Natalie Petrovich

A youth mentor has been taken into custody by the San Antonio Police Department on allegations of sexual misconduct with an underage girl. The accused, 24-year-old Cesar Ulises Renderos, is affiliated with a nonprofit organization that specializes in mentoring young individuals, though the nature of their relationship has not been described in full detail.

The City of Austin Economic Development Department is set to give small business owners and hopeful entrepreneurs an edge, as it gears up for its 2025 Small Business Fundamentals Week from January 27-30. Through no-cost classes, participants can sharpen their skills on a range of key business topics, including marketing, bookkeeping, and exploring funding options. As stated on the official City of Austin website, the directives are clear - these educational sessions are designed to act as a springboard for innovation and growth.

Austin's future shines a bit brighter this week as the 12th Annual Youth Career Fest opens its doors to the city's high school students. Hosted by the Austin Youth Council, this event is backed with full support from the City of Austin's Economic Development Department. Set to take place at the Palmer Events Center, as reported by the City of Austin.

Early Saturday morning, a man was killed at a Downtown Austin gas station, sparking a homicide investigation by the Austin Police Department. According to KVUE, the incident occurred at approximately 3:05 a.m. at the Citgo gas station located at 717 E. Seventh St. The responding officers discovered a man inside a vehicle with "obvious signs of trauma."

Central Texas-based Firefly Aerospace marked a significant achievement in space exploration, as Cedar Park's own Blue Ghost Lunar Lander was successfully launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket earlier this week. After lifting off from Cape Canaveral, the spacecraft, constructed and controlled by Firefly Aerospace, is now on a 45-day trajectory to the moon, with critical scientific missions ahead.

A disastrous blaze in South Austin has left two families without homes and seven individuals displaced. The Austin Fire Department was called to the 4300 block of Triboro Trl on Monday, Jan. 20, where they quickly had to battle a house fire that spread to a neighboring residence, as per FOX 7 Austin.

On Monday, President Donald Trump initiated a series of executive orders, one of which significantly impacts the federal workforce by imposing a hiring freeze applicable to a majority of federal positions. According to KXAN, exceptions to this freeze include positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, and public safety. This order extends to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), an agency already trying to reconcile with over 380 job vacancies listed on USAJOBS, the federal government’s official employment website.

On a chilly Tuesday afternoon in southeast Austin, a two-alarm fire blazed through a vacant church once belonging to the St. John Regular Baptist Association. The Austin Fire Department swiftly responded to the scene after a report of smoke at 7501 Blessing Ave, near the Wildwood Apartments and close to U.S. 183. In a statement obtained by KVUE, AFD Division Chief Mark Bridges explained the presence of heavy fire and smoke upon the crews' arrival."

While much of the country has experienced a steady climb in housing costs, Austin presents a unique narrative—its rental rates have been decreasing for the past 19 months. According to Zillow data, Austin's typical asking rent now stands at $1,645, which, while above pre-pandemic levels, is substantially below its peak during the city's rapid expansion, CBS Austin reports.

The weather in Austin today promises a fair sky with a current temperature holding at 52°F, according to the latest update from the National Weather Service. The humidity sits low at 24%, with a variable wind drifting at a gentle pace of 6 mph. For Austinites stepping outside, they can expect a wind chill making it feel like it's approximately 50°F.