Bracing for Cold Weather: As subfreezing temperatures are expected to roll in across the state this weekend, Texas grid officials say the state is prepared to meet the heightened electricity demand, according to Jan. 20 reporting by The Texas Newsroom. The upcoming winter weather comes nearly five years after February 2021’s deadly Winter Storm Uri, when the state’s power grid, which is overseen by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, suffered failures that left millions of Texans without power for days. ERCOT says it has since taken steps to improve the grid’s resiliency during periods of high demand and “anticipates there will be sufficient generation to meet demand” ahead of the weekend. The city of Austin is expected to activate overnight cold weather shelters for those in need when overnight temperatures are forecasted to reach 35 degrees or below. All city libraries and recreation centers can also serve as warming centers during normal operating hours. Updated emergency information, including overnight shelter activations, can be found at AustinTexas.gov/alerts.
School Breakfast: Austin ISD is getting $16,000 from the nonprofit campaign No Kid Hungry Texas to purchase equipment for existing programs that offer breakfast in the classroom, as well as extend this option to two additional schools. “This support truly makes a difference for Austin ISD students, especially for those who rely on school meals each day,” said Ryan Mikolaycik, executive director of food service and warehouse operations at Austin ISD. “This funding helps us expand and sustain Breakfast in the Classroom programs, ensuring more children start the day with a healthy meal.”
Biblical Passages in TX Classrooms: According to a TEA draft proposal to the State Board of Education, public schools in Texas may be required to add biblical passages into English course curriculum, ranging from kindergarten through senior year of high school. According to reporting from the Statesman, the proposal is scheduled to receive a preliminary vote from SBOE next week. While Texas has implemented optional curriculum involving the Bible, this new proposal would be the first time that any state in the U.S. would mandate religious text within courses.
More Right-wingification of UT: UT-Austin is shutting down several centers and offices based in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, according to The Daily Texan and sources who wish to remain anonymous. In a letter obtained by the Chronicle which was sent to UT employees late last week, the school’s second-in-command, Provost William Imboden, said four centers would “conclude operations as separate units by the end of this spring semester.” These include the Office of Undergraduate Research, which helps undergraduates find opportunities to conduct research; the Center for Teaching and Learning, which works to improve teaching methods; the Office of Community Engagement, which facilitates connections between faculty, students, and the wider community; and the Vick Advising Excellence Center, which helps students who are transferring between majors or colleges. Sources told the Chronicle they believe the changes will result in at least 25 layoffs. One described the move as the latest attempt by Republican state leaders to wage a culture war against the university, adding, “They’re gutting the unit that ensures a flagship academic experience.”
Light Rail Environmental Plan Approved: Last Friday, Jan. 16, Austin’s light rail plan, part of the larger Project Connect, received environmental approval from federal transportation officials through a record of decision. According to KUT, the decision now gives the Austin Transit Partnership the ability to begin cementing detailed designs, relocate utilities, and acquire necessary property through eminent domain. ATP is now on the verge of awarding major contracts for the project. After receiving a “medium-high” rating from the Federal Transit Administration, those involved in the project await to see if the plan will land a federal Capital Investment Grant, which would contribute $4 billion of federal funds to the project.
Crockett vs. Talarico Showdown: This Saturday, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Texas Rep. James Talarico will face off for their first public debate in the highly contested race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Hosted at the Texas AFL-CIO’s COPE Convention in Georgetown and moderated by KXAN anchor Daniel Marin and Dallas Morning News political writer Gromer Jeffers, the debate will only be open to union members to attend, but will livestream on the KXAN+ app and the KXAN website at 2pm. The COPE Convention is expected to endorse a candidate after a member vote. An Emerson College poll recently placed Talarico at a 9-point lead over Crockett; whoever wins will face a tough contest against the victor in the closely watched Republican primary battle between the incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
More High-Speed Internet Coming to Rural Texas: Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced that the Lower Colorado River Authority is set to receive a $29 million grant from the Broadband Development Office to boost access to high-speed internet within rural Texas and uplift flood-monitoring systems in Central Texas. According to the comptroller’s press release, this grant will assist Texans in reaching affordable internet providers, strengthen infrastructure for flood monitoring, and expand fiber further into rural communities. The approval of the $29 million comes after the 2021 passing of Senate Bill 632, which allows the LCRA to “develop and operate middle-mile broadband infrastructure to help close the digital divide in rural Texas.”
