5+ day, 10+ hour ago (471+ words) A'Tesla robotaxi, left, and a'Waymo autonomous vehicle ply a residential street in Austin in July. Unlike its biggest automated vehicle competitor, Tesla has redacted the narratives in the reports of its seven robotaxi incidents in Austin so far this year. When he'presented the Cybertruck in 2019, Tesla CEO Elon Musk gave the world the perfect reason to take his big promises with a big grain of salt: "Well, maybe that was a little too hard," he said through an awkward laugh after a Tesla employee shattered the "bulletproof" driver's side window with a steel ball.' Now Musk wants to put fully driverless robotaxis on Austin streets by the end of the year. But state officials and the public should demand more'information verifying the robotaxis' safety before Musk is allowed to remove human safety monitors from the vehicles. As the American-Statesman's Karoline…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (438+ words) FILE " Austin-based trucking startup AI Fleet is laying off nearly 60 employees after the sudden loss of a key supplier. AI Fleet Inc., an Austin startup with a tech-driven approach to trucking, is laying off nearly 60 employees after the sudden loss of a key supplier. The layoffs affect 56 workers based at the company's headquarters at 200 E. Sixth St. including long-haul and regional drivers and office employees assigned to Texas operations, according to a notice filed with the Texas Workforce Commission. In a letter dated Nov. 5, CEO Marc El Khoury said the company "experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of a key supplier" on Oct. 31, prompting the board to vote Nov. 2 to downsize operations."This event occurred too recently and too unexpectedly for us to provide the 60-day notice that the WARN Act ordinarily requires," El Khoury wrote. Layoffs began Nov. 4 and were…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (171+ words) This fall, Texans are weighing big fiscal decisions, both statewide and in your backyard. On Nov. 4, Travis County voters will decide on whether Austin should approve a 20% city tax rate tied to a $6.3 billion budget. If passed, a homeowner with a $500,000 property could owe about $300 more annually in city taxes; if rejected, their increase would likely be around $100. Austin voters will also decide whether to raise the city's property tax rate to support a $6.3 billion budget the City Council approved in August. The council's proposed rate " 57.4 cents per $100 of taxable property value " exceeds the state's cap on revenue growth by about 5 cents, triggering a tax rate election. Results are gathered by Hearst Newspapers from local election departments. Races are called by newsroom editors. Originally published on Nov. 4, 2025 7:00 a.m. Voter Guide 2025: What's on the ballot in Austin? Your guide to Austin's tax…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (489+ words) Beef bulgogi at Koriente." After more than 20 years of bringing a healthy alternative to the bar food and late-night eats of the downtown entertainment scene, the owners of Koriente have closed their restaurant at 612 E. Seventh St. The restaurant announced its permanent closure with a small note atop its website." Jae Lee opened the restaurant that focused on bento boxes, curries, classic Korean dishes like japchae, bibimbap and rice and vegetable bowls with his parents Nam-Sook Lee (Nancy) and Won Lee in July 2005." Koriente's website features a quote that explains the restaurant's mission and how it came to be: "My mom started this restaurant"b/c she hates to cook. She loved going out to eat (make someone else do all the work) but found it tough to find healthy, msg free, low-cal, balanced meals with prices within daily reach. She…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (442+ words) Mike'Elko just might be in College Station to stay. A new contract is expected for the Texas A&M football coach, according to a Saturday report by Yahoo. The announcement of the deal could come today, per Ross Dellenger. A&M plays South Carolina at 11 a.m. in College Station.' "Per sources, the extension will be for an additional six years with an average salary of $11.5 million per year," Dellenger tweeted. The American-Statesman has reached out to confirm the report but did not immediately'receive a reply from A&M officials. The Statesman last month asked about the possibility of a new deal for'Elko, who was connected to head-coaching vacancies elsewhere. LIVE UPDATES: Follow along as Texas A&M plays South Carolina "Elko's previous deal was an inventive-based contract paying him $7 million annually (32nd in the country)," Dellenger tweeted pregame. "The new contract - most…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (743+ words) FILE " Downtown Austin as seen on Oct. 23. Of the 25 Texas companies on the 2025 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list, 12 are based in Austin. Austin companies accounted for nearly half of'the Texas'entries on a new ranking of the nation's fastest-growing technology firms, underscoring the city's standing as the state's tech leader. Texas placed 25 companies on 2025 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, which recognizes the 500 fastest-growing technology and life sciences companies in North America. Twelve of them are based in Austin, eight in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, three in Houston and two in San Antonio. While the rankings highlight the Austin area's outsized role in the Texas innovation economy, the statewide total puts Texas is in a'prominent spot. With 5% of the list's companies, Texas ranked fourth behind the San Francisco Bay Area (17%); the'Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Western Connecticut (14%); and New England (7%).' "This year's…...

1+ week, 23+ hour ago (399+ words) The safest way to thaw a turkey takes several days, so it's important to plan ahead of your Thanksgiving dinner. Holidays are stressful enough without worrying over thawing your Thanksgiving turkey. Timing is everything, and we've got you covered. Depending on the size of your bird, you might need to start thawing it several days before the holiday" or risk a last-minute scramble. Here's what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends. Thawing a turkey in the refrigerator is the safest way to prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, but it requires some planning. Allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey in a refrigerator set at 40F or cooler. To avoid cross-contamination, place the bird in a sealed container" never directly in a drawer, even if you plan to disinfect after. Here's how early you should begin refrigerator thawing based on…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (25+ words) Austin honored Veterans Day 2025 with a vibrant parade and a solemn ceremony at the Capitol, celebrating the courage and dedication of those who served....

9+ hour, 50+ min ago (457+ words) After years of setbacks and uncertainty,Austin's light rail project is now one step closer to fruition. Federal transit officials last week gave Austin Light Rail a key vote of confidence, issuing a "medium-high" rating in an annual funding recommendation report that keeps the project on track for a 2027 groundbreaking. The rating positions Austin to compete for a federal Capital Investment Grant expected to cover roughly half the system's cost. Even with those complications, November's rating brings ATP closer to securing about $4 billion in federal funding. The rating, the strongest overall grade FTA assigned for the 2026 fiscal year, signals that federal staff view the project as financially and technically viable. Greg Canally, ATP's CEO, said the rating is one stage of a multistep, highly competitive funding gauntlet. "It's about five steps to get your federal funding," he said. "It doesn't…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (397+ words) Veterans Day has arrived, and several national and local companies are offering deals and discounts to honor military service members and veterans. Here's how businesses in the Austin area are giving back to the nation's heroes. Veterans Day is always on'Nov. 11, which this year falls on a'Tuesday. Yes, Veterans Day is a federal holiday. H-E-B: Gift bags for veterans, donations to military nonprofits The San Antonio-based supermarket chain is giving away gift bags to veterans this Veterans Day. The gift bags include H-E-B brand items and a note of gratitude, and will be distributed at Texas store locations and at local veteran nonprofits, like community VFW and American Legion locations. Gift bags are limited to one per veteran. H-E-B will distribute gift bags to veterans inside their stores on Tuesday, Nov. 11. H-E-B customers can also join in honoring veterans this…...