Gov. Greg Abbott removed the cap from his signing pen and placed his signature on the controversial bill that would ban sanctuary cities in Texas, officially making it state law, in a Facebook Live video...
Stabbing
On May 1 at 1:46 p.m., the UT Police Department responded to a call about an individual attacking a student with a large, Bowie-style hunting knife in the Speedway Plaza. Two minutes later,...
Minutes after four students were stabbed Monday afternoon on campus, many students still went to class and some took exams in the midst of confusion about the ongoing violence around them.
According...
UT Student Government members, in coordination with the University, are encouraging students to prioritize their health and safety despite concerns about exams and classes following the on-campus
stabbing...
Political beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression could be added to the list of characteristics protected from employment discrimination under bills considered Monday by a Texas...
Senate Bill 4, which would prevent cities from creating “sanctuary” policies known to protect immigrants who are in the country illegally, passed in the Texas House of Representatives Thursday...
Update (4:18 p.m.): The bill that would ban "sanctuary cities" in Texas officially passed in the House by a 94-53 vote along party lines Thursday afternoon. SB 4 will now return...
The Texas House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that would invalidate Austin’s local ride-hailing ordinance, a move that could potentially prompt Uber and Lyft to return.
House Bill...
A House committee addressed one legislator’s attempt to stop Texans from misrepresenting the state through incorrect emoji usage on social media during a hearing Tuesday.
House Concurrent...
At a time when several student organizations are working to encourage conversation about sexual violence, some fear a bill passed by the Senate would halt their progress.
Senate Bill 576, authored by...
After 15 hours, the Texas House of Representatives continued their debate over a proposed $218.15 billion budget, which was expected to last until the early hours of Friday morning.
Last Tuesday, the...
A bill aimed at ending delayed testing of DNA evidence related to rape and sexual assault cases received tentative approval Wednesday from the Texas House of Representatives.
State Rep. Victoria...
Texans are one step closer to accessing more equal coverage for mental health care and substance abuse following the House of Representative’s approval of House Bill 10, which gives these costs the...
The Texas Senate unanimously voted on Tuesday to pass the finance committee’s proposed budget, which decreases state funding for many colleges and universities by 6 percent to 10 percent.
Senate...
The state’s fees to obtain and renew handgun licenses are among the highest in the country, but a bill passed by the Senate on Monday seeks to reduce these costs.
Senate Bill 16, sponsored by...
UT would be required to provide students who receive financial aid with information regarding estimates of the amount of student debt they might incur under a bill unanimously passed by the Senate Monday.
Senate...
Several bills proposing various plans to raise the minimum wage in Texas were heard by a House of Representatives committee Monday, but members did not vote on any of the bills.
Nineteen states...
On the first week following the bill filing deadline, legislators picked up the pace with the Senate approving 11 bills and the House of Representatives approving six.
Conversation in the House focused...
The highly debated “bathroom bill,” officially known as Senate Bill 6, received a favorable vote of 21-10 on its second reading in the Senate on Tuesday.
During a public hearing of the bill...
Public testimony during the Senate committee hearing for Senate Bill 6, also known as the “bathroom bill,” lasted approximately 12 hours with 90 percent of public witnesses testifying against...
After months of bills being added to the pile of legislation senators and representatives intend to consider, the rising number will come to a halt today at 7 p.m. Marking 60 days of session, this...
Update (8:05 a.m.): After approximately 13 hours of public testimony, the committee voted 8-1 in favor of SB 6 at 4:50 a.m Wednesday. The bill will move to the full senate for further deliberation.
Original...
Texas public universities and colleges seeking to purchase land outside of areas surrounding their main campuses could face stricter requirements before proceeding.
House Bill 1737 would require...
State Representative Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, is taking a novel approach to derailing legislation he doesn’t like: Once a week, he castigates a bill with a Facebook video series titled “Bad...
Two House bills and a Senate bill that would change the way Child Protective Services operates in Texas unanimously passed out of their respective chambers Wednesday afternoon.
