CENTRAL TEXAS

Gov. Greg Abbott, who requested a federal disaster declaration for 23 counties, called it a critical first step in the recovery.

The storms moving through the Houston area Thursday night came earlier to Central Texas.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the bracted twistflower, native to the Edwards Plateau, a threatened species, a month after putting another Texas plant on the endangered list.

Proposed legislation from Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, would criminalize explicit performances where children are present and strip libraries of state funding for hosting any event featuring performers in drag. Critics say the bill is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already short supply of therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers.

Tens of thousands of Austin households and businesses went days without electricity after a winter storm wreaked havoc across Texas.

The city originally said it would restore all power by 6 p.m. Friday. But more than 65,000 customers are still without electricity Saturday afternoon.

Severe weather this week is confronting Texans with old problems and stirring up memories of previous crises. Experts say this can be a detriment to mental health.

The Hill Country loves its trees. But improper pruning and a drought earlier in the year may have contributed to the huge number of downed branches this week that frequently took power lines with them.

As tens of thousands of households and businesses face a third day in the dark, Austin leaders say they will improve emergency communications. But residents and critics have little patience for bungled warnings.

School closures and hazardous road conditions are expected throughout a large portion of Texas, according to forecasts. State officials caution Texans about local power outages but expect the grid to stay up.

Atmos, a major natural gas provider for the state, apologized for last week’s service disruption that left some Texans without heat during freezing weather.

Texas policies targeting access to health care for transgender youth forced one family to leave the state.

After several Harris County polling places opened late, a state district judge ordered voting locations there to stay open until 8 p.m. But the state’s highest civil court blocked that ruling.

Fellowships will be available in spring, summer and fall for Texas graduate and undergraduate students at historically Black colleges and universities.

The state’s agriculture commissioner oversees a vast portfolio including farming and ranching, rural health care and the scales you use at grocery store checkout.

One of the state’s fastest-growing demographics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders often lack information in their languages that would make the political process more accessible.

Officials have disclosed the identities of five people killed in a Central Texas neighborhood and the suspect in the slayings.

Officials say five people were shot dead in a Central Texas residential neighborhood.

As Texas continues to battle drought, groups are trying a market-based solution to help farmers and protect what little water is left.

“It was just a matter of time before the baby died, or maybe I’d have to go through the trauma of carrying to term knowing I wasn’t bringing a baby home,” said 27-year-old Lauren Hall. “I couldn’t do that.”

Born from the Chicano movement of the 1960s, La Raza Unida helped coalesce Texas Latino power and briefly formed the state’s third political party. Although the organization is long gone, its imprint on the state is unmistakable.

Medical professionals across the state have expressed confusion over what care they can provide amid Texas’ abortion ban, leading to some patients allegedly receiving delayed care or being turned away.

An AMBER Alert has been issued for two 14-year-old girls from Central Texas who have been missing for five days, the McGregor Police Department said.

Health workers caring for pregnant women now face a bewildering array of legal questions.

Authorities say two people died when a light aircraft crashed in Central Texas.

Lawyers representing families under investigation said they heard from the agency Thursday about continuing the investigations that had previously been halted by a statewide injunction.

Officials are still trying to piece together how Gonzalo Lopez managed to cut through a metal door and hijack a prison bus Thursday. An extensive manhunt continues in Leon County.

In honor of Monday being National Barbecue Day, here is an explainer on what the four regions of barbecue is in the U.S.

The dreamy, aquamarine waterways of Central Texas may one day be connected all the way from Austin to San Antonio via green spaces across 100 miles of the Lone Star State.

Officials say several tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service have caused widespread damage in Central Texas north of Austin.

Wildfires have burned more than 58,000 acres across the state. At least one person has died and dozens of homes have burned down.

Fire crews in Central Texas are struggling to contain massive, windswept wildfires that have burned homes, destroyed a church and left a local sheriff’s deputy dead.

Berry, who will face Ellen Troxclair in the runoff, was one of 19 Austin officers accused of using excessive force on people demonstrating against police brutality in 2020.

Transitioning sources of electricity to cleaner fuels is one of the best tools humanity has to fight climate change — which brings severe weather that taxes the grid. But a year after the winter storm, Texas leaders aren’t talking about decarbonizing.

You know you’re Texan when you call today Armadillo Day and not Groundhog Day.

Firefighters are mopping up a Central Texas wildfire after holding in check for a day with no structures reported damaged or persons injured.

Scientists say a study that estimated far more golden-cheeked warblers in Texas than previously thought has been attacked and taken out of context as the state and federal government battle over the bird’s endangered status.

School districts have said they will abide by the law, but it’s still unclear how they will determine whether a student’s birth certificate was issued near the time of birth.

News of Congregation Beth Israel hostages' safe escape is met with intense relief, but communities feel pain and fear over the latest in a series of antisemitic attacks and incidents in Texas and beyond.

Gov. Greg Abbott’s openness to marijuana decriminalization shows that the state, while conservative, isn’t immune to larger trends.

