ATX PULSE 9/5/24 (sponsored by No Scrubs): TX State Establishes in MX // Arrest Made in ATX Triple Murder // AFD: Arson Caused N. ATX Apartment Fire // Edith Royal Laid to Rest (1)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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TODAY’S WEATHER

H: 88° / L: 73°. More rain ahead? Latest forecast from Fox 7 Austin’s Zack Shields here.

TOP NEWS

“Texas State University establishes new campus in Mexico,” KVUE’s Jeff Bell — “Texas State University has established its first international campus.

Members of the university’s board of regents approved the contract for “Texas State University Mexico” in August following two years of planning and discussions. The satellite facility in the Mexican city of Santiago de Querétaro is a partnership between the university and Elisia Education Hub.

Querétaro Gov. Mauricio Kuri González and Texas State President Kelly Damphousse were among the guest speakers attending the signing ceremony on Sept. 4.

The campus aims to bring American-style education and teaching methodologies to Querétaro while teaching Texas State University-approved curriculum and awarding Texas State University degrees.

While Texas State will approve the curriculum and set admission requirements, the Mexican campus will supply the 370-acre site and employee faculty and staff. Texas State will not have any say in hiring or firing faculty and staff.

Texas State expects to welcome the first Querétaro campus class in fall 2025. Though the degree offerings are still being determined, the university said initial discussions have centered around engineering, psychology, biochemistry and mass communication.

All degrees at the Mexico campus will be fully accredited in the U.S. and Mexico, with classes being taught in English.

Texas State could receive up to $10 million over the span of the 10-year contract, which would be use to support students and research initiatives on the San Marcos campus.

The possible Mexico campus is just the latest example of the university trying to increase its international reach.” KVUE

THE BLOTTER

~ “Austin triple shooting: Man arrested, charged with capital murder,” via Fox 7 Austin – “A man was arrested and charged in connection to a deadly triple shooting that left two people dead in South Austin, police said.

Austin police said 37-year-old Hector Olvera was arrested and charged with 

• Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle - Auto Theft, State Jail Felony

• Evading Arrest and Detention, State Jail Felony

• Capital Murder of Multiple Persons, Capital Felony

This isn't Olvera’s first run in with the law. Court records revealed a lengthy criminal history for Olvera.

According to one affidavit, just a month after the triple shooting, Olvera was one of three suspects involved in a separate shooting.

The group went to a property on Turnstone Drive with plans to steal. But after an argument, the victim was shot in the leg and the three suspects drove off.

Olvera was being held Wednesday night on the three charges from the triple shooting in June, another charge from a shooting in July, stolen vehicle charges from July and September, and a mail theft charge from an incident in July.

Before this summer, Olvera had faced dozens of charges involving theft dating back to 2007.” Fox 7 Austin

~ “Violent robbery in North Austin; police searching for 2 suspects,” via Fox 7 Austin – “The Austin Police Department is asking the public for help identifying two suspects involved in a violent robbery.

The robbery happened in the 800 block of Ken Street on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at around 4:43 a.m.

Police say the victim was brutally assaulted and left unconscious. The victim's personal items were taken from him and both suspects left the scene.

Anyone with any information about either suspect or the vehicle should contact APD's Robbery unit at 512-974-5092. 

You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. 

A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.

The first suspect is described as:

• White or Hispanic male

• Approximately 5’8" to 5’10" tall

• Slender body type

• Approximately in his 20s or 30s years of age

• Last seen wearing a white "Lazy J Ranch" brand hat, button down shirt, and blue jeans with brown cowboy boots.

The second suspect is described as:

• White or Hispanic Female

• Approximately 5’2"to 5’5" tall

• Average body type

• Approximately in her 20s or 30s years of age

• Last seen wearing a green long sleeve crop top, black skirt, and white ankle heels.” Fox 7 Austin

~ “North Austin apartment fire was intentionally lit, AFD says,” KVUE’s Jeff Bell – “A fire in North Austin that injured three people and displaced 30 residents on Tuesday morning is now being investigated as arson.

The Austin Fire Department (AFD) responded to the fire at an apartment complex at 502 W. Longspur Blvd. around 5:38 a.m.

Crews arriving on the scene found fire on two balconies and one stairwell of one of the buildings, AFD said.

“After processing the scene and conducting interviews, AFD investigators determined that the cause or the fire was intentionally set and are investigating this as an act of arson,” the department said in an update on Wednesday.

Three people were injured in the fire, including two who were taken to local hospitals, with one of those victims in critical condition. Around 30 residents were displaced by the fire.

"[Firefighters] saw the residents, and they heard the residents yelling at them from the [busted] window," AFD Division Chief Mark Bridges told KVUE on Tuesday. "And so, they threw a ladder, an extension ladder, to the third-floor window, crawled up there and rescued both of the residents and got them to safety and got them over to EMS for treatment and transport."

One of the displaced residents is Selena Perez's uncle. She said he called her to tell her about the fire, and when she arrived, she saw the flames.

