ATX PULSE 9/25/24: Project Connect's $193M Budget Approved // Bonded ATX Murder Suspect Arrested Again // NW Austin Double Homicide Investigated // County Approves Central Health Budget

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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TODAY’S WEATHER

H: 93° / L: 66°. Lower humidity and cooler nights ahead. Latest forecast from Fox 7 Austin’s Zack Shields here.

TOP NEWS

“Project Connect: Austin’s 9.8 mile light rail system advances with $193M budget approval,” Community Impact Austin’s Haley McLeod — “Plans for the long-promised Austin light rail project is rolling forward with recent funding allocated primarily towards design work needed to break ground by 2027—a target date announced by transit officials earlier this year.

What happened?

Austin Transit Partnership—the cities’ transit entity created to build and oversee Project Connect—approved a $193 million budget Sept. 18 for fiscal year 2024-25.

The agency is expected to receive an estimated $172 million in funding from taxpayers, a tax approved by voters in 2020, as well as $21 million in investments and other income.

ATP’s budget indicates that an estimated $116 million of the budget will be spent towards professional services and administrative costs, $78 million and $38 million respectively.

Each year, funding is also allocated to anti-displacement efforts, with $60 million outlined for FY 2024-25. The remaining funding will stay in the entity's reserve fund.

What's planned

In partnership with Capital Metro, ATP has put forward a little over $8 million for two new bus routes—Rapid Expo Center and Rapid Pleasant Valley—to enhance connectivity and improve the city’s overall transit system.

The Project Connect MetroRapid routes will feature two new park and rides on the east side, and are expected to begin serving commuters in early 2025.

The Federal Transit Administration granted ATP entry into project development in May 2024, which is expected to continue into 2025.

Over the past year, the agency has initiated the environmental impact review process, increasing the potential for additional federal funding once construction begins.

A draft of the environmental impact study is expected to be published by the end of this year.” Community Impact Austin

THE BLOTTER

“Austin murder suspect back in jail after bonding out from previous arrest,” Fox 7 Austin’s Tan Radford — “An Austin murder suspect is back in custody after he bonded out four days after his arrest earlier this month in connection to a 2021 cold case.

Mithovar Antoine Jr., 22, was arrested in Temple on Thursday, September 12, after the U.S. Marshal's Office issued a first-degree murder warrant for his arrest.

Antoine is accused of stabbing 23-year-old Nikolas Martinez to death in South Austin on July 23, 2021.

He was taken to the Bell County Jail where he bonded out four days later. The bond was set at $150,000 with no conditions, despite his lengthy criminal history.

"Normally, on average, what we have seen in different cases here is we're normally getting $1 million bond on different murder cases," says Austin Police Department Detective Richard Spitler.

Antoine Jr. was arrested for a deadly stabbing in South Austin in July 2021. He was arrested last week, and bonded out of jail four days later.

The 22-year-old suspect was expected to be extradited to the Travis County Jail, but he was released, causing a back-and-forth between law enforcement agencies on the appropriate course of action.

"I was surprised as well. I believe a lot of other people did. You know, this was a $150,000 bond," says Spitler.

FOX 7 spoke with a local attorney who weighed in on the suspect being released last week.

"I’ve had law enforcement pick up the phone to the DA's office and say 'I just arrested Gene Anthes, and he's on probation in your county for ABC.' You need to get a motion revoke filed as quickly as you can so that another warrant can be held on him," says Managing Partner for GBA firm, Gene Anthes.

According to Travis County Jail records, Antoine was back in police custody on Tuesday, Sept. 24, facing charges of capital murder by terror threat. 

He was booked in the jail around 2 p.m. and has a $10 million bond.

FOX 7 Austin reached out to the Travis County District Attorney's Office to confirm if the recent charge and arrest are related to Martinez’s death, and are waiting to hear back.” Fox 7 Austin

“Austin police investigate double homicide after two bodies found in NW Austin apartment,” CBS Austin’s Stephanie Becerra — “Austin police are investigating a double homicide after two bodies were found at a northwest Austin apartment complex on Tuesday.

Offices say it started with a call at around 12:15 p.m. for a welfare check at the Riata apartment complex in the 5700 block of Diehl Trail near West Parmer Lane.

However, officers arrived more than two hours later at around 2:39 p.m., and discovered two deceased persons inside.

APD Homicide Detectives are currently conducting an investigation.

Officials say it appears to be an isolated incident with no known threat to the public.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the APD Homicide unit at 512-477-3588.

