The Week’s Biggest News in Brief: July 9 – 15

$6.6 Billion Proposed Budget: Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax released his proposed 2026-27 budget last Friday, July 10, outlining departments and services that will see spending increases and those that will take on cuts. The city’s first responders would all see increases, as the Austin Police Department’s budget would increase by $24 million, putting the department at a total of $550 million; Austin Fire would get a total over $288 million, an $18.9 million increase from last year; and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services would increase by $6 million, landing at a total of $157 million. Alternatively, the budget for social services would be cut by $8 million, leaving advocates frustrated with the city prioritizing police spending instead of allocating more funds to prevent violence and incarceration. Local social services advocates plan to gather later this evening (July 16) at Lustre Pearl to protest the potential cuts. The average property owner is set to pay an additional $346 per year, as the proposal would raise property taxes by 3.5% – the maximum amount allowed in Texas without voter approval. Civilian city employees would benefit from a 3% raise if the budget were to be approved as is. The city manager also said that the consolidation of some of the city’s IT employees into one department, the highly contested Broadnax-led initiative called One ATS, would save the city $5.8 million. While the initial proposal was set to move all 1,000 IT workers into a singular department, that number has now dropped to 191. Council is highly likely to make amendments to the budget as they meet today to have their first discussion regarding the plan for the city’s finances. Read more in Brant Bingamon’s report online.

Travis County, Austin Disaster Declarations: As Central Texas continues to see increased rainfall throughout the week, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Mayor Kirk Watson both issued disaster declarations for Travis County and Austin on Tuesday, July 14. This comes after Gov. Greg Abbott issued his own disaster declaration for 59 counties in the state due to the potential flooding. Local leaders have warned residents to monitor forecasts and warnings and remain prepared to potentially act quickly. At press time, the city remained under a flood watch until Thursday evening.

An altar honoring Lorenzo Salgado Araujo at the Wildflower Church on Saturday, July 11 Credit: Sammie Seamon

Locals Seek Justice for Salgado Araujo: Last Tuesday, July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a longtime Houston resident who emigrated from Mexico, was shot and killed by an ICE agent as he was driving to work that morning. In a statement posted to X, the Department of Homeland Security said that Salgado Araujo “attempted to evade arrest” and “weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer.” Since the incident, his family has spoken out against the agency’s actions, lawmakers have called for transparency into the tragedy, and local residents and advocates have gathered to mourn the loss and honor the life of Salgado Araujo and other victims of ICE’s actions. Following Salgado Araujo’s death, Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, a Maine resident who immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia, was shot and killed by an ICE agent when he attempted to flee the scene. On Tuesday, July 14, news broke that ICE agents have been directed to no longer conduct vehicle stops, except for instances involving serious criminal targets. However, the White House overturned that decision just a day later on Wednesday, July 15, after Donald Trump insisted that traffic stops continue. Read more about how locals have organized to support those impacted in Sammie Seamon’s report online.

CapMetro Proposed Fare Increase: Last week, CapMetro announced that it is seeking feedback from customers and community members about its proposed fare increases – the agency’s first fare increase in over 10 years. Beginning January 2027, local and Pickup services would increase from $1.25 to $1.50, commuter service would raise from $3.50 to $4, and CapMetro Access service would increase from $1.75 to $2.25. These fares would all see additional increases in January 2029. CapMetro will be hosting in-person meetings to engage with the public throughout the rest of July and August and is accepting feedback submitted through its website. CapMetro also said that it is evaluating potential improvements to the Reduced Fare Program for low-income customers, which would keep fares among the lowest in the country, according to the press release.

Crypto kiosk Credit: Getty Images

Crypto Kiosks Scam Texans: According to the Tribune, over 1,000 Texans were scammed out of a total of $56.8 million last year through a cryptocurrency kiosk scheme. Scammers have used phone numbers that appear as police departments, state agencies, and banks to target individuals, taking it a step further by using real names, titles, and badge numbers. Oftentimes, the scammers have access to some personal information of the victim that they are targeting, directing them to withdraw money from their banks and deposit it into cryptocurrency kiosks. Once deposited into the kiosk, the cash is converted into cryptocurrency and relatively untrackable. Lawmakers and advocates are calling for tighter regulations in Texas, currently the state with the second most crypto kiosks in the nation. 

Texas Dream Act Blocked: On Thursday, July 9, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected students’ requests to preserve the Texas Dream Act, which will now result in the discontinuation of in-state tuition for some undocumented students. For nearly 25 years, Texas has utilized the act, allowing non-U.S. citizen students to receive the same opportunities as native Texan students before the country sued Texas in June 2025, stating that the law provided special benefits for the undocumented students. The federal appeals court, in a 2-1 ruling, decided that it could not intervene due to federal law successfully blocking the act. 

Preliminary Findings in Fatal Crash Investigation: The private jet that crashed in Laredo in mid-June, which resulted in the death of tech entrepreneur Joshua Baer, had fuel system issues before two engines failed, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The plane was initially bound for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, but diverted for Laredo International Airport. Parts of the plane, including the faulty fuel system and engine, are being examined by the NTSB.

Lt. Gov. candidate Vikki Goodwin raises concerns about data centers Credit: Nick Radcliffe

Lawmakers Talk Data Centers: A group of Democratic politicians gathered on Tuesday, July 14, at the Long Center for a press conference to address the rising threat of data centers to Central Texas and the state as a whole. Texas lieutenant governor candidate Vikki Goodwin, state comptroller candidate Sarah Eckhardt, Hays County Judge nominee Michelle Gutierrez Cohen, San Marcos City Council members Alyssa Garza and Amanda Rodriguez, Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri, and agriculture commissioner candidate Clayton Tucker called for a moratorium on the development of new data centers and are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session.