House Bill...
Three bills related to granting states the ability to amend the U.S. Constitution moved one step closer to becoming a reality Tuesday afternoon.
Senate Joint Resolution 2 proposes a convention of...
Uber and Lyft might have the opportunity to return to Austin if a bill proposing restrictions on the city’s regulation of transportation network companies passes during this legislative session.
Sen....
Update (1:12 p.m.): The Senate passed SB 970 requiring an accessible sexual assault policy for both public and private universities by a 30-1 vote Tuesday afternoon. While the bill formerly...
Two Democratic and two Republican Texas lawmakers butted heads Thursday night over issues including sanctuary cities, school finance, the Rainy Day Fund and Child Protective Services.
In a panel...
Longhorns and Aggies set aside their differences Wednesday to lobby at the Capitol on behalf of their joint goal of sustaining affordable yet excellent higher education in the state.
Texas Exes and...
Several UT students posted the hashtag #ProudProductOfPublicSchools last week to show support for the Texas public school system, which faces potential changes in funding.
The hashtag, which began...
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Joe Straus revealed committee assignments for the 85th legislative session Thursday morning.
Straus placed each of the 150 House members on one or more...
Update (11:37 a.m.): Senate Bill 4, addressing a ban on sanctuary cities, will advance in the legislative process. Following 16 hours and hundreds of testimonies, of which the majority opposed the...
UT’s McDonald Observatory, which is home to one of the largest telescopes in the world, is at risk of losing a large portion of its funding.
As an astronomy hub educating students and training...
The Senate Finance Committee called for a complete reconstruction of Texas’public school finance system and higher education reforms during the committee’s first round of meetings last week.
Committee...
Initiatives to cut costs for college students are a large component of several higher education bills filed this legislative session.
In Lt. Gov Dan Patrick’s “2017 Top Legislative Priorities,”...
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, whose district includes UT, announced plans to file her first three bills regarding college preparedness, gun safety and property rights Thursday at a press conference.
She...
The Texas State Legislature, which began its 85th session Jan. 10, faces the deliberation of more than 1,700 bills throughout the next five months.
Every other year, Texas legislators in both...
Texas legislators have filed more than 1,600 bills since the 85th session of the Texas Legislature began, spanning topics from gun control and ride-hailing regulations to abortion policies.
Here...
After a year and a half hiatus, the Texas Legislature convened Tuesday at noon to officially begin its 85th session.
The 140-day session will consist of the Texas House and Senate deliberating the enactment...
The number of SURE Walk users has remained high throughout the past month, following a 400 percent increase in requests for the service after the on-campus homicide.
Krishan Sachdev, SURE Walk director...
In response to a rise in complaints of inadequate lighting following a homicide on campus last month, University officials may increase the number of lights on campus.
Bob Harkins, associate vice...
A 29-year-old man was shot and killed by an Austin police officer in a South Austin Randall’s parking lot on April 22. The incident marked 2016’s fifth officer-involved shooting in Austin,...
Reckless driving offenses in the campus area have decreased slightly since 2013 but remain relatively low when compared with other driving-related violations such as drunken driving, according to data...
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo was reprimanded Tuesday by the Austin Police Association and City Manager Marc Ott for continuing to discuss the officer-involved shooting that occurred Feb. 8.
As...
The UT Police Department addressed safety concerns in collaboration with the Austin Police Department, Campus Safety & Security and other community agencies at a town hall meeting on campus Monday...
Criminal trespassing rates on University grounds have been on the rise throughout the past several years.
According to statistics from the University of Texas Police Department, warning citations for...
The Texas Department of Public Safety is conducting a comprehensive review of security measures on the UT campus at the request of President Gregory Fenves.
The evaluation has already started and is...
Despite increased requests to relocate the homeless population in West Campus after dance freshman Haruka Weiser’s death, police have no specific policies to address the group in this area.
Homeless...
Petitions written by UT students asking for an increase in on-campus emergency call boxes — blue-light telephones that automatically call the police — have circulated online following an on-campus...
