Headlines

Photo by Jana Birchum

• The train! The train! Capital Metro announced that the long-delayed MetroRail Red Line from Leander to the Austin Conven­tion Center will open for passengers March 22. The transit agency expects to celebrate the achievement with a dedication ceremony – complete with buskers – at the end of its first week of service, Saturday, March 27, at the Downtown station. See "Can It Be? MetroRail Prepares to Launch."

• Less than three years after he moved here from the California Highway Patrol, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo confirmed this week that he's been short-listed to head up the Dallas Police Depart­ment. See "Naked City."

• Animal issues dominate City Council this week (Thursday, March 11); see "City Hall Hustle." Also up: social media policy for board and commission members, a discussion about requiring more wage info from companies seeking economic incentives, and a final hearing and likely passage of incentives for Facebook and Yingli Green Energy Americas.

• University of Texas commuters might have to scrounge for more quarters from those couch cushions: A coalition of UT campus-area property owners and businesses wants to replace 400 free parking spots throughout West Campus with metered or permitted spaces.

• The Harry Ransom Center acquired the archives of late novelist and essayist David Foster Wallace this week. The archive includes notes, several heavily annotated books Wallace owned, and drafts of his magnum opus, Infinite Jest.

• Houston-based District Judge Kevin Fine declared the death penalty unconstitutional on March 4, amid wailing about judicial activism from Gov. Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott. Fine rescinded the ruling on March 9 but cautioned that he wants to look further into whether Texas' death penalty can protect innocent people from execution. See "Naked City."

• Remember that recession Gov. Rick Perry said will never reach Texas? It's here. Legislative Budget Board Director John O'Brien told legislators Monday that the state faces a budget deficit of between $11 billion and $15 billionin 2011.

• New security measures will be implemented at the state Capitol in response to a January shooting outside the south entrance. The enhanced security plan currently doesn't include metal detectors at each entrance, however; the lack of them allowed the alleged gunman to enter the Capitol undetected in an unsuccessful search for an employee of a state representative. The plan calls for increased bike patrols, bomb-sniffing dogs, and a message alert system for Capitol employees.

Photo by Jana Birchum

Quote of the Week

"The lifespan of a major city police chief tenure generally tends to be 3-5 years, which I am quickly approaching."