This week ended with the launch of the seventh and final Harry Potter installation. But while the world was consumed with Pottermania, it's important to remember that there were more serious things going on in the world, too—two of them in -Ist cities. Sampaist was shocked when a passenger jet crashed into the center of Sao Paulo, killing at least 200 people. The airplane, an Airbus A320, skidded off the runway at the city's Congonhas......

Austin city leaders announced late Friday afternoon that the U.S. Department of Justice is starting an investigation into the Austin Police Department and its use of force, specifically when dealing with minorities. "We are obliged to determine whether APD is systemically violating the Constitution of the United States," read the letter sent to the city from the Justice Department. In 2004, the Austin American-Statesman analyzed police data from 1998 to 2003, revealing that Austin police......

We’re dying from the heat. No, seriously. Luckily, we recently ran into one of our favorite wine experts, Twin Liquors’ Tim Graham, who implored us not to forget to drink the white wine this summer. “Tim!” we screamed at him with weak, limp voices. “What should we drink to ease the pain of this summer ache?” Tim replied quickly, “Campustella Albarino from Spain. It’s not effervescent but it dances on the tongue.” We asked......

Last night, an APD officer shot and killed a man who was one suspect in narcotics activity. Police pulled over a car at the Quicksilver and Pleasant Valley intersection. One passenger fled the scene, and the driver was taken into custody. The second passenger struggled with a female officer, who fired one shot, killing the man. He has not been identified, and the officer has been put on adminstrative duties until an investigation of......

We drove all the way to South Lamar for some sweets. We had been eyeing a shop called Indie Pop Cool Treats for some time and decided what better time to get a sugar fix than right before lunchtime. But it was closed on Mondays (like nobody needs ice cream on a Monday?). Lucky for us, we spied muffins through the windows next door. Hey look, we said to ourselves, this here place is a......

We mean that literally. According to this article by KXAN 36 Austin, the section of town between 34th and 45th street is adopting the moniker of "Midtown" as part of a public relations campaign to draw attention to the area, give them an identity, and allow them to compete with the more established hot spots. "We need to heighten the awareness of Central Austin, and we're calling it Midtown," Eddie Bernal, owner of Santa Rita......