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January 26, 2026

✅ Today's BG Reads include:

🟪 Austin dispels rumors of ICE presence at warming centers (CBS Austin)

🟪 UT, Austin ISD cancel classes Monday as icy roads remain treacherous (KUT)

🟪 $700M in city projects recommended for Austin's 2026 bond (Community Impact)

🟪 Austin leaders vote down stricter spending rules for themselves and their staff (KUT)

🟪 US declares power emergency in Texas as storm boosts demand (Reuters)

🟪 Texas leads the nation in supplying new residents to other states (Texas Tribune)

🟪 NRA bridles at suggestion that pistol justified Minneapolis shooting (New York Times)

🟪 Senate Democrats vow to block DHS funding, risking another shutdown (Wall Street Journal)

READ ON!

[FROM THE FIRM ]

“Up front, [Development Services Department] is actually economic development,” stated Austin Assistant City Manager Dr. Eric Johnson during a panel discussion moderated by Austin Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Colin Pope at the publication’s 2026 Economic Outlook event yesterday.

Pressed on the city’s forthcoming economic development “roadmap,” Johnson made clear that DSD, long criticized for delays, sits at the center of the city’s growth strategy.

For Johnson, the issue is straightforward: speed equals tax base.

“What’s going to stand out is any city’s general fund increasing tax base,” he said, tying faster permitting directly to Austin’s fiscal health.

Johnson acknowledged the city’s reputation but pushed back on the idea that delays rest solely at City Hall’s feet.

He noted that 85% of submitted plans are rejected as incomplete, calling for accountability on both sides of the process.

The city is now exploring expanded third-party review, regulatory streamlining and artificial intelligence tools to flag code issues before plans formally enter the system.

🟪 BG Blog - Chito Vela begins term as Austin Mayor Pro Tem

🟪 Book Review - The Austin–San Antonio Megaregion: Opportunity and Experience

[CITY OF AUSTIN]

🏛️ City of Austin Memos:

• 2026 Bond Initial Draft Project Recommendation (January 21, 2026)

[AUSTIN METRO NEWS]

✅ Austin dispels rumors of ICE presence at warming centers (CBS Austin)

The City of Austin released a statement Saturday evening after rumors reportedly circulated online that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)agents have been staging in Austin inpreparation for operations.

"City officials have been in contact with regional ICE representatives and have been assured that ICE does not have operations focused on Warming Center or Cold Weather Sheltering facilities," the statement read… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ UT, Austin ISD cancel classes Monday as icy roads remain treacherous (KUT)

Austin-area school districts are canceling classes Monday after Central Texas woke up Sunday to an icy crust coating roads and surfaces, making travel dangerous.

At least one person is confirmed to have died from the extreme cold, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said during a press briefing Sunday morning. A man was found dead in the parking lot of a permanently closed Shell station along the southbound I-35 service road near 38 1/2 Street.

More than 200 flights are canceled at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. One of two runways is closed so crews can focus their wintry precipitation removal efforts.

The National Weather Service said frozen precipitation has ended across the area, but hazardous road conditions are expected to continue as temperatures remain in the 20s Sunday.

The city of Austin said much of the region received up to about a quarter-inch of ice and sleet overnight, with some areas west of I-35 and in the Hill Country seeing even higher amounts… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Austin police respond to over 1,000 calls during Central Texas freeze (CBS Austin)

Winter weather conditions kept Austin police busy overnight, with officers responding to more than 1,000 calls for service as freezing temperatures and hazardous road conditions affected the area.

The Austin Police Department said officers responded to 1,068 calls for service from noon Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday, including 67 collisions and 32 traffic hazards.

Police also transported 10 people to shelters during the period… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ $700M in city projects recommended for Austin's 2026 bond (Community Impact)

A $700 million bond package to fund mobility, watershed protection, parks and public facility projects has been recommended by city staff after months of review.

The outline may not represent Austin's final 2026 bond—if an election is even called this year, a decision city officials are now considering—as a public task force will also weigh in with its own project proposals this spring.

City Council voted to begin developing a new bond with climate-centered elements back in 2024. That work has been handled by both city departments and the resident-led 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force.

Austin hasn't called a comprehensive bond election since 2018, although stand-alone packages were approved for transportation in 2020 and affordable housing in 2022… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Austin leaders vote down stricter spending rules for themselves and their staff (KUT)

Even after Austinites raised concerns about spending, the City Council adopted a new policy that doesn't add as many restrictions as some leaders wanted to see. It will, however, give taxpayers a clearer look at what officials are spending.

