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Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Kylee Howard, News Editor

Kylee is currently the News Editor. She’s a third-year journalism student who also studies history and Spanish. As a senior reporter at the Texan, she covered public safety, crime and local government, before moving into editing roles. When not perpetually trapped in the newsroom, Kylee loves walking her dog, cooking and grabbing coffee with old and new friends.

All content by Kylee Howard
A group of students walk across Guadalupe near the Texas Union on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.

LIVE UPDATES: Texas, nation wait for US general election results

Updated Nov. 14, 9:09 p.m. Nov. 14 9:09 p.m.: Kirk Watson is set to serve a fourth term as Austin Mayor, narrowly avoiding a runoff with 50% of all votes. Nov. 7 10:39 a.m.: President Joe Biden...

Editors reflect on 125th anniversary

Editors reflect on 125th anniversary

Leaders in the newsroom wrote about the significance of the Texan’s 125th year of publication.   News editor thinks back on 125-year department history, looks forward to the future The...

The UT Tower on Sept. 16.

University police arrest UT employee on charge of failure to register as a sex offender

Kylee Howard, Vivien Ayers, and Sarah Brager September 16, 2024

University police arrested a University employee, who is a registered sex offender in Oregon,  on Sept. 6 for what officials believe to be failure to register in Texas, a third-degree felony in the state.  UTPD...

President Biden greets supporters on the tarmac after landing in at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Monday ahead of his speech at the LBJ Library on UT's campus.

President Joe Biden delivers keynote address at LBJ Presidential Library

Kylee Howard and Riley Walsh July 29, 2024

Civil rights must be protected and expanded, President Joe Biden said Monday during his keynote address at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Civil...

A crowd watches the SEC Celebration amid scorching temperatures at the Main Mall on Sunday.

Free SEC Celebration draws ‘tens of thousands’ into South Mall, causing overcrowding

Kylee Howard, Associate News Editor July 1, 2024

The University estimates a crowd of tens of thousands caused a “scary” atmosphere on the South Mall Lawn during UT’s SEC Celebration on Sunday. The University put on a free celebration of Texas...

Pro-Palestine protesters gather outside of the Capitol on May 19, 2024.

Hundreds gather at Capitol for second statewide pro-Palestine protest this year in commemoration of Nakba Day

Kylee Howard, Associate News Editor May 19, 2024

Hundreds of protesters gathered and marched in front of the Capitol and downtown Austin Sunday afternoon, following the Texas Department of Public Safety closing the official grounds two days earlier.  Arranged...

Semester of SB 17: Alumni, LGBTQ+ activists concerned but hopeful for student advocacy

Kylee Howard, General Projects Reporter April 26, 2024

Editor’s Note: The implementation of Senate Bill 17 meant the loss of diversity, equity and inclusion offices, positions and resources throughout campus. The Texan’s projects department reached out...

People gather in front of Travis County Jail after arrests were made on the University of Texas at Austin's campus Wednesday.

Pro-Palestine protest forms at Travis County Jail following arrests earlier in the day

Kylee Howard, Associate New Editor April 24, 2024

A pro-Palestine protest of around 150 people formed at the Travis County Jail Wednesday night. The gathering is in response to the arrests of at least 34 people on UT campus earlier in the day during a...

La Comunidad de Eventos Latinos llevará a cabo la ceremonia de graduación Latina a pesar de la pérdida de los fondos de la universidad

La Comunidad de Eventos Latinos llevará a cabo la ceremonia de graduación Latina a pesar de la pérdida de los fondos de la universidad

Kylee Howard and Arianna Lopez April 19, 2024

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 16 de abril de 2024 por Kylee Howard y fue traducido al español por Arianna Lopez.  La organización estudiantil Comunidad de Eventos...

Latinx Community Affairs to hold Latinx graduation ceremony after loss of University funding

Latinx Community Affairs to hold Latinx graduation ceremony after loss of University funding

Kylee Howard, Associate News Editor April 16, 2024

The Latinx Community Affairs student organization, formerly a University-sponsored organization, will hold their annual Latinx graduation ceremony after reaching its fundraising goal, the organization...

Few working street lights line Graham Pl and Rio Grande St. The City of Austin plans to upgrade more than 400 streetlights in West Campus by the end of the year.

