• Texas oilman, Republican fundraiser, and NAFTA supporter Robert Mosbacher dies at 82.
• Photos of the Port Arthur oil spill.
• Yikes! Land shifting in a San Antonio subdivision leads to evacuation of a neighborhood.

• Case with Austin ties coming up before the Supreme Court tomorrow has some wondering if the Voting Rights Act is needed in the Obama era.
• UT Law Prof Stefanie Lindquist discussed the case with KUT's Jennifer Stayton.
• Bill up before the Texas Legislature would ban usage of cell phones in school zones.

Silver Pines have one big thing going for them. And, no, it’s not that their band is based in the lonesome burg of San Marcos, Texas, which at more than a half-hour away is always looking up at Austin with the starry eyes of the semi-isolated college town. That one big thing Silver Pines have going for them is that their haunting, forever-reverberating songs are often pretty exceptional, and everyone who’s heard them seems to agree that something special is going on down I-35. Last year’s Fort Walnut EP served as an excellent introduction to the band, but this year’s Forces EP broadens their sound without compromising what made their earliest work so satisfying. Using all the best of country music—slide and even a singing saw make appearances—without falling prone to the genre’s more troublingly cheesy aspects, the stage-taking septet crafts only the most gentle of tunes, and that sincere gentleness remains true even when the full strength of the band is involved. more ›

San Marcos-based Americana/folk group Three Leaf have just returned from a couple of months in Ghana with their dear friends, fellow musicians Gouda, where they helped the neo-traditional Ghanaian band record their album. Setting up a makeshift studio in Accra, the friends played and recorded together for several weeks amidst weddings, performances at Alliance Francais and more. more ›

Polls are open from 7am to 7pm. more ›

Item: The organizers at SXSW have responded to years of complaints about long lines and short notice by dramatically revising the wristband system for the 2008 festival. 4,000 wristbands priced at $139 are reserved exclusively for Austinites and will be distributed via an online lottery system that commences at 9am on Thursday, February 21st. There is a four-day period for sign-up, then the festival will let the winners know they've been selected shortly thereafter. All registrants must live in the Austin area - a credit card with an Austin metro area billing zip code will be required (this generously stretches as far as San Marcos, Georgetown, and Taylor). One can purchase two wristbands, but one of them must be for the purchaser...and the recipient of the second one must be named when placing an order. more ›

Yes we can ... win 3 primaries for delegates in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. Texas State still wants a "body farm" in San Marcos. Wait, what's San Marcos currently? Prison escapee Abel Morin caught in South Texas yesterday. Researchers are revealing hidden complexities behind the simple act of kissing, which relays powerful messages to your brain, body and partner. more ›

The Church of the Friendly Ghost is invading the Salvage Vanguard theater on a Tuesday this week, featuring performances from the E.C.F.A. trio and Attic Ted. more ›

Score one more for the acquisitions team at the Harry Ransom Center. Yesterday morning, the UT facility announced that it had purchased the papers of Tim O'Brien, American novelist and resident of Central Texas. O'Brien teaches at Texas State University in San Marcos. more ›

Photo by jmtimages on flickr Help out: Volunteers needed to take people with mobility issues through the Trail of Lights. Austin/Travis County EMS asks people to not block the driveways at fire and ambulance stations; it's not against the law, but it does slow their response to emergencies. The NY Times thinks the Justice Dept. needs to take a look at the Texas Youth Commission. Body of murder victim's mom found in San Marcos. Jerry... more ›

Photo courtesy Progress Coffee, 500 Street San Marcos ProjectThe time's flown by so fast that it's almost hard to imagine, but eastside cafe Progress Coffee turns three today. It took over a year to transform what used to be a derelict warehouse into the beloved coffeehouse, which today anchors one of Austin's fastest growing creative communities. Nearby businesses now run the gamut from moped retrofitters and photography studios to film production companies and "digital media... more ›

Photo from Clap!Clap! Clap!Clap! with Silver Pines, The Word AssociationFriday, December 7Lucys on the Square (141 E. Hopkins)$5, 9pm[info] Clap!Clap! with The Always Already, Prayer For Animals, Haunting Oboe Music, Car Stereo (Wars), and DJs from Team FabricationSaturday, December 8Emos (603 Red River St)$5, 9pm[info]San Marcos/Austin's indie pop team, Clap!Clap!, today announced that the group has gone the way of Sound Team, and will be disbanding before the end of the year: From the band:... more ›

Four suspects have been arrested for the Wachovia Bank robbery yesterday. Probable murder-suicide in San Marcos; the couple was found by their teenage daughter last night. Student group at Texas State wants the right to carry guns around campus and to classes. This evening KEYE becomes the first Austin TV station to show local news in hi-def. It will still look the same on our old-school TV. Johns Hopkins calls Johnston High School (and... more ›

#7 Texas (3-0) vs. Rice (0-3) Time: 6 pm, Saturday, Sept. 22 Location: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium TV: Fox Sports Southwest Radio: KVET (98.1 FM, 1300 AM) There have been more than enough distractions to keep Texas coach Mack Brown occupied this week. Word that a sixth Longhorn had been arrested in the past four months set off allegations that the program is out of control. And even though they've won their first three... more ›

Some of the city’s underexposed and underappreciated artists have come together for a special show opening Saturday at Gallery Lombardi. The offbeat Surprise Me includes a mixed bag of contemporary drawings, photos, sounds, videos, mixed media paintings and fiber art. Local artist Josh Rios helped organize the show and called on a few of friends to join him — Ryan Lauderdale, Rachel Cook and Corkey Sinks. Rios recently answered a few questions for Austinist about... more ›

