Road closures downtown for tomorrow's festivities. City of Austin needs more lifeguards to keep summer water programs operating. Holly Street neighborhood concerned about five-story condo development set to be built across the street from the old power plant. New Leander high school will be named after a soldier (and Leander High grad) killed in Iraq. A woman may have lured a man into a Fourth Street alley where he was robbed and beaten by two men Monday night.... [continue]

evso/Flickr Fired Police Commander claims that APD punishes whistle-blowers. Someone took photos of steamy activities taking place at the Expo Center during the ROT rally and turned the pics in to the Travis County Commissioners. Criminal Appeals Court will hear the case of Adam Reposa, the Austin attorney who made a "lewd gesture" in court and could face up to 90 days in jail for it. Bo Pilgrim (of Pilgrim's Pride) donates $100,000 to the... [continue]

A man shot at multiple vehicles at traffic lights in the towns of Garland, Mesquite, Plano and Richardson earlier this week, and on Tuesday night he walked up to a Garland restaurant and started shooting at customers inside. Luckily the shooter's aim is lacking; no one was hurt in any of the shootings.... [continue]

The Dicksons came home from work one day in May to find all their furniture, clothes, collectibles, and even food in the pantry had been taken by Field Asset Services. They announced today that they are suing Field Asset Services, referring to the local company's actions in this situation as "malicious, callous and wanton." ... [continue]

Man who escaped Fayette County jail over the weekend found in Houston. APD chief fired a detective today for insubordination (keeping up financial investigations when he had been told to stop). This sort of thing seems to work better on TV. Three men from Central Texas are sentenced to two years in prison for identity theft after cashing fake checks. Grand jury rules that the Pasadena man who shot the two men robbing his neighbor's house shouldn't be charged. District Judge rules that Democrat Bill Dingus can run against current State Speaker of the House Craddick for his seat.... [continue]

A fire this morning at the San Marcos Municipal Airport leaves one person with minor burns. June 2008: the hottest June on record for Austin. Shady Hollow Homeowner's Association might allow T-Mobile to build a 12-story tower in their neighborhood. Pastor from Houston's Windsor Village United Methodist Church - the same one who officiated Jenna's wedding and who introduced Dubya at the 2000 Republican convention - launches the James Dobson Does Not Speak For Me site in response to anti-Obama statements by Mr. Dobson. Kay Bailey Hutchison comes in first as Texas' favorite politician in a recent poll, beating out Gov. Perry.... [continue]

A chunk of Cesar Chavez will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Sunday as the City continues converting the downtown street to 2-way. They will be installing conduit for a streetlight at the Guadalupe/Cesar Chavez intersection, and the street will be closed from about San Antonio to Lavaca; the S. 1st Street bridge will be closed at Riverside. Plan any downtown excursion on Sunday accordingly! [City of Austin]... [continue]

evso/Flickr The City of Austin has set up a site online to serve as a local carbon reduction resource. Austin Public Library Foundation hires new Executive Director. Dripping Springs Rep. Patrick Rose testified about the Pedernales CoOp before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in D.C. today. Swimsuits, sleeping masks and more were found at the home of Billy Dan Carroll and said to be used in his crimes against children. Alleged gang leader... [continue]

The U.S. Drought Monitor's map for the past week shows Travis County split between severe and extreme drought. Only about 18 counties in the northeastern part of the state seem unaffected by any form of drought. And the summer's just getting started! [U.S. Drought Monitor]... [continue]

Texans want better roads but don't want to pay higher gas taxes or tolls for them, a recent poll shows (and we already assumed). Men's Health says Austin is the #7 best city for men to live. Georgetown makes This Old House's top-12 list of best cities to buy an old house. Police say the Austin hotel manager who is accused of sexually assaulting two boys showed the children threatening photos in an attempt to keep them quiet. Cottondale man duct-tapes his stepdaughter to a tree (with tape over her mouth), says they were "playing". Sunset Advisory Commission thinks DPS needs a management overhaul. Secret proceedings taking place under tight security while the grand jury (possibly) looks into alleged sexual abuse at the Eldorado FLDS compound.... [continue]

