Sale plan could make rat-infested state office building a hot property

News and updates from Austin's news in your inbox Email not displaying correctly? [View Online]( [Statesman]( MORNING HEADLINES Start your day with a fresh roundup of news, features and commentary. Friday's Top Story [Sale plan could make terrible Hobby state office building a hot property]( [Sale plan could make ‘terrible’ Hobby state office building a hot property]( The 35-year-old William P. Hobby state office building in downtown Austin needs a whopping $50 million in repairs to shore up decrepit plumbing, overhaul electrical systems and patch or replace various other dilapidated components - and that might not even address what some workers there contend is a serious rat infestation. [Read More »]( Local News [Texas schools poised to get multibillion-dollar bump]( [Texas schools poised to get multibillion-dollar bump]( A key Texas Senate panel agreed Thursday to spend $9 billion on public education and property tax relief. [Read More »]( [UT student in college admissions scandal still enrolled, father says]( [UT student in college admissions scandal still enrolled, father says]( The father of a University of Texas student connected to the nationwide college admissions scandal believed his son's enrollment was above board when he signed a scholarship with the Longhorns' men's tennis program in 2015, a spokeswoman for the dad said. [Read More »]( [Alex Jones charred in verbal battle at Lucy s Fried Chicken]( [Alex Jones charred in verbal battle at Lucy’s Fried Chicken]( Alex Jones got into a videotaped shouting match with some customers at Lucy's Fried Chicken Saturday, a few of whom had set upon him verbally as he was grabbing some oysters and beer with his wife.[gh:style].embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }[/gh:style][gh:div class='embed- [Read More »]( [ Texas 7 prison-break gang member gets execution reprieve]( [‘Texas 7’ prison-break gang member gets execution reprieve]( A member of the "Texas 7" gang of escaped prisoners won a reprieve Thursday night from execution. [Read More »]( Business [Amazon plans Austin expansion that will add 800 jobs]( [Amazon plans Austin expansion that will add 800 jobs]( Adding to its already significant Austin presence, retail giant Amazon.com will add 800 tech-focused jobs at the its hub in North Austin, company representatives told the American-Statesman. [Read More »]( [Survey: Austin tech industry grew by 5,200 jobs in 2018]( [Survey: Austin tech industry grew by 5,200 jobs in 2018]( The Austin tech industry added 5,200 jobs in 2018, according to a new report by the Computing Technology Industry Association, a nonprofit tech research entity. In total, net tech employment grew by 3.5 percent, making Austin the the 18th-fastest growing city in terms of net tech employment. [Read More »]( Sports [Soccer stadium could bring matches like U.S.-Chile to Austin]( [Soccer stadium could bring matches like U.S.-Chile to Austin]( HOUSTON - Standing outside the entrance to BBVA Compass Stadium, the chants wafting from two blocks over were clear as day."U-S-A! [Read More »]( [Earl Campbell makes appearance at Dell Match Play]( [Earl Campbell makes appearance at Dell Match Play]( Told that football royalty was in the house, Jim Furyk approached the legendary Earl Campbell sitting in the front row of a grandstand on the first tee and shook hands."I have to tell you," Furyk began, "I'm a Steelers fan.""That's OK," responded Campbell, who will celebrate his 64th birthday on Friday. [Read More »]( Opinion [Commentary: Three Texas bills mean better health for black mothers]( [Commentary: Three Texas bills mean better health for black mothers]( Black mothers in Texas are dying at a rate 2.3 times as high as white mothers regardless of income, education, marital status or other health factors. [Read More »]( [Commentary: Let s honor César Chávez with more than platitudes]( [Commentary: Let’s honor César Chávez with more than platitudes]( March 31 is the birthday of César Chávez, the labor leader who dedicated his life to improving the wages and working conditions of agricultural workers, one of the country's poorest and most exploited groups. [Read More »]( Nation [Parents headed to court in college admissions cheating scam]( [Parents headed to court in college admissions cheating scam]( BOSTON (AP) " More than a dozen parents charged in a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme are due in court. [Read More »]( [Border Patrol orders quick releases of families]( [Border Patrol orders quick releases of families]( WASHINGTON (AP) " The number of migrant families and children entering the U.S. from Mexico is so high that Border Patrol is immediately releasing them instead of transferring them to the agency responsible for their release, forcing local governments to help coordinate their housing, meals and travel."We need to work toward a clean sweep," Border Patrol Deputy Chief of Operations Richard Hudson said in a letter obtained by The Associated Press sent to sector chiefs Thursday. [Read More »]( World [Third time lucky? UK lawmakers hold new vote on Brexit deal]( [Third time lucky? UK lawmakers hold new vote on Brexit deal]( LONDON (AP) " On the day that Britain was originally scheduled to leave the European Union, lawmakers will vote Friday on what Prime Minister Theresa May's government described as the "last chance to vote for Brexit."The House of Commons is voting a third time on May's twice-rejected European Union withdrawal agreement amid continuing opposition from hard-line Brexit supporters and Northern Ireland lawmakers. [Read More »]( [Thousands of students march in Berlin in climate protest]( [Thousands of students march in Berlin in climate protest]( BERLIN (AP) " Thousands of students are gathering in the German capital, skipping school to take part in a rally demanding action against climate change. [Read More »]( Austin360 [Photos: Neal Douglass: The man behind the Old Austin pictures]( [Photos: Neal Douglass: The man behind the Old Austin pictures](   [Read More »]( [Photos: 5 Texas wildflowers that aren t bluebonnets]( [Photos: 5 Texas wildflowers that aren’t bluebonnets]( While bluebonnets (deservedly) get lots of attention each spring, there are some other blooms blanketing highways and fields that are worthy of your love and photos. [Read More »]( [Manage Account]( | [Contact Us](mailto:customercare@statesman.com) | [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Newsletters]( We have an app for whatever you want - news, weather, entertainment and more. Statesman Live: [iPhone®]( [Android]( Statesman Weather: [iPhone®]( [Android]( Austin360: [iPhone®]( [Android]( Statesman does not participate in unsolicited email. This is a recurring email and was sent to you because you subscribed to receive promotional emails and updates from Statesman during a previous program, promotion or contest. © 2018 GateHouse Media, LLC and Austin American-Statesman. All rights reserved. 305 S. Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 (512) 445-3500