This is being investigated as Austin's 46th homicide.” CBS Austin

“Man charged with multiple felonies after allegedly targeting Austin couple he met on dating app,” KVUE’s John Diaz — “A man faces multiple felony charges after a fire that left two people seriously hurt and displaced dozens in North Austin.

Pavel Sapronov, 38, was arrested last week following an arson investigation into the Sept. 3 fire at an apartment complex on West Longspur Boulevard.

According to an affidavit, Sapronov is accused of intentionally starting the fire as retaliation against a couple he met on a dating app.

It said Sapronov agreed to meet the woman at a hotel room back in August when he immediately threw her down on the ground after entering the room. The meeting ended after Sapronov was kicked out of the room by the woman's boyfriend, according to the affidavit.

After the meeting, the woman deleted her account before eventually opening a new one and connecting with Sapronov again. Sapronov was allegedly invited to their apartment, where he attacked the woman once again. Witnesses were able to intervene before Sapronov left the scene.

Following the incident, witnesses said they heard a loud noise and then smelled fire, which eventually burned itself out. Another fire was then started, which led all three people inside the apartment to escape without injury. When fire crews arrived, they found the fire had spread to two balconies and a stairwell of the building.

The fire eventually spread to six apartments, leaving a man and woman in a nearby apartment with life-threatening injuries.

According to the affidavit, Sapronov was caught on surveillance footage parking near the apartment complex and running back and forth to his vehicle multiple times. He faces two charges of aggravated assault and one charge of arson in the incident.

Officials said the fire caused around $1 million in damage and $200,000 in contents damage. Sapronov remains in jail on bonds totaling $110,000.” KVUE

“Man arrested after allegedly trying to take gun from peace officer in downtown Austin,” CBS Austin’s Tara Brolley — “A 21-year-old man faces multiple charges following an altercation with police outside a downtown Austin bar early Saturday morning.

Officers responded to Chupacabra Cantina, located at 400 E. 6th St., around 1:25 a.m.regarding an intoxicated individual who refused to leave the premises.

According to the arrest affidavit, Marcos Luna-Palacios attempted to punch a doorman before officers arrived, but he was "so intoxicated that it was a slow awkward punch that was easily dodged."

He was initially arrested for public intoxication. The situation escalated when officers tried to transport Luna-Palacios to a police vehicle.

The suspect allegedly resisted, breaking free from flex cuffs and grabbing an officer's firearm. He was unable to remove the weapon from its holster, but his action led to additional charges.

Luna-Palacios faces charges of public intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor; resisting transport, a Class A misdemeanor; and attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer, a state jail felony.

The Austin Police Department stated that the use of force was necessary to subdue the suspect and ensure public safety. Luna-Palacios was successfully transported to jail following the incident.” CBS Austin

“Woman arrested after aggravating another person with a motor vehicle in East Austin,” CBS Austin’s Stephanie Becerra — “A woman is charged with aggravated assault after allegedly intentionally striking a man with her car in the parking lot of a store in East Austin last month.

Court documents say Shequila Middleton, 46, was arrested over the weekend and charged with second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle.

Police say on August 28, the victim inadvertently cut off Middleton while driving west on FM 969. After both vehicles entered the Dollar General parking lot at 6600 FM 969, the victim exited his car to speak with Middleton. However, surveillance video shows after a brief exchange, Middleton accelerated her gold Honda Pilot toward the victim, striking him and knocking him to the ground.” CBS Austin

“SMCISD: Threat no longer active at San Marcos High school,” KXAN’s Erica Pauda — “San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District said there is no longer a threat to the San Marcos High School campus after it was previously on a “secure” lockdown, the district said on its website.

Around 3:32 p.m., the San Marcos Police Department responded to the high school for a report of an active shooter, and the caller told dispatch they saw “a male with a gun in the hallway,” the city of San Marcos said in a statement to KXAN.

According to the district, it said a threat was made through an “anonymous phone call.” Students were not allowed to be dismissed until the building was secure and given the all clear by SMPD.

However, no shots were fired at the high school, and no injuries were reported, according to the city.

Shortly before 4 p.m., the district said the high school was on lockdown Tuesday afternoon as a “precaution.”” KXAN 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

“County approves Central Health budget, but seek legal help on Dell Medical School funds,” Austin American-Statesman's Nicole Villalpando — "Travis County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved Central Health's budget and tax rate for fiscal 2025, but with a caveat that they would seek legal counsel on an affiliation agreement between Central Health and the University of Texas Dell Medical School that gives the school $35 million in annual funding.

The vote came after weeks of presentations, public comments and commissioners' questions, mostly about the $35 million, which is also the subject of an ongoing 2017 lawsuit by a group of taxpayers.

