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Around Texas
1. Texas will require proof of legal immigration status to get professional licenses
People seeking a host of professional licenses in Texas, from electricians to dog breeders, will soon have to prove they are in the country legally after the state’s Commission of Licensing and Regulation on Tuesday adopted a new rule that could affect thousands of workers.
Commissioners unanimously approved the change after hearing from a parade of speakers who largely asked them to do the opposite because of worries that it will hamper the state’s economy and burden immigrants trying to make an honest living. The speakers also argued the move will push people to work without a license, and erode state oversight of crucial industries.
2. Cities look to replicate Austin’s rescue task force after quick shooting response
The Austin Police Department (APD) in its regular updates on the shooting credited its Counter Assault Strike Team (CAST) for the swift response. The unit started regularly going downtown in 2021. Assistant Chief Mike Chancellor said the department is becoming an example to other police forces.
“The alert center has reached out specifically and asked us to present on the concept of rescue task forces at their conference, and so we’ll be doing that. Other departments have reached out to find out, like, ‘Hey, how do I implement this and how do I do that?’” said Chancellor.
3. High-stakes Senate race in Texas sees proliferation of AI-generated attack ads
It is never easy separating fact from fiction in campaign advertising, but the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) is adding to the confusion. Campaigns are beginning to use phony AI-generated images in television ads to sharpen their attacks and, critics say, mislead voters. This is all playing out in a big way in the high-stakes race for U.S. Senate in Texas.
One ad from Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn’s campaign showed a computer-generated video of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton riding in a car with women who are not his wife. An AI-generated video in a Paxton campaign spot displayed a fake scene of Cornyn dancing with U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas.
Around The Nation
1. White House maintains ‘productive’ talks with Iran are ongoing, but U.S. prepared to ‘unleash hell’
2. Jury finds Meta and YouTube liable in landmark social media addiction trial
3. Senate expected to vote Thursday on funding parts of DHS, as travelers face long lines at airports
Deep in the Heart of Texas
People view a Zoox self-driving vehicle at the Zoox booth during the CES tech show Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Zoox robotaxis are coming to Austin
The Texas capital will soon see more driverless cars in the area, but they won’t be Waymos.
Robotaxi service Zoox announced plans to begin testing its vehicles in Austin, though there’s no concrete start date. Testing will also occur in Miami, and service expansion will hit San Francisco and Las Vegas.