Headlines / Quote of the Week
Fri., Jan. 17, 2025
Musk-essori: Elon Musk is laying the groundwork to open a private school for kids ages 3-6 in Bastrop, KUT reports, around the corner from the corporate compound for SpaceX and the Boring Company. The school, to be called Ad Astra (Latin for “to the stars,” more of Musk’s space obsession), is organized in a style similar to the progressive learning environments of Montessori schools and, guess what, includes studies focused on science, technology, engineering, and math.
Cruzin’ for a Conquerin’: Last week, Texas’ junior senator jumped once again to the defense of Donald Trump, the man who called his wife ugly and implied his father had conspired to assassinate JFK, saying Trump’s proposal that the U.S. acquire Greenland (maybe through military force!) is a “very, very good idea.” It could be good to have a glacial island in our back pocket, with all its natural resources that include microchip ingredients and coal. One little problem: Greenland belongs to Denmark, which happens to be a founding member of NATO, and we’re not technically supposed to attack our closest allies to steal their land. But who cares? Not Cruz.
Bring on the Trains: A glimpse of a fantastic future that will never come to be? The city released detailed maps of the proposed 10-mile Project Connect light rail line last week, KUT reports. The line, which would run from the airport, past the Capitol and UT, and on to the Crestview neighborhood, will be the largest transit project in Austin’s history – if it gets built. Opponents aren’t done fighting it.
Tap-to-Ride: CapMetro is dumping its old QR-code payment system and switching to tap-to-pay technology. In March, the transit system’s buses will let users pay by tapping a credit card or a cell phone to validators that are currently being installed. The switch will retire a system that sometimes frustrated riders and required them to install an app.
Long Live Beater Cars: Oh happy day! You can now continue driving your dangerous, polluting, piece-of-shit car without having to subject it to a yearly vehicle inspection – in most of Texas, that is. Here in Travis and in 16 other counties across Texas you still need to pass an emissions test. We at the Chronicle look forward to seeing more junkers on the local highways. There’s too many Teslas.
Sweet Relief: Oil-money billionaire Tim Dunn and his Christian Nationalist allies haven’t yet managed to buy off every last Republican in the Texas House of Representatives. The proof of that premise came Tuesday, when Rep. Dustin Burrows was able to win the speakership against Rep. David Cook by a vote of 85-55. Burrows won with the support of 49 Democrats and 36 Republicans – a minority of the House’s Republican caucus.
Our House: And after the vote, boy, was the dominant wing of the Republican Party pissed! The chair of the party, Abraham George, threatened that the House Republicans who voted for Burrows would be censured, something that would bar them from appearing on a primary ballot in next year’s election. Meanwhile, on the steps outside the south entrance of the Capitol, a group of white-haired and white-skinned citizens gave vent to their outrage in a protest, chanting, “This is our House!”
Don’t Bully Bevo: PETA does some very impactful work, and it also does some niche stuff like this. The animal-loving org sent a letter to Southeastern Conference (SEC) Commissioner Greg Sankey this week urging him to block UT-Austin from bringing its longhorn steer mascot named Bevo to the Cotton Bowl Classic last Friday.
Grids Within: No one trusts ERCOT – that goes without saying. So Texas businesses like H-E-B and Buc-ees are investing in microgrids in case the state’s electricity provider collapses like it did during 2021’s Winter Storm Uri, per KUT. Unlike generators, microgrids run 24/7 and can incorporate renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
Alamo Layoffs: Staff were hit with mass layoffs at the Alamo Drafthouse this week after roughly 25% of hourly employees (including wait staff, projectionists, and programmers) lost their jobs, as well as 9% of the corporate team. The losses include many longtime Drafthouse regulars at theatres in Austin and nationwide.
UT Prof Off the Hook: Charges against a former UT lecturer who took part in the Palestinian protests last spring were dropped Monday. Rich Heyman, who worked at UT for more than 20 years, was accused of breaking an attachment on a state trooper’s bicycle. He was fired by UT the day after his arrest, with no reason given. “The fact that we’re here at all today is ridiculous,” Heyman told KUT outside the courtroom. “We shouldn’t even be here.”
Quote of the Week
“They said, oh it’s Trump talking. It’s just some crazy idea. But I’ll tell you acquiring Greenland has enormous advantages.”
– U.S. Senator Ted Cruz
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