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Articles by Karina Kumar
How Houston-area charter districts scored in 2026 A-F ratings: See which schools did best.
Houston-area charter schools performed better overall than last year, according to recently released Texas accountability ratings. Nearly half of charter campuses in the region analyzed by the Chronicle increased their score from 2025 to 2026. About 34% increased one letter grade from last year to this year, and two-thirds of charter campuses earned As and Bs. The high performance matched closely with traditional public schools.
Interactive map shows where Central Texas cities use license plate readers Original
The American-Statesman reviewed news reports, city records and other online resources to determine which Central Texas municipalities are using the technology. The Statesman examined all cities within Travis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties and contacted agencies that do not appear to have said whether they use the cameras.
Austin-area charter schools largely stagnant or decline in 2026 A-F grades
Academic performance at Austin-area charter schools generally remained the same or slightly declined from 2025 to 2026 on the state’s annual A-F ratings that were released in mid-August. Of the 65 charter campuses graded across the Austin area in both years, 17% increased their scores by a letter grade, and 29% declined year over year. Among traditional campuses, 24% improved their scores, and 19% received lower letter grades when compared with 2025 results.
Katy ISD holds steady with B rating as more than half of campuses earn A's
Katy ISD added five A-rated campuses this year, bringing more than half of its schools into the state’s top rating category while the district’s overall score held steady. Katy ISD earned an 88, or a B, for the second consecutive year in the Texas Education Agency’s 2026 accountability ratings. At the campus level, 42 schools earned A’s, up from 37 last year, while four campuses received D’s, up from three. No Katy ISD campus received an F.
Conroe ISD's best rated schools, according to A-F accountability ratings
A morning newsletter that keeps you connected to Houston in 5 minutes or less. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Notice.
Is violent crime really rising in Austin? What 10 years of crime data shows
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Is violent crime really rising in Austin? What 10 years of crime data shows
The U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas made a startling announcement earlier this week: Austin has experienced a "surge in federal violent crime prosecutions." Justin R. Simmons said his prosecutors had filed "approximately 40 federal cases against defendants for gun-related crimes in recent months" in Austin and that, since 2015, homicides are up 187% and "rape and aggravated assault are up 65% and 38%, respectively" in the city.
Is violent crime really rising in Austin? What 10 years of crime data shows
Police investigate a homicide in the 1500 block of Royal Crest Drive in Austin, Thursday, April 23, 2026. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman The U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas made a startling announcement earlier this week: Austin has experienced a “surge in federal violent crime prosecutions.” Justin R.
Fort Bend ISD's best rated schools, according to A-F accountability ratings
A morning newsletter that keeps you connected to Houston in 5 minutes or less. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Notice.
Explore how San Antonio charter schools performed on 2026 state grades
Credits Reporting by Noah Alcala Bach and Lindsey Byman. Data analysis by Karina Kumar. Design and development by Taylor Nichols/Houston Chronicle. Editing by Emily Donaldson. Production by Angela Alcala. Originally published on Aug. 26, 2026
Gigafactory from above: Tesla's Texas compound is more than meets the eye
Gigafactory Texas is perhaps best known for its massive main building, the one with solar panels on the roof spelling out “TESLA.” To be sure, most of the work done in that building — assembling electric vehicles — is what people think of when they drive by the factory that opened in 2022. That is not what CEO Elon Musk wants, though.
Houston area's best and worst school districts in 2026, according to TEA ratings
A morning newsletter that keeps you connected to Houston in 5 minutes or less. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Notice. Credits Design and development, data analysis and editing by Karina Kumar/Austin American-Statesman. Design and development and data analysis by Taylor Nichols .
HISD's academic gains show signs of slowing. See new A-F accountability grades.
A morning newsletter that keeps you connected to Houston in 5 minutes or less. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Notice. Credits Data analysis, design and development and editing by Karina Kumar/Austin American Statesman. Design and development by Taylor Nichols. Data analysis by Alison Saldanha/Dallas Morning News.
See how San Antonio-area campuses did on the A-F ratings
Credits Data analysis, design and development by Taylor Nichols. Editing by Karina Kumar, Caroline Ghisolfi and Laura Isensee. Production by Brady Stone. Originally published on Aug. 14, 2026
Expolore the data: How Austin ISD schools performed on TEA's accountability ratings
Start your day with the stories you need to know from Austin's most trusted news source. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service FALSE Credits Data analysis, design and development by Karina Kumar. Design and development by Taylor Nichols/Houston Chronicle. Data analysis by Alison Saldanha/Dallas Morning News. Reporting by and . Editing by Emily Donaldson and Karina Kumar. Production by . Originally published on Aug. 14, 2026
See how San Antonio-area districts did on the A-F ratings
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Pedernales River topped its July 4 flood peak in hours. See how Central Texas rivers compared
Follow Pedernales River topped its July 4 flood peak in hours. See how Central Texas rivers compared Meredith Roberts, Karina Kumar Fri, July 31, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. People gather to watch as the Pedernales River floods Ranch Road 1623 in Stonewall, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman) Key takeawaysPowered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article.
