Natalie Petrovich

Amidst the grim backdrop of a recent tragedy at Manor Senior High School, the Manor ISD Board of Trustees met with a community fraught with anguish and demands for change; parents and former trustees alike stepped into the fray during a heated board meeting to confront the district's handling of school safety. "I cannot even begin to describe how I feel, but I must find words to express my feelings," Manor ISD parent Vanessa Ygnacio conveyed her emotions, according to KVUE, revealing a deep-seated distrust, "The death of Darrin Loving proves that, as a parent, I have lost all faith in the school and in the district."

A Central Texas man, John Crayton Jr., 42, is set to spend the next 40 years in prison for an intoxicated driving incident that tragically claimed the lives of a married couple from Elgin over two years ago. Following a trial that concluded on November 14, a Williamson County jury found Crayton guilty of intoxication manslaughter, as reported by KVUE.

In a move that's stirring up the Lone Star State, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Board of Education is inching closer to approving a curriculum that would introduce Bible stories into elementary school textbooks. As reported by FOX 7 Austin, the plan for the "Blue Bonnett" curriculum, targeting grades K through 5, is raising concerns among some board members about the mixing of education with specific religious teachings.

The City of Austin has disbursed $78,000 in funding through the 2023 Resilience Mini Grants Program, with the goal of bolstering community organizations central to the city's preparedness and response efforts against extreme weather events. According to a recap on the City of Austin's official website, the grants were earmarked for groups with proven track records in enhancing local resilience, as well as those whose personal experiences closely align with their projects.

Travelers flying out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) during the Thanksgiving season should brace for packed terminals and busy roadways, airport officials advised, offering tips for a smoother holiday journey in a

In a significant development for Texas education, the University of Texas System Board of Regents has voted to substantially expand their free tuition initiative. This move will see the inclusion of more students under the umbrella of the System's "Promise Plus" program. Families earning less than $100,000 will see the entirety of tuition and fees waived for students enrolled full-time in UT's undergraduate programs, as reported by FOX 7 Austin. It's a decision set to roll out in the fall of 2025 and aims to significantly reduce the financial burden on students seeking higher education.

Residents of Austin, you can look forward to a sunny sky today with the temperature peaking at a comfortable 75 degrees, as reported by the National Weather Service. The light northwest wind is expected to settle down, making way for a calm ambiance across the city. Before the sun sets, those planning to spend their time outdoors will bask in a fair weather scenario, marked by a humidity level hovering around 42 percent and a noticeably clear visibility of 10 miles.

A 23-year-old Kerrville man is now behind bars after a meticulously conducted five-month investigation into narcotics sales in Gillespie County culminated in his arrest. As reported by FOX7 Austin, anonymous tips had initially painted a picture of the young man as a dealer peddling narcotics within the Gillespie community.

The mayoral race in Austin took a contentious turn when runner-up Carmen Llanes Pulido, who lost to incumbent Mayor Kirk Watson, called for a ballot recount last Thursday. Citing a "razor-thin" margin and the city democracy's health, Llanes Pulido made her request after official results rolled in, showing her trailing Watson by merely 12 or 13 votes according to FOX 7 Austin.

Early Friday morning, a Bastrop ISD school bus carrying students was involved in a crash with a pickup truck at the intersection of Highway 71 and Blue Flame Road in Cedar Creek, as reported by CBS Austin. It occurred around 7 a.m. when the GMC pickup truck, heading west, struck the right rear side of the school bus while it traversed the highway.