Next Thursday, Austin ISD will adopt spending cuts to close a $181 million deficit. As we brace for these cuts, my office is creating a video series to explain how AISD got here and offer policy solutions. Visit bit.ly/4eeEZwu for the first installment. -TH

In March, Chief of Police Lisa Davis revised the Austin Police Department’s General Orders to address the more than 700,000 noncriminal, administrative warrants put into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database in 2025. The Orders were also to provide clarity for our police officers. Austin acted in compliance with state requirements. The Chief’s General Orders were a common sense, practical, and rational approach for policing that maximized our limited resources to adequately address Austin’s public safety needs. We must do the job of policing in a practical and reasonable way. We do not have the time or resources to engage in activities that pull officers away from needed work and create inefficiencies. That is how we keep Austin safe. We also rely on funding from sources such as state grants to be able to keep Austin safe. On April 16, the Governor notified me on behalf of the City of Austin that he believed the City was in breach of state grant requirements and threatened to terminate public safety grants awarded to the City. These taxpayer funded grants include: ➡️Sexual Assault Evidence Testing, which would help the City process hundreds of pieces of sexual assault evidence to identify perpetrators; ➡️General Victims Assistance, which helps victims of violent crime by providing trauma-informed support advocates throughout the legal process. It is expected to serve approximately 200 victims; ➡️Violence Against Women Act, which helps process digital evidence quicker, eliminating backlogs; ➡️Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program, which funds a coordinated Sexual Assault Response Team; ➡️Youth Diversion Program, which funds the GO ATX Youth Project, a city-led evidence-based truancy prevention program for students across AISD; ➡️Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, which gives specialized training for our APD SWAT and Bomb Squad members; ➡️Peace Officer Mental Health program, which funds our First Responder Mental Health Project to help officers who have experienced direct and indirect trauma on the job. I believe the City was following state requirements and I feel strongly that too often politics overwhelms good policy. The threatened loss of these grants would have meant the loss of important public safety services for people we want protected. We have an obligation to them. The City and State have come to an agreement that the Chief and I believe is practical for our day-to-day policing, will not create undue harm for residents who are the subject of noncriminal, administrative warrants, and preserves important public safety funding. The newly amended General Orders take into account the practicality and reality of policing in Austin while also satisfying some of the concerns raised by the Governor’s office. We will continue to provide quality public safety services to everyone. We will continue to support our officers. We will continue to support survivors. We will continue to protect people who ask for help. That is our duty. That is how we keep Austin safe. I thank Chief Davis for her leadership and efforts in keeping our community safe, holding up Austin’s values, and ensuring that we are providing the needed resources for our officers and community.

Texas, the time has come. I’m standing here at Mayde Creek Community Center because Greg Abbott has officially targeted our seat. He’s pledged to spend $25 million to flip districts like HD 135 from blue to red, but we know better. We cannot let that happen. Our "Activate US" Campaign Kickoff is your chance to join this growing movement and show the state that we aren't backing down. 📅 Thursday, April 2nd 🕕 6:00 PM 📍 Mayde Creek Community Center RSVP at the link below and let’s get to work. Link: bit.ly/4siYYja

The following road closures remain in effect: ➡️West 6th Street from Wood to Nueces; ➡️Rio Grande from 5th Street to 7th Street Additionally, if you are looking for a loved one related to the shooting, please call APD Victim Services at (512) 974-5037. You may also come to APD Headquarters, 715 East 8th St. If you have personal property that need to be retrieved from the West Sixth Street shooting, please contact APD Victim Services at 512-974-5037. If you have information about witnesses, videos, please submit the evidence via AustinTXPD.evidence.com/axon…. You may also call Austin Police at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tips anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or call 512-472-8477.

The filing deadline has passed and we are now the Democratic nominee for Texas House District 135. We are grateful for this responsibility and ready for the work ahead. Republicans have already targeted this seat, which means our community must stand strong together.

