ATX PULSE 1/17/25 (free): APD: Downtown Shifts Now Only 65% Staffed // Eanes School Board Votes to Close Valley View Elementary School // Man Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Homeless Woman // CoA Management Cautions Against 2025 Bond // CM Laine Closes Field Office // SpaceX Starship Rocket Explodes

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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TODAY’S WEATHER

H: 68° / L: 47°. Arctic chill coming this weekend. Latest forecast from Fox 7 Austin’s Zack Shields here.

TOP NEWS

“APD reveals 2024 downtown staffing, crime numbers in report” CBS Austin

“Eanes ISD board votes to close school citing budget and declining enrollment” CBS Austin

“UT Austin graduate student, wife disappear in Mexico on their way to Chile” Fox 7 Austin

THE BLOTTER

“Man arrested in connection to fatal SE Austin hit-and-run” CBS Austin

“Man arrested at bus stop in connection to E Austin homicide” CBS Austin

“Lakeway Police investigate suspect in vehicle burglaries” CBS Austin

“Fayette County officials urge caution amid recent fentanyl overdoses” KVUE

“Student taken into custody after false fire report disrupts Manor High School drill” CBS Austin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

“City management cautions against 2025 bond election” Austin Monitor

“Council Member Krista Laine opts to discontinue District 6 field office” Austin Monitor

“Hutto City Council may start saying no to water requests from developers” Fox 7 Austin

“Pflugerville City Council heats up during debate over ESD No. 2” AAS ($)

2025

“Eanes ISD board of trustee places 6, 7 to be on May ballot” Community Impact Austin

BUSINESS NEWS

“SpaceX Starship rocket explodes during text flight” AAS ($)

“Liberty Hill approves retail site plan for Target” Community Impact Austin

LOCAL SPORTS

TEXAS FOOTBALL: “Quinn Ewers is off to the NFL. Here are 5 questions for Arch Manning, 2025 Texas offense” AAS ($)

TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL: “Texas A&M's Marcel Reed acknowledges room for growth but 'ready to be a leader' in 2025” AAS ($)

TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL: “Texas A&M football: WR Micah Hudson steps away from Aggies” AAS ($)

AUSTIN FC: “Austin FC adds ‘promising’ 20-year-old midfielder Nicolas Dubersarsky” KXAN

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: “No. 7 Texas rebounds from 1st SEC loss, thumps Auburn 74-57 on the road” KXAN

HUTTO ATHLETICS: “Hutto AD Brad LaPlante has left the school district for a similar position in Montgomery” AAS ($)

QUICK LINKS

~ New Braunfels' population boom fuels job growth and business opportunities CBS Austin

~ Central Texas HVAC crews staying busy as freezing weather approaches KVUE

~ 'Like a really crappy breakup' | Austin animal shelter laying off 10% of staff but remains committed to same care for pets KVUE

~ Austin goes all out with Dolly Parton birthday celebrations this weekend KVUE

~ Teen boy in Texas foster care says he's counting on God to help him get adopted KVUE

~ Texas State University using $1.8 million to fight fentanyl in Hays County - KXAN

~ Goose returns to Austin waters after getting shot with arrow - KVUE

~ MLK oratory competition held in Austin - KVUE

~ New friends and brain power: Austin seniors reap social, physical benefits of pickleball - Community Impact Austin

~ Developer looks to change designs for The District in Round Rock - Community Impact Austin

~ Austin ranks 5th in major cities vulnerable to wildfires - Austin Monitor

~ Extension to Old Settlers Boulevard underway in Round Rock - Community Impact Austin

~ City of Buda to expand Seniors Taking A Ride Program to extraterritorial jurisdiction - Community Impact Austin

~ Traffic alert: Road closures set for 2 events over MLK weekend in Austin - Community Impact Austin

~ Robert Lee retires from Pearlstone Partners, new CEO announced - ABJ

~ La Bonita Bar & Club opens in Kyle - Community Impact Austin

~ Two industrial leases signed at Buda Midway project in Hays County - ABJ

~ Llano Estacado Winery expanding business in Hill Country - KXAN

AUSTIN CULTURE

~ DINING: “New bodega and farm-focused brunch warm up Austin dining news” Culture Map Austin

~ DINING: “Small Plates: Ling Wu's has a new concept and a Chicago-based eatery comes to Austin” ABJ ($)

~ DINING: “Real estate, partnerships sought to bring Trudy's Tex-Mex back” ABJ ($)

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND

Fri

~ LIVE MUSIC: Stoney LaRue. Gruene Hall (Gruene, TX). 8pm. Few $25 tickets left here.

Sat

~ TEXAS MEN’S BASKETBALL: Texas at #5 Florida. 3pm. Airs on SEC Network.

~ LIVE MUSIC: Stoney LaRue. Gruene Hall (Gruene, TX). 9pm. Few $25 tickets left here.

~ LIVE MUSIC: Rodney Carrington. ACL Live. 7pm. Tix $49.50 and up here.

Sun

~ LIVE MUSIC: A

COOL JOB ALERT

~ Vice President, Development. American Heart Association. No salary info provided. Info / apply here.