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The University Star •

Inside the Capitol: House Bill 3 & Senate Bill 2

“I think the biggest change it would make for me, honestly, is getting out of the state of Texas,” Blumenshein said. “I still feel called to public school… But I’ve even said to my partner, ‘We might need to move sooner. This is not looking good.’”
The bills she’s referring to are House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 2, which would establish Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) – essentially school vouchers – that use public tax dollars to help parents cover private school tuition. If passed, the state wou...
The Austin Chronicle •

Downtown Austin Experiences the Moontower Effect

When Moontower lights up Downtown from April 9-19, it’ll be with more than just marquee names and standing ovations. The 11-day comedy festival returns with a blend of national stars and local standouts – mixing the seasoned with the emerging, the personal with the absurd.

Austin comic Kandace Medina will take the stage for her second Moontower with a set as emotionally raw as it is refined. “This is probably one of the most open sets I’ve had ... specifically about suicide,” she says. “Comedy...
The Austin Chronicle •

“District of Austin” Legislation Fails for a Third Time

For the third legislative session in a row, a proposal to strip Austin of its city status and place it under direct state control has failed – with a resounding bipartisan rejection.






On March 26, the Texas House Committee on State Affairs voted 11-0 to kill House Bill 274, filed by Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park. The bill aimed to create the “District of Austin,” a new legal entity that would serve as the official seat of state government, effectively reclassi...
The Austin Chronicle •

Eugenics Controversy Looms Over Natal Conference at UT’s AT&T Center

A conference promoting pro-natalism – a belief in maximizing births in response to declining birth rates which they believe threaten civilization – will take place later this month at the University of Texas at Austin’s AT&T Hotel and Conference Center. Speakers include advocates for genetic selection and pseudoscience attempting to legitimize racism.

The Natal Conference, set for March 28-29, markets itself as a premier gathering of scholars, policymakers, and tech entrepreneurs discussing sol...
The Austin Chronicle •

Texas Bill Would Require “Biological Sex” on IDs

When UT-Austin’s Lauren Gutterman, a professor of American and gender studies, first heard about House Bill 2549, she thought of something dark: Nazi Germany’s use of the pink triangle to identify and stigmatize LGBTQ+ people.

The recently filed bill, introduced in the Texas Legislature, would require that all state-issued IDs, including driver’s licenses and personal identification cards, list an individual’s sex as determined at birth, effectively erasing legal recognition of gender transitio...
The Austin Chronicle •

ACC’s Recently Launched Free Tuition Program Is Changing the Student Population

Austin Community College’s free tuition program was hailed as a game-changer when it launched in fall 2024. Now, one semester in, the data – and the students themselves – are starting to paint a clearer picture of its impact. Enrollment has surged, math courses are overflowing and students like Cassidy Hernandez say the opportunity has been life-changing.

Cassidy, a first-year ACC student studying pastry arts, didn’t always think college was in the cards. “I was considering taking a year off to...
The Austin Chronicle •

Bills Reignite Debates Over Church-State Separation

This legislative session, some Texas lawmakers are again looking to inject religion into public schools. Senate Bill 10 would require every classroom to display the Ten Commandments, while Senate Bill 11 would create a daily period for prayer and religious readings. Both bills, championed by conservative legislators, have reignited debates over religious freedom, the separation of church and state, and the First Amendment.

Supporters argue the measures uphold America’s Christian heritage, but c...
The Austin Chronicle •

Advocates Rally Against Removal of Disability Rights at Capitol

On Tuesday, a coalition of disability rights activists gathered outside the Texas State Capitol, braving the dusty winds to send Attorney General Ken Paxton a clear message.