Local couple charged with running a prostitution ring in Northwest Austin. Cities in the Edwards Aquifer zone must cut down on their water usage because levels are low. Pure Casting in East Austin has been in operation since 1969, but there have been recent environmental concerns brought up by neighbors. Police are looking for an 18-year-old man who shot his infant daughter in the ankle. Ted Nugent held an estate sale in Waco over the weekend.... [continue]

After the opposition party leader dropped out of the "run-off" in Zimbabwe, the party's headquarters were targeted and the leader is trying to seek refuge at the Dutch embassy. UN finally acknowledges rape as a war crime. EU imposing financial sanctions on Iran. Ferry from the Phillipines carrying 800 passengers overturns in a typhoon. Obama has campaign advisors with strong ties to the ethanol industry. The national economy may be headed downhill, but Houston's... [continue]

The Pirates of Penzance is, along with H.M.S. Pinafore and The Mikado, one of Gilbert and Sullivan's best known operettas. The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Austin is presenting their take on this work, running through next weekend. The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Austin continue to put together quality shows, and their Pirates is no different.... [continue]

Residents near the proposed homeless RV park in East Austin are not happy about the idea. Austin's Director of Communications resigned yesterday. Local boxer charged with manslaughter for a May 2nd hit-and-run. Community groups petition Travis County not to get involved with ICE's Criminal Alien Program. Elgin residents might want to boil their water; 200,000 gallons of sewage found to be flowing into Little Sandy Creek.... [continue]

A wall at Rice University campus collapsed this afternoon, trapping four people. Millions of pounds of toxins from Mexico may soon be headed for incineration in Port Arthur if the EPA approves an exemption. Gov. Perry agrees with his buddy in the White House on lifting the ban on offshore exploration. "This is likely not the finest moment for DPS," Texas Public Safety Commission chairman admits after an internal investigation into how an arsonist was able to bypass security and set fire to the Governor's Mansion. Worst exit in Texas at southbound IH35 and MLK, second worst at northbound IH35 and Riverside. Or so this study says, anyway.... [continue]

This doesn't bode well for the summer: Austin Energy set a new peak usage record yesterday. City's Chief Information officer placed on leave after allegations of using city funds for personal projects. More details on green restoration possibilities at Governor's Mansion. Carver Library branch to hold Juneteenth event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow.... [continue]

GOOD is asking readers to create a video tour promoting their hometown. GOOD asks that in your video you answer the question, "What is it that would make someone want to travel to where you are?" The creator of the best entry nets two round-trip domestic tickets to anywhere JetBlue flies.... [continue]

APD seeks help in finding the man (pictured on the right) who hit a South Austin convenience store on June 15. Georgetown landscaper charged with deceptive trade practices (taking customers' money and not doing the job). Austin firefighter who was fired for sexual harassment of a co-worker (and for viewing porn at work) is appealing. Visitability organization asking city officials to require homebuilders make new homes handicap-accessible.... [continue]

Fire department lieutenant fired after he told a co-worker in September on the 9/11 anniversary that "he would have wanted to rape a female passenger had he been on a plane used in the attack." Southwest flight from Austin lands in Phoenix with flames coming out of one of the wheel areas. Investigators say that the Governor's mansion fire was likely politically motivated. (Insert sarcastic comment here.) Two state troopers should have been working the night of the fire, but only one was on duty. Rep. Lloyd Doggett proposing a global warming bill.... [continue]

During the State Republican convention, Sen. Cornyn's folks put together a little something-something to show the convention attendees: this laugh-out-loud introduction/refresher on "Big John" Cornyn. Only in about 15 seconds of the video is Cornyn shown without a cowboy hat, while a man with a deep bass voice tells us that John "is doing the Lord's work for Texas" (oh, God was against the updated GI Bill?) and a choir keeps singing in the background, "Big Johhhhhn."... [continue]