{"id":392202,"date":"2026-07-30T16:55:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/392202\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T16:55:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:55:13","slug":"the-weeks-biggest-news-in-brief-july-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/392202\/","title":{"rendered":"The Week’s Biggest News in Brief: July 23"},"content":{"rendered":"

Waterways Ban Lifted: Austin\u2019s waterways ban was lifted on Monday, July 27, after being in effect since July 17<\/a> with multiple extensions issued following immense flooding throughout Central Texas. Personal and commercial watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and similar devices are now allowed on Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam. Austin Emergency Management<\/a> said that those getting in the bodies of water should remain cautious, as bacteria levels can take at least three days following stormflow to return to prior conditions, and individuals should avoid swimming in Lake Austin.<\/p>\n

APD Fatal Shooting: Austin Police Department officers shot and killed<\/a> 17-year-old Anthoneil Williams II last Friday, July 24, in what Police Chief Lisa Davis has said was \u201cpotentially a suicide by police.\u201d Officers responded to a 911 call early that morning reporting that an individual appeared to have a gun in their waistband. After APD\u2019s arrival, they located the individual near a park playground, ordering him to keep his hands up before he reached toward his waist and was then shot by the officers. They did not find a gun on Williams\u2019 person, but rather a water bottle within his waistband. It was later determined that Williams was the individual who placed the original 911 call, which is why Davis and investigators believe the incident was a potential suicide attempt. Since Friday\u2019s event, City Council members have spoken out<\/a>, demonstrations have been held to honor Williams\u2019 life, some advocates have called for Travis County District Attorney Jos\u00e9 Garza to prosecute the officers<\/a>, and law enforcement officials have defended the officers\u2019 actions. Another protest, organized by the Austin Justice Coalition and other advocacy groups, will be held today at City Hall at 10am, followed by public comment at City Council\u2019s meeting to demand that APD\u2019s budget does not grow in the next fiscal year among other requests, concluding with a rally to honor Williams at 6pm.<\/p>\n

Cohen Resigns as TCDP Chair: On Monday, July 27, Travis County Democratic Party Chair Jessica Cohen informed Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder that she is resigning from the position<\/a> after easily winning the race for the seat against incumbent Doug Greco. Cohen filled the position in April after Greco submitted an early resignation. Now, after Cohen fired Louis Malfaro, a popular executive director who was hired by Greco, and a petition was launched<\/a> to investigate serious allegations against her and potentially remove her from the position, she said that she is stepping away from her duties. In a message to Scudder, Cohen said that \u201cthe constant discord surrounding my election has made it impossible to fundraise or bring unity to the [County Executive Committee] and this year\u2019s election is too vital to allow a half-ass coordinated campaign. Democracy is on the line and I must put the party before myself.\u201d Cohen also said that she will \u201cimmediately appoint an election committee\u201d to determine the TCDP\u2019s next chair.<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: Austin FC Academy’s Facebook page<\/p>\n

Austin FC Academy Allegations: Local law enforcement and the FBI are investigating multiple players of Major League Soccer club Austin FC\u2019s youth teams due to allegations of sexual abuse within the academy stemming back to December 2025. According to The Guardian<\/a>, multiple families within the academy made the club aware of the allegations before officials reported the information to MLS, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and local law enforcement and began its own internal investigation. Several website pages<\/a> connected to the club\u2019s youth teams have since been taken down. The Austin Police Department has since confirmed that it is investigating the academy, and both MLS and Austin FC confirmed that the FBI is also conducting an investigation. The academy has since released a statement, stating that it \u201ctook immediate action\u201d after learning of the allegations.<\/p>\n

