ATX PULSE 8/15/24: Council Passes Largest Budget in City History with Tax Increase // DNA Evidence Suggests Link Between Multiple Murders // Housing Inventory at Highest Rate in a Decade // Suspected Killer in Court After Commiting Trafficking and Sexual Assault While on Bond // Chody Trial Takes Sudden Turn

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Today’s Weather: H: 101° / L: 77°. Even hotter today than yesterday. Latest forecast from Fox 7 Austin’s Zack Shields here.

TOP NEWS

“‘There could be more,’ DNA evidence links multiple murders in Travis and Bastrop counties,” CBS Austin’s Abigail Velez — “Austin Police have released new information about multiple murders across two counties.

On June 22, investigators found Alyssa Ann Rivera's body in an abandoned home in southeast Austin.

In a press conference Wednesday, investigators gave a brief description of the suspect-- a short, Hispanic male, seen in surveillance video walking with Rivera, before she was found dead.

Investigators announced DNA evidence has connected Rivera's murder, to another homicide across county lines.

"There was a DNA link found between this case, and April 14th, 2018, in the unsolved murder of Alba Jenisse Aviles," said Sgt. Nathan Sexton of the Austin Police Department.

Aviles was found dead in a car in Bastrop County six years ago.

With forensic evidence, police said they believe the same person may be responsible for both Rivera and Aviles' murders.

"Both victims are believed to have been sexually assaulted— it was DNA found in both scenes, like multiple sources of DNA at both scenes," added Sexton.

After six years, and two potential murders, police haven't been able to identify the person of interest, even with the new DNA evidence.

"Unfortunately that suspect does not come back to CODIS, what we call the national database, so they're not in that system," said Sexton.

The suspect is likely not in CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) because he hasn't been previously arrested or charged with crimes.

APD said they are working closely with the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office to turn the DNA, into a suspect.

Sexton said, "We're trying to compare notes and see if there's anyone that may come up in both cases or may have lived here; so it will take quite a bit of research in going through the data."

In Wednesday's press conference, reporters asked Sexton if there were any other crimes or murders that were also linked to this suspect; Sexton replied, "There could be more."

As of now, the suspect's DNA is only being found in Rivera and Aviles' crime scenes.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Austin Police Department, and/or Bastrop County Sheriff's Office.” CBS Austin

THE BLOTTER

~ “Man taken to hospital after E Austin SWAT incident, suspect at large,” CBS Austin’s Tara Brolley – “Austin police responded to a incident early Thursday morning that led to a SWAT standoff at an East Austin apartment complex, but the suspect remains at large, authorities said.

Officers were called to the Urban Villas Apartment Homes, located at 4411 Airport Boulevard, at approximately 12:45 a.m. for a reported shooting or stabbing.

Upon arrival, officers found a man in his 40s with serious injuries. The victim was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

"The initial information provided to the officers at the scene led them to believe that the suspect had gone back inside the apartment and locked the door," Officer Jeremy Fisher said during a press conference. This prompted the deployment of the Travis County SWAT team.

However, after securing the area and entering the apartment, authorities discovered the suspect was not inside. The investigation is in its preliminary stages, and the suspect remains unidentified.

Fisher emphasized that investigators do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public, describing it as an "isolated incident."

The nature of the victim's injuries and his relationship to the suspect remain unclear. Authorities have not released a description of the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.” CBS Austin

~ “Suspected killer’s case not going through court system quickly, judge says,” Fox 7 Austin’s Meredith Aldis – “A Travis County judge warned a murder victim’s mother that the suspected killer’s case is not going to go through the court system quickly. This came after the teen was arrested for multiple felonies while out on bond for murder.

On Wednesday, August 14, Travis County Judge Dayna Blazey told the court "This case is not going to go through the system quickly."

"It actually made me want to cry. It's frustrating. Today, to hear that, it hit something," Julieta Serrano said.

A teen charged with murdering a man in May 2023 was later released on bond. A year later, the teen is back behind bars charged with multiple felonies in Hays County.

Julieta Serrano’s son, 19-year-old Brian Serrano was shot dead in Southeast Austin on May 15, 2023. The suspected killer is Ervin Coronado-Palacio. In December, he was able to bond out of the Travis County Jail. Late last month, Coronado-Palacio was arrested again for trafficking a person and two counts of sexual assault of a child in Hays County.

"Now with the new charges, it just creates a bigger, bigger mess," Serrano said.

In court on Wednesday, it was revealed the Hays County Jail didn’t have room for Coronado-Palacio, so he was transferred to the Haskell County Jail in North Texas. The judge asked the prosecutor to request a bench warrant to get Coronado-Palacio back to Travis County.

"Sometimes other counties don't want to honor them, they believe that their charge is more serious, or they want it to be resolved first, because sometimes what'll happen is if somebody is benched warranted, then they get lost in the system," Serrano’s attorney Daniel Betts said.