En medio de la delincuencia y las preocupaciones por la seguridad, los miembros de la comunidad de West Campus determinan un camino a seguir

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 15 de abril del 2024 por Kylee Howard y Jaelyn Rodriguez y fue traducido al español por Citlali Martinez Hernandez. Hajin Park está...

Few working street lights line Graham Pl and Rio Grande St. The City of Austin plans to upgrade more than 400 streetlights in West Campus by the end of the year.

Amid crime, safety concerns, West Campus community members determine a path forward

Kylee Howard and Jaelyn Rodriguez April 15, 2024

Hajin Park is exhausted.  She is exhausted from classes, homework and thinking about post-graduation life, and on top of it all, she is worried about her well-being as a woman in West Campus. “It...

Andrews Residence Hall on UT campus on Wednesday.

‘She will never be forgotten:’ a look into three buildings, three stories of UT Women

Kylee Howard, General Projects Reporter March 29, 2024

The University allowed female students to attend its schools from its inception in 1883, joining few universities that admitted both female and male students at the time, almost four decades prior to the...

‘I’m not going to disappear’: Family of police violence victim file formal complaint against city

‘I’m not going to disappear’: Family of police violence victim file formal complaint against city

Vivien Ayers and Kylee Howard January 30, 2024

“I’m lost with words, but it’s okay, it’s going to be okay,” Elizabeth Gonzales said at a press conference on Jan. 30 after the deposition from her federal lawsuit against the city and the individual...

The Texan Recap: West Campus Music Venues, a 100-Year-Old Tree at Risk

Aislyn Gaddis, Diego Saldana, Kylee Howard, and Sarah Brager September 3, 2023

In this episode of the weekly recap, audio editor Aislyn Gaddis talks with Texan reporters about The Friendly Rio Market, a corner store that doubles as a music venue, and Hole in the Wall, a historical...

People enjoy Barton Springs Pool on Aug. 27, 2023.

100-year-old pecan tree at risk because of fungus

Kylee Howard, News Desk Editor August 28, 2023

A historic flood ripped through the city of Austin in 1935, tearing down a wooden bath house that once inhabited Barton Springs as it shredded its way through downtown and hurled its way south. After the...

Tiktoker Adam Powell, who makes videos on Austin history, stands in front of the Littlefield Home, built in 1893 for Civil War veteran George Littlefield, on August 16, 2023. “I think it should be questioned whether this is a guy who's deserving of honor when his whole life's work, in terms of history, was pushing to honor the Confederacy as much as possible,” Powell said.

Local content creator takes on online platform for community advocacy

Kylee Howard, News Desk Editor August 20, 2023

“It's so niche,” said Adam Powell, owner of @adampowellatx on TikTok. “There's no way the algorithm’s ever going to pick this up.” Twenty-nine-year-old Powell grew up in Leander, north of...

Police respond to reports of man with rifle in West Campus Wednesday, UTPD later confirms ‘weapon’ to be plastic toy

Police respond to reports of man with rifle in West Campus Wednesday, UTPD later confirms ‘weapon’ to be plastic toy

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter April 21, 2023

UTPD officers responded to reports of a suspicious person in the 2800 block of San Gabriel Street in West Campus at approximately 5:10 p.m. Wednesday. UTPD tweeted an alert about the incident 2 1/2 hours...

The Texan looks back, forward at news this semester

The Texan looks back, forward at news this semester

Politics and Protests Looking Back: UT students got involved with the state legislative session by testifying to committees and interning with congressional offices. UT’s student advocacy program,...

TxDOT’s proposed plans for passenger trains could improve travel for Texas Triangle

TxDOT’s proposed plans for passenger trains could improve travel for Texas Triangle

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter April 20, 2023

The Texas Department of Transportation announced their hope to build passenger trains connecting Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston during a conference in Dallas earlier this month.  According...

Israel Block Party continues as students protest for Palestinian solidarity

Israel Block Party continues as students protest for Palestinian solidarity

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter April 19, 2023

Editor's note: A previous version of this story misquoted a sign held by a protester. The Texan regrets this error. The student-run Palestine Solidarity Committee gathered on the steps of McCombs to...

Texans under 30 most concerned with inflation, cost of living for legislative session, poll finds

Texans under 30 most concerned with inflation, cost of living for legislative session, poll finds

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter April 18, 2023

A recent Texas Politics Project poll shows the majority of Texans under 30 believe the state legislature should focus on addressing inflation and the increasing cost of living, while the overall majority...

