Tony Plohetski

BREAKING: Texas AG Ken Paxton will not face federal charges, according to AP sources out of DC.
Paxton attorney Dan Cogdell told me this morning he has no knowledge of this development but added, “They never had a case to begin with.”

'A real problem': Could Travis County taxpayers be put on the hook for DA Garza’s missed indictment deadlines? Experts say an ongoing civil rights lawsuit could serve as a template for future claims against Travis County.

NEW: An unfolding federal civil rights suit stemming from Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star could give a template, experts say, for similar cases against Travis County, where people have sat in jail for weeks and months with no formal charges:
www.statesman.com/story/news/l...

NEW: Austin fire officials say they believe smoke in parts of the city, resulting in 911 calls, are the result of a 400-acre wildfire near Fredericksburg.

BREAKING: Austin police think an 18-wheeler driver was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash and "not capable of operating a vehicle safely," an affidavit says.
He "seemed calm and relaxed given the situation," the document says.

UPDATE: The NTSB has opened an investigation into this crash.

NEW: A 37-year-old man has been booked into jail on five charges of intoxication assault — one for each victim — in connection to a crash on I-35 that killed 5 people including an baby and child.

Travis County DA says indictment deadlines are a challenge in Texas but evidence is slim. The American-Statesman found that local prosecutors in other major urban counties do not routinely miss the 90-day deadline to indict.

NEW: When a firestorm hit his administration over not indicting felony cases in a state-mandated period, Travis County DA Jose Garza implied the issue is statewide.
But we found no pervasive issue in Texas.
www.statesman.com/story/news/l...

Whoa! As often as I travel I have never witnessed this semi-organized chaos at @AustinAirport.
Pre-check ✅ line hundreds and hundreds deep.
Thank you to nice workers on megaphones 📢 directing us.
But sheesh!

Sen. Sarah Eckhardt expresses 'grave concern' over DA José Garza's administration Sen. Eckhardt said she would like for Garza to explain the reason for the missed indictment deadlines and how his office will work to remedy the issue.

BREAKING: State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt has issued an usual rebuke to a member of her own party -- to Travis DA Jose Garza -- after what she said are "grave concerns" about the operations of his office
www.statesman.com/story/news/l...

EXCLUSIVE: Travis County prosecutors missed indictment deadlines, murder suspects released Defense attorneys, judges say the recent instances in which suspected violent offenders were released because of a missed indictment deadline are rare.

NEW: A judge has raised a murder suspect's bond to $100,000 and is returning him to custody amid a furor that erupted after the Travis DA's office failed to bring an indictment in 90 days.
There is still no explanation for the prosecutorial lapse.
www.statesman.com/story/news/l...

EXCLUSIVE: Travis County prosecutors missed indictment deadlines, murder suspects released Defense attorneys, judges say the recent instances in which suspected violent offenders were released because of a missed indictment deadline are rare.

NEW: Prosecutors in the Travis County DA's office have twice in 10 weeks missed crucial deadlines to indict murder suspects, leading to their release on dramatically reduced bonds.
One case sparked a weekend social media furor.
The other was not known until now.
www.statesman.com/story/news/l...

10 months after fatal Bastrop crash, lawmaker proposes seatbelts on all school buses Sen. José Menéndez’s proposal, which does not come with additional funding, would require districts to install seatbelts for all children.

NEW: We examined holes in the state school bus seatbelt law after the deadliest crash in almost a decade in March. Now, a lawmaker looks to tighten those laws.
www.statesman.com/story/news/s...

Elon Musk's shadow looms over this tiny Texas town. Can it cope with the rapid growth? Bastrop residents and business owners are preparing for a boom brought on by Elon Musk's companies. But the great migration has yet to happen.

While Elon Musk continues his blitz of government disruption in D.C., here’s a look at what’s happening in a town just outside Austin where he is setting up his 400-acre Snailbrook: www.statesman.com/story/busine...

