News

Following months of discussion, Austin's expanded ban on texting while driving goes into effect on Friday. The law makes it illegal to text, use a mobile device for GPS, or access websites while behind the wheel. more ›

• Detroit terror case: explosive could have blown hole in plane
• Western counter-terrorism help 'not enough for Yemen'
• Transportation Security Chief nomination still on political hold

• Suicide bombing kills at least 20 during a religious procession in Karachi earlier today.
• Intelligence officials had been warned by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's father of his extremist tendencies, and on Christmas day he attempted to blow up a plane bound for Detroit.
• The takes a deeper look into sexual abuse within our armed forces.

"I have held the Chairman title since Whole Foods Market’s beginning in 1978, but the reality is that today it is merely a title with no authority or responsibilities," wrote Mackey, who will retain his CEO role. "The authority and responsibilities normally associated with the Chairman position were all shifted over time to John Elstrott, after he became our Lead Director back in January 2001." more ›

If you're not part of City of Austin's garbage service and want an environmentally-friendly way to dispose of your Christmas tree, you can drop it off at Zilker Park today, where it'll be recycled into mulch. Drop off dates are today (Sunday, December 27th), next weekend, and Saturday, January 9th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. more ›

• Dozens injured as U.S. flight overshoots runway in Jamaica
• Republicans assail "Cornhusker Kickback" deals in health debate
• Blackberry users hit with second major outage this month

• Bomb threat yields nada on American Airlines flight from Austin
• Obama admin limits airline tarmac waits to three hours
• Auschwitz sign recovered in pieces
• Business: Health care stocks rise as reform progresses
• Health care confidential: how bone loss became a (lucrative) epidemic
• Pregnancy a punishable offense?
• Brittany Murphy, dead at 32

• Newsweek predicts that Democrat Bill White will beat Perry in the governor's race in 2010.


• Thom Yorke at Copenhagen climate summit: "The Americans...don't seem to be coming in offering anything new."


• US border agents who work for drug traffickers.

We already knew that texting while driving was going to be banned come 2010, but the City Council today broadened the ban even more. Now when the ban takes effect on January 1, using your cell phone for anything besides talking while you are driving will not be condoned. No more checking Google Maps on your iPhone while driving to an acquaintance's house, no more tweeting while stuck in traffic, no checking your email as you head down IH35 . . . you get the idea. Texting while at a red light will be allowed, as well as texting in an emergency. [KXAN] more ›

• Don't drink the water.
• Bengals wide receiver dies after car accident.
• Blue Shield of California backtracks on their new shady cancellation policy after media scrutiny.

A pedi-cab operator and his two passengers were struck by a car yesterday in the early morning of November 15th near West 5th and San Antonio. All three were hospitalized at Brackenridge with non life-threatening injuries. The vehicle is described as a "white, early 1990s model Ford Bronco"—authorities are asking that anyone with helpful information call the Vehicular Homicide Unit at 974-5520. [Blotter] more ›

• Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is Time's Person of the Year
• Al Gore takes the stage at the Copenhagen climate summit
• FTC sues Intel, accusing the chipmaker of trying to stifle competition

Austin has collected a mélange of historic architectural styles at the end of 2009, and as the pace of development slackens here, as elsewhere across the country, it’s a good opportunity to think about where these monuments to the past came from and what kind of monuments we want for the future. The real estate development cycles of the past weren’t too different than the ones in more recent living memory: it was through familiar boom and bust cycles that much of Austin got built, and it was through similar boom and rust cycles (wrecking ball and neglect cycles, that is) that Austin lost monuments. Let’s take a look at some of this history. more ›

This Sunday, REI downtown will host Yellow Bike's holiday bike drive from 11 to 8 p.m. They're accepting bicycles and parts "in any condition," and are offering a gift wrapping service (in exchange for donation, cash or otherwise). All funds raised will go towards their community bike shops. more ›

