ATX Pulse 7/27-31/26 (free): APD: Delta 8 Possession Now a Felony // Airport Sees Record Traffic in June // Austin FC Academy Under Probe // CapMetro Workers Move Closer to Strike // Samsung to Break Ground on 2nd Fab in Taylor This Year

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MONDAY, JULY 27, 2026 - FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2026

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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TOP NEWS

"Texas will ban Delta-8 on July 31. Austin police say possession will be a felony" via KUT – Texas is banning Delta-8 THC and a broad class of similar cannabis compounds starting July 31, removing products that have been sold in smoke shops and gas stations for years.

The ban doesn't affect edibles or drinks made from Delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.

Austin police say they will treat possession of Delta-8 as a state jail felony, which carries a punishment of 180 days to 2 years behind bars and a fine of up to $10,000. (KUT)

"Austinites storm DA José Garza's office to protest APD's fatal shooting of unarmed teen" via KUT – More than two dozen protesters gathered at Wooldridge Park Tuesday afternoon under an unforgiving sun to demand accountability — and prosecution — for the officers involved in last week's fatal shooting of a teenager identified Tuesday as Anthoneil Williams II.

Williams allegedly called police to report a young man brandishing a gun. Officers responded just after 4 a.m. last Friday and fired dozens of rounds into Williams after he lifted up his shirt. Williams was unarmed, carrying only a water bottle.

Williams' friend Ameer Alogaili, 16, said he always "put a smile on everybody's face." Alogaili attended Bohls Middle School and Connally High School with Williams. He said the officers "took a part of me with him" and asked for some accountability.

After remarks, the protesters marched to Travis County District Attorney José Garza's office lobby, storming past metal detectors and chanting "Jail killer cops!" The protest escalated after one demonstrator approached a Travis County Sheriff's deputy at the front desk. After staring down the crowd, the deputy locked himself away in a nearby room as an unidentified protester pounded on the door. (KUT)

"Austin airport welcomed a record 2.1 million passengers in June" via AAS – A customer wears a hat as he moves through the Southwest Airlines bag drop at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Dec. 11, 2025. Southwest remained the No. 1 carrier at the airport in June, increasing its passenger count by 11% year over year.

The Austin airport was busier than ever in June. New figures show that a record 2,102,853 passengers flew through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport that month, beating the previous record set last October by nearly 17,000 passengers.

The June surge is an increase of 4.4% year over year and a 5.1% increase over May. Through the first half of the year, 10.8 million people flew through Austin, up 4.6% from the same period in 2025. (AAS)

"New federal report explains what caused Austin derailment" via AAS – A train sits derailed near Bowie Street and West Third Street in downtown Austin on April 23.

The Union Pacific train that derailed earlier this year in downtown Austin was allowed to continue its trip after one of its locomotives failed, ultimately leading to the accident, according to a new federal report.

Several of the freight train’s nearly 240 cars jumped the track just before 4:45 a.m. April 23 near West Third Street and Bowie Street in the Seaholm District, officials previously said. No one was injured.

The train was heading north at about 15 mph down a hill when it approached a sharp curve in the track leading west. As the train was rounding the curve, several cars derailed , causing about $1 million in damage to the track and equipment, according to the Federal Railroad Administration report. Union Pacific representatives previously said up to seven cars derailed. (AAS)

"What's on track and behind schedule with Austin's transit expansion nearly 6 years later" via KUT – Project Connect is Austin's long-term plan to build a larger, more connected public transit system. Voters approved the proposal in November 2020 as a sweeping package that included light-rail, faster bus service with an all-electric fleet, park-and-rides, expanded commuter rail, neighborhood shuttles and $300 million for housing near future transit lines.

Nearly six years later, pieces of that plan are arriving, often behind schedule. New rapid bus service was launched with 10-minute frequencies and park-and-rides at the end of each line. CapMetro's Red Line commuter rail has one new station and another on the way. Transit leaders are powering through the volumes of federal paperwork required to build the light-rail system.

But the biggest promise has been scaled back. The city's first modern light-rail line is smaller and no longer includes the downtown subway or connection to the airport that helped sell the original vision. And major legal and political challenges remain that still threaten to upend much of what remains of the original Project Connect vision.

A lot of Project Connect's original timelines have effectively been replaced by CapMetro's Transit Plan 2035. The long-range plan, approved by CapMetro's board in 2025, lays out where the agency expects bus, commuter rail and the on-demand service Pickup to go over the next decade. With the original Project Connect timelines dragging out, Transit Plan 2035 is now the clearest public roadmap for much of Project Connect outside light-rail. (KUT)

"Passenger rail between San Antonio and Austin? Two routes, major hurdles" via TPR – Recent studies have found that expanded passenger rail service between Austin and San Antonio is possible, though getting trains on the tracks remains a long way off.

The Texas Department of Transportation recently released its Austin-San Antonio Passenger Rail Study. A separate study commissioned by the Travis County Commissioners Court is expected to be released soon.

The TxDOT study looked at using the existing rail corridor between the two cities near Interstate 35. The Travis County study examines a potential route along State Highway 130 and Interstate 10 east of San Antonio.