Austin fire officials said they’re investigating a Sunday incident that caused about $25,000 in damage as a potential arson.

The fast-growing region likely will see a considerable number of new state and federal lawmakers after the 2022 election. And in many cases, they will be representing districts whose boundaries have significantly shifted.

With partisan fervor, Republicans drew new maps for Congress and the Legislature that dilute the power of voters of color. Now the lawsuits begin, as groups that feel marginalized battle for representation in the halls of power.

The above satellite picture is of Tropical Storm PAMELA in the Pacific currently packing winds of 50mph but forecast to become a Major CAT 3 115mph storm by late Tuesday, moving into the Mexican coast Wednesday. That forecast prompted this viewer question:

Some of the 15 Texas school districts that have been sued in the past week for defying Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates are pushing back against the lawsuits.

COVID-19 is surging again in Texas. Here’s the latest.

Texas public universities forbidden from mandating vaccines are trying to entice students and faculty to get the shot. Those moves come as more people ages 18 to 29 years old in Texas are being hospitalized with the virus.

Sheyla Moraes, an intensive care nurse, says this latest surge of the coronavirus pandemic is particularly draining because it was preventable. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.

The lack of available nurses has driven up salaries and created a heated, competitive job market as thousands of positions remain open throughout Texas.

Gov. Greg Abbott opted Texans out of all additional federal unemployment aid starting June 26. But finding a job hasn't been easy for everyone.

The news of her decision comes two days after the current land commissioner, George P. Bush, announced he was running for attorney general next year, challenging fellow Republican Ken Paxton.

At least four organizations canceled conferences or conventions in Austin citing health concerns after Texas ended its statewide mask mandate earlier this month. “It was groups that were not comfortable returning to a fully-opened economy where there was no mask mandate in place.”Gov. Greg Abbott ended the statewide mask mandate and capacity limits on business on March 10, pointing toward fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases in the state. However, he said three of them “had relationships in the medical field” and were concerned with “the message that medical groups might be sending” if they held events in Texas. And you can see that clearly with the cancellation of these conferences.”Even after Texas ended its mask mandate, Austin and Travis County have continued to require masks.

Cat Parks, Republican Party of Texas vice chair, stood for the Pledge of Allegiance last month before speaking to The Woodlands Republican Women’s Club. Now Parks is turning heads again as she paves her own path at the state party under Allen West, the bombastic former Florida congressman who has alienated some fellow Republicans with his sharp-elbowed leadership as chair. We should be the big-tent party,” says Republican Party of Texas vice chair Cat Parks. She likes to say her first Republican meeting in Texas was in 2017 — and it was the one where she was appointed county chair. If they are Republicans, we need them.”AdOne of Parks’ early supporters for vice chair was David Covey, the Orange County GOP chair whom she met through the Texas Republican County Chairmen’s Association.

Nationwide, some 6 million vaccine doses were unable to reach their destinations due to delayed shipments, treacherous roads, and utility outages created by the winter storm. Among them were 450,000 doses earmarked for Texas — where the vaccine rate plummeted last week due to the storm. On Monday, Zabel — and thousands of others whose vaccinations were delayed last week — finally got his injection as Texas’ vaccination effort began to rebound. In a week in which officials hoped to reach 1 million doses administered, providers were only able to administer just under 152,000, according to DSHS reports. AdReporting for last week’s doses may lag due to reporting problems providers had while dealing with the effects of the storm on equipment, staff and overall operations.

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday prioritized the restoration of water and power to thousands of Texas homes still left dry and cold after this week’s winter storm. “This past week has been an enormous challenge, maybe unlike any challenge that you’ve ever dealt with before,” Abbott said. “It has been far too burdensome for the lives of all those affected.”Abbott said about 165,000 homes are still without power, mostly in Central Texas. Abbott said he has also requested an emergency declaration from the federal Department of Agriculture to help farmers impacted by the storm.

Several neighborhoods lost power due to a winter storm that hit the state. “I cannot do this.”Officials with the state's energy grid operator said it is still struggling with balancing supply and demand to the Texas power grid — and could not project when long-lasting outages would end. — Texas Tribune StaffPower grid operator underestimated peak demand during an extreme winter event[5 a.m.] Texas largely relies on natural gas — especially during times of high demand — to power the state. From pumping it out of the ground to the plants in city centers, experts say natural gas infrastructure was unprepared for the plunging temperatures brought by the winter storm. — Erin DouglasFrozen wind turbines aren't the main culprit for Texas' power outages[5 a.m.] Frozen wind turbines in Texas caused some conservative politicians to declare that the state was relying too much on renewable energy.

Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration Friday afternoon for every county in Texas as a massive winter storm threatens to wreck havoc on the state’s electricity grid, power lines and roads. The state’s power grid could see record-setting winter electricity demand from Texans trying to keep warm this weekend. That means the capacity of Texas’ power grid, most of which is run by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, will be put to the test. But the Texas electricity market is set up for summer electricity demand. “Texans are used to having our normal mild winter weather — one day below freezing, maybe a dusting of snow, some ice.