Businessman Farouk Shami and former Houston mayor Bill White are now alone (as of now) in their race for the Democratic nomination for governor; Kinky Friedman has chosen to instead focus on the race for State Agriculture Commissioner. He will face off on the Democratic ticket with Hank Gilbert (who was also considering a run for governor). Friedman hasn't endorsed any gubernatorial candidate, but said, "There is a clear alternative for the people of Texas, and today I'm changing courses with a happy heart." [Texas Tribune] more ›

• Houston elects openly lesbian mayor, sky (still) does not fall
• Citigroup to repay $20 billion in bailout money
• Obama determined to herd banking "fat cats"

• U.S. envoy's N. Korea trip brings no commitment on nuclear talks.
• Defense Secretary Robert Gates predicts new sanctions against Iran.
• Obama garners rare unified praise for Nobel speech.

• President Obama accepts Nobel Peace Prize.
• You won't be able to Facebook Stalk the chick that dumped you anymore.
• Yeehaw! Get yer guns out boys! (Oh, wait. Maybe not.)

• Negotiators strike deal to replace controversial government-run insurance plan
• Treasury extends bank bailout through October
• Leaked "Danish text" leads to tension at Copenhagen climate conference

The Statesman has the skinny on newly-announced special nonstop flights between Austin and Southern California for the BCS National Championship game. more ›

Interested in getting an inside look at the glamourous world of Architecture? It's not all fancy cocktail parties and blowing up buildings that don't conform to your specifications. There is also a lot of drawing. The architects probably won't actually be drawing during the tour, but you will be able to walk around their offices and pretend that they are right there in front of you envisioning the future of our built environment, like gods that walk the earth. Maps will be provided so you may tour the studios at your own pace. Architecturally-correct refreshments will be served. The tour is self-guided (walking/biking/driving). The $5.00 ticket price goes to benefit Uplift Austin. more ›

• A Day of Infamy, remembered in letters
• Obama's Nixonian strategy in Afghanistan
• Jobs package may draw on untapped TARP money

Yes, it's snowing in Austin. more ›

• Big 12 preparations underway at Cowboys Stadium.
• Marines launch large offensive in Afghanistan.
• US and Russia pledge nuclear missile treaty soon.

Multiple sclerosis sucks—just ask Tim Timmons. For 22 years, the Garland man had chronic muscle spasms and couldn't get to sleep. Check that—he had these problems until he discovered a different kind of chronic. more ›

We're pretty sure it's not that cold, robots. [Weather.com hour-by-hour forecast of downtown Austin, taken 3 p.m.] more ›

Thrillist is an email digest offering "one shiny-new or inexcusably undiscovered gem per day from now until the Internet explodes." Today they quietly unveiled their new site for Austin. more ›

• It's snow, people. Relax.
• Evil corporate empire buys another evil corporate empire. No plans to charge for , so that's good.
• The state of Virginia is launching a probe into a shady business run by the partycrashing Salahis.

"Each year, we examine the billions of queries that people around the world have typed into Google search to discover the zeitgeist—the spirit of the times," says Google. The global listings were dominated, not suprisingly, by queries on Michael Jackson and New Moon. more ›

• That sex-offender who escaped near Houston is still on the loose! Since he fled while being transported between two prisons, his flight has triggered questions for the TDCJ. There are now monetary awards of up to $15,000 for tips leading to his capture.
• Turns out all big-city crime labs aren’t like CSI. Houston’s fingerprint comparison unit is likely in for a major overhaul, re-staffing.
• This woman came to ACL, and claims she went home with the wrong kind of souvenir!

• With speech, president makes Afghanistan conflict truly his own
• Iran releases five British sailors detained at sea
• General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson resigns after less than a year

A winter storm system is making its way through Central Texas tonight, bringing with it more of the freezing rains that we've seen all day. According to the National Weather Service, we may even see a bit of light snow and possible sleet, especially towards the Hill Country tonight—but "any accumulations would be very short-lived," they're saying. Another cold front is expected to arrive on Thursday, bringing with it a similar chance for more snow. [Weather for 78701] more ›

• Obama: Afghanistan needs 34,000 more of our troops.
• Seattle police shooting suspect has been killed.
• Now the White House party-crashers are denying their crash?