As has become something of a tradition, the vote was taken on the last Commissioners Court meeting in September before the budget takes effect Oct. 1.

Central Health, the hospital district for Travis County, is charged with providing health care for people making less than 200% of the federal poverty level, which is $30,120 for an individual and $62,400 for a family of four.

It does this through property taxes that support its Medical Access Program, which is similar to insurance but for people who don't have insurance and cannot get Medicare or Medicaid.” AAS ($)

“Austin Energy still pondering new generation plan,” Austin Monitor’s Jo Clifton — "As part of Austin Energy’s effort to arrive at a new generation plan, the utility has spent this year talking to the public about what is most important to them when they think about electric service. According to Austin Energy’s chief operating officer, Lisa Martin, what the public wants most is reliability in their electric service, but there are other factors nearly as important – such as cost and protecting the environment.

On Tuesday, Martin told the City Council Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee that the utility is considering 17 different portfolios to see what best addresses priorities of Council and the public. They will be testing out those portfolios in the next few weeks to see what seems to work best for Austin. Martin said she expects Council to vote on Austin Energy’s new generation plan before the end of the year.

Half a dozen environmentalists came to tell Council they do not want a new natural gas plant. However, Paul Robbins, who serves on the Resource Management Commission and has long been devoted to environmental causes, was not among them. Robbins, perhaps surprisingly, has concluded that a new gas plant could be good for the environment.

For help considering how to prepare for the future, the utility has hired Dr. Michael Webber, a professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, who specializes in energy. Webber told Council on Tuesday that utilities, including Austin Energy, need to prepare for unprecedented growth in electricity demand – and that one of the major drivers of the demand is data centers. He said the utility should expedite deployment of a variety of options to ensure that it’s ready for the huge demand that is coming.

He told Council the University of Texas will soon be home to a huge new data center that will use 30 megawatts of power, and it is one of many that could be on the horizon. Options for the utility included thermal power plants, he said, including hydrogen or gas turbines. The idea of new gas turbines has alarmed some members of the local environmental community. However, Webber argued that it is better to use natural gas power plants to produce electricity for electric vehicles than to continue the use of gasoline-powered vehicles, which are a major source of air pollution in Austin.

Deployment of a variety of power generation mixes, including rooftop solar on commercial buildings, will provide Austin Energy an opportunity to improve its overall financial health, which will benefit the community and Austin Energy customers.

According to Webber, building dispatchable power within the Austin Energy service zone improves reliability as well as saving customers money.

Austin Energy’s director of finance, Stephanie Koudelka, told Council that the utility had $1.2 billion in revenues for the third quarter, which was 3 percent under budget. In addition, she said costs “have outpaced Austin Energy revenues by 4 percent as of June. That’s $45 million, which is typical for the utility at this point in the fiscal year. We make up a lot of our revenues in the summer months, so we expect to see that variance smooth out by the end of the fiscal year (Oct. 31).”

The good news for customers is that Austin Energy is lowering the Power Supply Adjustment rate to customers by 5 percent beginning Oct. 1. That’s a typical saving of approximately $2 per month for the average residential customer. The utility is able to do that because of a fully recovered Power Supply Adjustment, she said.” Austin Monitor

BUSINESS NEWS

“COTA raising $65M toward its long-awaited amusement park,” Austin Business Journal’s Justin Sayers — “Circuit of The Americas aims to raise $65 million to build a long-planned amusement park at its site in Southeast Austin.

That's according to a pair of Sept. 23 filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The filings detail how Delaware-based COTA Emerald Fund LP has raised more than $46 million of the sum so far — about $36 million from a group of 14 unidentified investors, and $10 million from an unidentified single investor.

Alyssa Epstein, COTA's general counsel who is listed as an executive in the filings, said in a Sept. 24 email to the Austin Business Journal that the money was from a recent fundraiser "in connection with amusement park construction." She declined further comment, outside of saying COTA plans to "share the development with Austin in 2025."

The amusement park is already under construction at the 1,500-acre site, which for the last decade has been home to the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix.

Plans for the park have circulated since 2020, and the ABJ revealed in 2023 that "COTA Land" — the name of the amusement park — was moving forward. But developers have failed to hit target openings, and pieces of roller coasters have sat in the parking lot in years' past, with executives blaming the delays on shipping and construction constraints.

Officials have previously said the park will be located near turns 19 and 20 of the race track and include 30 rides — a combination of kids rides, family rides and thrill rides. Some of them have already opened.