“Our comeback is already materializing,” Abbott said. “Texans are returning to work. There was no mention of direct relief for Texans put of work but a demand for legislation that would protect businesses from pandemic-related lawsuits. Abbott formed a task force on domestic terrorism and extremism following the attack but did not mention the shooting during his address Monday night. You can watch a replay of Abbott’s speech and the Democratic response below:

How can I find a Texas mental health provider? Texas contracts with nearly 40 regional mental and behavioral health authorities that deliver and coordinate affordable mental health services in their communities. School districts should also provide special education accommodations for children experiencing mental health challenges that interfere with their academic progress. Mental Health America provides information on how to find support groups, including online communities, for mental health recovery. The Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative has mental health resource pages specifically for young people and their families.

pic.twitter.com/NjNUMcYbQo — Luke Jordan (@LukeJordanEAVI) January 10, 2021We are enjoying our first snow day here! pic.twitter.com/NOQhIiSYOd — Tamra S (@tamra_snell) January 10, 2021The kids saw snow today for the first time in years and made a Texas sized snowman. (Not “everything” is bigger here, after all) pic.twitter.com/7Cn3ORdXZ2 — Moving & Baking (@movingandbaking) January 10, 2021Acie is LOVING her snow day in Austin, TX!!!! #snow #SundayMorning #dogsoftwitter pic.twitter.com/lBr3Q9ul6b — Shin FireyPaperMario (@FireyPaperMario) January 10, 2021Snow day in Texas 🥶❄️☃️ pic.twitter.com/LZMTbMmYQf — Mav And (@mommy_mav) January 10, 2021Akin to seeing a unicorn in Central Texas. Just a few inches of snow but we’ll take it in West Texas!

Sommelier Sean Beck of H-Town restaurant group is back with us again, and this time he’s hand picked 3 Texas wines for us to taste. Doc is recognized as one of the founding fathers of modern Texas wine. 3) Red: The Grower Project “The Source” 2017 Sangiovese, Estimated Retail : $20A collaboration of wine professionals working with Texas growers to create limited production, single vineyard wines that show case Texas flavor and terroir. They are big proponents of sustainable farming and labor practices in the Texas wine industry. You can buy these 3 Texas wines for $49 at Backstreet Cafe just ask for the “Houston Life Trio” or you can email Sean@Htownrestaurantgroup.com

VYPE High School Spotlight airs on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m on Talk 1370 AM and Majic 95.5 HD2 in the Austin area and Central Texas, and anywhere in the world on https://talk1370.radio.com/shows/vype-high-school-spotlight and the RADIO.COM app. On the first segment, VYPE Austin/San Antonio/Hill Country editor/reporter Thomas Bingham recapped the bi-district round of the UIL 6A Division I, UIL 6A Division II, UIL 5A Division I and UIL 5A Division II postseasons. In segment two, Thomas talked to VYPE Houston editor Joshua Koch. -----2020 VYPE Austin UIL 4A Postseason Football Rankings:#1 Wimberley (12-4)#2 Austin LBJ Early College (9-3)#3 Salado (11-2)#4 Lampasas (9-1)#5 Giddings (8-4)#6 Smithville (5-6)#7 Burnet (5-6)#8 Fredericksburg (5-5)#9 Manor New Technology (3-4)#10 Gatesville (4-6)For more sports coverage, follow VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

VYPE High School Spotlight airs on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m on Talk 1370 AM and Majic 95.5 HD2 in the Austin area and Central Texas, and anywhere in the world on https://talk1370.radio.com/shows/vype-high-school-spotlight and the RADIO.COM app. On the first segment, VYPE Austin/San Antonio/Hill Country editor/reporter Thomas Bingham updated the VYPE Austin UIL 5A Division II, UIL 5A Division I and UIL 6A football rankings after the recently completed regular season and before the postseason begins for those classifications. In addition, they look ahead to the high school lacrosse season, new alignments for Southwest Preparatory Conference lacrosse and Texas High School Lacrosse League, and more. In the second half of the show, the host discusses unique area UIL 6A and UIL 5A football playoff qualifications, recaps the regional final round of the small school playoffs, shares schedules for UIL 6A and UIL 5A bi-district playoff matchups, UIL 4A, UIL 3A and UIL 2A state semifinals and the UIL 1A Division II state title game, and makes predictions for the football weekend ahead. Fell out: Austin High: 5-3 (Previous: #10)VYPE Austin UIL 5A Division I Football Rankings:#1 Cedar Park: 8-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Georgetown: 7-1 (Previous: #2)#3 Dripping Springs: 8-3 (Previous: #3)#4 Pflugerville Hendrickson: 6-2 (Previous: #4)Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.