The policy was crafted with the help of city staff and was recommended by the Audit and Finance Committee, which is made up of council members and led by Mayor Kirk Watson.

The committee proposed rules that would have tightened how council offices can spend unused dollars. Specifically, the recommendation allowed for no more than $50,000 to roll over to the next fiscal year. Anything over that amount would go back to the city's general fund.

But the City Council adopted rules Thursday that rejected that $50,000 recommendation. Instead, a rule was added that money can be transferred to other city departments only with council approval. To help with transparency, the city will also publish an annual report of council spending on the city's website… 🟪 (READ MORE)

[TEXAS/US NEWS]

✅ US declares power emergency in Texas as storm boosts demand (Reuters)

The US Energy Department declared a power emergency in Texas Saturday as a massive winter storm was set to test the state’s electric grid with ice, snow and temperatures forecast to be in the teens and single digits.

The order, signed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, authorizes the state’s grid operator to deploy backup generation at data centers and other major facilities, “due to a sudden increase in demand, a shortage of electric energy, a shortage of facilities for the generation of electric energy.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Texas leads the nation in supplying new residents to other states (Texas Tribune)

Texas supplied the most new residents of any U.S. state for nine other states, despite having the biggest population growth this decade, according to figures released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Texas was the top source of new residents for Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma, according to the 2024 state-to-state migration flows, which track where someone lived in the previous year and where they currently live.

With 31 million residents, Texas ranks second in population among U.S. states. Between 2020 and 2024, Texas gained 2.1 million people.

“The obvious and primary answer is size,” said Dudley Poston, professor emeritus of sociology at Texas A&M University. “There’s got to be more people leaving Texas than leaving other states because of the population size of Texas.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Anti-Islam rhetoric takes center stage in Texas Republican primary (Texas Tribune)

Muslim civil rights groups say the negative messaging from Republicans around Islam is broader, more extreme and more frequent than in years past, and they worry about the cumulative effect of both heightened rhetoric and anti-Muslim policies.

“It’s definitely more coordinated than it was before,” said Sameeha Rizvi, the policy and advocacy coordinator for the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “We’re seeing it on a national and state level, and we’re seeing so-called influencer activists on the far right using this as a tool to further burn the flames of anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate.”

There are over 300,000 Muslims in Texas — more than all but four states — and long-established Muslim communities in Houston and North Texas.

The candidates characterize their opposition to Islam as an immigration issue, criticizing Muslim immigrants for not properly assimilating and claiming they wish to proliferate their values among other Texans… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ What is a microschool, and why are they expanding in Texas? (San Antonio Express-News)

A new education model called microschooling is gaining popularity nationally and is expected to gain traction in Texas with the rollout of private school vouchers. Focused on maintaining small class sizes and providing a tailored learning experience, microschools typically enroll fewer than 100 students per campus. Some campus operators turn homes into schools, while others find small spaces in strip malls or former small businesses.

There are four kinds of microschools: independent microschools, microschool networks, partnership microschools and public microschools, said Don Soifer, CEO and Founder of the National Microschooling Center. His center is a nonprofit focused on growing the movement across the country.

Independent microschools are typically run by a former educator and, as their name suggests, are operated independently by that educator. Microschool networks include companies like Primer and KaiPod, which run campuses or provide curriculum for local operators across multiple states. Partnership microschools are often operated by a founder or educator in conjunction with another company, such as a city, church or employer.

Public microschools are open to the public for free, just like neighborhood schools. As Texas rolls out its Education Freedom Accounts, or TEFAs, which use taxpayer funds to subsidize private school tuition, the number of microschool campuses is likely to grow in the coming years. The program will give up to about $10,500 to qualifying families to cover the cost of private school tuition. Students with disabilities may qualify for closer to $30,000 annually. This funding could help families who have traditionally enrolled in public schools seek other options… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ NRA bridles at suggestion that pistol justified Minneapolis shooting (New York Times)

Some high-profile gun rights activists and groups bristled on Saturday at government officials’ claims that federal agents may have been justified in killing a Minneapolis man during a protest because he was carrying a pistol. The right to bear arms in public has been a mainstay of the gun rights movement. On Saturday, a Los Angeles federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, became a magnet for outrage when he wrote on social media that “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you. Don’t do it!” Gun Owners of America, one of the country’s largest gun advocacy groups, said in its own posting that it condemned his “untoward comments.”

The group said that “federal agents are not ‘highly likely’ to be ‘legally justified’ in ‘shooting’ concealed carry licensees who approach while lawfully carrying a firearm. The Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting — a right the federal government must not infringe upon.” The gun group also accused “the Left” of “antagonizing” immigration agents. The exchange could point to political fissures between the gun rights movement and President Trump, who is generally seen as an ally. And it already is sparking debate within a movement that has long warned against government overreach.

