Conflicts of interest have tainted Austin school closures, critics say

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. Tuesday's Top Story [Conflicts of interest have tainted Austin school closures, critics say]( [Conflicts of interest have tainted Austin school closures, critics say]( The Austin school district has awarded $3 million to a company headed by the business partner of the district's operations officer since he was hired in March 2018. [Read More »]( Local News [U.S. Supreme Court lets stand ruling that was backbone of Austin s camping ban repeal]( [U.S. Supreme Court lets stand ruling that was backbone of Austin’s camping ban repeal]( The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let stand a court ruling that voided a law prohibiting homeless individuals from sleeping in public spaces. [Read More »]( [Ex-Austin cop VonTrey Clark pleads guilty to murder]( [Ex-Austin cop VonTrey Clark pleads guilty to murder]( ormer Austin police officer VonTrey Clark on Monday confessed to the murder of Samantha Dean and their unborn child, reversing his initial not guilty plea and ending a high-profile murder case just months before it was set to go to trial. [Read More »]( [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee endorses MJ Hegar]( [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee endorses MJ Hegar]( The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has endorsed MJ Hegar, a retired Air Force helicopter pilot, in a crowded field of primary candidates hoping to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in November. [Read More »]( [5 men sought sex with underage girls at North Austin hotel, authorities say]( [5 men sought sex with underage girls at North Austin hotel, authorities say]( Five men were accused of trying to pay young girls for sex last week after investigators went undercover online, court documents say. [Read More »]( [Husband of Cedar Park woman charged in her death]( [Husband of Cedar Park woman charged in her death]( ROUND ROCK — The husband of a slain Cedar Park woman has been charged in connection with her death. [Read More »]( Business [Austin IT company A Cloud Guru acquires Fort Worth-based tech firm]( [Austin IT company A Cloud Guru acquires Fort Worth-based tech firm]( Austin-based technology company A Cloud Guru said Monday it is acquiring Linux Academy, a Fort Worth-based IT training platform. [Read More »]( [Endeavor buys Aussie s site south of downtown Austin]( [Endeavor buys Aussie’s site south of downtown Austin]( In another acquisition of prime land, Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group has added to its holdings in a high-profile area just south of downtown Austin, purchasing the one-acre site that is now home to Aussie’s Grill & Beach Bar. [Read More »]( Sports [Texans aim to focus on Bucs, not title]( [Texans aim to focus on Bucs, not title]( HOUSTON — The Houston Texans' victory over Tennessee on Sunday helped them retain control of the AFC South and bounce back after an embarrassing loss to Denver. [Read More »]( [Cowboys return to running roots]( [Cowboys return to running roots]( FRISCO — Dak Prescott threw deep and incomplete on a fairly short third down right after Ezekiel Elliott had run for 7 yards on Dallas' first possession against the Los Angeles Rams. For a team trying to end its second three-game losing streak of the season amid questions about whether the Cowboys had lost their run-first identity, it wasn't the best way to start. [Read More »]( [Girls high school basketball: Fab Fives, notes and Player of the Week]( [Girls high school basketball: Fab Fives, notes and Player of the Week]( NET NOTESAustin High held off a ferocious Del Valle fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Cardinals 53-50 in District 25-6A action. [Read More »]( [A moment of triumph, lots of tears: Westlake s title-game history features plenty of heartache]( [A moment of triumph, lots of tears: Westlake’s title-game history features plenty of heartache]( 1990: Wilmer-Hutchins 19, Westlake 7In their first state championship game appearance, the Chaps faced more than a potent Wilmer-Hutchins squad in the Class 4A finals; they also had to contend with a bitterly cold north wind that blasted through Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco. [Read More »]( [Pflugerville girls basketball update: Panthers, Connally to tip off district play]( [Pflugerville girls basketball update: Panthers, Connally to tip off district play]( District 17-5A play begins with a bang Friday as Pflugerville hosts crosstown rival Connally at 7 p.m. Friday, and both teams enter the game red-hot. [Read More »]( Opinion [Heading toward a super Super Tuesday in Texas]( [Heading toward a super Super Tuesday in Texas]( Now that we know the contenders in the March 3 Texas Democratic presidential primary, let’s take a look-see at what we can look to see happen between now and then. [Read More »]( [Commentary: For some military families, living conditions lacking]( [Commentary: For some military families, living conditions lacking]( Ads featuring men and women in uniform are sure to flash across your television screen this holiday season. [Read More »]( [Editorial: Make court fees affordable, not a debt trap]( [Editorial: Make court fees affordable, not a debt trap]( Among the many ways to quantify the failure of a system, we have this: A new report shows Travis County spent about $4.6 million in 2017 to jail people over unpaid court fees and fines. [Read More »]( [Krugman: Climate denial and the party that ruined the planet]( [Krugman: Climate denial and the party that ruined the planet]( The most terrifying