ground and treat his injury.
Harris said the officer who injured in the shooting has since recovered.
Harris said the department withheld release of the video for nearly 10 months by invoking an exception to state law requiring police shootings be released.
He said the release was delayed because it was “necessary to protect the integrity of the investigation and allow investigators to complete essential investigative steps,” he said.
The incident remains under criminal investigation and force review. Disciplinary measures were taken after an administrative investigation, Harris said.
Harris called the incident “regretful” and not up to the department’s expectations.
Los Angeles, Ca
Police chase suspected DUI driver in Los Angeles County
Officers chased a speeding driver wanted on suspicion of DUI in Los Angeles County Wednesday night.
The chase began out of Lynwood as the suspect drove a Mazda SUV and several Los Angeles Police Department officers trailed closely behind.
At times, the suspect narrowly missed other vehicles while running red lights and speeding on surface streets. The driver entered the northbound 710 Freeway and later transitioned to the 105 and the 110.
On the freeway, the driver weaved dangerously through traffic while hitting speeds of nearly 100 mph. At times, the driver was seen making hand gestures out the window.
The suspect exited in South L.A. and continued speeding on surface streets, at one point, driving the wrong way.
Due to public danger, police cancelled the pursuit near S. Broadway and W. 59th Street in the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood.
It’s unclear whether there were additional passengers inside the SUV.
Footage of the chase can be seen in the video player above.
-
Seattle, WA5 minutes agoRibbon-cutting marks completion of mixed-income condos in Seattle’s Phinney Ridge
-
San Diego, CA7 minutes ago3 reasons San Diego State can contend for a Pac-12 title in 2026
-
Milwaukee, WI13 minutes ago
Family of son left inside car in tow lot after crash sues City of Milwaukee
-
Atlanta, GA20 minutes agoAtlanta police looking for gunman who fired shot during camera sale
-
Minneapolis, MN22 minutes agoMinneapolis-based Sleep Number enters bankruptcy, has sale deal with Canadian company
-
Indianapolis, IN28 minutes agoNFL Rumors: Indianapolis Colts ‘Mulling’ Big Addition This Summer
-
Pittsburg, PA35 minutes agoPirates Sending Rookie Relief Pitcher Down to Minors
-
Augusta, GA37 minutes agoOverturned truck snarls traffic on Interstate 20