The number of parking citations issued on campus has decreased over the past several years simply because less drivers have failed to display permits, according to Bobby Stone, director of Parking and...
Student-led initiatives encouraging walking with others at night gained more interest last week following a homicide on campus.
SURE Walk, a Student Government agency, provides two student volunteers...
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, an international authority that provides standards for law enforcement, is assessing the UT police department’s policies and operations this...
Police arrested suspect Meechaiel Criner in connection with the death of dance freshman Haruka Weiser on Thursday afternoon and formally filed murder charges on Friday.
According to an arrest...
The Austin Police Department has formally filed charges of murder against suspect Meechaiel Criner, who is believed to be connected to the death of dance freshman Haruka Weiser.
On Tuesday morning,...
Update (3:00 p.m.): UT President Gregory Fenves sent a statement Friday afternoon from Haruka Weiser’s family in an email to the UT community:
“We remain steadfast in our desire to honor...
To read about the community gathering held Thursday evening in honor of Haruka Weiser, click here.
The Austin Police Department is seeking help from the UT community and the general public to help identify...
For a recap of all of Thursday's updates, click here. To read about the community gathering held Thursday evening in honor of Haruka Weiser, click here.
Update (5:15 p.m.): A recap...
The University of Texas Police Department is increasing the size of its force and adding new positions to the department, including a sexual assault detective in the investigations unit.
UTPD Lt. Charles...
Update (12:45 p.m.): According to an email sent to the University by Fenves on Wednesday morning, the law enforcement agencies working on the investigation have finished processing the crime scene.
"[The...
Underage drinking has historically been a problem on college campuses according to national data, but it is not an overwhelming problem at UT as a whole, although some individual instances are severe,...
Cody Young felt the University wasn’t taking immediate disciplinary actions after being a victim of a racially motivated attack in West Campus.
But privacy laws have left Young in the dark on...
More bike racks will be added to campus following the completion of multiple construction projects including the Dell Medical School and the new mall on Speedway Avenue, said Jeremy Hernandez, bike coordinator...
New recommendations about police use of force could potentially change the way officers across the nation respond to violent situations, according to a recently published report by the Police Executive...
The Greater Austin Crime Commission is offering a reward of $10,000 to anyone who can provide information about potential suspects in repeated instances of rocks being thrown at vehicles along Interstate...
South By Southwest draws a huge influx of people to Austin each year, but the Austin Police Department also sees an increase in crime during this week of interactive, film and music events.
According...
A UT staff member reported a counterfeit $20 bill to the UT police department while reviewing the cash register in the Jester Academic Center on March 2.
UTPD officer William Pieper said two or...
A new app for the Austin Police Department now allows community members to interact with police and provide anonymous tips in non-emergency situations like theft, drug use and suspicious activity.
APD...
Four burglaries occurred on Feb. 26 at Dobie Twenty21, a private dorm near campus, according to the Austin Police Department.
Shortly after these burglaries were reported, Dobie management sent...
Groups of violent extremists attempt to recruit teenagers and young adults who show signs of vulnerability, according to an interactive FBI website shared by the University of Texas Police Department on...
Skating to class is a popular form of transportation among students, but recent UTPD reports of criminal mischief involving skateboards warn students to only use their boards in permitted contexts.
While...
Huey Rey Fischer, a self-identified progressive Democrat and candidate for state representative, lost the House District 49 race to Gina Hinojosa on Tuesday night.
Fischer, a UT alumnus who promoted...
Students gathered at The University of Texas Police Department on Monday evening for the first class of a three-day course aimed at teaching women self-defense techniques and risk-reduction strategies.
The...
Police arrested two Caucasian men for allegedly throwing bottles and yelling racial slurs at a black UT student between Leon and West 25th Streets.
According to an arrest affidavit, the victim called...
Incidents involving pedestrians being hit by cars on the streets of Austin have increased within the past few years, according to the Austin Police Department.