"The fire was going around. It was spreading around to over here, already over there too. A lot of people were evacuated, almost falling down," Perez said. "We hard somebody scream, like saying for help. Right when I heard the scream, I went running over here because my Uncle Victor was there too."

AFD said the fire caused around $1 million in damage and $200,000 in contents damage.” KVUE

~ “Community celebrates life of Edith Thomason Royal, rock to legendary, AFD says,” CBS Austin’s Andrew Freeman – “Family, friends, and the community gathered Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the life of Edith Thomason Royal, the wife of legendary Texas Longhorns football coach Darrell K. Royal.

The 98-year-old passed away Monday, and a memorial service was held at the Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church.

Her son Mack says she supported her husband Darrell K. Royal through every step of his career, from the military during World War II to moving around the country to coach before landing at the University of Texas at Austin. It's where Royal led the Longhorns to three national football championships.

“He couldn't have done it without her," Mack said. "No, she packed up everybody and helped the kids get in school."

Mack says in living to the age of 98, Edith leaves behind a large legacy of her own. She even helped build the church she was remembered at.

“She believed in helping people when they could be helped," Mack said. "That was her whole thing, and she helped a lot."

Kim Manthey was Edith’s moving concierge and helped her settle into retirement. She says Edith had a talent for making everyone feel seen and heard.

“Biggest heart, she was the kindest, sweetest woman," Manthey said. "Everyone that met her knew her and was excited to see her again. When we saw her going down the halls, everybody wanted to talk to Edith and say hi to Ms. Royal."“ CBS Austin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

~ “License plate reader cameras operating in Austin under new, updated policy,” KXAN’s Sarah Al-Shaikh – “It’s been a few years in the making, but the city of Austin now has license plate readers up and running. The Austin Police Department reinstated its Flock camera program with updates to its policy.

Just last week, Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson addressed in a city memo that cameras are operating.

The memo said there are 40 license plate readers across Austin. The pilot program went live back in March. The updated policy includes changes requested by city council.

According to the memo, the system can now only hold data captured by the cameras for a week, which is down from 30 days.

Also, APD officers must train before getting authorization and access to the system. They’ll have to go through that training every year.

“This mandated training is tracked through Acadis, the Department’s Learning Management System (LMS),” the memo said.

APD will also work with the City Auditor to review the program, data and internal audit processes prior to the conclusion of the one-year pilot.

While new to Austin, these cameras aren’t new to Central Texas.

The Round Rock Police Department, Pflugerville Police Department, Buda Police Department and the Hays County Sheriff’s Office all have them.” KXAN

~ “Travis County in need of over 100 new hires,” Community Impact Austin’s Haley McLeod – “Travis County will host a job fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 4 on the first floor of the Travis County Administrative Building at 700 Lavaca St.

Following recent approval from county commissioners to boost employee compensation, county staff are optimistic the new competitive pay will attract candidates for over 100 vacancies across various departments. This includes 39 positions newly created for the Counsel at First Appearance program.

The county’s Budget Director Travis Gatlin said the county has made “meaningful change,” in consideration of employee compensation, especially when compared to the increased cost of living and inflation of recent years.

“And so I think [across the board pay increases] are a significant investment to encourage those employees to continue to stay with Travis County, help with overtime, and encourage new people to come work for us. I'm hopeful we're moving in a positive direction,” Gatlin said Aug. 27.

The available roles span a wide range of expertise, including application developers, paralegals, investigators, juvenile probation officers, mechanics and groundskeepers.

The minimum wage for county employees will now start at $21.84 an hour, which equates to an annual salary of $45,427.

County departments, human resource representatives and hiring managers will be onsite to answer questions. Computers will also be available for attendees to start the application process.

Those interested in attending may park in the county parking garage at Eighth and Guadalupe streets. Validated parking will be available at the front check-in booth.

Find more information on employee benefits here and available positions here.” Community Impact Austin

~ “Williamson County breaks ground on $52.1M expansion of Ronald Reagan Boulevard,” Community Impact Austin’s Haley McLeod – “County officials celebrated the beginning of construction on the expansion to Ronald Reagan Boulevard on Aug. 26.

From FM 3405 to Hwy. 29, contractors will build a new two-lane roadway that will eventually serve southbound traffic only, according to a county news release. The existing road will then be transformed to serve all northbound traffic.

The project also includes turn lanes, a middle divider and shoulders.

“We are excited to break ground on the expansion of and safety improvements on this section of Ronald Reagan. It will provide welcome relief to the residents in the area and the commuters who use this road daily," Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long said in a release.

Funding for the $52.1 million project was approved by voters in 2019 as part of the Williamson County Road Bond, which totaled $412 million.

The Texas Department of Transportation, local developers and the city of Georgetown also contributed towards right-of-way and utility relocation costs.

Construction on this section of Ronald Reagan Boulevard is expected to be completed by summer 2027, according to the release.

