News

This Saturday, April 4, Austinist.com is joining several local urban groups to present the Urban is Core - Austin Super Forum. The forum will give candidates for Mayor and City Council in the May 9, 2009 election an opportunity to discuss urban issues with voters. As a precursor to the forum, we sent questions to each of the candidates, which we will be publishing throughout the week. Click through to see answers from Lee Leffingwell, running for mayor. more ›

• The UAW. Definitely the root of the problem.
• Stimulus money: England may be fresh out.
• Hundreds of people leaving Libya in boats to try to migrate to Europe may have been killed.

• Governor Perry looks stimulus gift horse in mouth, sends it trotting back to Washington.
• Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cattle rustlers…because they’ll get caught!
• If this bill passes the Lege, UT could change motto to, “Come Early, Be Loud, Pack Heat.”

Photographer David Weaver happened to be nearby when an early 2000's Black Pontiac GT struck a male cyclist at Lavaca and 5th Street on Friday evening. Witnesses reported that the car continued down the street after hitting the cyclist, even running a red light at Colorado, most likely in an attempt to flee the scene. Though license plate information was given to the police, anyone with helpful information should call 512-974-5000. The incident occurred around approximately 10:45 p.m. on Friday, March 27. more ›

• GM's Rick Wagoner out, US Treasury in
• MI Gov. Granholm: Rick Wagoner a "sacrificial lamb"
• The Guardian UK: "Afghanistan's failing army"

Austin fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir, who operates the Boudoir Queen label, filed a lawsuit against Courtney Love last week, alleging the singer spread "vile and vicious lies" about her in a series of online postings. more ›

• We only thought the hail was gone: on the surprise showers and hail this morning.
• Round Rock cutting down on school bus routes.
• Veteran political reporter part of the cuts at the ; today was Clay Robison's last day.

Joseph Wesley Torma, aka "Plasma Pat," ran a racket near Tampa, Florida, wherein he'd approach Wal-Mart customers outside the store, claim to be a store employee, and offer to share his employee discounts to purchase televisions for the victims. Once accepted, Torma would take cash from the would-be bargain shoppers and walk into the store — then promptly vanish. more ›

The Paramount Theatre will play host Wednesday night to a forum involving candidates for mayor and City Council. All the mayoral candidates and City Council candidates are invited to take part in this event, where they are expected to address the status of the arts in Austin and their ideas for the future of the arts in Central Texas. The forum is sponsored by many local organizations, including the Austin Film Festival, Austin Lyric Opera, Conspirare, and the Paramount & State Theatres. more ›

It's still not too late to register to run (you'll need to show up in person) or become one of the 2,000 volunteers they need to ensure that the whole thing runs smoothly. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. for wheelchair athletes, with staggered starts at 8:45 a.m. for timed and elite runners and 9:00 a.m. for those looking for a more casual fun run (or walk). more ›

• Credit card numbers stolen from Magnolia Cafe on S. Congress (and CT Nail Salon on N. Lamar).
• Counterfeit $50 bills used in Giddings.
• Cop pulls gun on Texans player (and his wife) as the player was stopped on the way to visit his mother-in-law in a Plano hospital.

Austin Police arrested a man early Wednesday morning who had fallen asleep in his black Lexus at a Jack in the Box drive-thru. The driver, John Cherico, evidently failed to complete his fast-food transaction; the vehicle was still idling when authorities arrived around 6 a.m. Cherico, 45, confessed to have consumed "several vodka tonic drinks," coupled with an anti-depressant, and was arrested on a felony charge as he's been convicted for DWI offenses four times already. [Statesman] more ›

Chief among the proposed amendments is a call for criticizing the theory of evolution by noting its weaknesses; another change would question the process of planet formation. Supporters of the amendment who are attending the debates in person include the Free Market Foundation and Focus on the Family, the latter group which is less known for its scientific acumen than its crusade against the gays. Various evolutionary "heavy-hitters," as Wired's Science blog calls them, are also in town to root for the opposing team. more ›

The city council has postponed today's scheduled vote on awarding a contract to create the new city web site. more ›

The Statesman and various eyewitness accounts on Twitter are reporting that a man has died after jumping from the 13th floor of the Capitol Tower at 9th and Brazos and falling on a car below. Police are currently at the scene. more ›

• Tornado watch for Travis County until 9pm
• 81st legislature passed its first bill (finally): Rep. Dawnna Dukes' film incentives bill.
• State Senate approves scaling back the top 10% rule.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Travis, Burnet, and Western Williamson County until 5:45 p.m. tonight. Concurrently, a tornado watch is in effect until 9 p.m. that spans most of Central Texas. Egg-sized hail has been reported in Horseshoe Bay, and the storm is moving quickly eastward. more ›

