Dante Motley
@DanteMot_
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Breaking News Reporter @statesman | he/him | previously @TexasTribune @sacbee_news @yaledailynews
United States
Joined May 2017
A Tuesday afternoon long-read from @DanteMot_ in @statesman: Austin’s African American heritage center struggles for a purpose
statesman.com
Once envisioned as a cultural hub, the African American Cultural and Heritage Facility have stood mostly idle — leaving descendants and community leaders questioning the city’s promises.
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Travis County approves $2.16 billion budget after 9% tax hike
statesman.com
Travis County commissioners approved a $2.16 billion budget for 2026, with a boost from a 9.12% property tax increase, that directs money toward disaster reserves, road projects and public safety.
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Update: his boat has since been allowed to continue sailing. He says he is 9-12 hours out from Gaza, and there are about 32 boats still making the voyage.
Greg Stoker, an Austinite and army veteran, is being detained by Israeli forces in international waters on a flotilla that was headed to Gaza. Some boats in the fleet have been boarded or hit with water cannons, Stoker said. Read more in @statesman
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Greg Stoker, an Austinite and army veteran, is being detained by Israeli forces in international waters on a flotilla that was headed to Gaza. Some boats in the fleet have been boarded or hit with water cannons, Stoker said. Read more in @statesman
statesman.com
Army veteran Greg Stoker with the Global Sumud Flotilla says Israeli forces stopped boats in international waters as aid headed to Gaza.
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NEW: Austin City Council members are padding their budgets for food, travel and office expenses next year — even as the council is asking voters to approve a 20% property tax increase in November. with @tplohetski
https://t.co/lRrLZEzCPq
statesman.com
Austin City Council members gave themselves 55% more money for travel and 43% more for food in a budget that raises property taxes more than 20%. Voters will decide on the hike Nov. 4.
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U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks has died at 86. "Judge Sparks had a reputation for being tough, but his high standards applied to everyone across the board, including himself," Judge Robert Pitman told @tplohetski. More on his life and legacy in @statesman
statesman.com
Sam Sparks, the sharp-witted federal judge who shaped state and national policy for more than three decades from his Austin courtroom, has died at 86.
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Austin OKs no-delay spay-abortion policy for pregnant animals - via @statesman
statesman.com
Austin City Council ended a 2-day hold on spaying pregnant animals, citing costs and overcrowding. Austin Pets Alive! warns the change will worsen shelter conditions.
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The man accused of shooting and killing three people in an Austin Target parking lot is now facing additional charges, reports @DanteMot_. His bond is $3.4 million. He's facing the death penalty and up to four life sentences plus 80 years behind bars. https://t.co/0kXFhsjNxT
statesman.com
Ethan Nieneker has been charged with attempted murder, robbery and assault in addition to three counts of homicide. The charges stem from a shooting at a North Austin Target that left three dead.
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One person has "life threatening" injuries and two others have "potentially life threatening" conditions after the school bus crash on Nameless Road. Updates from @DanteMot_ and @lilykepner. https://t.co/aayyMeHbam
statesman.com
Travis County sheriff's office said the crash happened about 3:15 p.m. Forty-two children and one adult were on board.
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Austin police ID'ed yesterday's Target gunman as Ethan Nieneker, 35. He suffered from mental health issues and had a past with the law, police said. @statesman
statesman.com
Austin police named Ethan Nieneker as the suspect in a North Austin Target shooting that killed three, including a child; he faces capital murder charges.
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The latest on yesterday's shooting at Target from @DanteMot_:
statesman.com
Austin police named Ethan Nieneker as the suspect in a North Austin Target shooting that killed three, including a child; he faces capital murder charges.
UPDATE: The suspect in yesterday’s triple homicide has been identified as Ethan Nieneker, White male, 32 years of age.
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4 injured in North Austin Target shooting, suspect still at large: Officials
statesman.com
Three people died in a shooting at the Target located at 8601 Research Boulevard. The alleged shooter has been arrested.
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The city's new budget would shutter Recycled Reads by winter, redistribute inventory to branches, and transfer staff. Advocates are urging the council to reconsider.
statesman.com
The city's new budget would shutter Recycled Reads by winter, redistribute inventory to branches, and transfer staff. Advocates are urging the council to reconsider.
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Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department said I-35 construction could restrict access to Lady Bird Lake, close parks, and limit recreational activities for up to eight years.
statesman.com
Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department said I-35 construction could restrict access to Lady Bird Lake, close parks, and limit recreational activities for up to eight years.
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New: A state trooper who is the son of DPS director Freeman Martin remains on active duty two months after he blew through a red light at 101mph and seriously injured a bystander during a chase in Austin. DPS says it is still investigating the crash.
statesman.com
State trooper Freeman H. Martin was driving 101 mph in a 45 mph zone when he blew through a red light and hit another car during a police chase.
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BREAKING: Texas House Democrats flee the state to block a vote on new congressional map
houstonchronicle.com
Texas Republicans proposed a new map that could give the GOP five more seats in Congress after the 2026 midterm election.
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NEW: As #txlege weighs disaster policies, experts say they're is overlooking a key factor that made the July floods so devastating: unregulated development in flood-prone areas. W/ an interactive FEMA flood map by the very talented @carolineghisolf:
statesman.com
Our analysis of FEMA flood maps in the Austin area show many homes devastated by July floods were in high-risk areas. Experts say the state must bolster land-use restrictions to prevent future...
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NEW: FEMA canceled a grant program in April that gave Austin $50M. This month, city leaders asked for the funds back as 20 states sued to stop the cut — but FEMA took down the cancelation announcement and now claims it never officially ended the program.
statesman.com
Austin officials are calling on FEMA to reinstate $50 million in flood resilience funding pulled by the Trump administration earlier this year.
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THREAD: Here's what we've learned from Texas House Republicans' proposal for congressional redistricting. They're targeting five seats to flip: TX-09 (Houston), TX-28 + TX-34 (South Texas), TX-32 (Dallas suburbs) and TX-35 (San Antonio suburbs) https://t.co/0eWwj5AASz
texastribune.org
The first draft of the lower chamber’s new redistricting map targets Democratic members of Congress in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas and in South Texas.
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A third-party investigation found that former Pflugerville Police Chief Jason O’Malley pointed a gun at a subordinate inside a police building earlier this year. O'Malley and two commanders left the force amid the investigation. @statesman
statesman.com
An investigation into then-Pflugerville Police Chief Jason O’Malley identified a pattern of troubling behavior including pointing a gun at a subordinate.
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