Good morning, Texas. Here’s what you need to know today.
Your Weather Planner
Mostly cloudy skies and a few sprinkles carry us through our Friday across Texas as Gulf moisture begins to stream in. Warm temperatures still expected today. Confidence is increasing in a low end severe weather threat across Central and North Texas Saturday. Main threats with any storm would be isolated large hail and strong wind, although, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Sunday looks much better with clearing skies and comfortable temperatures.
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Around Texas
1. UT Austin consolidates gender and ethnic studies programs
According to a letter from Jim Davis, president of the University of Texas at Austin, there will be a number of consolidations in the ethnic and gender studies departments at the school’s College of Liberal Arts.
This follows months of pressure from conservatives to eliminate gender and culture-related programs at the university, and comes after a decision from Texas A&M University earlier this year to eliminate its Women and Gender Studies department under similar pressure.
2. UT Health San Antonio institute receives $5 million gift
UT Health San Antonio, which is the academic health center at The University of Texas at San Antonio, has received a $5 million gift to the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases to advance their strategy of research, patient care and other strategic priorities, according to a release.
The gift comes courtesy of donors Bill and Rebecca Reed. The precision therapy center at the institute will now bear their names.
3. Approaching screwworm threat worries cattle ranchers
Just a few days after U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced hundreds of millions of dollars would be spent to stop the fast-approaching threat of the New World Screwworm (NWS), South Texas rancher Servando Ramirez drives the property where he’s raising three and a half dozen head of cattle.
Ramirez expressed satisfaction that federal and state officials are using tax dollars to stop the parasitic fly before it crosses the U.S.-Mexico border.
Around The Nation
2. DHS funding negotiations seem to stall one day before deadline
3. Investigators ask for surveillance video from specific dates in Nancy Guthrie disappearance
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Downtown Austin, Texas. (Credit: Geno Barasa)
Austin named one of the best places for working parents for the 8th year in a row
The City of Austin has received recognition from The Best Place for Working Parents network for being among the best cities for working parents in the nation for the eighth year straight.
Since 2019, Austin has been received the recognition for meeting the criteria for the best environment for working parents.