The National Rifle Association referred to federal agents as “jackbooted government thugs” in a 1995 mailer. But in a statement Saturday night, the N.R.A. put blame for the shooting on Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and other “radical progressive politicians.” It said their “calls to dangerously interject oneself into legitimate law-enforcement activities have ended in violence.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Bondi seeks Minnesota voter rolls, welfare data to "help bring back law and order" in wake of shootings (CBS News)

Attorney General Pam Bondi is pushing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to let the federal government access the state's voter rolls and public assistance data, as tensions flare in Minneapolis after a second person was shot Saturday by federal immigration agents assigned to a weekslong crackdown in the city.

In a three-page letter obtained by CBS News, Bondi also urged the state of Minnesota to scrap all "sanctuary" policies and "cooperate fully" with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including giving the agency access to all local jails and honoring federal agents' requests to detain people.

"I am confident that these simple steps will help bring back law and order to Minnesota and improve the lives of Americans," Bondi wrote in her letter to the governor Saturday, which accused state officials of "anti-law enforcement rhetoric" and "putting federal agents in danger."

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon responded with a statement Sunday saying: "The answer to Attorney General Bondi's request is no."

Simon called Bondi's letter "an outrageous attempt to coerce Minnesota into giving the federal government private data on millions of U.S. Citizens in violation of state and federal law," and said it followed "repeated and failed attempts by the DOJ to pressure my office into providing the same data."… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ From Davos to Minneapolis to D.C., Trump is facing sharper pushback (Washington Post)

Days before the 2026 tax filing season begins, the head of the IRS announced a shake-up Tuesday, saying the personnel and operational changes are intended to improve taxpayer service and modernize the agency. The timing of the announcement coincides with a critical moment for the agency, as the IRS prepares to process millions of tax returns while simultaneously implementing major tax law changes under the tax and spending package President Donald Trump signed into law last summer.

There are new tax relief provisions for tips and overtime, and new deductions for qualifying older Americans. In a letter addressed to the agency’s 74,000 employees and viewed by The Associated Press, Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano announced new priorities and a reorganization of IRS executive leadership.

Notably, Gary Shapley, the whistleblower who testified publicly about investigations into Hunter Biden’s taxes and served just two days as IRS Commissioner last year, was named deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation division. Guy Ficco, the head of Criminal Investigation, is set to retire and will be replaced by Jarod Koopman, who will also serve as chief tax compliance officer alongside Bisignano. Joseph Ziegler, another Hunter Biden whistleblower, was named chief of internal consulting, the letter said. Bisignano said in the letter that he is “confident that with this new team in place, the IRS is well-prepared to deliver a successful tax filing season for the American public.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Senate Democrats vow to block DHS funding, risking another shutdown (Wall Street Journal)

Senate Democrats signaled Saturday that they would be willing to shut down much of the government rather than vote for a package that includes funds for immigration enforcement, following another deadly shooting in Minneapolis. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Democrats wouldn’t vote to advance a broader package needed to fund federal agencies if the current measure funding the Department of Homeland Security is included. Democrats are demanding constraints on DHS’s immigration enforcement activities and more oversight.

“What’s happening in Minnesota is appalling—and unacceptable in any American city,” Schumer said in a statement. He said the DHS bill “is woefully inadequate” to rein abuses by immigration officials. Republicans control the Senate 53-47, but 60 votes are needed to advance most legislation.

Schumer’s statement came after many Senate Democrats—including some who broke with the majority of their party in November and voted to reopen the government—issued angry statements Saturday saying they wouldn’t support a bill funding DHS, the agency that includes the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Enough is enough,” said Sen. Jacky Rosen (D., Nev.), who last year was one of eight Democrats to join Senate Republicans in voting to end the shutdown. “I have the responsibility to hold the Trump administration accountable when I see abuses of power,” she said in a social-media post.

The statement from Schumer raised the prospect of a partial government shutdown when funding for the federal government expires at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 31, since the Homeland Security funding is wrapped into a broader package covering about $1.3 trillion in annual spending. Senate Democrats are expected to hold a caucuswide call on Sunday. Heading into the weekend, many Senate Democrats had wanted to avoid another shutdown. But the deadly shooting of a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis by a U.S. Border Patrol officer changed the dynamic, aides and lawmakers said, uniting the party in taking a hard line. The Trump administration has surged border-control officers into the city as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration, sparking protests and physical confrontations… 🟪 (READ MORE)

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