Once in a while, we like to take some time to introduce you to bands -- both local otherwise -- that we think you'd enjoy. Le Diamont Brut aims to showcase those MySpace gems we hope to see shine. Recommend your local suggestions by emailing music@austinist.com. BON IVER What’s The Deal: Charming and intimate soulful folk songs lead by an acoustic guitar and the enchanting falsetto voice of Justin Vernon. For Emma, Forever Ago is... more ›

The Carousel Lounge is hosting a night of mysterious, dark and definitely dense music tomorrow in the form of a couple of reclusive Texas bands. Headdress (formerly Worship) specialize in predominately instrumental songs thick with echo, space and traditional elements. Fans of Dirty Three will like the band's latest album, Turquoise, a dark, brooding jaunt into a dimly lit motel room on the edge of some southwestern town. Each note and every carefully chosen guitar... more ›

A 71-year-old El Paso woman soars off a 150-foot cliff in her pickup truck and lives Kyle family's trailer houses some 15,000 bees and over 60 pounds of honey After being arrested for giving her 3-year-old cocaine and marijuana, a woman in Taylor shows up in court high on drugs Town Lake was officially renamed to Lady Bird Lake today TxTags are selling like hotcakes—authorities claim toll roads getting 168% more traffic than predicted... more ›

Just like last year, Austin's in for another rainy July 4th. With Lake Travis still hovering around 700 feet above sea level and an estimated 2-4 inches of rain on the way, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is keeping all area lakes closed for boating, including Lake Austin and Town Lake. "Debris and high water from floodwaters make the lakes unsafe," reads the news bulletin post to LCRA's site this afternoon. "LCRA will... more ›

TXDOT plans to destroy the remnants of a 2,000 year old settlement near San Marcos Springs to build a road. Preliminary excavations showed signs of buildings from that era, which would be unique in Central Texas. Archeologists will get one last chance to study the remains before construction begins. Britt Bousman, director of Texas State University's Center for Archaeological Studies, said the heavy construction equipment used to build the road probably will significantly disturb, if... more ›

How often do you get the chance to cure cancer by knocking back a few? Pretty much never—which is why the Austin Wine Festival this weekend is so noteworthy. Not only does it give you the opportunity to taste wines from 30 Texas wineries, the festival will also donate all proceeds to Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong foundation, as well as the Austin Farmer’s Market. What could be better than funding cancer research and tasty goat cheeses... more ›

From the beginning of Time, it is said, carrion-eating birds have often been the bane of existence for many. Arabian legend tells us, for example, that the Bedouin of the desert have long seen the arrival of vultures as ill-fated prophecy, portending naught but certain doom. So too it is has always been for cowboys on the range in our home state of Texas, who have always associated circling buzzards with certain death and calamity.... more ›

*The views expressed in The Laurie Show are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -ed. note Kids, there's been some confusion in regards to The Laurie Show on KUT 90.5. My usual gig is from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays, but recently, I've either been off duty or sitting in for Jeff McCord on Left of the Dial. I promise I will return to my usual... more ›

Clap! Clap! are a hard-working band. Besides playing numerous shows in and around town, they have been in the studio recording their debut full-length (You Love This), chock full of blistering synth pop-rock no doubt. The number of members in the band has peaked at fifteen during some stages of their career, making for some riveting performances but Josh! Clap! verifies the current number of constituents to be eight. He also points out that... more ›

If Texas State University gets their way, in a few months, the river and beer won't be the only thing you smell while driving through San Marcos. Plans are currently in the works by TSU to create a 17-acre "body farm", a forensic field laboratory used to examine and study decomposing corpses. The field will be placed along Highway 21, at the university's horticultural center. The Statesman reported that University Provost Perry Moore told local... more ›

Bella Blue is closing its doors Sunday after two years of being in business. The last minute move was a reaction to the raising of their rent. However, Christy Parker (manager of Bella Blue) says this isn’t the end of the business. She and the other vendors are selling their wares online until they find another location. “The concept was to support local artists and showcase their work,” Christy says. Her adorable boutique started in... more ›

"This one is called 'Sacrament of the Unholy Communion" -opening act, Ball Gag Boston thrash metal gurus AC have long teased and taunted fans with their relentless pursuit of all things offensive, both audibly and lyrically. Frontman Seth Putnam has spearheaded the band's rise to infamy since 1988, pushing the limits of feasible tongue-in-cheek aversions to political correctness to the outer limits despite death threats, drug-induced comas and censorship woes (well, and a libel... more ›

Want to update your look with some new clothes? Sell or donate your dated wardrobe and check out some of the newest boutiques that have popped up around town: If you happen to be on the eastside sipping lattes at Progress Coffee, visit neighboring The Royal Family. Inside, messenger bags, geometric watches share space with mopeds. Everything here, from the comfy, canvas slip-on shoes to the soft jersey dresses reflect owner/buyer Lauren Thumlert’s casual-cool... more ›

While the final figures are just now coming out, last week already seems like a distant memory. Estimated amount, in cubic yards, of sanding material used to clear street locations: 1,349 Austin Energy customers who experienced a power outage: 35,000 Water mains repaired by Austin Water Utility: 16 Calls to EMS dispatchers and Austin Fire Department: 2,133 Calls to 311: 11,370 Collisions reported to the Austin Police Department: 599 Estimated number of canceled flights... more ›

The freezing thunderstorms and errant tornados of last night have left Central Texas a sopping mess, with heavy flooding leaving people and cars stranded, and over a dozen roads closed. At least one woman is believed to have drowned in Waller Creek, while several homes and industrial buildings San Marcos were damaged by "tornadic winds" that touched down in the early morning. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect... more ›