Operations Lt. Blake Johnson with the...
Disregarding stop signs is the most common bike violation on campus and results in the most citations for biking incidents per year, according to UTPD.
According to bicycle citations records,...
Two men, one recent UT graduate and a current student, have filed a lawsuit against the University after accusations of sexual assault, which they believe are unjustly based on their gender.
Latoya...
UT President Gregory Fenves notified the University of his decision regarding the policies for campus carry legislation via email Wednesday morning.
After communicating with the campus carry working...
President Gregory Fenves notified the University of his decision regarding the policies for campus carry legislation via email Wednesday morning.
After communicating with the Campus Carry Working Group...
A sense of security on campus along with convenience may encourage students to leave their belongings unattended, but UTPD officer William Pieper said theft on campus is a reality students should be prepared...
An increase in incidents involving K2, an illegal drug also referred to as synthetic marijuana, has resulted in more West Campus arrests within the past few weeks, according to the University of Texas...
The national conversation surrounding police brutality and racism continued last week when a black officer shot and killed an unarmed black teenager in North Austin.
In response to the shooting,...
The University of Texas Police Department confirmed a new scam intended to affect UT students in a public report Friday morning.
According to the report, the scam involves a call from someone claiming...
Local activists joined with Austin police Chief Art Acevedo Thursday afternoon to reflect on the relationship between the city and its law enforcement agencies in the midst of nationwide discussions about...
Personal information available through the University’s online directory makes UT students prime targets for scam artists, according to UTPD police officers.
UTPD officer William Pieper...
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department confirmed Austin’s first case of Zika virus Thursday evening.
According to the department’s website, a man under the age of...
Students considering a spring break trip to Mexico or the Caribbean are advised to take safety precautions against the Zika virus, a relatively new disease spread through mosquito bites.
While no cases...
Construction on Speedway, which began in October, is part of the University’s 2012 Campus Master Plan and will introduce a mall area on the east side of campus.
The Speedway Mall Project aims...
Campus carry will allow licensed handgun owners to bring concealed handguns on campus starting Aug. 1, but students can also freely carry other types of weapons, such as stun guns or Tasers, around campus...
Austin police officers often delay action when responding to low-priority crimes around the city, such as petty theft, due to a lack of officers.
Currently, the department is understaffed with at least...
Some Texas counties are exploring the option of issuing tickets and scheduling court appearances instead of arresting for marijuana possession.
The Texas legislature passed a “cite and release”...
SURE Walk, a service that provides students with a companion for late-night walks home, is finalizing plans to create a more comfortable atmosphere on campus by integrating technology-based efforts into...
Nearly two years after the South By Southwest incident, in which Rashad Owens killed four people and injured dozens while driving over the speed limit near the intersection of East 10th and Red River streets,...
The Moody Bridge will soon be complete after months of construction come to a close.
Laurie Lentz, communications manager for University operations, said the 10-foot wide and 300-foot long bridge connecting...
Hundreds of students flocked to Kins Coffee, a new, on-campus coffee shop located inside Kinsolving Hall, on its first day of classes for the spring semester. Kins Coffee officially opened Tuesday morning...
The Division of Housing and Food Service has prohibited the use of hoverboards in residence halls and dining facilities, according to director of residence life Mylon Kirksy.
The 2015-2016 DHFS Residence...
Although most students were not on campus over winter break, UTPD reported at least one instance of crime each day.
According to Campus Watch reports, UTPD recorded 125 crimes between the end of finals...
According to national security expert Colin Kahl, previous attempts by both the Bush and Obama administrations to influence regime changes and send ground troops into the Middle East have been unsuccessful.
Kahl,...
Sarah Kay, a poet who appeared on a TED talk at the 2011 conference and performed on HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam,” presented a montage of her poems for students on campus Wednesday night.
Event...
No major changes to the study abroad department are being recommended at this time in light of attacks executed by the Islamic State in Paris on Nov. 13, according to Jess Miller, UT international risk...
