Texas football shakeups. 
The University of Texas at Austin welcomes new head football coach Tom Herman, from the University of Houston. Coach Herman, who succeeds former Longhorn head coach Charlie Strong, is a UT grad and looks forward to returning to Austin. Meanwhile, Baylor’s interim head coach Jim Grobe says he’ll return to retirement after this season. To read more…
Hands on the wheel.
Texas Senator Judith Zaffirini from Laredo has filed Senate Bill 31, which would establish a statewide ban on texting while driving. Though attempts to pass similar bills failed during the last four state legislative sessions, Texas is now one of four states without such a ban. Zaffirini’s efforts are supported by Representative Tom Craddick from Midland in the Texas House. To read more…
Locally transmitted case of Zika in Texas.
Lab tests confirm that a Cameron County woman has been infected with the Zika virus. The woman has not travelled recently to an area with ongoing Zika virus risks and appears to have contracted the virus from a Texas mosquito. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) does not expect the virus to become widespread in the state, according to the DSHS commissioner. To read more….
Christmas at the Capitol.
The Texas House Chamber at the Capitol, which has been closed since April for renovations, reopened this week with a holiday addition: a 26-foot-tall tree. House members and their families decorate the tree with ornaments that reflect the character of their home districts. The project is led by Julie Straus, wife of House Speaker Joe Straus. To read more…
Only in Austin…
Austin-based Yeti Coolers will open its first flagship store on South Congress during early 2017. The store will be located at South Congress Avenue and Barton Springs Road. This news comes just months after the rapidly expanding company filed documents for an IPO in July and announced plans for new headquarters in Southwest Austin in March of this year. To read more…