At least three rollercoasters are planned: Circuit Breaker, described as the "first tilt coaster of its kind in the United States"; Palindrome, described as the "first Gerstlauer infinity coaster of its kind in the United States"; and the Texas Wildcat, "the only Schwarzkopf coaster of its kind in the world" that is currently operational in the track's grand plaza, alongside 10 kid rides and a few family rides for major events. Another planned ride is Sky Blazer, a pendulum swing ride.

In early September, an entity tied to COTA — COTA Yellow Brick Road LLC — noted in a pair of filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation that it plans to build a $5 million log flume and a $15 million dining facility and commercial kitchen. Those projects were given a completion date of April 2025.

COTA's chairman and founder, Bobby Epstein, declined to comment when reached by the ABJ earlier this month. But he has been talking about the COTA Land project as far back as 2020, when he told the ABJ that a children's amusement park would complement the site's existing go-kart track called KOTA Karting.” ABJ ($)

SPORTS

~ TEXAS FOOTBALL: “After a 25-carry game, is Texas running back Jaydon Blue ready for a workhorse role?” Austin American-Statesman’s Danny Davis — “Not long after he walked into the Carpenter-Winkel Centennial Room inside of Bellmont Hall on Monday, Texas football player Jaydon Blue was asked how he was feeling.

No worries, Blue assured the inquisitive reporter. The junior running back felt good.

Blue was speaking just a few days after he rushed the football 25 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns during a 51-3 rout of Louisiana-Monroe. He also scored on a 3-yard catch.

That workload was notable for a few reasons. Blue had missed the previous week's game because of an ankle injury. And in addition to those 25 carries being a career-high total at Texas, Blue hadn't recorded that many rushing attempts since he ran it 26 times against Spring Westfield during his junior year at Klein Cain High School.

GOLDEN:Why Texas football should start Arch Manning against Mississippi State

Blue did not play football during his senior year of high school, and he then had a reserve role during his first two seasons at Texas. In two starts the first two games of this season, he recorded just 20 carries before sitting out a 56-7 drubbing of UTSA on Sept. 14. Nonetheless, UT coach Steve Sarkisian didn't hesitate to feed Blue the football against the Warhawks.

"I think Blue is a really good player for us, and he's a different style of runner that we've had historically. But man, he's a weapon," said Sarkisian, who noted that Blue responded well to treatment and even did extra conditioning in the lead-up to the ULM game. "He can get to the edge, but a lot of his yards are between the tackles. He really hasn't gotten to the edge. We've been getting him the edge in the passing game, but because he's taking care of the ball so much better now than he ever did before in his younger years here, he's really reliable that way. The versatility he gives us is something that we're just really trying to take advantage of with him."“ AAS ($)

QUICK LINKS

~ Spanish bar and restaurant Kalimotxo reopening at east side's Arrive Austin hotel - Community Impact

~ Filipino bar and eatery OKO now open in East Austin - Community Impact

~ Travis County officials sign off on another $27 million in affordable housing - Community Impact

~ Shooting threats at Lake Travis High School deemed not credible, officials say - Austin American-Statesman

~ Kyle City Council greenlights home repair improvement pilot program - Community Impact

~ Planned highway overpass called obstacle to big mixed-use development project in Hutto - ABJ

~ Food truck Taqueria Ay Papantla opens in San Marcos - Community Impact

~ Here's what's on the minds of city managers south of Austin amid booming growth - ABJ

~ Enrollment growth concerns: Why Texas universities are worried about students’ access to core classes - KXAN Austin

~ UT-Austin ranks 7th best public school in US, best Texas public university: report - KXAN

~ Bodycam footage shows moments before deadly north Austin shooting involving APD officers - KXAN

~ CapMetro approves $704.8M budget; capital improvements planned - Community Impact

~ County to expand parking options near courthouse, more - Community Impact

~ Lockdown lifted at San Marcos High School after anonymous threat - KVUE

~ Music fills the air on HAAM Day to raise money for Austin musicians' health care - Austin American-Statesman

~ Incentive programs, cultural district framework headed back to Council after postponement - Austin Monitor

AUSTIN CULTURE

~ DINING: ”Downtown Austin Spanish Tapas Bar Reopens in East Sixth Hotel” Eater Austin

~ DINING: ”The Best South Lamar Restaurants and Bars in Austin” Eater Austin

WHAT TO DO TODAY/TONIGHT

~ LIVE MUSIC: HAAM benefit with Bob Schneider (acoustic set) (with Madam Radar). Haute Spot (1501 New Hope Dr., Cedar Park). Doors 6pm, Madam Radar 7pm, Bob Schneider 8:15pm. Tix $20 and up here.

COOL JOB ALERT

~ Communications Director (National Center for Energy Analytics): Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF). Salary. Commensurate with experience and skills. Info / apply here.