In its place is the new Kiss and Fly, a ritzy multi-level gay nightclub that, to quote the press release, "promises a level of international style and jet-set sophistication rarely seen in dance nightclubs." The 13,000-square-foot club will offer the requisite bottle service that's become a standard fixture in that neighborhood, plus outdoor patio, projection screen, and smoking area. Owner Mike Yassine is the same fellow behind Qua Bottle Lounge, which features the famous—or infamous, depending on how you look at it—shark tank dancefloor. Judging from the comments storm in this post, it appears that there's already a little controversy brewing over the new establishment. more ›

Some folks are up in arms, so to speak, over the Texas Senate today approving a bill that allows employees to carry firearms and ammunition in their vehicles when going to work. The bill specifies that both would need to remain "out of sight" and the vehicles locked. more ›

News that the city council was set to vote Thursday on awarding a contract to redesign the city's web site set off a pair of online protests. more ›

We checked in with Stephen Moser, Austin Chronicle's resident social columnist, yesterday afternoon after news of his arrest over alleged arson charges broke. "I send big kisses from the Big House, and love from the Lock-Up," he says to our readers. Moser is currently out of jail and resting in seclusion until the facts of this "nightmare," as he calls it, get sorted out. more ›

• Obama turns lecturer in news conference
• Administration targets flow of guns, profits from U.S. to Mexico
• Abortion debate dogs Obama's plan to deliver Notre Dame commencement address

That story we posted last week about the Toyota Supra that mysteriously caught on fire in the City Hall parking garage took a turn for the even more bizarre today, when it was reported that local officials had arrested Austin Chronicle fashion guru and beloved social columnist Stephen Moser on arson charges. According to Austin Fire Department officials, the car in question belonged to Moser's roommate. more ›

• Andrew Cuomo is gonna get our money (some of it) back for us.
• Well, at least the stock market likes something.
• Come on, Barack. Not very smart to make fun of the Special Olympics.

Lan Bui/Flickr
• Sex research is well and good, but when is someone going to study our drunken hook-ups?
• SXSW made money. Duh.
• People came to SXSW to find work.

If your ideal social event combines drinking alcohol and acquiring obscure knowledge, then Nerd Nite is for you. more ›

According to one research analyst, Round Rock computer maker Dell Inc. failed in its initial attempt to bring a prototype smartphone to the consumer market after being rejected by wireless carriers for being—get this—too "Dell-like" in appearance. more ›

• Geithner: The man with (yet another) plan for those toxic assets
• Rolling Stones' Matt Taibbi on the global economic crisis: "We're officially, royally f$^%ed."
• More Signs of the Economic Times: Women needing cash go from jobless to topless

Police were called in at 2:45 this morning after two members of the band Iglu & Hartly, in town for SxSW, were found running around the Hilton downtown, and playing the 6th floor piano, in the nude. Hotel staffers asked Michael Anderson Jarvis and Samuel Martin to put their clothes on; when that didn't work, security was called. Jarvis then punched the hotel security guard three times. Jarvis (his band bio says his name is Jarvis Anderson) has been charged with felony assault on a public servant. [Statesman] more ›

• The State Senate has passed the needle exchange bill.
• Texas Lege moving slower than usual than session.
• State audit: funds meant for border security were spent elsewhere.

• No mo' death penalty in N.M.
• 90% tax on AIG bonuses?
• Colin Powell's Chief of Staff calls Cheney "evil" (as if we already didn't know).

• Treasury secretary says AIG executives must pay back bonus money
• Austrian man pleads guilty to imprisoning his daughter and fathering seven children with her
• Madagascar military hands power to opposition leader

Sure, we're all busy preparing for/indulging in SXSW debauched madness or liver-deep in pints of Guinness to honor ye ol' Irish. But that doesn't mean we don't have time to think about others. In fact, it is the perfect time to step outside of our self-absorbed states and think about, nay, do something for others. Our buddy Matthew Odam tipped us off to the St. Baldrick's Day event going on tonight at Mother Egan's at 7 p.m. Apparently dozens of men have raised money from sponsors and will shave their beards/heads/etc. for charity tonight. The St. Baldrick's Foundation fights to help cure children's cancer through raising awareness and funds for fellowships and research. more ›

Devin Adam Pro, 17, and Sean David Ramsey, 20, had grabbed their loot—worth a sum total of about seven bucks—and were making their way out of the store when they were intercepted by Wal-Mart securty. Rather than surrender, Pro and Ramsey fought with the 'loss prevention officers,' injuring the employees in the process. The two managed to escape, but were later caught by police. more ›

Here's the quick points regarding street closures and general traffic info for SXSW Music week, mostly culled from a festival press release: more ›

• @NYTimes writes about the annual nerd pilgrimage! @sxsw #sxsw #sxswi
• Doh! Massive downtown iFail prompts AT&T to scrape egg off their iface and boost their inetwork.
• Local peeps hoping music festival brings some serious scratch to the ATX.

• An enemy combatant rose by any other name...
• Red Cross: Detainees at "black sites" tortured
• Obama to appear on "Tonight Show", discuss economy, possibly marmosets.