Organized by ADAPT of Texas, the rally opposed the September 2024 lawsuit, Texas v. Becerra, which challenges the constitutionality of accessibility protections. If successful, the lawsuit could strip some civil rights for millions of disabled Americans.
The rally dubbed "Don’t mess with 5...
The Austin Chronicle •

Suspected El Paso Serial Killer Near Execution Insists He’s Innocent

After 31 years behind bars, David Wood, one of Texas’ longest-serving death row inmates, is scheduled for execution on March 13. Convicted in 1992 for the murders of six women in El Paso, Wood’s case has long been marked by contested evidence, unreliable testimony, and, now, new forensic findings that his attorneys argue prove his innocence.

Branded the “Desert Killer” by prosecutors, Wood was accused of luring women into his pickup truck, driving them to the desert, sexually assaulting them, a...
The Austin Chronicle •

Michelle Obama Returns to SXSW

Michelle Obama is no stranger to South by Southwest. In 2016, she delivered a powerhouse music keynote alongside Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah, and we can reasonably expect another powerhouse address when she returns to SXSW on March 13.






This time, it’s personal. The former first lady and bestselling author will sit down in conversation with her brother, Craig Robinson, to unpack the values that shaped them: family, resilience, and leadership. Their conversa...
The Austin Chronicle •

Lawmakers Consider Restricting College Degrees Leading to Low-Paying Jobs

Higher education in Texas is not only changing with federal funding cuts. It is also a key issue in the 89th Texas Legislature – again. While debates over DEI policies and state funding dominated the previous session, this time Texas Republicans are pushing to restrict degree programs based on how graduates’ debt stacks up against their income.

While in many countries public university education is free, in Texas students owe a staggering $120 billion in federal student loans. As student loan d...
The Austin Chronicle •

Valentine's and Beyond With This Weekend's Recommended Events

Thursday 13, Texas Science & Natural History Museum

If you’re looking for a cool but nerdy way to celebrate life and love, pop into this pre-Valentine’s party offering unique fun and discovery. Beyond scoping out the museum’s fascinating exhibits and learning about prehistoric mating behavior, enjoy music in the Great Hall, a build-your-own-bouquet station, a Valentine card crafting station, and a Polaroid station, plus complimentary snacks and a cash bar. But the real pièce de résistance: the...
The Austin Chronicle •

A Winter Formal, a Yellow Brick Ball, and More Recommended Events

Thursday 23, the Butterfly Bar

You may imagine, yes, that this show’s solely for the lagomorphs among us. Nay, nay. Medieval New Wave band Marine Kimono perform their original work for all Earth’s creatures this Thursday, as well as compositions for Sarah Saltwick’s play Rabbits. While the Chris Fontanes-directed piece doesn’t hop onto the Vortex stage ’til Jan. 30, you’ll get a sneak peek into the “hare”-brained postapocalyptic story through MK’s sounds and onstage shadow projects. Make a frea...
The University Star •

TXST community holds protest against ICE raids

Approximately 30 students gathered at the Stallions statue on Wednesday, Jan. 29, protesting Trump’s crackdown on immigration since assuming his second term as president.
Jaidenn Morales, computer science freshman, organized Wednesday’s protest independently and said it is rooted in the increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. The protest was not affiliated with Texas State. 
“This really affects me as a Mexican and seeing ICE deport kids in elementary school is dishearten...
The University Star •

Right swipe, wrong intentions: TXST community discusses online dating culture

Trigger warning: this story contains mentions of dating violence.
Texas is the ninth-most dangerous state for online dating in the U.S., according to a study by the Privacy Journal.
From the likes of Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, dating apps are one of the most prominent ways to meet romantic partners – specifically among college-aged individuals.
The Privacy Journal ranked all 50 states on online dating risks, giving Texas a score of 51.53 out of 100. In Texas, reports linked to online dating inclu...
The University Star •

UPD increases residential hall patrols

University Police Department (UPD) officers are patrolling dorms more frequently this semester in an effort to enhance security in on-campus housing.
According to UPD Chief Matthew Carmichael, officers conducted 595 patrol checks across all 26 dorms in January, a significant increase from 215 in January 2024. Since the beginning of the semester, at least one officer has been stationed at each dorm “all the time,” something Carmichael hopes to continue going forward.
Carmichael said UPD leadershi...
The Austin Chronicle •