Serrano said she hopes he gets brought back soon, so things can get moving.

"He needs to do time for what he did. He took a life, so he should be forfeited by the state because he took my son's life, so he should be taken by the state," Serrano said.

Coronado-Palacio’s new defense attorney said he plans to go see him soon. The next hearing date is set for October 1, 2024.” Fox 7 Austin

~ “Housing inventory in Austin at its highest rate in over a decade, according to new housing report,” KVUE’s Johann Castro – “Now might be the perfect time for anyone looking to buy a home in Austin to pull the trigger.

New data from the Austin Board of Realtors (ABoR) and Unlock MLS has revealed that home prices in Austin are at their lowest rate in almost three years, while housing inventory is at its highest rate in 13 years.

The median sale price for a home in Travis County currently sits around $450,000, according to the report. The last time the median home price hovered at that rate was September 2021, about eight months prior to home prices hitting their peak median price average of $550,000 in April 2022.

The reason for the favorable numbers is due to homebuyers looking outside of Travis County for more affordable housing options in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area. According to the report, July home sales increased in Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties.” KVUE

~ “State prosecutors try to pause trial of former Williamson County sheriff, assistant county attorney,” KVUE’s Melia Masumoto – “Only one day after former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and Assistant County Attorney Jason Nassour’s evidence tampering trial started, it just about came to a grinding halt.

State prosecutors said because of a pre-trial ruling made by the judge, they would not be able to prove their case with what they have left.

Judge Karen Sage denied their request for an emergency stay of the trial.

Before the trial started, Judge Sage ruled that the state could not talk about certain evidence in front of the jury. That included talking about who allowed the Live PD crews to leave the crime scene with their footage and gear the night of Javier Ambler’s death.

A camera crew was riding along with Williamson County deputies and filming when Ambler died.

Judge Sage said because of the Privacy Protection Act, Chody and Nassour weren’t allowed to seize the Live PD crew’s footage and therefore had to let the crew gather their belongings from the crime scene. The Privacy Protection Act is a federal law that protects journalists and certain documentary material from being seized by law enforcement.

But in court on Wednesday, prosecutors said without being able to talk about Chody and Nassour allowing these crews to leave the crime scene with the footage, they would have no case.

“We cannot prove the case with what we have left,” said Mike Waldman, the state attorney.

The defense objected to this, saying that the state has known about the judge’s ruling and the PPA for a long time now.

“I think we should continue this trial, unless they make a motion to dismiss,” said Keith Hampton, Nassour’s defense attorney.

After denying the state’s request to pause the trial, Judge Sage told them to move further with their other witnesses. She said since there were still several other allegations they alleged in the indictment, they should move forward with that.” KVUE

CITY HALL

~ “Austin City Council approves nearly $6B budget in 10-1 vote,” KVUE’s Johann Castro – “The Austin City Council has approved its $5.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The budget is the largest in the city's history and addresses a wide range of topics including homelessness, housing resources and mental health resources for firefighters. It also includes pay raises for civilian employees and more money for the Austin Police Department.

“This budget includes historic investments in much-needed community services, including for families experiencing homelessness, those undergoing mental health crises, and our public safety professionals,” Councilmember Ryan Alter said Wednesday. “In this budget, we are making our communities safer, cleaner, healthier, and simply more livable.”

The vote was 10-1, with District 6 Councilwoman Mackenzie Kelly - the only Republican on the city council- being the only opposing vote.

Kelly cited the need for more significant budget cuts that would have helped the city eliminate tax increases.

"I cannot, in good conscience, vote yes on such a large budget, given the cost-of-living crisis that Austinites face and the many glaring inefficiencies presented," Kelly said following the budget's approval.” KVUE

~ “Top executive over police, fire, EMS set to leave City Hall,” Austin Chronicle’s Austin Sanders – “Bruce Mills, the top executive at City Hall overseeing Austin’s public safety departments, is on his way out, ending an “interim” assistant city manager stint that was only meant to last about six months but stretched out to nearly 18 months. His last day at the city is set for Aug. 23.

Mills, who worked his way up the chain of command at the Austin Police Department before retiring as an assistant chief in 2000, was one of the first key hires made by interim City Manager Jesús Garza in March 2023. As a trusted police leader in the eyes of Garza (remember: Garza served as Austin’s city manager from 1994-2002), Mills became a close adviser to the interim city manager on public safety issues. (A city spokesperson says City Manager T.C. Broadnax has not decided who will fill Mills’ role, though some City Hall insiders point to Jon Fortune, whom Broadnax recruited from Dallas to serve as his deputy city manager. In Dallas, Fortune worked as the ACM over public safety.)