Pedernales River topped its July 4 flood peak in hours. See how Central Texas rivers compared Original
Central Texas faced major flooding again in 2026, just two weeks after the anniversary of the historic floods on July 4, 2025. On July 16 of this year, the Pedernales, Guadalupe and Llano Rivers all surged after parts of Central and South Texas saw nearly 30 inches of rain. In Comfort, the Guadalupe River nearly rose to its maximum height from 2025, and the Pedernales River more than doubled its height from last year’s July 4 floods.
Austin's most famous streets, and how they got their names
Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Key takeaways Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Austin's most famous streets, and how they got their names
You're tooling along Slaughter Lane in South Austin, when it suddenly occurs to you: Did something ominous happen here? A slaughter? A massacre? A skirmish? A crime of passion? The thoroughfare is named after Slaughter Creek, which runs through the tract of land once owned by settler Stephen F. Slaughter, who received the land grant in 1835, four years before Austin was founded 10 miles to the northeast. In fact, the Austin city limits did not reach the area around Slaughter Creek until the 1970s.
Who belongs on Rainey Street? Austin neighborhood's past haunts its future
Long before Rainey Street became known for luxury towers and nightlife, it was a small residential neighborhood sitting at the edge of Downtown Austin. Former Austin City Manager Toby Futrell says the change over the past two decades is striking. Cranes crowded the skyline, high-rises multiplied, and the neighborhood that once felt open became engulfed in downtown's growth. More: How has Austin changed over time?
Who belongs on Rainey Street? Austin neighborhood’s past haunts its future
Long before Rainey Street became known for luxury towers and nightlife, it was a small residential neighborhood sitting at the edge of Downtown Austin. Article continues below this ad A view of the skyline of downtown Austin, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.
Paxton vs. Cornyn: See how Travis County voted in Texas' U.S. Senate runoff
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a four-term incumbent, in the Republican U.S. Senate runoff Tuesday. Paxton’s win followed an endorsement from President Donald Trump and millions of dollars in digital advertising from both candidates. Get Digital Access and Stay Informed With Trusted Local News. Get Digital Access and Stay Informed With Trusted Local News.
Paxton vs. Cornyn: See how Travis County voted in Texas' U.S. Senate runoff Original
Cornyn’s support came mostly from inside Austin city limits and west toward Bee Cave, while support for Paxton was concentrated in the outer reaches of Travis County in the Lakeway and Pflugerville areas. Article continues below this ad See how your precinct voted in the Republican Senate runoff. Travis County was one of the few counties in Texas that preferred Cornyn, with 52.7% of the Travis County vote going to the incumbent. See how other Texas counties voted in the Republican Senate runoff.
Maps show how Travis County voted in Texas attorney general runoffs Original
Meanwhile, state Sen. Nathan Johnson defeated Joe Jaworski in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas attorney general. Johnson and Middleton will face off in the November election. The Republican primary runoff ballot included attorney general, U.S. Senate, U.S. House District 37, railroad commissioner and more. The Democratic ballot included attorney general, U.S. Senate, U.S. House District 17, lieutenant governor, among others.
Texas’ most popular baby names are out. See if yours made the list.
The 2025 most popular baby names in Texas are out, but they shouldn't come as much of a surprise if you’ve been paying attention for the past decade. This year marks the eighth year that Liam is the state's most popular boy's name. For girls, Emma won out this year over last year's top name, Olivia, but the two names have been #1 and #2 in the state since 2014. “Regional name trends tell stories about demographics,” said Sophie Kihm, a baby name expert and editor-in-chief of Namesberry.
These were Texas’ most popular baby names last year. See how they compare with other states
The 2025 most popular baby names in Texas are out, but they shouldn't come as much of a surprise if you’ve been paying attention for the past decade. This year marks the eighth year that Liam is the state's most popular boy's name. For girls, Emma won out this year over last year's top name, Olivia, but the two names have been #1 and #2 in the state since 2014. “Regional name trends tell stories about demographics,” said Sophie Kihm, a baby name expert and editor-in-chief of Namesberry.