To learn more about the studies and the future of passenger rail between San Antonio and Austin, Texas Public Radio’s Jerry Clayton spoke with Peter LeCody, president of Texas Rail Advocates, a nonprofit group that educates the public and private sectors about freight and passenger rail. (TPR)

"Texas State launches new engineering program with $1M grant | San Marcos - Buda - Kyle" via CIN – Texas State University in San Marcos will begin to offer a new program for students in the Department of Engineering Technology with the issuance of a $1 million grant.

The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, or IACMI, has awarded Texas State University a three-year grant to establish the Metallurgical Engineering, Trades Apprenticeship and Learning, or METAL, program, according to a news release.

The METAL program will train students to work in the metal casting, forging and forming industries through free online training and in-person bootcamps, according to the release. Four bootcamps will be offered per year, all of which provide one week of hands-on training at no cost to the participants to learn a wide variety of topics related to metal casting, such as: Tool design, Process simulation, Heat treatment, Metal rolling and Forging. (CIN)

"Austin's cyclospora cases remain in normal range as the search for a contamination source continues" via KUT – Cases of the diarrhea-causing illness cyclosporiasis have risen in Austin over the past month, but public health authorities say case numbers are still within the typical range for summertime.

As of Monday, Austin Public Health has confirmed 41 local cases of cyclosporiasis, which is caused by a food-borne parasite called cyclospora. All but one of those cases occurred in July.

Cyclospora often clings to leafy greens, berries or other produce that has been in contact with human fecal matter, often via contaminated water. “Investigations are underway to determine the source of these cases,” Alyssa Armstrong said in an email. “Our investigations so far have not found any connection to a particular food item, restaurant or grocery store.” (KUT)

THE BLOTTER

“Austin man with ‘extensive’ 34-year criminal history arrested on eight new felony charges" via KXAN – An Austin man whose criminal history spans more than 30 years is facing a new series of felony charges after investigators accused him of committing multiple armed robberies, possessing more than 24 grams of methamphetamine, threatening a police officer and evading arrest.

Karl Musgrove, 52, was booked on eight felony charges stemming from incidents on July 22, including three counts of aggravated robbery, one count of robbery, possession of a controlled substance, retaliation, harassment of a public servant and evading arrest or detention with prior convictions, according to court records.

According to Austin police, the robbery investigation began shortly after 1 a.m. on July 22 when officers responded to a crash along Ed Bluestein Boulevard in east Austin. The affidavit states a group of motorists stopped to repair a flat tire when Musgrove approached them armed with a handgun, demanded money and valuables and pointed the weapon at one of the victims.

The victims told police they were able to wrestle Musgrove to the ground and recover some of the stolen property before a second suspect retrieved the firearm and fired a shot into the air, records state. Musgrove and the second suspect returned to their car and proceeded to ram the victims' vehicle, along with a second car, before crashing into a nearby market and fleeing the scene on foot, according to court records.

During the arrest, officers reported finding approximately 24.2 grams of methamphetamine concealed in Musgrove's waistband and allege Musgrove self-identified as a "5 star General in the Blood street gang" and began repeatedly threatening to have the officer and his family "erased." According to the affidavit, officers performed a computerized background search of Musgrove, which revealed he had an active parole violation warrant and an "extensive" criminal history, deeming him eligible for an enhanced Habitual Offender indictment. (KXAN)

"Austin police fatally shoot unarmed teenager in what they say may be 'suicide by police'" via KUT – Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis characterized the fatal shooting of an unarmed 17-year-old in Northeast Austin on Friday morning as “potentially a suicide by police.”

The Austin Police Department responded to a 911 call at 3:51 a.m. Friday about a teen in a parking lot possibly brandishing a gun. Officers responded to the scene and found the 17-year-old, a Black male, on the playground at a community park in the 10100 block of Baden Lane, Lisa Davis said at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

Body cam footage released by APD on Friday shows officers approaching the playground and telling the teen to keep his hands up repeatedly. Shortly after, the teen appears to lift his shirt and reach for his waistband, and officers immediately fire multiple times, causing him to fall to the ground. Officers shoot again in response to the teen apparently moving on the ground. (KUT)

"Motorcyclist dies after falling from I-35 flyover in South Austin" via AAS – A motorcyclist died Wednesday after falling from the flyover connecting Interstate 35 southbound to Ben White Boulevard westbound, according to Austin police.

The single-vehicle crash occurred about 2:24 p.m. in the 4000 block of South Interstate 35 southbound.

Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released his identity. (AAS)

"Man dies after emerging injured from woods near Austin’s Butler Park" via AAS – An Austin Police officer responds to a call. A man died early Sunday after emerging with visible injuries from a wooded area near Butler Park in South Austin, police said.

Austin police officers responded shortly after midnight to a reported disturbance at 401 Dawson Road. They found the injured man and attempted lifesaving measures, but he died at the scene. His identity had not been released as of Sunday morning.

A person of interest was detained, police said. Authorities did not identify that person or provide details about the detention. The man stumbled out of the wooded area and was found by people leaving the park as officers enforced its 10 p.m. curfew, Aaron Townsend said during a Sunday morning news conference.

The witnesses called 911 and provided first aid until officers arrived. Investigators believe the man and the detained person were the only people directly involved in the altercation. Detectives were still seeking witnesses. Police did not say whether the man had been shot or stabbed. They also did not disclose the nature of his injuries or what led to the disturbance. (AAS)

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