The organization is also asking for donations here, as the number of families seeking assistance from Texas food banks has doubled since March. Or they can visit the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s website to learn more about health services like low-cost or free health coverage for children, health programs for low-income families and services for Texas women. Texas Housers provides low-income housing information services, and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation has affordable housing programs to help people find homes. Check out these helpful guides on how to get help:Central Texas: How to get help (and help) in Austin during the coronavirus pandemic, via KUTEast Texas: Need financial assistance for the holidays?, via CBS19West Texas: West Texas Food Bank prepares for 2020 holiday demand, via Newswest 9West Texas: Resources for West Texas and S.E. Disclosure: Comcast, El Paso Times, Facebook, Feeding Texas, State Bar of Texas, Texas Association of Community Health Centers and Texas Monthly have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Who can get to the UIL state final four from Central Texas? 1 Lake Travis is the only remaining undefeated UIL volleyball team in the Austin area. 3 Pflugerville Hendrickson produced one of the Austin area's best second half finishes in the 2020 high school volleyball regular season. 4 Austin High won its last five regular season games to set its 17-3 record before the postseason. For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media.

The 2020 VYPE Austin high school girls basketball season preview continues with area TAPPS and SPC team breakdowns. Check them out below and stay tuned for more area preseason coverage in the coming days. The Austin St. Andrew's Episcopal School Highlanders missed the SPC tournament in the 2019-2020 campaign, but can bounce back with five returning starters, all-SPC talent Scout Swanson and fellow notable contributors Ella Townsend and Melina Ruelas. Other Private School Teams to Watch: Texas School for the Deaf, Faith Academy of Marble Falls, Regents School of Austin, Austin St. Stephen's Episcopal School and Hill Country Christian School of AustinFor more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

The Wimberley Lady Texans (29-4) will battle the Bellville Brahmas (26-3) in Tuesday's UIL 4A state semifinal volleyball match in Cuero, Texas. Check out three keys to a Lady Texans' victory. 1: Lean On Your Balanced AttackThere's a reason why Wimberley has advanced to the 2020 UIL 4A state final four. The Lady Texans recorded nine trips to the UIL state volleyball final four in the 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 seasons and won six state championships during that time. For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX and @VYPESATX Instagram and @VYPEATX and @VYPESATX Twitter) on social media.

VYPE High School Spotlight airs on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m on Talk 1370 AM and Majic 95.5 HD2 in the Austin area and Central Texas, and anywhere in the world on https://talk1370.radio.com/shows/vype-high-school-spotlight and the RADIO.COM app. On the first segment, VYPE Austin/San Antonio/Hill Country editor/reporter Thomas Bingham recapped the latest week of area UIL football. In segment two, Thomas interviewed Lockhart head volleyball coach Terry Lambert. For more sports coverage, follow VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

WACO, Texas – A Central Texas schoolteacher is jailed under a murder charge in the fatal shooting of her teenage son as she was driving him to his first day at a new school. Sarah Elizabeth Hunt, 39, remained Wednesday in McLennan County Jail in Waco under a $500,000 bond, charged with murdering her 17-year-old son Garrett Hunt. They also found a .40-caliber handgun, a .40-caliber magazine and cartridges on the floorboard and on the ground outside the vehicle, McNamara said. He never had a chance," McNamara told KWTX-TV in Waco. The Hunt family had just moved to the Waco area and Hunt was thought to be taking her son to Riesel High School to enroll.

Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneAlthough they didn’t get the blue wave they expected, Democrats narrowed the gap with Republicans in five of the most competitive and populous suburban counties in Texas. Meanwhile, Democrats won over many voters like 28-year-old Rachel Copeland, who said she voted for Libertarian Gary Johnson in 2016. Not all suburban counties became as competitive as Tarrant. “I think we need to rethink how we talk about the blue wave,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, political science professor at the University of Houston. It’s certainly changing, we saw it with how close Beto came in 2016, and the demographics have changed drastically,” Cross said.

On the first segment, VYPE Austin/San Antonio/Hill Country editor/reporter Thomas Bingham recapped the latest week of area UIL football. In segment two, Thomas interviewed Southwest Preparatory Conference President of the Athletic Directors and Austin St. Andrew's Episcopal School Athletic Director and Upper School Boys Basketball Coach Jeff McCrary. They discuss the return of Austin St. Andrew's Episcopal School athletics, the partnership with Austin St. Stephen's Episcopal School that produced the Austin Saints football program, the outlook for the 2020-2021 Austin St. Andrew's Episcopal School varsity boys basketball team, and more. For more sports coverage, follow VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

The 2020 VYPE Austin high school girls basketball season preview tips off with the area's UIL 12-6A district breakdown. UIL 12-6A Girls Basketball PreviewHarker Heights won 32 games and advanced to the UIL 6A Region II Quarterfinal during the 2019-2020 Texas high school girls basketball season and will remain a district favorite and deep playoff contender in the 2020-2021 campaign. The Knights will stay on track because of all-region player and district MVP Sierra Brooks, first-team all-district honorees Emri Lovell and Angelique Morgan and second-team all-district athlete Empress Roberts. And don't ignore battle-tested Bryan, who faced tough Bridgeland, Cypress and Tomball district opponents during the last two seasons. For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media.

