Council approves sweeping investigation into alleged racism, bigotry at Austin police

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 [Council approves sweeping investigation into alleged racism, bigotry at Austin police]( [Council approves sweeping investigation into alleged racism, bigotry at Austin police]( The Austin City Council on Thursday night unanimously approved a sweeping investigation aimed at routing out racism, bigotry and discrimination within the Austin Police Department, along with the possible delay of a cadet class scheduled to begin in June. [Read More »]( Local News [Austin Council approves historic zoning for Richard Overton s home]( [Austin Council approves historic zoning for Richard Overton’s home]( Nearly a year after Ricahrd Overton took his final breath at a rehabilitation facility in East Austin last December, his final wish to turn his home of more than 70 years into a museum is all but a done deal. [Read More »]( [Bounty becomes burden: Donations to homeless come with logistical challenges]( [Bounty becomes burden: Donations to homeless come with logistical challenges]( If you are planning to donate to Austin's less fortunate this winter, you might want to reconsider your gift selections to avoid spreading Christmas waste in place of holiday cheer. [Read More »]( [Travis County to decide Tuesday on RV park near Hamilton Pool]( [Travis County to decide Tuesday on RV park near Hamilton Pool]( Travis County Commissioners on Tuesday will weigh whether to approve an RV park near Hamilton Pool. [Read More »]( [Tensions rising at Hutto council meeting over city manager agreement]( [Tensions rising at Hutto council meeting over city manager agreement]( The Hutto City Council has tabled discussing the contentious issue of whether to reconsider separation and consulting agreements made with City Manager Odis Jones until its Dec. 19th meeting. [Read More »]( [Transgender inmates in Texas seek name change to fit gender identity, suit says]( [Transgender inmates in Texas seek name change to fit gender identity, suit says]( A civil lawsuit filed this week in Austin challenges a state law that prohibits transgender federal prison inmates in Texas from legally changing their names to comport with their gender identity. [Read More »]( Business [Economist: 2020 looks really strong for Austin economy]( [Economist: 2020 looks ‘really strong’ for Austin economy]( Economic growth in Austin is poised to continue outpacing much of the rest of the country, according to a forecast for 2020, but it's still likely to fall short of the city's recent track record. [Read More »]( [E-commerce firm Bold Commerce opens Austin office, plans growth]( [E-commerce firm Bold Commerce opens Austin office, plans growth]( Bold Commerce, an e-commerce software development company based in Canada, is opening an Austin office to serve its U.S. customers and partners. [Read More »]( [Austin startup Cerebri AI raises $7 million]( [Austin startup Cerebri AI raises $7 million]( Austin-based software startup Cerebri AI has raised $7 million in funding. [Read More »]( [Round Rock s Infinitum Electric raises $12.5M, readies for product launch]( [Round Rock’s Infinitum Electric raises $12.5M, readies for product launch]( After closing a $12.5 million funding round, Round Rock-based electric motor maker Infinitum Electric says it is on solid footing to launch its first product next year. [Read More »]( [National Instruments will lay off 150; IAS acquired by Canada-based company]( [National Instruments will lay off 150; IAS acquired by Canada-based company]( National Instruments confirms it will lay off 150 workersAustin-based National Instruments plans to lay off 150 employees from its global workforce, the company confirmed Thursday. [Read More »]( Sports [Texas State s season ends in four-set NCAA volleyball loss]( [Texas State’s season ends in four-set NCAA volleyball loss]( Texas State's season came to a close on Thursday as the Bobcats fell to UC Santa Barbara in four sets in the first round of the NCAA volleyball tournament at Gregory Gym. [Read More »]( [Games of the day: Westlake, Wimberley, Regents looking to topple playoff foes]( [Games of the day: Westlake, Wimberley, Regents looking to topple playoff foes]( Westlake (12-1) vs. [Read More »]( [Faces off the Field: Roman Davis, senior running back, Regents]( [Faces off the Field: Roman Davis, senior running back, Regents]( You guys have reached the state championship game on Friday again. What were the factors that led Regents to this point?I'd say it's the 'we' factor. [Read More »]( [Boys high school basketball: Fab Fives, notes and Player of the Week]( [Boys high school basketball: Fab Fives, notes and Player of the Week]( TOURNEY TIMETournament season continues this weekend with several appealing area events. [Read More »]( [Fantasy Football: Week 14 Rankings]( [Fantasy Football: Week 14 Rankings]( The Dallas Cowboys have yet another prime time contest, taking on the Chicago Bears on Thursday to kick off Week 14. [Read More »]( Opinion [Commentary: London s terror attack was a preventable tragedy]( [Commentary: London’s terror attack was a preventable tragedy]( After the "Black Friday" fatal Islamist terror attack on London Bridge, one wonders who says or does the most stupid and foolish things. [Read More »]( [Tilove: Identity politics comes in all colors]( [Tilove: Identity politics comes in all colors]( In what now amounts to his famous