Mills has handled some highly contentious issues during his 18-month tenure: a shortage of 911 call takers that resulted in long wait times for Austinites in need of emergency help; an increasingly fraught relationship between APD, City Hall, and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office that necessitated tense liaisons between Garza, Mills, and other top city leaders; the ongoing struggle to implement the voter-approved Austin Police Oversight Act; and the city issuing a court-ordered apology to survivors of sexual assault for years of mishandling those types of cases (years, it should be noted, that occurred after Mills left APD).

Many City Council members came to respect Mills’ expertise, communicative management, and his straight talk delivered with a twang. Justice advocates – leery of someone who spent their entire career in law enforcement – saw Mills more as a roadblock to their goals, particularly when it came to implementing the system of civilian police oversight envisioned by the Oversight Act. Mills’ effort to install disgraced former APD Chief Art Acevedo as the sole assistant city manager over the police department was not well-received and will go down as a blemish on Mills’ otherwise respected City Hall record.

When Mills was named interim assistant city manager, the highest-priority public safety issue – from the city’s perspective, at least – was securing a long-term labor agreement with the Austin Police Association. In the weeks before Garza was appointed interim city manager, talks between the city and APA ground to a halt, ultimately resulting in the association completely walking away from contract negotiations.

Now, it appears that the goal of making a deal might finally be achieved, as the city and APA appear to be closing in on a negotiated contract. Whether or not that happens, or what ramifications it may bring for the city’s budget or police oversight system, it won’t be Mills’ problem any longer.

“It’s been a fun time,” Mills said, “But I’m ready to move on.”” Austin Chronicle

BUSINESS NEWS

~ “ABOR enacts new rules for Realtor compensation in wake of NAR settlement,” Austin Business Journal’s Cody Baird – “Major changes in the way Realtors conduct business are coming across the nation soon, but the Austin Board of Realtors is getting a jumpstart and enacting the changes early.

Following a blockbuster $418 million settlement to end a wave of lawsuits earlier this year, the National Association of Realtors is rolling out new rules for Realtor compensation when buying or selling a home beginning Aug. 17, but ABOR is enacting those rules on Aug. 13. The goal is to support its members in the transition rather than enacting it over the coming weekend, ABOR and Unlock MLS CEO Emily Chenevert said. 

The first change will impact how agents and buyers discuss compensation, according to an NAR announcement. Now, a compensation discussion must occur prior to a Realtor touring a property with a buyer, ensuring the two parties come to a written agreement.  

“Those written agreements will include information about the nature of the business relationship between them, the fiduciary duty that the agent owes the client and a clear and transparent understanding of the compensation associated with the services that the buyer’s agent is providing,” Chenevert said. “So the real change is that those agreements are now required and that they’re required to be in place prior to touring the property.”

The next change removes any information related to Realtor compensation from the multiple listing service, or MLS. 

“All of those offers of compensation, and especially the exchanges between sellers and buyers, will occur as part of the negotiation of the transaction off of the MLS and more directly between the parties,” Chenevert said. 

Brokers will still be able to advertise compensation offers on their own websites, just not the MLS, Chenevert said. “ ABJ ($)

~ “Mixed use tower planned near Q2 Stadium,” Austin Business Journal’s Cody Baird – “Plans are in the works for a big development near The Domain that could yield hundreds of thousands of square feet of office space and hundreds of residential units.

That’s according to a site plan filed with the city of Austin, which calls for new residential, office and retail development in place of an auto shop at 2310 Donley Drive — a stone's throw from Austin FC's Q2 Stadium.

The developer is not yet known, but the property owner is Zohair Jaffery’s Jaffery Holdings LLC, according to the site plan application. Jaffery is also the CEO of Boost Logic, a performance auto shop based out of a 40,000 square foot building at 2310 Donley Drive that would be demolished to make way for the new mixed-use development.

Jaffery did not respond to requests for comment.

The project is still in the planning phases and is described as one mixed-use tower with about 400,000 square feet of office space and 550 multifamily units. While the square footage of the residential portion of the tower is unknown, the office portion is only about 11,000 square feet smaller than downtown’s 100 Congress.” ABJ ($)

OTHER NEWS

~ “Friends ‘heartbroken’ over death of beloved community member,” CBS Austin’s Jahmal Kennedy – “Friends and loved ones are coming together to celebrate and remember a woman killed after being hit by a car last week in West Austin.

Austin police identified her Tuesday as Allison Baker, and she’s being remembered as a servant in her community who volunteered with several non-profit organizations in Austin and Travis County – including the Boys and Girls Club.

“The friendliest, most outgoing gal you could possibly think of,” said Mark Kiester, former CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Austin Area.

Friends of Baker said she was most known for caring for others, whether providing meals for the underserved or getting young people to sign up for community service.

