• ‘La Barbie’ may be the biggest criminal to ever come out of Laredo.
• During the trial, details are emerging about that shooting at Spiros nightclub.
• Texas hates gay marriage so much that they’re making a gay couple stay married?

Wildflower displays this year expected to be only moderate since there wasn't much rain this fall. Hard hit by drought, Bastrop County asks Gov. Perry for state of emergency status. San Antonio and Austin city leaders working together to lure solar companies to Central Texas. Capital Metro rail test today showed that cars at 53rd Street are not stopping far enough away from the tracks. Three-alarm fire sparked at a Northeast Austin business at about midnight this morning. Is the honeymoon over? Speaker Straus refuses to hear a motion to allow Reps to voluntarily switch committee assignments. Whole Foods profits down 17.4%. more ›

Domestic disturbance in Dripping Springs trailer park leads to SWAT standoff with one death. 22 Bastrop students and their bus driver sent to the hospital after the vehicle drove off the road and into a barbed wire fence this morning. Austin sex offender arrested after not staying at home on Halloween. About half of those who were pulled over on "No Refusal Weekend" had over 2 times the legal amount of alcohol in their systems. If you ride the bus, you likely already know, but the CapMetro strike is over. Really, the headline says it all. Lame duck George W. Bush will give the December commencement speech at A&M. more ›

Drunk man with truckload of guns arrested at Hays High School. More details released on what led to the cops closing down a section of Windsor Park yesterday. CapMetro strike negotiations resumed today. Distillery shed "a total loss" after explosion in Dripping Springs this morning. State Rep. Kino Flores under criminal investigation for sketchy travel deals. more ›

Cornyn wins a second term in the US Senate. Seriously. Will Craddick keep his gavel? Governor's mansion is ready for restoration now. Tomorrow the city is expected to settle the lawsuit with Kevin Brown's family. Some drivers are crossing the CapMetro picket line. It's that time of year again: city workers today began setting up the Zilker Tree of Lights. Improvements to Zilker Park begin in January. more ›

CapMetro will offer free bus rides on Election Day, so there goes that excuse. After her Obama sign was stolen, a Northwest Austin resident painted another sign ... on her lawn. This weekend, APD will accept no refusals if you drink and drive. Chef at Burnet restaurant fixed a, um, special recipe for the chief of police there. Gov. Perry's data consolidation deal with IBM isn't working out well. You can meet and greet the candidates for Fire Chief on Nov. 3. People are expressing concern over the location of the new biological defense lab; it's set to open in Galveston in November. more ›

Capital Area Food Bank still needs your help and donations for Ike evacuees. The Office of the Attorney General warns Texas hurricane victims to be wary of possible clean-up scams. Bob Barr (Libertarian candidate for Prez) suing to get McCain and Obama's names removed from the Texas ballot. One of the largest drug seizures in American history today; 175 suspects arrested (22 of them from the North Texas area.) Police looking for 3 men who assaulted a CapMetro driver in August. more ›

In a 6-to-4 vote Monday night, an oversight committee made up of local government officials voted in favor of a fare hike, causing base fares to go up from 50 cents to 75 cents. Under the proposal, a second planned increase is scheduled for 2010 when base fares would go up to $1.00. more ›

DPS releases report on security at Governor's Mansion at time of the arson; sole DPS trooper on duty named and timeline revealed. Arsonist arrested after Friday's apartment fire that ruined 12 units off Jollyville. CapMetro wants buses to have "signal priority" so that lights will stay green when a bus is close by (which means you might want to stay behind that bus after all). It's summertime and the Central Texas Blood and Tissue Center needs your blood. The floating banana may not get off the ground after all. more ›

Oh, ExpressJet, we hardly knew ye. Oops: Federal officials in town to talk with CapMetro about commuter rail were on a train when it derailed today. 29-year-old driver walked away from a car accident in March, leaving his 19-year-old sister to die. Woman found the man suspected of stabbing her sister last night and brought him back to the Southeast Austin crime scene. Brazoria County investigator injured by the bullet used by another man to commit suicide. more ›

Austin aiming for zero landfill waste. Our fair city ranks #23 on the list of America's Most Literate Cities, beating out New York but not Portland. Brush fires in Hays County lead to home evacuations. more ›

• Tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 21) is an Ozone Action Day, so bus rides are free! carpool.
• Speaking of Capital Metro, their board does endorse a rate hike in January.
• Federal investigators are in town looking into APD's use of force.

Whether you're going nuts over your afternoon commute, pleased as punch about Cap Metro's Long-Range Transit Plan, tonight's your chance to let 'em know—after you've downed a few rounds of liquid courage, if need be. The monthly edition of Keep Austin Blue's Social Hour is happening over at Mother Egan's Irish Pub, and tonight's agenda is all about transportation. Participating public transit aficionados include Matt Curtis (Director Community Involvement, Capital Metro), Todd Hemingson (VP... more ›

ACL Previews Austinist Launches Dedicated ACL Page! Preview: Manchester Orchestra and Patterson Hood Preview: Ian Ball and the Little Ones Interview: Paolo Nutini ACL Band Clash, Round 2: The Killers Vs. Björk Weekly Features Tales Of Mere Existence Hots On #9: Sound Off New Release Tuesday: Frisell's Floratone The Argyle Academy New Movie Releases: The Invasion, Superbad, Death at a Funeral, and More Truesday: Friesday The Laurie Show News, Features, and More Travis County... more ›