Dog\u2019s Head TIRZ Passed: The controversial Dog\u2019s Head<\/a> Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone deal with developer Endeavor Real Estate Group received City Council approval<\/a> last Thursday, July 23. In a 7-3 vote \u2013 CMs Mike Siegel, Zo Qadri, and Jos\u00e9 Vel\u00e1squez voting against the agreement \u2013 Council pushed Endeavor into its next phase of developing the 2,600 acres that make up the area, despite information being revealed that the Tesla Gigafactory<\/a> and the buildout of an Amazon robotics facility are part of the plan. Under the TIRZ, 75% of property and sales tax collected from Dog\u2019s Head for the first 20 years will go back to Endeavor as reimbursement for the infrastructure the developer will build, while 25% goes to the city\u2019s general revenue fund. Following that 20-year stint, 66% will be funneled to Endeavor as the city receives the remaining 34%.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Cedric Edison, a CapMetro bus operator and ATU Local 1091 member, speaks at Monday\u2019s press conference Credit: Texas AFL-CIO<\/p>\n

CapMetro Employees Push Back: CapMetro employees, as part of local union Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091, gathered on Monday, July 27, to continue to fight for better wages, enhanced training, and sufficient time off after threatening to go on strike<\/a> earlier this month. Joined by City Council Member Zo Qadri and Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Lorraine Montemayor, the employees spent Monday voicing their concerns with Keolis, the transit subcontractor that partners with CapMetro. The public transportation workers have been in negotiations with the subcontractor for nearly a year, rejecting Keolis\u2019 most recent offer. According to the Texas AFL-CIO\u2019s press release<\/a>, over 75% of the employees cannot afford to live in Austin. \u201cThere is no reason I should be paycheck to paycheck,\u201d said Cedric Edison, an ATU Local 1091 member and CapMetro bus operator. \u201cWe\u2019re working for the city. So please, please do the right thing and give us a fair contract that we deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Judge Orders Release of ICE Shooting Witness: As community members continue to mourn and honor<\/a> the life of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo<\/a>, a Houston resident who was shot and killed by ICE agents earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ordered<\/a> the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Monday, July 27, to release Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, one of three witnesses of the incident who have since been held in ICE custody. Due to the fact that the agents did not have body cameras or dashcams, the three passengers were the only witnesses of the fatal shooting. The order comes after the same judge blocked the deportation<\/a> of Rojas Pliego. Under Ellison\u2019s order, the DHS had 48 hours to release the man from detention. According to KHOU<\/a>, Rojas Pliego was released after spending about three weeks in an ICE detention center.<\/p>\n

Local Pets Need Homes: Austin Animal Services announced that it is urgently seeking the community\u2019s help in providing safe foster homes for over 60 medium to large dogs and an influx of cats and kittens. With over 1,100 animals currently in Austin Animal Services\u2019 care, community assistance allows AAS to better care for the remaining pets.<\/p>\n

\"\"East Cesar Chavez Street Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Renaming Cesar Chavez Street: The city announced<\/a> that it is inviting members of the community to join city leaders to determine the new name of Cesar Chavez Street, following allegations that surfaced earlier this year accusing late political activist and farmworker union organizer Cesar Chavez of abusing young girls as well as civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. After the news broke, multiple individuals called for the street, formerly known as First Street, to be renamed. Austinites can join city leaders on Tuesday, August 11, at the Austin Public Library Central location; Saturday, August 15, at Sanchez Elementary School; or virtually Tuesday, August 18, to provide their opinions.<\/p>\n

Judge Revokes Juror Payout: Earlier this month, Travis County District Attorney Jos\u00e9 Garza dismissed evidence tampering charges<\/a> against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and former Assistant Williamson County Attorney Jason Nassour regarding the murder of Javier Ambler in 2019. For years, the case has been ongoing after Chody and Nassour were accused of destroying video evidence before investigators could view it. Following the dismissal of the charges, the Statesman reported<\/a> that the jurors in an August 2024 trial regarding the case were set to receive around $27,000 each for their services, yet they only served three days in the trial. On the third day of the trial, proceedings were halted after prosecutors announced that they were taking the case to a higher court. As District Judge Karen Sage pressed pause on the trial, she told the jurors that they were still serving and that they should not discuss the case. Because they were never \u201cdischarged from their duties,\u201d defense attorneys argued that all jurors be paid the standard $58 daily rate for 457 days. Sage has since revoked the $27,000 payouts<\/a>, reducing their compensation to around $175.<\/p>\n