12 shootings, 5 stolen cars, a manhunt: Timeline maps a weekend of chaos in Austin
On a Saturday morning, a teenager walked into Central Texas Gun Works on West Ben White Boulevard and stole a firearm, then fled the scene in a stolen Hyundai Sonata. Store employees described the car to police, who weren't able to locate the 15-year-old and his 17-year-old alleged accomplice. That stolen weapon was the opening act of a 24-plus-hour event that would leave four people shot, at least five vehicles stolen and bullet damage to two fire stations and multiple residences.
Are Austin police ‘quiet quitting’? Critics raise concerns amid lagging response times
Austin police move through the crowd on 6th Street during SXSW, Thursday, March 14, 2019. [Stephen Spillman for Statesman] sxsw19 (Stephen Spillman/for Statesman) Austin Police Department received praise for a swift response to a mass shooting on West Sixth Street, but overall response times have been slow and faced criticism.
Critics raise concerns as Austin police response times lag. Here’s what the data shows.
Austin police move through the crowd on 6th Street during SXSW, Thursday, March 14, 2019. [Stephen Spillman for Statesman] sxsw19 Stephen Spillman/for Statesman Last month, Austinites and officials alike heaped praise on the Austin Police Department after officers responded to a mass shooting on West Sixth Street in 57 seconds and took down the gunman minutes later.
Bexar County Jail Tracker
See data about in-custody deaths at the Bexar County jail, the jail population and costs to house inmates in other counties. The Bexar County Jail was home to 85 deaths between 2020 and 2025. Warren Brown/Warren Brown/Staff By Karina Kumar, Josh Brodesky, Staff, Data EditorMay 1, 2026 For years, the Bexar County jail has been plagued with in-custody deaths and compliance issues while being strained to capacity.
Bexar County Jail Tracker
For years, the Bexar County jail has been plagued with in-custody deaths and compliance issues while being strained to capacity. From 2020 to 2025, there were 85 in-custody deaths in the jail, many of them preventable. The county has also spent millions of dollars housing inmates in other county jails to ease overcrowding. To bring greater transparency to the jail, we have launched the Bexar County Jail Tracker.
New map reveals where Austin plans to clear homeless camps starting in May
A new map obtained by the American-Statesman reveals planned homeless encampment sweeps in Austin beginning in May, with a focus on enforcement-driven cleanups in response to complaints. The map, which does not show precise locations of encampments, aims to protect residents while giving an idea of where sweeps are expected, according to Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray.
Exclusive: New map reveals where Austin plans to clear homeless camps starting in May
A new map obtained by the American-Statesman reveals where dozens of homeless encampment sweeps are planned beginning in May, offering the clearest picture yet of how the city will carry out an expanded crackdown on public camping. The plan, first reported by the Statesman earlier this month, will lean more heavily on enforcement-driven cleanups in response to voluminous 311 complaints, marking a shift toward more frequent and targeted sweeps of encampments across the city.
Austinites filed 300K 311 complaints in 2025. See what residents report most. Original
Have you ever called 311 to report a neighbor’s overgrown lawn? Or because your car got booted downtown? Maybe you flagged a broken stoplight on your way to work? In Austin, residents filed 297,985 such requests for service through 311 in 2025. Trash-related calls topped the list citywide, specifically those reporting missed garbage collection.
Why $100,000 isn’t enough for most families to get by in Austin Original
Austin has the highest median household income among Texas’ largest cities, but what does it actually take to live here? To answer that question, the American-Statesman analyzed cost-of-living data from several sources to identify Austin’s financial magic numbers — the income thresholds that define poverty, livability, comfort and wealth. Affordability is top of mind for many Austinites, including Mayor Kirk Watson, who has made it his top policy priority.
Austin wasn’t always expensive. Here’s how it became Texas’ priciest metropolis. Original
About this series: The Cost of Living will explore how Austin became so expensive, who is being squeezed by the city’s economic boom and what local leaders are — or aren’t — doing to address it. In 1988, Robert Thayer packed his keyboard, his cat and everything else he owned into a Ford LTD coupe and drove east from El Paso to Austin. Like a lot of young musicians at the time, he had heard the same promise: if you wanted to make it in music, Austin was the place to be.
True crime: Mass murderers, serial killers are part of Austin and Texas past Original
Smoke rises from a sniper's gun as he fires from the tower of the University of Texas administration building at crowds below in this Aug. 1, 1966 photo. The violent incident, which lasted more than 90 minutes, was among the first mass shootings on a school campus in American history. AP Article continues below this ad On the scene, officers shot and killed the shooter, leaving four people dead among a total of 19 casualties.