aspect of the U.S. political drama isn’t the revelation that the president has abused his power for personal gain. [Read More »]( [Commentary: Let s drill for heat, not oil]( [Commentary: Let’s drill for heat, not oil]( Geothermal heat has the potential to solve the looming global energy crisis, not only in the short term but for good. [Read More »]( Nation [Bill aims to prevent repeat of Hawaii false missile alert]( [Bill aims to prevent repeat of Hawaii false missile alert]( HONOLULU (AP) " A defense bill expected to be passed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday seeks to prevent local government agencies from mistakenly warning residents of a ballistic missile attack the way Hawaii did nearly two years ago. [Read More »]( [Scientists seeking cause of huge freshwater mussel die-off]( [Scientists seeking cause of huge freshwater mussel die-off]( KYLES FORD, Tenn. [Read More »]( [Owners of OxyContin maker paid more after company s big fine]( [Owners of OxyContin maker paid more after company’s big fine]( The wealthy owners of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma started taking far more money out of the company after it was fined for misleading marketing of the powerful prescription painkiller. [Read More »]( [Beshear joins critics of predecessor s spree of pardons]( [Beshear joins critics of predecessor’s spree of pardons]( FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) " Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has said he wants to resist dwelling on his predecessor's actions but on Monday he spoke out against former Gov. [Read More »]( [PG E, California governor face off in bankruptcy dispute]( [PG&E, California governor face off in bankruptcy dispute]( SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Pacific Gas & Electric Co. [Read More »]( World [AP Photos: Unexploded land mines awful legacy of Afghan wars]( [AP Photos: Unexploded land mines awful legacy of Afghan wars]( KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) " When 9-year-old Eimal stepped out of his home in the Panjshir Valley in northeastern Afghanistan, he had no way of knowing that his life was about to change. [Read More »]( [Indian students decry police as citizenship protests grow]( [Indian students decry police as citizenship protests grow]( NEW DELHI (AP) " Students involved in a massive weekend protest at a predominantly Muslim university in India's capital described a clash with baton-wielding police at a news conference Tuesday, as opposition grew nationwide against a new law that provides a path to citizenship for non-Muslim migrants. [Read More »]( [China and Russia urge UN to lift key North Korea sanctions]( [China and Russia urge UN to lift key North Korea sanctions]( United Nations (AP) " China and Russia are calling on the U.N. Security Council to terminate sanctions on key North Korean exports such as coal, iron, iron ore and textiles, 'with the intent of enhancing the livelihood of the civilian population.' [Read More »]( [Money talks: Hong Kong protesters weaponizing spending power]( [Money talks: Hong Kong protesters weaponizing spending power]( HONG KONG (AP) " The Hong Kong protesters formed a line, patiently waiting their turn to buy sweet milk and tea drinks from a store that advertised ardent support for their cause with a banner declaring, 'If you set off a nuclear blast, we'll stick by you. [Read More »]( [Documents sought in case of Saudi student facing gun charge]( [Documents sought in case of Saudi student facing gun charge]( ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) " A Saudi Arabian student arrested on a federal firearms charge the day before he was scheduled to graduate from the University of New Mexico remained in custody Monday while his attorneys sought more documents from prosecutors. [Read More »]( Austin360 [P. Terry s Giving Back Days tops $1 million donated to local community since 2005]( [P. Terry’s Giving Back Days tops $1 million donated to local community since 2005]( Across Central Texas, people filled drive-thrus and seats inside the 16 P. Terry's Burger Stand and two Taco Ranch locations on Saturday for Giving Back Day. [Read More »]( [Exclusive: Austin s Pizza/Mama Fu s owner opening four East Side King locations]( [Exclusive: Austin’s Pizza/Mama Fu’s owner opening four East Side King locations]( An Austin restaurant group with experience in multi-unit operations has expanded its portfolio and broaden its culinary reach. [Read More »]( [Toast to a rib roast: 8 dishes (and desserts!) worthy of a holiday feast]( [Toast to a rib roast: 8 dishes (and desserts!) worthy of a holiday feast]( Holiday meals can be as simple or as complex as we want to make them.A roasted turkey and mashed potatoes with a store-bought pecan pie can bring as much merriment as a standing rib roast with gougères and a pull-apart bread that looks like a wreath. [Read More »]( [Stay cozy with hot cocktails at these Austin bars and restaurants]( [Stay cozy with hot cocktails at these Austin bars and restaurants]( In this Austin winter, feeling a chill in the air seems to be harder to come by than in past years, but that doesn't mean local bars and restaurants have shied away from offering warming drinks. [Read More »]( [ Feel Yourself : Vapor Caves on new record, Austin s hip-hop scene]( [‘Feel Yourself’: Vapor Caves on new record, Austin’s hip-hop scene]( In this week's episode of the Austin360 podcast, "I Love You So Much," music writer Deborah Sengupta Stith hangs out with Vapor Caves, our Austin360 Artist of the Month. [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. 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