Ferg pulled up in Dak's high school jersey ⛽️ @dak x @jqfergy11 #WASvsDAL | @blockchain

Schools need funding. Housing costs too much. Healthcare costs too much. My name is Odus Evbagharu, I’m Cy-Fair raised, and running for Texas House District 135 to continue fighting for working families. Together, we can make Austin work FOR US.

I feel strongly that the City of Austin is in full compliance with the law. Our employment practices assure highly qualified public servants who care deeply about our entire community and bring their unique characteristics to the jobs they do. They make Austin a better place to live.

I’m running for the U.S. Senate. Billionaires have taken over Texas and taken over America — but together, we can take power back for working people. Join this movement: jamestalarico.com

Dak honors his late mother's birthday ahead of tonight's game vs. Eagles ❤️ She passed away in 2013 and is the reason he wears #4 🙏

Next jersey is for my #Saints family. This jersey is game worn (from 2014 I think). RETWEET TO WIN! Will announce winner at start of 3rd quarter. Thanks for helping raise awareness and money for @TeamGleason #PuntForALS

Remember to pay attention to the 4 P’s of winter weather safety: People: Pay special attention to children and the elderly as both are especially vulnerable to the cold. Pets: Bring all pets inside. If pets must be left outside, ensure they have an enclosed shelter with an entrance facing away from the wind. Provide them with plenty of blankets for warmth. Plants: Bring plants in containers inside if possible. If a freeze is likely, water outdoor plants beforehand to add insulation to the soil and the plants. Cover the plants if possible. Pipes: Allow water to drip from faucets, especially those facing exterior walls. Open cabinet doors to lessen the chance that pipes freeze and possibly burst. Eliminate drafts in unheated areas where water supply lines are located. Learn more at ReadyCentralTexas.org and sign up for alerts at warncentraltexas.org

4 more years.

Breaking: Carmen Llanes Pulido concedes in the Austin mayoral race. She will not further pursue a recount. "After a long two weeks of changing results, news alerts, dozens of legal opinions, and my own team's cost-benefit analysis of re-examining the results of this incredibly close election tally...I have decided to lay down the pursuit of a recount and bring a close to my mayoral campaign."

Winners eat at Chilis on 45th.

As of a few minutes ago, the ballots are all counted and I’m grateful to have been re-elected to serve a full four-year term in the mayor’s office. I’m also proud to have won by a margin of over 104,000 votes – almost 30 percentage points. I want to thank voters for their confidence in me, and for electing me to serve as Austin mayor for a 4th time. We knew that winning outright, with no runoff, against four opponents in a presidential year would be extraordinary. Well, we did it.

We knew from the beginning that with five candidates and a presidential race it would be extraordinary to get over 50 percent. We did great and received far more votes than the other four candidates—100,000 more than the second place finisher. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to put Affordability First, with more housing options, more transportation options, more childcare options, and more career options. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make this city safer— with fully staffed police, fire and EMS services that respond quickly and effectively, AND are fully accountable to the citizens they serve. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to protect Austin’s progressiveness, with stronger protection for reproductive rights, stronger support for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, and the stronger commitment to our environment and climate. All the votes will be counted soon. We will continue to build support — with or without a run off.

Happy #USWNT Day, ATX 🙌 Thank you Mayor @KirkPWatson for the Proclamation today! We can't wait to see all the Austinites tomorrow for matchday!

Ken Paxton is once again exploiting the great power of his office to attack and undermine the fundamental rights of women and try to score a few political points in the process. I’m proud the Austin City Council is supporting Austin women as they make their own decisions about their body, their family, their health, their happiness, and their quality of life. I stood up and fought for reproductive rights throughout my time in office, including in the Texas Senate, and I will not back down in City Hall. Texas women deserve better than to have their state and Ken Paxton attacking their fundamental freedoms.

Yes, @joecascinotx is a man of distinction and honor. He lives his life on the edge but in service to all Austinites. Prayers for Joe. Prayers for Arby’s— and most of all, prayers for Nelly’s mom.