Texas Democrats are hoping to flip several congressional seats held by Republicans on Election Day. At least five Republican incumbents whom Democrats targeted cruised to reelection, according to races called by Decision Desk HQ. Similarly, U.S. Rep. Van Taylor, R-Plano, also held off a challenge from Democrat Lulu Seikaly in Collin County's 3rd Congressional District. Three new members-elect in safe Republican seats also won their races, according to Decision Desk HQ. In the 4th Congressional District that covers the northeastern part of the state, State Sen. Pat Fallon will replace John Ratcliffe, who is now director of National Intelligence.

The 2020 VYPE Austin high school football season coverage continues with updated area rankings for the following classifications: UIL 6A, 5A and 4A and TAPPS 11-Man and Six-Man. VYPE first releases its updated rankings on its weekly radio show, VYPE High School Spotlight. VYPE Austin UIL 6A Football Rankings:#1 Westlake: 5-0 (Previous: #2)#2 Lake Travis: 4-0 (Previous: #1)#3 Killeen Shoemaker: 5-0 (Previous: #3)#4 Austin Vandegrift: 4-1 (Previous: #4)#5 Temple: 5-1 (Previous: #5)#6 Cedar Park Vista Ridge: 5-1 (Previous: #6)#7 Round Rock: 3-2 (Previous: #9)#8 Austin High: 4-1 (Previous: NR)#9 Harker Heights: 3-3 (Previous: #8)#10 Hays: 3-3 (Previous: #7)Fell out: Round Rock Cedar Ridge: 2-3 (Previous: #10)VYPE Austin UIL 5A Division I Football Rankings:#1 Cedar Park: 5-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Dripping Springs: 4-1 (Previous: #2)#3 Georgetown: 4-1 (Previous: #3)#4 Pflugerville: 4-1 (Previous: #4)Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. #6 Burnet: 5-4 (Previous: #6)#7 Fredericksburg: 5-4 (Previous: #8)#8 Smithville: 4-5 (Previous: #9)#9 La Grange: 4-5 (Previous: #7)#10 Manor New Technology: 2-3 (Previous: #10)VYPE Austin TAPPS 11-Man Football Rankings:#1 Regents School of Austin: 6-0 (Previous: #1)Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

The 2020 VYPE Austin high school football season coverage continues with updated area rankings for the following classifications: UIL 6A, 5A and 4A and TAPPS 11-Man and Six-Man. VYPE first releases its updated rankings on its weekly radio show, VYPE High School Spotlight. VYPE Austin UIL 4A Football Rankings:#1 Lampasas: 6-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Salado: 8-1 (Previous: #3)#3 Wimberley: 7-2 (Previous: #2)#4 Giddings: 6-2 (Previous: #5)#5 Austin LBJ Early College: 3-2 (Previous: #4)#6 Burnet: 5-3 (Previous: #6)Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. #7 La Grange: 4-4 (Previous: #8)#8 Fredericksburg: 4-4 (Previous: #7)#9 Smithville: 3-5 (Previous: #9)#10 Manor New Technology: 2-3 (Previous: NR)Fell out: Gatesville: 2-5 (Previous: #10)VYPE Austin TAPPS 11-Man Football Rankings:#1 Regents School of Austin: 5-0 (Previous: #1)Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

The 2020 VYPE Austin high school football season coverage continues with updated area rankings for the following classifications: UIL 6A, 5A and 4A and TAPPS 11-Man. VYPE first releases its updated rankings on its weekly radio show, VYPE High School Spotlight. VYPE Austin UIL 6A Football Rankings:#1 Lake Travis: 3-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Westlake: 4-0 (Previous: #2)#3 Killeen Shoemaker: 3-0 (Previous: #4)#4 Austin Vandegrift: 2-1 (Previous: #6)#5 Temple: 3-1 (Previous: #5)#6 Cedar Park Vista Ridge: 3-1 (Previous: #3)#7 Hutto: 2-1 (Previous: #7)#8 Austin High: 3-0 (Previous: NR)#9 Round Rock Cedar Ridge: 2-1 (Previous: #10)#10 Hays: 2-2 (Previous: #8)Fell out: Harker Heights: 2-2 (Previous: #9)VYPE Austin UIL 5A Division I Football Rankings:#1 Cedar Park: 4-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Dripping Springs: 2-1 (Previous: #2)#3 Georgetown: 3-1 (Previous: #5)#4 Pflugerville: 3-1 (Previous: #3)Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. #5 Pflugerville Hendrickson: 2-1 (Previous: #4)VYPE Austin UIL 5A Division II Football Rankings:#1 Liberty Hill: 4-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Marble Falls: 3-0 (Previous: #2)#3 Leander Rouse: 3-1 (Previous: #3)#4 Leander Glenn: 2-2 (Previous: NR)#5 Austin Northeast Early College: 1-1 (Previous: #4)Fell out: Georgetown East View: 1-3 (Previous: #5)VYPE Austin UIL 4A Football Rankings:#1 Lampasas: 5-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Wimberley: 7-1 (Previous: #2)#3 Salado: 7-1 (Previous: #3)#4 Austin LBJ Early College: 3-1 (Previous: #4)Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. #2 Central Texas Christian School: 3-1 (Previous: #3)#3 Austin St. Michael's Catholic Academy: 3-1 (Previous: #4)#4 Brentwood Christian School: 3-1 (Previous: #2)#5 Austin St. Dominic Savio Catholic: 1-2 (Previous: #5)For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media.