How West Sixth Street compares: Breaking down a decade of mass shootings in Austin and Texas
A bullet impact is marked on the wall outside Kung Fu Saloon on west 6th street in Downtown Austin, Texas on Monday, March 2, 2026. Three people are dead including a shooter and 14 others were injured in a mass shooting at Buford's on Sunday, March 1, 2026. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman) Ryder Harrington and Savitha Shan never made it home from their night out on West Sixth Street.
How West Sixth Street compares: Breaking down a decade of mass shootings in Austin and Texas
A bullet impact is marked on the wall outside Kung Fu Saloon on west 6th street in Downtown Austin, Texas on Monday, March 2, 2026. Three people are dead including a shooter and 14 others were injured in a mass shooting at Buford's on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman Ryder Harrington and Savitha Shan never made it home from their night out on West Sixth Street.
How your neighbors voted: Mapping Senate primary election results in Austin
People wait in line to vote in the primary election at the Randalls grocery store on Brodie Lane in Austin on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Voters will decide which candidates will represent the Democratic and Republican parties on the ballot in the November general election. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman) Texas held a competitive U.S. Senate primary election, with Ken Paxton forcing John Cornyn into a May 26 runoff, while James Talarico defeated Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary.
Most of your Austin property taxes go to public safety. Here’s why. Original
File photo, protestors arrive to the Austin Police Department headquarters from the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas May 31, 2020 Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman If you recently paid your property tax bill, you may be wondering: Where does all that money actually go?
Travis County early voting turnout hits highest level since 2008 Obama-Clinton primary Original
A sign indicates the polling place at Austin City Hall as early voting begins for the March primary elections in Texas, Feb. 17, 2026. Voters can cast their ballots to decide who represents Republicans and Democrats in the November midterm elections. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman In 2008, Travis County voters flocked to the polls in record numbers during early voting to cast ballots in highly charged and historic presidential primary races.
Austin ISD new boundaries map: Search for schools, special programs Original
Enrollment is underway for families living in Austin Independent School District. All students must go through the enrollment process in Austin ISD’s online Enroll Austin portal, whether the student is new to the district or returning. They will also shift about 3,800 students to new campuses and relocate specialty academic programs across the district.
South Central Texas ICE arrests doubled under Trump in 2025
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested nearly 12,000 people in South Central Texas during the first nine months of the Trump administration — more than twice as many as in the same period in 2024. Though the far-reaching effects of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown have long been felt in South Central Texas, an analysis by Hearst Newspapers offers a comprehensive numerical look at the enforcement effort.
Where to vote in Travis County for Texas primary election. See map of polling locations
Early voting for the March 3 primary elections runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27. Travis County voters can cast ballots in the Republican or Democratic primaries at any of the county's 39 early polling locations. An additional 121 voting locations will be open on Election Day. Enter your address on the map below to find the polling location closest to you. Click on a polling place to get more details, including the address, operating hours and the room where voting will take place.
How to vote early near Austin: Locations, hours, what's on the ballot in 2026 election Original
Travis County election technicians Daniel Boyer and Angela Smith set up voting machines at a polling place at the Travis County Clerk Office in Austin Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Need to know where to vote, how to vote, and what’s on the ballot? Here's your guide for early voting in the Austin area this year. Article continues below this ad What's on the ballot this year?
Voting on March 3? Find Travis County polling locations near you
Early voting for the March 3 primary elections runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27. Travis County voters can cast ballots in the at any of the county's 39 early polling locations. An additional 121 voting locations will be open on Election Day. Enter your address on the map below to find the polling location closest to you. Click on a polling place to get more details, including the address, operating hours and the room where voting will take place.
City of Austin salary database for city employees: Who makes the most?
The city of Austin employed 13,567 full-time workers during the 2025 fiscal year. An American-Statesman analysis of city payroll data shows the median regular pay for those employees was $86,711 — nearly double the city’s median individual income of about $48,000. At the top of the pay scale was City Manager T.C. Broadnax, the only city employee to earn more than half a million dollars in total pay last year.
Your Travis County property tax bill, explained: Deadlines, who gets the money and more Original
Travis county residents paid a total of $5.7 billion in property taxes in 2025. Austin American-Statesman With the deadline to pay property taxes without penalty approaching, many Central Texans are taking a closer look at their tax bills and asking a familiar question: where does all that money actually go? The deadline to pay property taxes in Travis County — and the rest of Texas — is generally Jan. 31 unless that day falls on a weekend, as it does this year.
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