Las tropas del DPS se adhieren a los estándares policiales locales tras la asociación estatal-local entre las fuerzas del orden

Las tropas del DPS se adhieren a los estándares policiales locales tras la asociación estatal-local entre las fuerzas del orden

Kylee Howard and Esteban Elias April 16, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 11 de abril por Kylee Howard y fue traducido al español por Esteban Elias. Después de un anuncio el mes pasado de que el Departamento...

La cámara de representantes de Texas aprueba proyecto de ley bipartidista para importar medicamentos recetados más baratos

La cámara de representantes de Texas aprueba proyecto de ley bipartidista para importar medicamentos recetados más baratos

Kylee Howard and Maria Fernanda Castro April 16, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 13 de abril por Kylee Howard y fue traducido al español por Maria Fernanda Castro La cámara de representantes de Texas aprobó un...

0807_MelWestfall_drugs

Texas House passes bipartisan bill to import cheaper prescription drugs

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter April 13, 2023

The Texas House passed a bill to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada on Wednesday, a measure state Rep. James Talarico, the bill’s primary author, says could lead to hundreds of millions in...

DPS troopers adhere to local policing standards following state-local law enforcement partnership

DPS troopers adhere to local policing standards following state-local law enforcement partnership

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter April 10, 2023

After an announcement last month that the Texas Department of Public Safety would provide troopers to aid the short-staffed Austin Police Department, concerns rose over what authority DPS would hold —...

‘All hands on deck kind of mentality’: APD says 2023 SXSW first without shots fired since 2012

‘All hands on deck kind of mentality’: APD says 2023 SXSW first without shots fired since 2012

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter April 6, 2023

Every year, city officials navigate public safety challenges presented by the South By Southwest festival, from gun and drug seizures to shots fired. However, an Austin Police Department official said...

La Autoridad de Vivienda proporciona 300 vales de vivienda a la poblaciòn sin vivienda de Austin

La Autoridad de Vivienda proporciona 300 vales de vivienda a la poblaciòn sin vivienda de Austin

Kylee Howard and Maria Fernanda Castro March 29, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 23 de marzo por Kylee Howard y fue traducido al español por Maria Fernanda Castro La Autoridad de Vivienda de la ciudad de Austin dio...

APD shortages prompt partnership with Texas Department of Public Safety

APD shortages prompt partnership with Texas Department of Public Safety

Kylee Howard and Tess Harmon March 27, 2023

Amid long-term police shortages, the Texas Department of Public Safety will provide officers to the Austin Police Department as part of a partnership to address public safety concerns, the city announced...

Housing Authority provides 300 housing vouchers to Austin’s unhoused population

Housing Authority provides 300 housing vouchers to Austin’s unhoused population

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter March 23, 2023

The Housing Authority of the City of Austin released plans to provide 300 project-based vouchers for Austin’s vulnerable and unhoused population earlier this month during a press conference.  Partially...

City begins construction on shared pathways to Zilker Park

City begins construction on shared pathways to Zilker Park

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter March 8, 2023

New construction on shared pathways into Zilker Park started recently to make the park more accessible to patrons without cars, according to a Feb. 21 press release from the City of Austin. Holly Hawk,...

“No podemos dejar que el impulso se reduzca”: los estudiantes planean una protesta por las víctimas de la violencia policial en Austin

“No podemos dejar que el impulso se reduzca”: los estudiantes planean una protesta por las víctimas de la violencia policial en Austin

Kylee Howard and Hannel Suarez March 6, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 2 de marzo por Kylee Howard y fue traducido al español por Hannel Suarez. Advertencia de contenido: Este artículo analiza temas de...

Evening traffic passes by on Guadalupe St. as an older building is overshadowed by larger and newer construction.

La ciudad de Austin concede beca para preservar historia y promover equidad

Kylee Howard and Paula Botello March 6, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 27 de febrero por Kylee Howard y fue traducido al español por Paula Botello. Austin ha recaudado más de $2 millones en fondos para...

‘We can't let the momentum die down’: Students plan protest for victims of Austin police violence

‘We can’t let the momentum die down’: Students plan protest for victims of Austin police violence

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter March 2, 2023

CW: This article discusses topics of police violence, including instances of police shooting and brutality. Student organization Students for Revolution is advocating for police accountability and...