Kasey Evans opted to home-school her children — Hunter Vandeberghe, 7, Bella Evans, 3, and Michael Evans, 3 — when their school district's remote learning option went away. For most families afraid of returning, school districts provided three options: home school, switch districts or enroll in an online school. So far the school districts to make the change are smaller and some serve more rural populations. She asked for the same exemption from in-person school for her high school-aged son, fearing he could expose his siblings. “If I had known that the school district was gonna do this, I never would have enrolled them this year,” Willgren said.

On the first segment, VYPE Austin/San Antonio/Hill Country editor/reporter Thomas Bingham recapped the fourth week of UIL 5A and 6A football and the eighth week of small school action. In segment two, Thomas interviewed Hays' volleyball and girls basketball player Trista Strasser. Correction: Hays football has beaten Lake Travis twice in non-district games and once as playoff opponents. For more sports coverage, follow VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

VYPE High School Spotlight airs on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m on Talk 1370 AM and Majic 95.5 HD2 in the Austin area and Central Texas, and anywhere in the world on https://talk1370.radio.com/shows/vype-high-school-spotlight and the RADIO.COM app. On the first segment, VYPE Austin/San Antonio/Hill Country editor/reporter Thomas Bingham and Cedar Park VYPE Live broadcaster Brad Cone recapped the third week of UIL 5A and 6A football and the seventh week of small school action. In segment two, Thomas and Brad interviewed Cedar Park Vista Ridge athletics coordinator and head football coach Rodney Vincent. For more sports coverage, follow VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

A trip to Taylor provides the essentials of any Lone Star diet: slow-smoked bar­becue and cold local beer. Louie Mueller BarbecueKnown as the “Cathedral of Smoke,” this spot is one of Texas' most beloved barbecue joints. Since Louie Mueller first started serving barbecue in 1949, it’s been a no-frills kind of place. The separate bars and jukeboxes tell the story of segregation in Taylor, but also how the community found common ground in great local barbecue. Davis Grocery and BarbecueCheck out this under-the-radar grocery store and barbecue stop if you’re still in the mood for a snack.

The 2020 VYPE Austin high school football season coverage continues with updated area rankings for UIL 6A, 5A, 4A and 1A-3A and TAPPS 11-man and Six-Man classifications. Check them out below and stay tuned for more area coverage. VYPE first releases its updated rankings on its weekly radio show, VYPE High School Spotlight. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.

At Swift River Pecans in Fentress, just outside Lockhart, Troy Swift and his crew are putting in another long day harvesting pecans. Pecans, one of the only major tree nuts native to North America, are now grown in 15 states. Today, he owns two thriving orchards that produce 14 varieties of hybrid pecans and wild native pecans, as well as a busy sawmill. The wild pecan trees here are of the Carya illinoinensis species, which is indigenous to the Pecan Belt. Texas Pecan Board executive director Whitney notes that, increasingly, chefs who prioritize regional sourcing are interested in purchasing specific varieties.

The metal arms of a hydraulic shaker clamp around the trunk of a mature pecan tree, performing a high-speed vibrato lasting nearly a minute. Pecans, one of the only major tree nuts native to North America, are now grown in 15 states. By the early 20th century, pecan cultivation was so widespread and successful in Texas, the state Legislature designated the pecan tree as the official state tree. The wild pecan trees here are of the Carya illinoinensis species, which is indigenous to the Pecan Belt. Texas Pecan Board executive director Whitney notes that, increasingly, chefs who prioritize regional sourcing are interested in purchasing specific varieties.