The PureVolume House, where we'll be hosting Local Music is Sexy 7 tonight, opened last night to much fanfare — perhaps too much. One of the guests made off with a fancy gaming notebook that had been loaned by computer maker Alienware. Below is the message sent out by Josh Rowe, who's running the PureVolume space: more ›

Early this morning, a fixed-up Toyota Supra somehow caught on fire in the City Hall parking lot. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze and no injuries were reported, but authorities are still piecing together just what transpired. more ›

Contxts' simple interface enables you to do just one thing and do it quickly: simply put, it's a way to beam your "electronic" business card to someone via SMS, and, in turn, request someone's contact info using the same system. more ›

Who cares how much it cost?* Who cares if it doesn't go everywhere we want to go?** Austin's almost got a people train. Toot toot! These photographs were provided by Steve Hopson. more ›

• German teen warned of school attack.
• Madoff actually shows up for his hearing.
• Forbes billionaire list is not recession proof.

• Dell to lay off hundreds of employees.
• New Austin superintendent hasn't stuck with a position for longer than 3 years since the mid-90's.
• When you went to bed last night, the State Senate was still working on the Voter ID bill.

• Eleven people killed in Alabama shooting spree
• Gunman opens fire at German school, killing at least 15 people
• Former Iraqi official 'Chemical Ali' sentenced for war crimes

• Voter ID bill will be slow-going in State Senate.
• Your candidates for Austin City Council and Mayor.
• Treemont Homeowners Association suing a resident for his installation of an energy-saving metal roof.

Employment services company Manpower Inc.'s latest report, derived from data gathered from over 30,000 companies around the country, finds that 17% of local businesses are looking to add staff "in coming months," while 10% believe they'll be laying off additional workers from April through June. Most of the remainder of those polled believe they'll keep their existing headcounts. more ›

• IMF says world economy will shrink this year.
• Obama to speak on education; won't touch No Child Left Behind.
• Merck to get bigger.

• Local rancher dies after being crushed by cow.
• Austin rapper "Capone" allegedly hit and robbed a mentally disabled man over $45 bucks in CD sales.
• Do they waive the late checkout fee for everyone else when Austin Police Department SWAT teams are outside the hotel?

Applications for Temporary Use, Temporary Change of Use, Sound and Outdoor Venue permits are due by today, says the City of Austin. more ›

• Man tries to hide his baggie where the sun don't shine during strip search at Travis County Jail, police make him take a laxative.
• Taylor man arrested for housing 277 pot plants (as well as illegal firearms) on his property.
• Manor High School student tries to sell pot in class.

As we head inexorably into the giant maw that is SXSW, the festival's unofficial Interactive twitter account put together this handy list of folks who are covering all things SX in 140-letter format. We've taken the liberty of reprinting the list below: more ›

How will George W. Bush's presidency be treated by history? Sunday morning at 11am, KUT's "Best of Public Radio" will air a co-production of the radio station and ' Frank Rich, LBJ's daughter Luci Baines Johnson, and former Bush staffer Daniel Bartlett, among many others. [KUT] more ›

• Prop. 8 supporters have the backlash blues.
• CNBC's Rick Santelli shouldn't have stood up the yesterday...
• Venezuela's Prez Chavez wants to nationalize Cargill.

• Nearly 700,000 private-sector jobs were lost in February
• 1 in 5 U.S. homeowners owe more than their property is worth
• War crimes warrant issued for the president of Sudan

This Thursday, along with a few other exciting agenda items (new parking meters, the 30 megawatt solar plant and opting-out almost all VMU on West Campus), City Council will vote whether to approve the proposed alignment for the trail/boardwalk to close the gap in the Hike+Bike Trail between South Congress Avenue and Lakeshore Boulevard. The Trail Foundation will be hosting a press event in support of the boardwalk proposal at 9:30 a.m. on the City Hall plaza on the day of the vote. more ›

• R.N.C. chairman Steele kisses Limbaugh's shoes.
• Obama sends S.W.A.K. letter to Russia, never hears back.
• Obama snubs Brown, favors Boy Scouts?

• Wild Fire Cafe among many losses in major Bastrop County blaze.
• Nearly necked men coming to a La Bare at Lincoln Village!
• If these bills pass the lege, teen sex-ed in Texas could change. Then maybe we won't have the third-highest rate of teen pregnancy in the U.S.

Tom Schieffer, brother to Bob (host of ) and friend to Dubya, will be traversing the state over the next few months to gauge interest in his possible run as a Democrat for the governor's office. Schieffer most recently served as US Ambassador to Japan, after he served as US Ambassador to Australia from 2001-05. He made an announcement of sorts today, on Texas Independence Day, commenting on the disappointing state of Texas' educational system and saying that he is filing paperwork to form an exploratory committee towards joining in the race for governor. [KUT] more ›

Zimbabwe's Mugabe parties like it's 1999.