From the Newsroom: The Austin American Statesman

When retiring U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, heard that former U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, was thinking about moving to his district and running to succeed him he surveyed local leaders to see what they thought so he could advise Sessions when he called him. Sessions never called. If he had, he would have gotten an earful. Flores spoke with Statesman political reporter Jonathan Tilove about the ordeal.

The 2019 Best of the Best Gala Event presented by the Austin American Statesman.

Shawn Colvin on recording with Doc Pomus in the 1980s.

Shawn Colvin on her memories of 1970s Austin venue the Split Rail

Shawn Colvin on the new solo-acoustic edition of 'Steady On'

Shawn Colvin on how she realized she should be a songwriter

Aaron Franklin and Megan Nesland talk about feedback from regular customers.

Aaron Franklin talks about why and how they switched to full in-house sausage production.

Aaron Franklin and Megan Nesland talk about the sausage recipe and how they make it.

Kevin Cokley, professor of educational psychology and African Diaspora Studies, talks about the impact of racial microaggressions on people.

Gary Bledsoe, president of NAACP Texas, talks about being told to 'go back to Africa' at a University of Texas football game.

Christina Tzintzun, director of Jolt Texas, talks about being told to 'go back to her country.'

Boone Almanza, 56, talks about being told to 'go home' during college basketball games.

Sharon Blaylock, 55, shares about the times she was told to "go back to Africa." Note: Explicit language

New Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff stopped in for a chat about his new role, acquiring players and his time on the US Men's National Team.

Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday sent a letter to district and county attorneys around the states saying "stop dismissing marijuana possession cases and prosecute them". Numerous marijuana cases have been dropped following the passing of House Bill 13.25, which legalized hemp. Abbot and company said they still need to enforce marijuana laws.

An Austin mother whose April trial for abandoning her newborn daughter in a dumpster ended with the jury hopelessly deadlocked has pleaded guilty to a lesser felony charge and accepted a 5 year probation.

A federal appeals court on Monday scrapped prescribed fixes to the Texas foster care system, including an overhaul to the way the state tracks and records information about foster care children. U.S. District Judge Janis Jack, who ordered the changes, had said the ineffective tracking system contributed to sexual and physical abuse, among other problems. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, however, upheld a requirement that no children be placed in licensed foster homes with more than...

Democratic presidential hopeful Julián Castro has moved one step closer to securing a spot in the fall Democratic debates. Fresh off a strong performance in the first of two Democratic debates last month, the former San Antonio mayor announced Monday that he has received donations from 130,000 donors, one of the key hurdles he has to cross to participate in the September and October debates.

Easy Tiger was packed, and Haymaker had to start turning people away just after kickoff. At 10 a.m. Sunday, the pictures of overflowing crowds watching the Women’s World Cup final across Austin would have been enough to make staffs at the city’s best-known brunch establishments shudder. All of which made the numbers released by Fox Sports on Monday morning even more impressive. In Austin, 16.7 percent of all households with TVs watched the United States beat the Netherlands to claim the...