For years, the Austinist staff has fielded queries from friends and acquaintances about SXSW goings-on. "Can I walk to The Salt Lick?" "Does it really take 90 minutes for a Casino El Camino burger?" But most of all: "What showcase do you recommend to see some good new bands I don't know about?" This year, we've made the answer official. Austinist is presenting an official nighttime showcase featuring six different American acts at Spiro's on Thursday, March 13. We've done a lot of listening to different bands and entire showcases, and believe that this one has great potential to impress you. The roster:...

A new 668-page report by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission has declared that Texas has too many state reports. The 18-month-long project surveyed over 170 agencies, public colleges, and universities, all of whom are required by the State Legislature to generate a periodic report of some sort. The task force anticipated dealing with about 400 of these reports; the final tally exceeded 1,600 before investigators evidently decided they'd had enough. "At first, we......

Tonight, unless an unlikely eleventh-hour reprieve is granted, Texas will execute its 400th inmate since the state resumed the practice in 1982. Johnny Ray Conner32-year-old Johnny Ray Conner was convicted for murdering Houston resident Kathyanna Nguyen during a grocery store robbery in 1998. Nguyen, the store's owner, had been trapped behind the counter and was surrounded by a bulletproof enclosure; the killer reached his gun through the change slot and shot her in the head.......

University of Texas students will soon have the opportunity to learn Hindi and Urdu as part of a Department of Defense initiative that focuses on global security. The National Security Education Program has awarded $700,000 to UT’s South Asia Institute to help implement the program that will “teach languages whose knowledge is considered critical to national security.” The program kicks off next year, and university officials expect to enroll about 10 students who already have......

Vince Young faced some serious pressure yesterday. It wasn't the kind of pressure that 300-lb linemen from OU offer; it was greater than that, at least according to some. A collection of writers, scouts, NFL coaches and general managers and one NFL owner (Texans owner Bob McNair) came to the UT practice facility to watch Vince Young (and 17 other UT players) go through a series of workouts. All eyes were on Vince. According......

The Houston Chronicle reported this morning that Vince Young will leave for the NFL Draft: Texas junior quarterback Vince Young plans to enter the NFL draft and forgo his final year of college, a close family friend said today... Young finished with 467 all-purpose yards – 200 rushing and 267 passing – in what some are calling one of the greatest performances in college football history. He is the first player in NCAA history......

The excellent sports columnist for the Houston Chronicle, Richard Justice, wrote a great piece today that shines a light on what is right with Longhorn baseball and what is wrong with Houston Astros baseball. The column details how the Astros had a chance two years ago to sign now national champion Drew Stubbs from Atlanta, Texas. Stubbs and his father asked for a specific contract, and not an unreasonable one at that, from any......