City Council, by the Numbers: Ahead of the 2026 session, a Statesman report recapped Austin City Council’s 2025 voting records with a trendy “City Council Wrapped” analysis. Council approved 1,488 of the 1,493 items on last year’s agenda, coming to unanimous consensus on 95.4% of items. The notable alignment of members may be unsurprising given Council’s progressive identity, but some experts interviewed by the Statesman suggest it reveals a lack of political diversity within the representative body. Among Council members, Marc Duchen was most likely to vote alone – opposing his colleagues 2.7% of the time and voting “no” more than any other member. On the other hand, Chito Vela held the title for the most “yes” votes of the year, supporting 99.5% of items. Coming in with the lowest in-person meeting attendance of the year was Natasha Harper-Madison, who attended half of all voting sessions virtually. Council returns today with its first meeting of 2026. Its full 2025 voting record is available on the city’s open data portal.
Asian American Resource Center Progress Report: On Tuesday, Austin Capital Delivery Services, in collaboration with Austin Parks and Recreation and Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment, issued an update on AARC’s Phase 2 project, the construction of a pavilion and performance area on the site’s great lawn. The update cites delays due to “updated regulatory coordination, specifically regarding the use of drainage and water quality infrastructure associated with the adjacent Watershed project,” which have slowed down final permit approval and a contract with the general contractor. An updated timeline has yet to be announced.
AISD Asks Waymo to Suspend Operations (Again): AISD continues to butt heads with Waymo, now asking the autonomous car company to halt operations during school bus drop-off hours in the mornings and afternoons. According to Community Impact, 24 traffic violations conducted by Waymo vehicles have been reported by the school district. This request comes after Waymo vehicles have continuously driven by school buses that were in the process of picking up and dropping off students, with the first instance dating back to October. The company conducted a voluntary recall back in December following complaints, stating that they had updated the vehicle’s software.
Texas House Democrats to Appeal $450,000 Fines: On Jan. 20, the Texas House Democrats announced that state Rep. Charlie Geren has issued a letter, re-confirming that the House of Representatives would fine each Democratic rep over $9,000 for the two-week quorum break in August of last year. The quorum break occurred due to Gov. Greg Abbott’s and other Republican leaders’ (ultimately successful) attempts to gerrymander the congressional map. Now, the over 50 Democrats who broke quorum are looking at a total fine of over $450,000, although the press release from the group states that appeals are on the way. “We broke quorum because Gov. Abbott held flood victims hostage for his intentionally racist map designed to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans,” state Rep. Gene Wu said.
Flood Safety Video Contest: Austin Watershed Protection is inviting Austin-area students from grades 6-12 to record their best public service announcements for the 2026 Flood Safety Video Contest. The videos must be under 30 seconds long and include the phrase “Turn Around – Don’t Drown®,” urging drivers to turn back when roads are flooded. The creators of the videos judged to be in the top 10 will be recognized at the Flood Safety Fest on April 18. Guidelines for the contest can be found on the city’s website, with submissions due by March 25, available to be submitted in any language.
Celtic Cultural Center Bond Election: The Austin Celtic Festival launched the Raise the Stone campaign, aimed at convincing city leaders to consider funding for a Celtic Cultural Center in its 2026 bond election. The center, estimated in its proposal to be a size of 15,000 to 25,000 square feet and have a cost of $14 million to $30 million, would serve as a space for performance, education, and exhibitions of Celtic culture and art in Austin. The organization is asking the public to send a letter of support to Mayor Kirk Watson and Austin City Council.
Upheaval at University of Austin: A Jan. 16 POLITICO Magazine investigation by Evan Mandery goes inside the “civil war” at the University of Austin, a private institution of higher education founded on an “anti-woke” mission statement in 2021 by embattled media figure Bari Weiss and tech entrepreneur/Republican donor Joe Lonsdale (Cicero Institute), among others. The 10,000-word piece – bursting with anonymous sources fearing retribution – details a staffing exodus and what Mandery describes as a shift away from pluralism toward “a more rigid, hard-right orthodoxy” under Lonsdale’s influence.
Sen. Ted Cruz Leaves TX as Winter Storm Approaches: After an X post showed Senator Ted Cruz on a flight heading to Laguna Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the midst of a potential winter storm approaching Texas, he has left Texans feeling a sense of déjà vu from 2021, when the Texas senator flew to Cancun during the brutal Winter Storm Uri, which left much of the state without power and ultimately resulted in nearly 250 deaths. While speculation around Cruz’s plans remain, a spokesperson for the senator says that the trip was already planned, according to Statesman reporting. “Senator Cruz is currently on pre-planned work travel that was scheduled weeks in advance,” the spokesperson stated. “He will be back in Texas before the storm is projected to hit.”
Bartholomew District Park Fire: After a fire was started on early Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Bartholomew District Park, the Austin Fire Department is working on an investigation regarding the fire’s origin, according to KVUE. AFD says that its crews arrived on the scene around 7am, where they found a pool house ablaze. While no injuries were reported after responders put out the fire, arson investigators continue to search for answers.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Politics feels corrupt, because it is. But it doesn’t have to be.”
State Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico at his anti-corruption press conference regarding Attorney General Ken Paxton on Jan. 15
This article appears in January 23 • 2026.