Texas Cowboys, Pi Kappa Phi approved for campus return after suspension

Texas Cowboys, Pi Kappa Phi approved for campus return after suspension

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter February 27, 2023

UT spirit organization Texas Cowboys and fraternity Pi Kappa Phi are approved to return to campus on a provision basis after hazing-related suspensions in 2019, the University announced Monday.  Texas...

Evening traffic passes by on Guadalupe St. as an older building is overshadowed by larger and newer construction.

Austin awards grant to preserve history, promote equity

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter February 27, 2023

Austin has awarded over $2 million in grants to historically designated locations through the heritage preservation grant program in an effort to maintain the historical and cultural legacy of the...

A pedestrian walks beneath a streetlight in West Campus.

Las actualizaciones de iluminación del West Campus se completarán el próximo semestre

Kylee Howard and Amy DonJuan February 25, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 20 de febrero por Kylee Howard, y fue traducido al español por Amy DonJuan.  Austin Energy ha completado la mejoría de LED recomendadas...

Travis County approves contracts to build supportive housing for unhoused population

Travis County approves contracts to build supportive housing for unhoused population

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter February 23, 2023

Travis Country approved multiple contracts with non-profit organizations to build supportive housing for the unhoused population starting Jan. 24 with a $35 million contract for Mobile Loaves & Fishes. Mobile...

McCombs professor sues UT officials for threats against viewpoint

McCombs professor sues UT officials for threats against viewpoint

Raiyan Shaik and Kylee Howard February 23, 2023

Richard Lowery, associate professor of finance, sued multiple UT officials, claiming they infringed on his First Amendment rights and threatened him for his publically conservative views, according to...

Estudiantes Se Pueden Registrar Para Clases con Barras Financieras de Hasta $1,000

Kylee Howard and Karen Flores February 20, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 17 de febrero por Kylee Howard y fue traducido al español por Karen Flores. Estudiantes con barras financieras de hasta $1,000 aún...

A pedestrian walks beneath a streetlight in West Campus.

West Campus lighting updates set to complete by next semester

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter February 20, 2023

Austin Energy has completed the recommended LED improvements to over 1,100 West Campus lighting fixtures per a 2018 study, an Austin Energy spokesperson said on Wednesday. The next phase of improving...

2014-09-15_Red_Mccombs_Marshall

UT benefactor, San Antonio businessman Red McCombs dies at 95

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter February 20, 2023

Billy Joe “Red” McCombs, UT benefactor and San Antonio business mogul, died on Sunday, according to a statement released by the McCombs family Monday.  According to the statement, McCombs died...

Students can register for classes with financial bars up to $1,000

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter February 17, 2023

Students with financial bars up to $1,000 will still be able to register for classes beginning this upcoming registration period, Texas One Stop announced in an email to students on Feb. 16. The University...

Students can register for classes with financial bars up to $1,000

Students can register for classes with financial bars up to $1,000

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter February 16, 2023

Students with financial bars up to $1,000 will still be able to register for classes beginning this upcoming registration period, Texas One Stop announced in an email to students on Feb. 16. The University...

bikelanes_2019-03-29_Bike_lanes_Pedro

Austin releases new urban trail plan to promote equitable accessibility

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter February 9, 2023

The Austin Transportation Department and Public Works departments released three new draft plans for an urban trail and other accessible alternative transportation routes as part of their ATX Walk Bike...

Austin rental market relatively uncompetitive, study finds

Austin rental market relatively uncompetitive, study finds

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter January 30, 2023

Austin has one of the least competitive renting markets in Texas, a result of a 2.9% increase in apartment buildings last year, according to a study analyzing 2022 renting markets. The Austin market,...

New autonomous car company Cruise adapts to bicycle riders, city policy

New autonomous car company Cruise adapts to bicycle riders, city policy

Rylie Lillibridge and Kylee Howard January 30, 2023

As the autonomous rideshare service Cruise expands its services into Austin, company officials say they are committed to safety amid concerns around the city’s increase in bicycle transportation and...

Todo lo que necesita saber sobre el plan de Austin para expandir la Interestatal 35

Todo lo que necesita saber sobre el plan de Austin para expandir la Interestatal 35

Kylee Howard and Hannel Suarez January 29, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 23 de enero por Kylee Howard y fue traducido al español por Hannel Suarez.  La expansión de la Interestatal 35 todavía está en...