Advocates Protest SB 37: Senate Bill 37<\/a>, a law that gives greater authority to governor-appointed regents to shape higher education that went into effect in the fall of 2025, saw pushback from professors, students, advocates, and lawmakers on Tuesday, July 28. Organized by multiple advocacy groups, individuals met at the Capitol on Tuesday morning to express their concerns with where higher education in the state is heading, following UT\u2019s decision to consolidate<\/a> its race, ethnicity, and gender studies programs last school year. Other universities in the state have also made or plan to make similar changes<\/a>. The demonstration came just before the interim hearing of the Texas Senate Committee on Higher Education began that day.<\/p>\n

Eight Arrested in APD Operation: The Austin Police Department successfully completed<\/a> a month-and-a-half-long investigation into an organized criminal enterprise responsible for mail theft, identity fraud, narcotics trafficking, firearms violations, and more offenses. As a result of the investigation, law enforcement recovered 17 counterfeit U.S. Postal Service mail keys, 700 pieces of stolen mail from 250 addresses, 10,000 business and personal checks, 115 suspected stolen bank cards, 50 stolen IDs, 1,000 pieces of personal identifying information, 1.4 pounds of suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl, nine firearms, a motorcycle, a motor scooter, a trailer, and other evidence of fraud, burglaries, and thefts. Eight individuals were arrested in connection to the crimes.<\/p>\n

Talarico, Paxton to Debate: A debate between Attorney General Ken Paxton and state Rep. James Talarico seems to be in the works ahead of the U.S. Senate election in November, after Paxton\u2019s campaign said that the Republican A.G. will participate, according to The Texas Tribune<\/a>. The Democratic candidate said that he has accepted multiple invitations for televised debates against Paxton, followed by Paxton\u2019s campaign confirming that it had received those invitations, yet did not specify which of those he would attend. Paxton has historically won elections without participating in debates, so the A.G. could be feeling some pressure to clear the air following recent headlines that have continuously slammed him for taking a trip to Iceland during the Fourth of July<\/a>, allegedly violating Texas election laws<\/a>, offering a Waco attorney charged with repeatedly sexually abusing a child a lax plea deal<\/a>, and intervening in the Texas Tech University and Brendan Sorsby case after receiving a $275,000 donation<\/a> from one of the university\u2019s Board of Regents chairs.<\/p>\n

Body Recovered From Lake Travis: The Travis County Sheriff\u2019s Office Lake Patrol deputies recovered the body of a man<\/a> from Lake Travis after responding to calls that the individual did not resurface near the northwestern area of Point Venture. Assisted by Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Lower Colorado River Authority, Travis County Fire Rescue, Travis County Parks, STAR Flight, the first responders used side scan sonar and a remote underwater camera system to locate the man 114 feet deep in the water where he was recovered by Morgan\u2019s Point Resort Divers.<\/p>\n

Know Your Rights Initiative Expanded: Austin Police Oversight announced on Tuesday, July 28, that it is expanding the Know Your Rights Initiative \u2013 an education program that teaches Austinites how to better understand their rights when interacting with law enforcement. The program will now provide plain-language, multilingual, and accessible information on an online resource platform for community members to easily access the content. Available at atxknowyourrights.org<\/a>, the new online hub includes scenario-based guides for typical encounters with law enforcement, downloadable guides, printable wallet cards, a glossary of commonly used terms, a community resource directory and map, and information on APO and the complaint process.<\/p>\n

National Park and Recreation Month: City Council and Austin Parks and Recreation announced an official city proclamation on Thursday, July 23, recognizing July as National Park and Recreation Month. Communities across the country have celebrated National Parks during the month for the last 40 years, according to the city\u2019s press release<\/a>. Now, Austin has made its participation in the monthlong observance official.<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: John Anderson<\/p>\n

QUOTE OF THE WEEK<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter watching the body camera footage, I have more questions than answers. As we debate next year\u2019s budget and ask the public to trust our public safety institutions, that trust must be earned through transparency and accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Council Member Zo Qadri on the fatal shooting of Anthoneil Williams II<\/a><\/p>\n

This article appears in July 31 \u2022 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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