HB 1927
Despite its critics, the constitutional carry bill HB 1927 is making its way through the Senate Special Committee on Constitutional Issues chaired by Georgetown, Senator Charles Schwertner. He says now more than ever the right to carry a gun should be defended.
“We’re restoring, what I feel, our founding constitutional freedoms regarding the right to keep and bear arms,” says Schwertner.
The bill will let anyone 21 or older carry a gun without a license. Schwerner says he will introduce a handful of amendments to the bill once it reaches the full Senate. Several police chiefs, including Austin’s, have come out against the bill this week.
Eviction moratoriums
It’s believed that Austin and Travis County leaders will announce the beginning of the rollback of local eviction moratoriums which are set to expire tomorrow. The moratoriums have been extended each time they’ve neared expiration, but Mayor Steve Adler and County Judge Andy Brown are expected to announce the next phase today.
COVID-19 update
So active cases of COVID reported in Travis County have climbed slightly now up to 914 still well below where they had been in previous weeks. But hospitalizations have trended back down over the past day now to 135. 82,257 cases confirmed since March of last year, resulting in 80,500 recoveries.
Federal aid for schools
Austin school district leaders expect about $150 million in federal aid. Those funds are starting to flow after state leaders decided to release $11 billion in federal aid directed to education. Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde says these funds do come with some stipulations.
“We definitely know that a minimum of 20% of these dollars need to be spent on direct services to students to address the academic learning loss. That is the main overarching umbrella, which is why they’re even putting in minimums,” says Elizalde.
She adds AISD has also spent up to $55 million on COVID mitigation and is looking to see if they can recoup some of that through these federal dollars.
COVID vaccine clinic
The county is hosting a COVID vaccination clinic later this afternoon where no appointment will be necessary. From 5 PM to 10 PM vaccines will be given to the Sinai Pentecostal Church in San Marcos, Another clinic is planned in Buda on Tuesday and the following week again in San Marcos on May 13.
Alamo reopening locations
Austin based Alamo Drafthouse is planning to reopen some of its locations around the nation that have been closed during the pandemic. While three locations have remained open here in Austin, two others have been closed, but both should be back open in full operation by July.
Unemployment in Texas
The number of first time jobless claims filed in Texas last week is actually the lowest among any other state in the nation. Texas Workforce Commission says claims fell by more than 20,000 since March of last year. When shutdowns began to ramp up, the state has paid out more than $48 billion dollars in unemployment.
Government lobbyist sexual allegations charges
No charges are being filed in connection with allegations that a government lobbyist used a date rape drug on a capital staffer. On Monday, the House Speaker Dave Phelan addressed the issue with all the representatives.
“The Texas Department of Public Safety has been investigating a report of a lobbyist drugging a legislative staffer during a meeting that took place offsite,” says Phelan.
By Thursday, the Department of Public Safety and Travis County DA released a statement saying no crime occurred and there wasn’t enough evidence to support the allegations. Attorneys for the accused lobbyist also released a statement calling the accusations a devious plan to frame our client by an unscrupulous individual or individuals.
UT student charged with burglary
A former UT Student has been charged with multiple burglaries of dorm rooms. UT police say Rolando Benavidez broke into at least three rooms and committed deviant acts while inside before posting photos to an adult website.
“We initially identified six victims from the dorm room. While pursuing charges for those six victims, identified two other victims from an incident related to the first incident.”
Police say no one was in the rooms at the time of the break-ins. Benavidez was barred from campus. He has also withdrawn. He’s charged with burglary of a habitation and indecent assault.
183A toll extended
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority will be extending the 183A toll road by 6.6 miles into Liberty Hill. CTRMA says two toll lanes will be added in each direction from here, away to just north of SH 29 and it’s expected to be complete and open for traffic by 2025.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-4-30-21