The 2020 VYPE Austin high school football season coverage continues with updated area UIL 6A, 5A and 4A rankings. VYPE first releases its updated rankings on its weekly radio show, VYPE High School Spotlight. VYPE Austin UIL 6A Football Rankings:#1 Lake Travis: 0-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Westlake: 1-0 (Previous: #2)#3 Cedar Park Vista Ridge: 1-0 (Previous: #4)#4 Temple: 1-0 (Previous: #6)#5 Austin Vandegrift: 0-1 (Previous: #3)#6 Killeen Shoemaker: 1-0 (Previous: #7)#7 Del Valle: 1-0 (Previous: #9)#8 Hutto: 0-1 (Previous: #5)#9 Round Rock Westwood: 1-0 (Previous: #10)#10 Killeen: 1-0 (Previous: NR)Fell out: Hays: 0-1 (Previous: #8)VYPE Austin UIL 5A Division I Football Rankings:#1 Cedar Park: 1-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Dripping Springs: 1-0 (Previous: #2)#3 Georgetown: 1-0 (Previous: #3)Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. #4 Manor: 0-0 (Previous: #4)#5 Buda Johnson: 1-0 (Previous: NR)Fell out: Pflugerville Weiss: 0-1 (Previous: #5)VYPE Austin UIL 5A Division II Football Rankings:#1 Liberty Hill: 1-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Leander Glenn: 1-0 (Previous: #5)#3 Leander Rouse: 1-0 (Previous: NR)#4 Austin McCallum: 0-0 (Previous: #4)#5 Lockhart: 0-1 (Previous: #3)Fell out: Georgetown East View: 0-1 (Previous: #2)VYPE Austin UIL 4A Football Rankings:#1 Lampasas: 3-0 (Previous: #1)#2 Wimberley: 4-1 (Previous: #2)#3 Fredericksburg: 4-1 (Previous: #4)Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

VYPE High School Spotlight airs on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m on Talk 1370 AM and Majic 95.5 HD2 in the Austin area and Central Texas, and anywhere in the world on https://talk1370.radio.com/shows/vype-high-school-spotlight and the RADIO.COM app. She discussed her first Texas high school varsity football start, Twitter fame, celebrities that contacted her, and more. In the second half of the show, the hosts highlight area volleyball teams that are off to hot starts, mention Week 2 football games to watch, release the updated VYPE Austin UIL Football Rankings, and honor the show's player and team of the week. For more sports coverage, follow VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

The 2020 VYPE Austin and VYPE San Antonio high school football season previews continue with the UIL 5A Division II team and district breakdowns. Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. UIL 14-5A Division IILiberty Hill may be making the jump from UIL 4A Division I to UIL 5A Division II, but don't expect that to interfere with its success. Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier. For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX and @VYPESATX Instagram and @VYPEATX and @VYPESATX Twitter) on social media.

VYPE High School Spotlight airs on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m on Talk 1370 AM and Majic 95.5 HD2 in the Austin area and Central Texas, and anywhere in the world on https://talk1370.radio.com/shows/vype-high-school-spotlight and the RADIO.COM app. Want to have a question answered on air or have a topic covered on a future episode? In segment two, Thomas interviews new San Marcos athletic director and head football coach John Walsh. They discuss Walsh's departure from Denton Guyer, why he couldn't pass up the San Marcos opportunity, the expectation of San Marcos athletics during the 2020-2021 school year, his love of San Marcos barbecue, and more. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

The high-speed train that promises to link Dallas and Houston within 90 minutes has been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, according to Texas Central Railroad, the company in charge of the project. Texas Central expects to start construction in the first half of 2021. The Federal Railroad Administration did not immediately respond to request for comment and has yet to publicly confirmed the approvals, but Texas Central Railroad said the rulings will be released soon. “This is the moment we have been working towards,” said Carlos Aguilar, CEO of Texas Central Railroad in a statement. The project has seen resistance from property owners in rural areas of Central Texas, where the railroad would travel through.

As part of its continued content partnership with Entercom, VYPE Media is debuting a new weekly high school sports radio show on Talk 1370 AM and Majic 95.5 HD2 in the Austin area and Central Texas. The program, which is called VYPE High School Spotlight, will air on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. It will feature VYPE Austin/San Antonio/Hill Country editor/reporter Thomas Bingham and others in discussions about all local high school sports, including the first release of updated area team rankings, exclusive interviews with coaches, ADs and others, and more. If you want to tune in and don't live in the Austin area, you can listen to the show live on https://talk1370.radio.com/ and the RADIO.COM app. For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media.

Reps. Jackie Speier, a Democrat from California, and Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, said their bill would make sexual harassment a crime within the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The bill is named I Am Vanessa Guillen after the hashtag that was used by military sexual assault survivors to denounce their experiences on social media when Spc. According to Natalie Khawam, who represents the Guillen family, Guillen told her mother that a soldier of a higher rank walked in and watched her while she was showering. A coalition of military sexual assault survivors along with Democratic and Republican members of Congress joined Speier, Mullin, the Guillen family and Natalie Khawam, who represents the Guillen family, to present the bill at the U.S. Capitol. Officials said they had evidence that Guillen did face other kinds of harassment by other people at the Central Texas base.

SAN ANTONIO Working to shore up historically red Texas, Republican President Donald Trump's reelection campaign launched a bus tour of the state here Thursday where Lt. Gov. "Welcome to the Trump bus tour in Texas," Patrick said in his first remarks to reporters off the bus, before quickly volunteering: "We are absolutely 100% confident that President Donald Trump will carry Texas" and "solidly" so. "That's all just a little bit of smoke and mirrors," said Parscale, who was Trump's campaign manager earlier this election cycle. Still, the existence of a bus tour two months out from the election, no less seemed to speak for itself. "It's nice to the lieutenant governor and part of [Trump's campaign] staff, but yeah, it'd be nice for him to come back again."

