News from the South - Texas News Feed
Renewed concerns about air traffic controller issues at Austin's airport | FOX 7 Austin
SUMMARY: Austin’s airport faces significant understaffing issues, with only 32 air traffic controllers on duty compared to a target of 60, according to the FAA. This equates to 53% staffing and raises safety concerns, particularly following recent deadly plane crashes and near misses at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). Experts warn that fewer controllers, especially on busy or bad weather days, can lead to increased risks of collisions. Although ABIA has implemented new ground surveillance technology, the shortage remains critical. Congressman Lloyd Dewitt calls for incentive pay to attract more controllers amid rising living costs in Austin.
New numbers from the FAA show how understaffed Austin’s airport is when it comes to air traffic controllers. These renewed concerns about staffing come after last week’s deadly plane crashes on the East Coast, and following a series of near-misses at ABIA.
News from the South - Texas News Feed
Dallas driver hits woman, drags her wheelchair before driving off, video shows
SUMMARY: The family of Tina Roberson, a 60-year-old woman in a wheelchair, is seeking help to identify the hit-and-run driver who struck her in a grocery store parking lot. Surveillance footage shows Roberson being hit by an SUV, resulting in severe injuries that necessitated her move to a nursing home. Her family, sharing this video with local media, urges anyone with information about the driver or passengers to come forward. They highlight the emotional toll on Roberson, who lost her independence after the incident and has no memory of the crash. The Dallas police continue their investigation.
Video shows the woman in an electric wheelchair being struck by an SUV in front of a Dallas grocery store. The woman’s injuries were so severe that she now lives in a nursing home.
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News from the South - Texas News Feed
Senate confirmsScott Turner for HUD
Former Texas lawmaker Scott Turner confirmed to lead HUD
“Former Texas lawmaker Scott Turner confirmed to lead HUD” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Texas state Rep. Scott Turner as President Donald Trump’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
HUD is charged with executing housing laws, including helping low-income people find homes and combating housing discrimination. The department was established under President Lyndon B. Johnson.
All voting Republicans, including both of Texas’ senators, supported Turner’s nomination. Two Democrats — Peter Welch of Vermont and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania — also supported him in the 55-44 confirmation vote.
“Scott Turner is an accomplished leader, dedicated public servant, and fourth-generation Texan who has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to harness housing and development to create more opportunities and brighter futures,” Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said in a statement. “I’m honored to support Scott to lead HUD, and look forward to working with him in this new capacity.”
Turner served in the Texas House from 2013 to 2017. He ran for the speakership but lost to then-Speaker Joe Straus. He declined to run for reelection after challenging Straus.
Turner has described the HUD as an agency failing to meet a dire housing market. During a nomination hearing before the Senate Banking Committee, Turner said the agency’s mission “is to create strong and sustainable communities and support quality affordable housing serving the most vulnerable of our nation. Yet, as we sit here, we have a housing crisis in our country.”
But he demurred on greater federal investment to lower affordable housing construction costs, saying HUD should be “maximizing the budget,” which is roughly $72 billion for the 9,000-person department. Trump has said that cutting federal spending is a top priority and tapped the billionaire donor Elon Musk to run a highly unconventional operation to slash spending.
As a member of the Texas House, Turner was a skeptic for government assistance to alleviate poverty. He called welfare “one of the most destructive things for the family.” He refused to support legislation to help tenants on housing assistance find apartments and to study homelessness.
After serving in the Texas House, Turner served in the first Trump administration as director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. The council was created in 2018 to “encourage public and private investment in urban and economically distressed areas, including qualified opportunity zones,” according to the executive order creating the council.
In the role, Turner worked on Opportunity Zones, which were low-income areas with investment potential encouraged by tax cuts. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included the creation of Opportunity Zones and is up for renewal this year.
During his nomination hearing, Turner said a member of his family was impacted by homelessness, asserting that “these aren’t just things that I’ve heard about. These are things that my family and I have experienced through the years.”
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/05/turner-confirmation-hud-secretary/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
News from the South - Texas News Feed
50 rallies in 50 states: National anti-Project 2025 protest held in Austin
SUMMARY: Demonstrators gathered at the Texas State Capitol on Wednesday to protest Project 2025 and President Trump’s executive orders as part of the nationwide action #50501. Project 2025, from the Heritage Foundation, aims to reshape the federal government by eliminating agencies and targeting minority groups and diversity initiatives. Protesters expressed frustration over their representatives’ lack of response and emphasized the need for community action. Signs supported immigrants and transgender rights while criticizing Trump and Elon Musk, who is linked to the push to eliminate federal agencies. The rally aimed to foster ongoing activism and engagement beyond the event.
The post 50 rallies in 50 states: National anti-Project 2025 protest held in Austin appeared first on www.kxan.com
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