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Today’s Big Stories
1. Austin police to update ICE policy following controversial deportation
Following the deportation of a mother and child after a 911 call in Austin, local leaders are looking to clarify how Austin police officers are supposed to interact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to a memo from Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, on Jan. 5, a mother and her 5-year-old—who is an American citizen—were apprehended by ICE officers after Austin Police Department officers responded to a 911 call she made from her home. Officers alerted ICE after seeing an “administrative warrant” in a federal database.
2. Professor pushes back after Texas A&M cancels ethics course under ban on race, gender ideology
A Texas A&M University dean has moved to cancel a graduate-level ethics course, claiming the professor failed to submit materials needed to be exempt from the school’s recent ban on race and gender ideology in course curriculums.
Leonard Bright, the course professor and president of the Texas A&M chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), is pushing back on this claim.
3. Texas ACA enrollments increase despite expected premium hikes
Thursday was the last day of open enrollment, and Texas is only one of six states seeing higher enrollments than last year.
As of Jan. 3, 4.11 million Texans have selected a plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that’s up from last year’s total of just less than 4 million people.
Notes for Tomorrow
Friday, Jan. 16
Court hearing for Tyler Robinson, charged with murder in the shooting death of Charlie Kirk
Deadline for states to apply for pre-Super Tuesday Democratic presidential primary date
Deadline for states to submit applications to hold Democratic presidential primaries in the early window before Super Tuesday, ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
In Case You Missed It
Attendees crowd the Austin Convention Center during the South by Southwest Film and Interactive Festivals on Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)
South by Southwest ends SXSW Sydney event after 3 years
After three years, SXSW Sydney has concluded operations and will not be holding another edition of South by Southwest, according to a release on the SXSW Sydney website.
The event had been working with the government of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) and with SXSW’s ownership group, Penske Media Corporation, to try to find a way forward but “prevailing market conditions” have prevented the event from continuing at this time.