Some Texas students will be sharing computers with three or four siblings, their districts unable to muster more than one laptop per family for remote learning. Texas did make improvements throughout the pandemic, with more school districts prioritizing direct contact between teachers and students and providing more educator training. The states Operation Connectivity program, as of mid-August, has ordered 756,000 devices and 310,000 hotspots for more than half of Texas school districts. Others are using a combination of prerecorded videos, self-guided assignments and paper packets to reach students learning remotely. In March, she missed the school districts orientation for remote learning, unable to get connected to the virtual meeting.

The 2020 Texas high school football season officially kicks off on Thursday, so it's time for preseason VYPE Austin, Central Texas and Hill Country area coverage. Check out area teams to watch in the VYPE Austin Preseason UIL 4A and UIL 1A-3A Football Top 10 Rankings. VYPE Austin Preseason UIL 4A Top 10 Football Rankings:#1 Lampasas#2 Austin LBJ Early College#3 Wimberley#4 Salado#5 La Grange#6 Giddings#7 Smithville#8 Fredericksburg#9 Burnet#10 JarrellVYPE Austin Preseason UIL 1A-3A Top 10 Football Rankings:#1 Rockdale#2 Cameron Yoe#3 Mason#4 San Saba#5 Lexington#6 Rogers#7 Granger#8 Thorndale#9 Holland#10 FlatoniaOther teams to watch: Weimar, Lago Vista, Llano, Burton, Thrall, Schulenburg, Brady, Altair Rice Consolidated, Johnson City and Dime BoxFor more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media.

Elder Fernandes, 23, was found late Tuesday in Temple, according to local police. Fernandes is the third soldier from Fort Hood to go missing in the past year. Natalie Khawam, who is representing the Fernandes family, said Army police told family members about the discovery late Tuesday night. U.S. Army officials confirmed Wednesday that initial identification points to the body found being Fernandes and said they were grieving with the Fernandes family. According to Isabel Fernandes, the family was told by Army officials that a different superior signed her nephew's hospital release.

Here are things you need to know for Friday, August 14:1. A 41-second bystander video encapsulates the chaos that led to the murder of Tammy Goody, 28, a mother of five. For one moment the video does show a man kneeling over the body of a woman lying motionless on the street. THIS DAY IN HISTORYAug. 14, 2003: A major outage knocked out power across the eastern United States and parts of Canada. Fifty million people were affected, including residents of New York, Cleveland and Detroit, as well as Toronto and Ottawa, Canada.

HAMILTON, Texas This article first appeared on Texas Highways. So it is with Hamiltonset in the northern Hill Country, equidistant between Fort Worth and Austinhome to Wenzel LoneStar Meat Co. Fans make 200-mile round trips from their big-city homes for owner Kent Wenzels smoked pulled pork, featured on Pork Butt Fridays. The seat of Hamilton County, Hamilton is rooted in ranching, farming, and hunting. A 2012 restoration of the celebrated limestone courthouse sparked a downtown revitalization, including the expansion of the Hamilton County Historical Museum.

VICTORIA, Texas A gorgeous three-story historic Texas home from the 1880s is ready for a new owner who has an appreciation for old estates and a budget of $650,000. According to Historic Victoria Texas, the abode was originally built in Indianola but then relocated in 1886 after a devastating hurricane destroyed the port city. The stunning single-family residence, registered as a Texas Historic Landmark, reps 4,732-square-feet of living space, five bedrooms, four full baths and one-half bath. Original features include intricate woodwork details throughout and beautiful longleaf pine floors. Scroll below to see inside this quaint estate on the market for $649,900 through the images below, courtesy of Central Texas MLS:507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)507 S De Leon (CTXMLS)

HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas – A Central Texas man has been charged with murder in the slaying of a Fort Hood soldier whose body was found beside a road four miles from where his burned sport utility vehicle was found. Brandon Michael Olivares, 28, of Killeen, was already booked into the Bell County Jail in Belton on an unrelated charge when he was charged Wednesday with murdering Pfc. His bond is set at $1 million, and jail records do not list an attorney for the man. A police affidavit says he and Rosecrans were riding in Rosecran’s SUV when Olivares shot the soldier and left his body beside a secluded road near Stillhouse Hollow Lake in Harker Heights, about 11 miles from Fort Hood. Court records do not list a motive for the slaying.

To do so, you can use this letter template created by Texas Housers, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and BASTA Austin. You can find free, or pro bono, legal help at various legal aid groups and legal clinics across the state. Based in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid also has offices in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and El Paso. DallasEvictions2020.com also offers a free legal aid hotline. Houston and Southeast Texas:Lone Star Legal Aid , based in Houston with offices around eastern Texas, offers free legal aid and information about evictions during COVID-19.