Pro-Palestinian Protesters Arrested

More than 50 people were arrested Wednesday at a pro-Palestinian protest on the University of Texas south lawn in a sweep by state troopers in riot gear. Smaller protests continued on campus Thursday.

UT president Jay Hartzell defended the troopers’ actions, saying that even though he supports the peaceful exercise of free speech, the disruption of school classes and activities will not be tolerated.

Campus demonstrations attacking Israel spread across the country this week. Gov. Greg Abbot posted this statement: “These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period.”

Southwest Airlines Drops Four Airports

Southwest Airlines announced it would cease operations at four major airports, including George Bush Intercontinental in Houston—a move that hasn’t happened since 2019. See impacted airports here.

The Dallas-based airline reported a $231 million loss in its first quarter, citing high labor costs and delivery delays on new Boeing 737 jets as significant factors.

Southwest said it would limit hiring, in addition to reducing routes. The news comes a day after Southwest flight attendants agreed on a new contract, securing them a 22% pay raise.

Judge Upholds Travis Scott Lawsuits

A state district judge refused to dismiss the lawsuits filed against rapper Travis Scott over his involvement in the 2021 Astroworld Festival stampede in Houston that killed ten people.

Scott’s lawyers argued that musical performers shouldn’t be held responsible for crowd control, but prosecutors pointed out the singer played a critical role in the deaths by encouraging people who didn’t have tickets to break in.

Judge Kristen Hawkins set a trial date of May 6 to begin hearing the first of many lawsuits against Scott.

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➤ State officials have announced a tax-free weekend on emergency supply purchases. From April 27 through April 29, Texans are exempt from paying sales tax on generators, tools, medical gear, and more. (See the List of Items)

➤ Fort Worth: Construction on a Studio 6 motel next to Basswood Elementary has officially stopped after residents and school officials raised concerns about student safety. The Keller school district is expected to buy the land. (Video)

➤ Waco: A local mother has reached a $100,000 settlement with the Midway school district. Her 12-year-old son was hit by a school bus, breaking his sternum and collarbone. (Learn More)

➤ Missouri City: Council members recently approved a pay increase for the city’s first responders. Police officers are expected to see a 4.4% rise, along with a 2.4% bump for firefighters. (More)

➤ Midland: The International Air and Spaceport announced the return of Delta Airlines after more than ten years. The airline is expected to provide daily flights to Austin, with plans to add more routes in the future. (Get the Scoop)

➤ Hawkins: Residents can once again pay their water bills after a recent cyberattack disabled access to the city’s water utility website. The Texas Department of Public Safety is still investigating the attack. (See What Happened)

➤ The Texas Rangers’ Evan Carter and Adolis García hit their season’s first back-to-back home runs in a 5-1 win against the Seattle Mariners at home in Arlington. (Watch the Highlights)

➤ The A&M baseball team held on to their No. 1 ranking after pulling out a 13-11 win against the University of Houston. The Aggies, 36-5 overall and 13-5 in the conference, play No. 20 Georgia on April 26. (Read More)

➤ Texas Tech’s ranch horse team got their fourth consecutive victory at the 2024 Ranch Horse National Championship. The riders were judged on horsemanship skills tied to ranching operations. (See Photo)

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➤ British Airways is bringing its giant new Airbus A380 aircraft to Texas to begin non-stop flights on its DFW-London route in fall 2024, replacing the Boeing 787-10 aircraft. (See the Airbus Features)

➤ San Antonio-based electric car maker DeLorean had to confirm to customers that it was still in business after moving the company headquarters to a new location downtown. (More)

➤ Texas billionaire Rod Lewis’ LNG Energy signed a deal with Venezuela to renovate five historic oil fields and take over production of two oil fields in the eastern portion of the country. (More)

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➤ Austin: A 52-year-old man has been found guilty for posing as a Delta Force Veteran and defrauding $20 million from victims. He was convicted on five counts and could spend over ten years in prison for each count. (See Details)

➤ Texas country singer Josh Abbott has partnered with Dairy Queen to offer an exclusive meal to Texans. From April 29 through May 26, patrons can get the ‘Abbott Special.’ (See What’s in the Meal)

➤ A New Jersey man is on a mission to dance in all 254 counties in Texas and showcase his moves on social media. As of April 24, he has visited almost 200 counties and is working through the Panhandle region. (Video)

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Have you ever eaten fresh Kolaches in Texas?

1. Yes
2. No

Thursday’s Results:

What is your preferred grocery store in Texas?

1. H-E-B / Central Market: 41.6%
   
2. Kroger: 10.7%
3. Walmart: 10.2%
4. Other: 9.8%
5. Costco: 6.9%
6. Trader Joes: 6.8%
7. Albertsons: 6.7%
8. Tom Thumb: 5.9%
9. Whole Foods: 5.8%
10. Target: 5.4%

Where in Texas can you see a large concentration of mammoth bones?

Show me the answer