APD Fatal Shooting: A man who was accused of threatening a Downtown running group with a handgun on Saturday, July 11, was shot and killed by Austin Police Department officers when they responded to the scene. On Monday, July 13, APD released dispatch calls and body camera footage from one of the involved officers. According to the Statesman, Police Chief Lisa Davis said that the individual hit a woman with an electric scooter before threatening others with a gun, and later pointed the firearm toward officers before they shot and killed the man. Officers fired an estimated 17 rounds, neutralizing the suspect and recovering the handgun, along with two other loaded firearms that were inside his backpack. Although police responded within minutes of initial reports, the officers did not locate the suspect for a couple of hours. Investigators are now examining potential motives, while APD’s Special Investigations Unit and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office conduct separate criminal investigations and Internal Affairs makes sure that officers complied with proper policy procedures. 

Status of Talarico Versus Paxton: Over the last month, House Rep. James Talarico has been ripping Attorney General Ken Paxton for offering Adam Hoffman, a Waco attorney who has been charged with repeatedly sexually abusing a child, a lax plea deal that required Hoffman to spend 30 days in jail, admit to the crime, and surrender his license to practice law but not have to register as a sex offender. Paxton’s office originally offered a deal that mandated the former Waco attorney serve only one day in jail, but was denied by Judge Roy Sparkman. Since the decision, Talarico has blasted Paxton for giving Hoffman what he describes as an “Epstein-style sweetheart deal” and filed a Public Information Act request to obtain all of the A.G.’s Office’s communications regarding the case, which he said was denied last week. Paxton has also been under fire for taking a trip to Iceland during the Fourth of July holiday and allegedly violating state election laws. As the two continue to compete for the U.S. Senate seat, Paxton’s campaign has reported raising over $9 million in the second quarter, while Talarico’s campaign has reported receiving over $30 million.

Homeless Progress Dashboard Delay: Two weeks ago, Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office sent a memo to Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council, outlining some of the work that the department has conducted since initiating its homeless camp sweeps plan. According to the Statesman, the office recently missed a second deadline to bring forward an initiative to create a public dashboard that provided information on the amount of money city-funded homeless outreach organizations receive and the results of their work. The second missed deadline landed on June 30, after Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray asked for an extension after the first deadline of Dec. 3 came and went. 

Improper Overtime Pay for Austin Energy Employees: According to the Statesman, over 10 Austin Energy workers collected around $12,000 in overtime pay, the city auditor’s investigation found. The employees are accused of misrepresenting how shifts were filled, resulting in them receiving the pay, despite their manager being aware of their actions. The employees are a part of the department’s Energy Control Center, in charge of operating the city’s power grid, which must be staffed at all times under federal reliability rules. The workers came together to decide who would cover certain shifts, yet waited until the last minute to fill the shifts because they could then claim call-back pay, which results in them earning more than typical overtime pay. Austin Energy General Manager Stuart Reilly has since said that “corrective actions are underway.”

Aaron Reitz Appointed as U.S. Attorney: Aaron Reitz, who previously served in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office and the Department of Justice under the Trump administration, was appointed by Donald Trump to serve as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas on Thursday, July 9. Reitz is now in charge of federal prosecutions and civil litigation at the federal level within 43 counties in the southeast portion of the state. He was a Republican candidate for the state’s attorney general position, finishing last among all GOP candidates.

JD Vance Back in Austin: According to the Statesman, JD Vance was back in Austin reportedly to join Joe Rogan on his podcast. Air Force Two arrived at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport early on Tuesday, July 14, and departed in the afternoon. The Austin Fire Department also responded to a “special event” early that Tuesday morning at Korrect Fitness, a gym associated with Rogan’s Onnit brand, but referred the Statesman to the U.S. Secret Service when asked about Vance’s arrival. The vice president previously appeared on Rogan’s podcast back in 2024 and was previously in Austin in March for a private right-wing fundraiser event hosted by billionaire Joe Lonsdale.

Asian American Resource Center Construction: Austin Watershed Protection announced on Monday, July 13, that the department is initiating construction on the Asian American Resource Center and Rutherford Stormwater Improvements project. According to the city press release, the construction will strengthen the quality of stormwater spilling into Little Walnut Creek while updating public spaces at the AARC and Rutherford Campus. Through the expansion of a biofiltration pond, the implementation of a wetland space, the construction of a new stream and rain garden, and the modification of a concrete channel, the project is set to create cleaner water in the creek and better manage flooding. New amenities will also be constructed at the area, including an urban trail, two pedestrian bridges, a play space, and landscaping. 

St. Johns Neighborhood Development: On Tuesday, July 14, the city announced that it is set to begin construction of a 19-acre development in the St. Johns neighborhood before the summer ends. According to Austin Financial Services, the site, located at the corner of St. John Avenue and I-35, will feature 526 apartments, including income-restricted housing available for those earning between 50% and 80% of the median family income, an enlarged version of St. John Park, upgraded pedestrian and bike spaces, a 15,000-square-foot commercial area, and a 5,000-square-foot space for community retail and small businesses. As a result, St. John Pocket Park will close today, set to reopen in August 2028. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2028.

Dittmar Pool Opens Tomorrow: After closing on Monday, July 13, Dittmar Pool is set to reopen on Saturday, July 18. The South Austin swimming location was closed as Austin Parks and Recreation worked to repair a large water leak.

Credit: City of Austin QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“When resources are limited, our priorities should reflect Austin’s values of keeping families housed, paying city workers a living wage, and preserving our most essential social services.”

City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes on the proposed budget

Editor’s note: We originally stated that fuel system issues and two failed engines led to the fatal Laredo plane crash in June. The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating what caused the crash. The Chronicle regrets the error.

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