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Friday, December 20, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1886, the famed Driskill Hotel opened in Austin. Touted by the Daily Statesman as “One of the Finest Hotels in the Whole Country,” the Driskill has been the site of numerous gubernatorial inaugural balls and remains a popular meeting place for lawmakers, lobbyists, and business leaders.

Check out this video of a driverless Waymo vehicle avoiding a girl who fell on an electric scooter in Austin, then read our story on how the city has taken 2,000 scooters off the streets this year in The Roundup. We'd love to know if you've ever taken a ride on one and what you think about them!

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Today's sponsor is the Voice of Martyrs, who are helping provide aid to Christians in hostile territories.

'Tough Medicine' Campaign Aims to Deter Illegal Immigration

Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference in the border town of Eagle Pass on Thursday, announcing the state will pay for billboards throughout Mexico and Central America to discourage illegal immigration.

The signs will highlight the dangers of crossing the border, with messages such as “Many girls who try to migrate to Texas are kidnapped,” “Your wife and daughter will pay for their trip with their bodies,” and “How much did you pay to have your daughter raped?” The signs are written in multiple languages, including Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.

Abbott described the $100,000 “tough medicine” campaign as a warning to those making a "last-gasp effort" to cross the border before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

"The people coming here, they could be raped, they could be assaulted, they could be killed. But the consequences also are, if they do make it across, they will be arrested, they will be jailed, and they will be deported. It is senseless, it is futile," Abbott said.

Two Killed in Pecos Train Derailment

A train derailed after colliding with an 18-wheeler in Pecos, causing it to crash into the local Chamber of Commerce building. Two Union Pacific workers were killed, and three people inside the building suffered minor injuries.

Hazmat teams secured lithium batteries and airbags from two of the train cars involved in the incident. Officials confirmed there were no chemical spills.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents the West Texas town, expressed his condolences on social media and offered support and assistance with recovery efforts.

The Pecos Police Department is leading the investigation into the crash with the assistance of Union Pacific and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Fewer Austin Sidewalks Blocked by Scooters

Six months after Austin removed 2,000 scooters from service amid significant changes to its micromobility program, officials report fewer issues with cluttered streets and blocked sidewalks, increasing public safety and providing improved accessibility in the congested downtown area.

Earlier this year, the city limited the number of scooter rental companies allowed to operate in Austin to just two. Users were required to park scooters in designated areas. Their maximum speed was also reduced from 15 mph to 10 mph in the main entertainment districts.

Medics have noted that these adjustments have made it easier to respond to emergencies, particularly during large events where scooter congestion previously posed challenges. However, scooter incidents have slightly increased to 125 in the past six months, compared to 98 during the same period in 2023, likely due to the city's growing population.

The Transportation Department plans to solicit public feedback about its micromobility program in the coming months and provide another update in April.

Be Inspired by Bold Believers

For 25 years, Todd Nettleton, the host of VOM Radio, has ventured into some of the world’s most hostile and restricted nations.

His mission? To meet the courageous men and women who have faced persecution for their unwavering faith in Christ. Todd has traveled far and wide to hear their powerful stories firsthand and to bring their voices to the world, sharing their extraordinary testimonies of faith and resilience.

In his new book, When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, Todd invites you to meet these bold believers.

Each stop on this journey will challenge you to reflect on your own walk with Christ along the sometimes-difficult path toward our heavenly home.

Through their incredible stories of courageous faith, we pray you will be inspired to a deeper, bolder walk with Christ.

This compelling book is free for you with any gift—simply request your copy today!

➤ Austin: TTEC Government Solutions, the contractor managing billing and customer service for TxTag, is terminating 650 employees following TxDOT’s transfer of toll tag operations to the Harris County Toll Road Authority. (See Details)

➤ The University of Houston will block access to TikTok on its network beginning Jan. 3. Gov. Abbott issued a directive in December 2022 prohibiting state agencies and public universities from providing access to the social media platform. (More)

➤ San Antonio: A runaway monkey toured a South Side neighborhood Tuesday before it was captured by animal control. The owners were cited for possession of a prohibited animal, lack of a microchip, and lack of a rabies vaccination. (Watch Video)

➤ Harrison County: A 3.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the community of Uncertain yesterday morning. There were no immediate reports of damage. (More)

➤ Kyle: The city is dealing with “the increased presence” of destructive feral hogs and is looking for new solutions to mitigate the problem. (Watch Video)

➤ San Antonio: The city’s public transit authority is receiving a $268 million federal grant to fund the planned Rapid Green Line, a 10.35-mile bus route from the San Antonio International Airport through Downtown. (See Details)

➤ President-elect Donald Trump suggested U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Austin) was “getting in the way” of a push to raise the debt ceiling amid talks to craft a spending bill to avert a government shutdown, calling the three-term lawmaker “very unpopular.” (More)

➤ The Dallas Cowboys will be featured in a Netflix documentary called “America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.” (Watch Trailer)

➤ Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn broke the franchise record for most games spent with the team on Wednesday, surpassing the legendary Mike Modano. (More)

➤ The Houston Texans will play the Kansas City Chiefs tomorrow at noon as part of an NFL Saturday doubleheader. (More)

➤ Ten-time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado reportedly used his no-trade clause to block a trade that would have sent him from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Houston Astros. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ Dallas-based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit closed more than 30 locations since the end of its fiscal year in May. That's in addition to the 85 stores that had closed in the year prior to that. Franchisees have blamed the failures on the company’s business model. (More)

➤ Walmart is testing the use of body cameras worn by employees at some of its North Texas stores in an effort to increase worker safety. (See Details)

➤ American Airlines has settled a lawsuit with three black men who accused the company of racial discrimination when they were removed from a flight in January after customers complained of body odor. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. (More)

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Be Inspired by Bold Believers

For 25 years, Todd Nettleton, the host of VOM Radio, has ventured into some of the world’s most hostile and restricted nations.

In his new book, When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, Todd invites you to meet these bold believers.

Each stop on this journey will challenge you to reflect on your own walk with Christ along the sometimes-difficult path toward our heavenly home.

Through their incredible stories of courageous faith, we pray you will be inspired to a deeper, bolder walk with Christ.

This compelling book is free for you with any gift—simply request your copy today!

➤ A rarely seen ringtail cat was spotted in a wooded area close to I-35 in the San Antonio suburb of Live Oak. The nocturnal animal was “sporting a getup that's equal parts similar to a domestic cat, fox, ferret, and raccoon,” according to a Facebook post by city staff. (See Photos)

➤ Cryptic graffiti messages in Galveston—such as “My wife and kids are held here,” “I’m being sold here,” and “I am held against my will”—have sparked social media debate about whether the messages are an ill-conceived prank or legitimate cries for help. (Watch Video)

➤ In a follow-up to a story we featured last week, Natasha and Patrick Mach of Ennis reunited with a couple who crashed their wedding three years ago dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus. (See Details)

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