We Give Two Thumbs Up to These Weekend Events

Thursday 30, Vacancy Brewing

Ever the contrarian, I prefer The Traitors UK’s cast of normies versus the U.S.’s bench of backstabbing reality TV all-stars pulled from Survivor, Big Brother, and the Real Housewives franchise, but whichever flavor you choose of this reality competition show (there are about 20 international versions in rotation), you’re bound to get addicted. The biggest barrier to entry – who the heck has a Peacock subscription? Vacancy Brewing does! Enjoy new episodes with other...
The Austin Chronicle •

A Celebration of Black Women, a Benefit for Palestine, and Other Crucial Concerts

Thursday 30, Chess Club

Lola Tried, who fuse pop and indie rock with noise sensibilities, plan to premiere new single “Degrader” at Thursday’s show. Lauren Burton’s powerful, gritty vocals take center stage in this Austin-based quartet, though guitarist Ray Garza, drummer Jeff Stringer, and bassist Gianni Sarimento craft an equally invigorating atmosphere. With two EPs and an LP under their belts, they’re all set to continue captivating audiences and crafting new sounds with the company of Stel...
The Austin Chronicle •

A Winter Formal, a Yellow Brick Ball, and More Recommended Events

Thursday 23, the Butterfly Bar

You may imagine, yes, that this show’s solely for the lagomorphs among us. Nay, nay. Medieval New Wave band Marine Kimono perform their original work for all Earth’s creatures this Thursday, as well as compositions for Sarah Saltwick’s play Rabbits. While the Chris Fontanes-directed piece doesn’t hop onto the Vortex stage ’til Jan. 30, you’ll get a sneak peek into the “hare”-brained postapocalyptic story through MK’s sounds and onstage shadow projects. Make a frea...
The University Star •

SMTX community holds rally against Trump administration

Donald Trump took the oath as the 47th president on Monday, Jan. 20 at the U.S. Capitol. More than a thousand miles away, protesters rallied at San Marcos City Hall, joining a national Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) movement to denounce his administration’s policies.
While inclement weather moved Trump’s inauguration indoors, Matt Parks, member of the PSL San Marcos chapter, said freezing temperatures wouldn’t stop them from speaking out on issues like immigration, climate change and t...
The University Star •

San Marcos prepares for potential freezing temperatures

Update:
Texas State University has resources in place to help the community navigate freezing temperatures in San Marcos.
According to an email from Texas State Emergency Management, students, faculty, and staff can stay informed about campus delays and closures by signing up for TXSTATE Alerts. As of 3:25 p.m. on Jan. 7, no closures are expected. 
Emergency Management also recommends regularly checking the Safety and Emergency Communications website for updates and weather safety tips. Recommen...
The University Star •

Turning loss into lessons

The Dalton family founded a nonprofit in 2017 to support foster children, but after the death of their son Ethan, a Texas State finance senior, their commitment to helping all at-risk youth has grown stronger than ever.
Ethan was beginning his senior year at Texas State when he died from accidental fentanyl and alcohol poisoning on Sept. 1, 2024, while he was in Colorado.
Ethan had a deep passion for baseball, cherished playing video games with his younger sibling Ace and was dedicated to fitnes...
The University Star •

Lorenzo Gonzalez elected to City Council Place 5

*Results are complete, but unofficial.
Lorenzo Gonzalez was elected to serve his first term as council member for San Marcos City Council Place 5 in the Dec. 14 Runoff Election.
With 424 votes (50.72%), Gonzalez beat his opponent, Roland Saucedo (49.28%), by a margin of 12 votes. The seat was previously held by Mark Gleason, who did not run for reelection.
Gonzalez said his main goal in running for the city council seat was to be more accessible to residents.
“What I’ve been saying all along on...
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