CITY OF AUSTIN

May 08 2026LIFESTYLE

A different side of city life

Austin once felt like the perfect home—close to family, with easy friendships and a pug waiting nearby. The city offered free nature spots, cheap drinks, and live music almost every night. Rent was just $850 for a studio in 2016, making it affordable compared to bigger cities. But New York changed

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May 07 2026POLITICS

AI at the table: Next week's meeting could change tech talks

Officials from the US and China might add AI to the list of topics for their upcoming high-level meeting. The possible talks could happen during a summit planned for next week in Beijing. This isn't confirmed yet, but sources say both sides are looking at the idea seriously. The American team might

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May 06 2026HEALTH

Breathing in Secondhand Smoke Outside: How Easy Is It to Avoid?

City sidewalks and parks often have special spots where people can light up. These areas are meant to keep smokers away from indoor spaces, but they might not protect everyone nearby. Studies show that secondhand smoke can travel through the air, even outside. Yet most research focuses on how much s

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Apr 21 2026POLITICS

Gas prices: Why official predictions keep changing

Officials keep giving different answers about when gas prices might drop. First they said weeks, then months, then maybe never before the election. Energy Secretary Chris Wright started with a confident \"weeks\" timeline in early March. By April, he called summer a \"very aggressive\" guess. Just d

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Apr 18 2026POLITICS

Nordic Countries Back Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Move

Officials from Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark spoke up after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open for ships. The statement followed a truce worked out in Lebanon, which paused a long-running dispute in the area. The Nordic leaders didn’t just cheer Iran’s words—they stressed that real peace

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Apr 10 2026POLITICS

Austin’s Police Unions Push Back Against Accountability

Austin’s police unions have found a new way to shift blame away from officers accused of misconduct. When an officer injured a protester in 2020, the unions filed a legal motion arguing that poor training—not the officer—should take the fall. But here’s the catch: they’ve known about training issues

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Mar 28 2026POLITICS

U. S. Plans Limited Iran Action Without Ground Forces

Officials in Washington believe they can handle Iran’s military threats without sending soldiers into combat. Speaking after meetings with global allies, a top diplomat said the U. S. expects to wrap up its campaign in weeks, not months. The focus is on weakening Iran’s ability to launch missiles an

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Mar 27 2026CRIME

Jersey City Takes Action Against Unlicensed Smoke Shops

City officials in Jersey City have taken decisive steps to curb unlicensed smoke shops that are operating without proper permits. Five businesses were shut down after a coordinated effort by the local police and federal partners, which also led to several arrests. The crackdown followed complaints f

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Mar 06 2026HEALTH

Children at Risk After Measles Exposure in Sacramento

Officials in Sacramento County are working hard to find everyone who might have caught measles at a recent school‑style event. A child who fell ill with the virus could have passed it to about 130 kids, according to the state health department. The gathering was described as an enrichment program, b

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Feb 28 2026SPORTS

A Family on the Fairway: Austin and Jessica Smotherman

Austin Smotherman is a golfer who has spent a decade chasing his dream on smaller tours. He earned a spot on the PGA Tour, lost it, and then fought his way back through the Korn Ferry Tour. In 2025 he won two tournaments in three weeks and returned to the main circuit for 2026. Throughout this rolle

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