“What stands out most to me about Allison was the way that she got young people involved in service,” says Joel Coffman, executive director of the nonprofit Recognize Good.

Coffman says his organization honored Baker ten years ago for her service in the community and says her ability to bring others along with her really stood out to him.

“I think kind of her ability to get others involved was probably the most special thing about her,” he said. “She was able to kind of spread that ripple of goodness to other people to where they were being part of a positive change in our community.”

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the BGCAA described Baker as a “passionate and generous leader, volunteer, and donor.”

BGCAA CEO Zenae Campbell says the club is “heartbroken” at the news of Campbell’s death.

According to police, Baker and her husband were hit by a car while out walking in the Tarrytown neighborhood of West Austin. Baker died at the scene, while her husband was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.” CBS Austin

~ “Former Austin fire chaplain suing city for firing him over blog posts; judge hears case,” Fox 7 Austin’s Angela Shen – “A federal judge heard arguments in the case of a former volunteer chaplain with the Austin Fire Department who sued the city and Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker.

The lawsuit, filed in 2022, claims he was fired over a blog post about his beliefs.

Andrew Fox was a volunteer lead chaplain for the Austin Fire Department for eight years until December 2021. 

In the personal blog post about transgender athletes competing in the 2021 Olympics, he shared his views that men and women are biologically different and that men shouldn't compete in women's sports. 

The lawsuit says LGBTQ+ members of the department were concerned about the post. 

Fox's attorneys say he cared for everyone, including the LGBTQ community. 

"No one should be forced to speak a message that they disagree with. The facts of this case are that the chaplaincy service wasn't disrupted. He was able to serve everyone in the department's community, including LGBT individuals," Rachel Rouleau, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, said. 

The lawsuit says Fox had meetings with AFD officials. The chief wanted him to write an apology letter. Fox was willing to express regret that some people were offended, but he wouldn't recant his beliefs. 

"Austin's actions in discriminating against him because of his faith violate his First Amendment rights of free speech and free exercise. We're hoping that the court will protect Dr. Fox's First Amendment rights," Rouleau said. 

Attorneys for the city did not do an interview Wednesday but argued in court that Fox's First Amendment rights were not violated, and that he is public-facing, and they didn't want the issue to affect people's trust in him. They also argued the complaints weren't about the topic, but the way they were discussed. Plus, Fox's position was unpaid, and he is still able to blog freely. 

A spokesperson added, "we appreciate the court’s careful consideration of the issues in this ongoing legal process."

The lawsuit is seeking to have Fox reinstated as lead chaplain and for the city to declare his First Amendment rights were violated, plus to be paid for other damages. 

"Americans should be able to speak freely without fear of government punishment," Rouleau said.

The judge will take some time to consider the arguments. A ruling may come in a few weeks.” Fox 7 Austin

SPORTS

~ TEXAS FOOTBALL: “2 sophomore Texas wideouts making waves in deep, talented WR room,” Austin American-Statesman’s Thomas Jones — “It seems every new face at wide receiver has enjoyed a time to shine this offseason for the Texas football team.

Alabama's Isaiah Bond arrived from the transfer portal followed by Houston's Matthew Golden, and both drew immediate praise this spring from coaches and teammates for their work ethic. Ryan Wingo, a five-star freshman from St. Louis, enrolled early and wowed everyone with his athleticism and playmaking skills. And Silas Bolden arrived this summer from Oregon State and has already flashed elite quickness and competitiveness.

But don’t overlook Johntay Cook II and DeAndre Moore, Jr., sophomores who were the only receivers from Texas' 2023 recruiting class to burn their redshirts last season. That makes them the most experienced wideouts in the Longhorns' system.

That familiarity with the offense — and the ability inherent in a pair of consensus former four-star recruits — could make them big contributors in a revamped passing attack, said third-year starting quarterback Quinn Ewers.

“The biggest thing for them is just being more comfortable within the offense and knowing what to do in certain situations,” Ewers said Tuesday night in a Zoom media availability after practice. “And I think another big thing is they're starting to understand why (head coach Steve Sarkisian) is calling this play instead of calling another play. Just their understanding of the game has improved a lot.”” AAS ($)

AUSTIN CULTURE

~ DINING: ”Austin Restaurant Fix is Opening a Casual Southern Cafe in the Arboretum” Austin Eater

~ MINI GOLF: ”Austin’s Peter Pan Mini-Golf gets 6 more months on lease” Culture Map Austin

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

~ REVELRY: Music Bingo at Punch Bowl Social (11310 Domain Dr, Austin , TX). “Weekly Music Bingo with great food, cold drinks, and even better prizes.” 7-9pm. Free.

~ FILM: Hitchcock Week (Paramount Theater, 713 Congress Ave). Thru Aug. 18. Full schedule here.

COOL JOB ALERT

~ External Affairs Specialist: C