Everything you need to know about Austin’s plan to expand I-35

Everything you need to know about Austin’s plan to expand I-35

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter January 23, 2023

Expansion of Interstate 35 is still on the city’s agenda despite construction set to begin early this year. Initially a research project in the 1980s, the Texas Department of Transportation has continually...

UT-Austin blocks TikTok access from University Wi-Fi networks

UT-Austin blocks TikTok access from University Wi-Fi networks

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter January 17, 2023

UT-Austin blocked TikTok access on any device connected to its Wi-Fi networks, according to an email sent to the University community Tuesday morning. The decision follows Governor Greg Abbott’s directive...

UT alum sentenced following 2020 West Campus drug ring scandal

UT alum sentenced following 2020 West Campus drug ring scandal

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter January 16, 2023

UT alumnus Samuel Parry was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison on Friday for his involvement in a 2020 West Campus drug trafficking scandal. He was the first of the 13 people involved...

El condado de Travis cierra las clínicas de vacunación COVID-19 administradas por el condado, se detecta una nueva subvariante

El condado de Travis cierra las clínicas de vacunación COVID-19 administradas por el condado, se detecta una nueva subvariante

Kylee Howard and Lucero Ponce January 10, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 9 de enero por Kylee Howard y fue traducido al español por Lucero Ponce. El condado de Travis cerró sus clínicas móviles y de autoservicio...

Travis County closes county-run COVID-19 vaccine clinics, new subvariant detected

Travis County closes county-run COVID-19 vaccine clinics, new subvariant detected

Kylee Howard, Senior News Reporter January 9, 2023

Travis County closed its drive-thru and mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics on Dec. 31, an effort originally designed to bring vaccines to the most affected areas of Austin according to a press release from...

Campaign and voting signs crowd a grassy patch near the Peter T. Flawn Academic Center, one of two on-campus polling places at UT.

La encuesta previa a la votación anticipada muestra que Greg Abbott lidera 54-43% sobre Beto O'Rourke

Kylee Howard and Lucero Ponce November 10, 2022

Las encuestas del Texas Politics Project realizadas antes de la votación anticipada muestran que Greg Abbott está liderando la carrera por la gubernatura contra Beto O'Rourke entre los votantes probables. La...

UT’s first Arabic debate team attend championship, discuss future

UT’s first Arabic debate team attend championship, discuss future

Kylee Howard, News general reporter November 9, 2022

UT sent their first team to the U.S. University Arabic Debating Championship at Stanford University on Oct. 14-16. The four students participated in a debate contest held entirely in Arabic over the course...

Campaign and voting signs crowd a grassy patch near the Peter T. Flawn Academic Center, one of two on-campus polling places at UT.

Pre-early voting poll shows Greg Abbott leads 54-43% over Beto O’Rourke

Kylee Howard, General News Reporter October 31, 2022

Polling by the Texas Politics Project conducted before early voting shows incumbent Greg Abbott is leading the gubernatorial race against challenger Beto O’Rourke among likely voters. The poll also...

‘I want quiet space, too’: freshman with Tourette syndrome asked to leave silent study

‘I want quiet space, too’: freshman with Tourette syndrome asked to leave silent study

Kylee Howard, General news reporter October 20, 2022

“That is my go-to study spot,” computational physics freshman Anay Patel said. “I was simply studying and doing my physics homework, and a security guard approached me.”  Patel, who has autism...

Boa feathers across campus have students concerned

Boa feathers across campus have students concerned

Kylee Howard, News Reporter October 18, 2022

Harry Styles officially ended his residency in the Moody Center on Oct. 3, yet remnants of his stay still remain on campus including pieces of feather boas —- a popular accessory worn by many concert-goers...

UT, San Antonio Zoo partner to detect aquifer wildlife

UT, San Antonio Zoo partner to detect aquifer wildlife

Kylee Howard, News Reporter October 2, 2022

UT has partnered with the San Antonio Zoo to detect multiple endangered aquatic species in the Edwards Aquifer using advanced DNA sequencing and analysis.  The main researchers, Andy Gluesenkamp and...

UT kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month

UT kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month

Kylee Howard, News Reporter September 15, 2022

Jennifer Flores, a textiles and apparel sophomore and international student from Mexico, said UT’s Hispanic Heritage event gave her a chance to make connections with other students. "It just felt...

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