However, county officials continue to eye the Ronald Reagan corridor for future plans, as the route provides a main thoroughfare for drivers in this part of Williamson County.” Community Impact Austin

~ “Buda enters partnership agreement with Greater Austin YMCA for $15M facility,” Community Impact Austin’s Amira Van Leeuwen – “Buda City Council adopted a partnership agreement with the Greater Austin YMCA for the YMCA's Environmental Protection Agency Community Change Grant Application on Sept. 3.

If awarded, the grant will fund the construction of a dining hall—estimated to cost $15 million—at Camp Moody, located at 1220 Old San Antonio Road in Buda.

The grant requires that nonprofit organizations partner with a local government or higher education institution, according to agenda documents. The city of Buda will serve as a statutory partnership in the agreement and support the YMCA's grant application.

"There's no cost from the city, but we would be a partner with them as they go through the development process," Buda City Manager Micah Grau said.

The new building would serve a variety of different purposes, including:

• Community programming

• Educational classes and meetings

• Dining or food distribution capabilities

Sean Doles, Greater Austin YMCA public affairs officer, said they are hoping to submit their grant application this month. They are currently collecting letters of support from community leaders and representatives from other nonprofit organizations.” Community Impact Austin

~ “Austin Homeless Strategy Office announces $2.1M to help families exit homelessness,” KVUE’s Lauren Petterson – “The city of Austin is putting more money toward helping families exit homelessness or help them avoid homelessness in the first place.

On Wednesday, the city's Homeless Strategy Office announced more than $2 million for two programs.

The first one devotes $600,000 to helping property owners increase housing availability for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The second program sets aside $1.5 million to help people who are struggling to secure housing.

Austin Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said this will help people rebuild their lives.

"If folks are at risk of homelessness or they're experiencing homelessness and they're having an issue getting into an apartment or some type of permanent and stable housing, then we have a fund that would be established to help them remove those barriers and be able to rapidly get stably rehoused," Gray said.

This funding is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act. Applications are due by Oct. 3.” KVUE

SPORTS

~ TEXAS FOOTBALL: “Ann Arbor, Michigan: Here’s a travel guide for Texas football fans on the road,” Austin American-Statesman’s Thomas Jones — “Saturdays in the fall have always been about more than football.

For the diehard fan, an autumn Saturday means following your team, no matter the distance or the flight. It means a good meal before or after the game. It means a bit of sightseeing over the weekend, too, while you proudly show off your school’s colors.

Each road trip this season, we’ll suggest what to do, where to eat and what to see on campus if you have time to kill before kickoff. This week, we make the trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the Michigan Wolverines host the Texas Longhorns.” AAS ($)

QUICK LINKS

~ Watch: Video shows fish being swept across street amid flooding in Central Texas - Austin American-Statesman

~ An antibody discovered at UT could protect against all COVID variants - KUT

~ East Cesar Chavez zoning granted despite neighbors’ objections - Austin Monitor

~ Barton Springs closed for weeks due to major leaks - Austin Monitor

~ Peak Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center celebrates 5 years in Kyle - Community Impact

~ Hao-Hao Vietnamese and Chinese Cuisine opening on Georgetown, Leander border - Community Impact

~ San Marcos looks to terminate agreement with Hays County for animal shelter services in 2026 - Community Impact

~ Over 20 local vendors joining forces for wellness fair in Lakeway - Community Impact

~ UFCU opens new branch on ACC Highland campus in North Austin - Community Impact

~ Construction on Phase 2 of Georgetown’s Garey Park set to begin in early 2025 - Community Impact

~ Jack Allen's Kitchen, Salt Traders Coastal Cooking owners announce new brunch concept in south Austin - Community Impact

~ New supercomputer coming to Round Rock - KXAN

~ Man dies after doctor removes the wrong organ during surgery, widow says - KXAN

~ Chipotle to bring Mexican-inspired food to Bastrop in 2025 - Community Impact

~ Austin Community College to offer free job training to some unhoused individuals - KVUE

AUSTIN CULTURE

~ DINING: ”Classic Austin Restaurant Fonda San Miguel Is Opening a New Daytime Mexican Spot” Austin Eater

~ BBQ: Austin’s Leroy and Lewis makes Southern Living’s ‘22 Best New BBQ Restaurants’ List AAS ($)

~ PIZZA: ”Austin Italian Restaurant Opens a New Roman-Style Pizzeria” Austin Eater

~ SUPPORT OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS: Austin Restaurant Weeks starts today and lasts until Sept. 15. More info here.

~ OLD AUSTIN: ”Clever passport rewards locals for visiting 10 Old Austin institutions” Culture Map Austin

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

~ LIVE MUSIC: Garth Brooks: Hall of Fame Induction & Celebration. ACL Live. 7:30pm. Sold out. Check Stubhub or Seat Geek.

COOL JOB ALERT

~ Director of Development: The SIMS Foundation. Salary: $85k+. Info / apply here.