last words, state Rep. Rick Miller, R-Sugar Land, in a recent interview with Andrea Zelinski of the Houston Chronicle, said of one of his Republican primary opponents, Jacey Jetton, "He's a Korean." [Read More »]( [Commentary: Republicans are doing Putin s dirty work]( [Commentary: Republicans are doing Putin’s dirty work]( Pretend for a moment that we've entered the Twilight Zone and are transported back to 2008. [Read More »]( Nation [Pearl Harbor vet s interment to be last on sunken Arizona]( [Pearl Harbor vet’s interment to be last on sunken Arizona]( PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) " On Dec. 7, 1941, then-21-year-old Lauren Bruner was the second-to-last man to escape the burning wreckage of the USS Arizona after a Japanese plane dropped a bomb that ignited an enormous explosion in the battleship's ammunition storage compartment. [Read More »]( [News outlet seeks dismissal of lieutenant governor s lawsuit]( [News outlet seeks dismissal of lieutenant governor’s lawsuit]( ALEXANDRIA, Va. [Read More »]( [NY bail reforms lead to court date for Harvey Weinstein]( [NY bail reforms lead to court date for Harvey Weinstein]( NEW YORK (AP) " Harvey Weinstein wasn't the kind of criminal defendant New York lawmakers had in mind when they passed a law this year eliminating cash bail for most nonviolent crimes. [Read More »]( [Report: Teen who died in US custody unresponsive for hours]( [Report: Teen who died in US custody unresponsive for hours]( HOUSTON (AP) " A flu-ridden 16-year-old from Guatemala writhed in agony inside a U.S. Border Patrol cell and collapsed on the floor where he lay for several hours before he was found dead, according to video released Thursday that further calls into question the Trump administration's treatment of immigrant families. [Read More »]( [US persuades judge to stop pro-Trump border wall group]( [US persuades judge to stop pro-Trump border wall group]( HOUSTON (AP) " The U.S. government persuaded a federal judge to prevent a private fundraising group from building its own wall next to the river that separates the U.S. and Mexico, despite the group's longstanding claim that it is supporting President Donald Trump. [Read More »]( World [TB, armed guards, lack of food at UN migrant center in Libya]( [TB, armed guards, lack of food at UN migrant center in Libya]( TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) " The United Nations center in Libya was opened as an 'alternative to detention,' a last, safe stop for migrants before they were resettled in other countries. [Read More »]( [6-story building collapses in Nairobi; some feared trapped]( [6-story building collapses in Nairobi; some feared trapped]( NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) " A Kenyan official says a six-story building has collapsed in the capital, Nairobi, with some people feared to be trapped in the debris. [Read More »]( [Greta Thunberg reaches Madrid for climate activists march]( [Greta Thunberg reaches Madrid for climate activists’ march]( MADRID (AP) " Climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Madrid Friday to join thousands of other young people in a march to demand world leaders take real action against climate change. [Read More »]( [Independence not on ballot, but on voters minds in Scotland]( [Independence not on ballot, but on voters’ minds in Scotland]( ST. [Read More »]( [6-story building collapses in Nairobi; at least 2 killed]( [6-story building collapses in Nairobi; at least 2 killed]( NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) " A six-story building collapsed in Kenya's capital on Friday, officials said, with at least two people killed and others trapped in the debris. [Read More »]( Austin360 [Exclusive details: Franklin Barbecue s taco and coffee truck (softly) opens]( [Exclusive details: Franklin Barbecue’s taco and coffee truck (softly) opens]( "I like tacos." See, celebrity chefs are just like you and me. It was that simple thinking that led James Beard Award-winning barbecue boss Aaron Franklin to want to open a taco trailer behind his restaurant on East 11th Street. And, oh yeah, there's coffee. [Read More »]( [Seafood-centric Greek restaurant coming to downtown Austin in 2020]( [Seafood-centric Greek restaurant coming to downtown Austin in 2020]( When people talk to me about the type of concepts they wish were more plentiful in Austin, Greek cuisine is always near the top of the list. [Read More »]( [Famed barbecue pitmaster John Mueller is back (again)]( [Famed barbecue pitmaster John Mueller is back (again)]( Famed barbecue pitmaster John Mueller is back (again) [Read More »]( [Your best bet for boozy eggnog this holiday season is at this downtown Austin bar]( [Your best bet for boozy eggnog this holiday season is at this downtown Austin bar]( Wishing the half-gallon of eggnog you bought at H-E-B had a little more of a kick to it? You know you do - this season can be a stressful time of year, and frankly, you're behind on your holiday shopping. [Read More »]( [New brewery, Meanwhile, comes to Southeast Austin next year with bocce court and more]( [New brewery, Meanwhile, comes to Southeast Austin next year with bocce court and more]( New brewery, Meanwhile, comes to Southeast Austin next year with bocce court and more [Read More »](   [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [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. 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