Austin leaders discuss ICE operations and immigration concerns YouTube video by KVUE

As we continue to dig for numbers and data from ICE, this is what Austin’s top political and law enforcement leaders say they have learned from the feds about the “enhanced operations” in Austin.
Here’s our extended conversation:
youtu.be/VLO7ei37ous?...

Disabled man severely burned, another punched by group home worker Group home assaults highlight unsafe conditions and staffing troubles.

NEW: Texas sets the base wage for caretakers at $10.60 for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I've done some work in recent years (and a team project) on the issue, but this story shows how a lack of staffing can create dangerous situations:
www.kvue.com/article/news...

Thanks for the invite @sunlightresearch.bsky.social

NEW: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued five executive orders directing state agencies to work with federal immigration officials to “investigate, arrest, detain and deport illegal immigrants in Texas” and to deploy share all information with the feds on “foreign terrorist organizations.”

A couple of other perspectives/pieces of context including from @blibal.bsky.social

Here’s what we know — and what we don’t — so far about Sunday’s immigration operations in Austin.

NEW: Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis says feds tell her that operations in Austin Sunday were to serve warrants for "wanted violent offenders." She didn't know the number or immigration status of arrestees.
It comes as anxiety increases for many, especially in Austin's immigrant community.

I have been in touch with them and their national office also. Thank you!

Austin City Council to consider ordering study of response to mental health crisis calls Four Austin City Council members are proposing a full-scale review of how APD and other city departments respond to mental health crisis calls.

NEW: Austin leaders are taking new efforts to remove mental health response from the hands of police and put them in those of trained healthcare professions. In a rare meeting of the minds, both police and city officials agree officers should have less of a role.
www.statesman.com/story/news/l...

Texas Rep. Andy Hopper, endorsed by many of the state’s ultra conservatives, has filed a bill that would require approval of the state AG or local sheriff before before the feds could arrest any Texas citizen.
He says the feds have wrongly “tormented, bankrupted and jailed” thousands.

New Orleans Gets Its First Snow in 15 Years Many roadways were impassable, classes were canceled in local schools and many businesses could not open as a winter storm essentially brought New Orleans to a standstill.

I've been watching and seeing amazingly fun New Orleans snow pictures, and after what happened earlier this month, I can't think of a place more worthy of a light-hearted day.
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/w...

Winter in Austin.
Shoal Creek and Koenig.
❄️❄️

With up to 2" of snow and sleet expected for Austin on Monday night/Tuesday morning, here are the 5 biggest snow events the city has seen in 50 years:
January 1985: 7.5
February 2021: 6.4"
November 1980: 2"
January 1982: 2"
February 2004: 1.6"

BREAKING: Nate Paul, whose relationship with Texas AG Ken Paxton was a basis of a 2023 impeachment effort of Paxton, pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of making false statements to a financial institution and faces up to six months in prison. Other charges will dropped.

Apply Awards honoring tough reporting as well as exceptional content.

The Dan Rather Medal for News & Guts given through the University of Texas is accepting applications for two prizes, one for professional and the other for student journalists, through Jan. 31 with $5,000 prizes each.
I'm honored to again be a juror. Submit here:
danrathermedals.com/apply/

Austin again finds itself in crosshairs of the Texas Legislature. Here's what's at stake. Austin officials are gearing up for another tough legislative session. But Mayor Kirk Watson said he'll be able to defend the city's interests.

Texas lawmakers are expected to again take aim at Austin, a liberal bastion of the state, through multiple bills.
“The Legislature always decides that Austin doesn't know best about Austin,” said state Rep. Donna Howard, an Austin Democrat.
www.statesman.com/story/news/l...

As California wildfires burn, AFD official discusses risk in Austin area | Full interview YouTube video by KVUE

Austin lost dozens of homes to wildfires in 2011, but could it see a similar fire similar to what's happening in Los Angeles? We're at risk, officials explain in this expanded conversation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9P-...