For 2008, Capital Metro is planning to double bus fare for adult passengers from 50 cents to $1. Other fares would increase in proportion (students would have to pay 50 cents instead of 25 cents for local/rapid routes); the Dillo would remain free for everyone. In their informational brochure(.pdf), Capital Metro makes a point of saying that the current fares have been the same since 1985, while operational costs keep going up. Is this... more ›

Many of us have been confronted with the same challenge when trying to get to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: "How can I save money by bumming a ride off a friend or relative and not have to take a cab or park at the airport?" It's really not that far of a drive, especially when compared to other cities, but still, it'd be nice if there was a cheaper (or free) way to get to the airport without have to ask anyone to do you a favor. Yeah, usually there's that really loyal friend who'll always offer you a ride to the airport, but you always feel a little guilty for asking so much of him...unless you give him gas money or something, but, let's be honest, that never happens. more ›

More on the bus accident this morning . . . A Capital Metro bus crashed into an office building earlier today after hitting an SUV; the SUV's driver didn't yield at a side street. The bus driver and one of the passengers were seriously injured on their Medical Parkway route, between 45th and 38th Street; four other passengers are in the hospital with minor injuries. A few more passengers and the driver of the SUV... more ›

Details are still scarce, but the Statesman is reporting that a Capital Metro bus has crashed into a building at Medical Parkway and West 39th Street, near Seton Medical Center. At least half a dozen victims are now in the hospital, with 9 more people treated on-site for minor injuries. Anyone working or living in the area know more information?... more ›

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Just in time for SXSW, Google today announced that it has partnered up with Capital Metro to provide Austin public transportation information on their way-nifty Google Transit Trip Planner. more ›

We'll update this post as things develop. 11am - Tuesday, January 16th Governor Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are sworn in indoors, under the inaugural theme, "Texas: Imagine the Possibilities." The requisite downtown parade has been canceled because, well, there's no one there. Firewood vendors are making a killing CapMetro: UT Shuttles, AISD Magnet Routes, 'Dillo routes are closed The Travis County Commissioners Court meeting has been postponed As of 9:30am, approximately 570... more ›

Between now and September 13 if you purchase a day pass on a Capital Metro bus, the ticket robot just may dispense a "Golden Ticket." Unfortunately these Golden Tickets do not entitle you to a chocolate bath, but they will score you two day passes to ACL, the festival. And as a bonus one lucky golden ticketholder will be upgraded to VIP status on September 13th. We're not certain, but VIPs may be able to get free food, free late night party access, and a free bath in chocolate. more ›

Completion of the first leg of the new Capital MetroRail is less than two years away. The 32-mile-long Red Line will run between Leander and Downtown Austin, with stations positioned strategically near the new Northwest Austin development, Highland Mall, Lakeline Mall, Plaza Saltillo, and more. Currently, both the rail vehicle and many of the stations are still being designed, but they're already promising that the former will include Wi-Fi connections. more ›

Capital Metro has released more info about the commuter rail line from downtown to Leander. Leander, of course, was originally called Bagdad. Just like the real Baghdad, the train to Leander appears to be fraught with danger. The "Rails with Trails" program has apparently been approved, so you will be able to hike/bike alongside fast moving trains. Don't go play on the tracks kids! Plus, the engines will be in the middle of the train, with passenger cars in front and back. Don't ride in the car in front! Momma said people in that car get blowed up when the train smashes into stuff. more ›

Austin's Capital Metro Transit, with the help of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), has declared today an Ozone Action Day. What does this mean for the lay commuter? Free bus rides! It's a great way to forgo guzzling gas or avoid getting pit stains from biking to the office. more ›

• Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow have made the split official.
• There were more building fires over the weekend and this morning-displacing entertainment venues, KOOP radio (again), artists and local residents. With all the madness, our local Fire Department could use some help.
• Suburbia is closing in on Downtown neighborhoods. Might those huge homes in our quaint neighborhoods soon be a thing of the past?
• We're glad we didn't have to sit through the Super Bowl, but we did get to see the commericals and drink our neighbor's beer.
• Capital Metro may have diverted a strike last Monday, but someone might want to balance their checkbook before promising commuters more transportation options.
• This study claims that college athletes are more likely to graduate than most.
  

Austin is Taradise! And Lance and Sheryl split Congrats to Adlai McMahon, winner of our giveaway contest for Bloc Party's documentary/concert DVD, God Bless Bloc Party! The SXSW Music Festival roster expanded to over 1,100 this week, including such esteemed acts as Morrissey and The Flaming Lips Austinist photographer Matt Wright captures yet another amazing night shot in Austin, as well as some sexy shots of last week's Box Magazine issue release party. The... more ›

Some fast-talking on the part of Mayor Will Wynn helped prevent a strike by Capital Metro employees that had been set to begin at noon Monday. While unionization and the ability to organize and strike certainly does help workers get fair pay, strikes by transportation workers hardly hit people in positions of power. more ›

It's like a dream come true. The Black Star Pub could be the first community owned bar in Texas. We know you were psyched about walking to work this morning, but the strike was called off. Capital Metro employees may just have an acceptable new contract by noon today. A ton of people in our office have been out sick lately. Now we're hoping afraid that they'll never come back. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden... more ›

Barton Springs could be in danger; we are in serious need of rain! The City is implementing some necessary water restrictions. We're still scared of thunder, but we're hoping that tonight's forecasted rain lasts through the weekend. Make plans to walk, bike, run, or swim to work on Monday. Capital Metro is really serious about a strike next week. A Nebraska-based firm made illegal monetary contributions to Austin City Council candidates between 2001 and... more ›