On January 12th, the APD investigated a deceased persons call at the 3000 block of Guadalupe. James Loren Brown was found dead by his roommate after coming back from the holidays, and APD linked the composite sketch of the Barerra suspect with Brown while also taking into account the proximity of Brown's residence and the attacks that took place on New Year's. FOX is reporting that DNA taken from a New Year's Day attack matched Brown's, and that it also matches four other unsolved cases. No word on whether DNA has been matched to Esme Barrera's case, though police are confirming Brown is the prime suspect in her case as well. Brown was considered a suspect in attacks in "South Austin early July 1, on joggers on July 8, and an attack on Sept. 11 around 8:30 a.m. at Comal and Haskell streets in East Austin," according to the Statesman. more ›

One week since the death of Esme Barrera and the possibly related attacks on two other women in Austin's West campus area, little in the way of hard, verifiable, information appears to have surfaced. Austin police say they're received “thousands” of tips and are in the process of following up on leads. They have requested that anyone who spoke to Barrera on New Year's Eve or in the early hours of New Year's Day contact them at (512) 477-3588. Meanwhile, we at Austinist have been following the news for you. more ›

As Austin gathers to remember Esme Barrera, Austin police continue to search for any information that may shed light on who killed her during the dark early hours of a new year. Police are asking the public to help identify a man who may be connected. more ›

This post is by new news writer Rosa Barnes. -- ed. Wednesday evening, Fatima Barrie, biology major and track athlete of Huston-Tillotson College, was placed on life support after falling victim to a stabbing in downtown Austin. Early Sunday morning, after leaving Republic Live on West 5th, 21 year-old Barrie was confronted by Kaitlyn Ritcherson, 19, and as friends attempted to pull Barrie away Ritcherson stabbed her. more ›

What began as a burglary on Feather Hill Road turned into a SWAT situation in south Austin this morning, leaving Bowie High School on Lockdown. Police are reporting that someone broke into a home, stole a car, and took off, starting a chase. The suspect then ditched the car and hid out in a nearby home (photo: 10200 block of Brodie Lane), where he is currently barricaded. Though the residents were home at the time of the intrusion, they were able to escape before the suspect took the house into lockdown. Update: The suspect has been taken into custody, without incident. more ›

On October 30, 26-year-old Burke Burnett was attacked by three men at a private Halloween party in Reno, Texas. The undeniably vicious attack appears to have been motivated by anti-gay bigotry.Late last week Burnett was informed by the Lamar County District Attorney’s Office that his attackers will face hate crime charges. more ›

It probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to you that this weekend -- one of Sixth Street's busiest of the year -- has been declared a "no refusal" weekend by APD. From 9pm - 5am tonight through Monday, police officers will be able to obtain blood search warrants for suspects who refuse a breathalyzer test. During the four-day July 4th weekend, 73 DWI arrests were made. Given that this is a home game weekend plus Halloween, it's likely that the number may be higher this four day weekend. Drive safe! [Statesman] more ›

Duane Buck, sentenced to death for a 1995 double homicide in Houston, is breathing a little easier this morning. Two hours into last night's six hour execution window (he'd even eaten his "last meal" already), the US Supreme Court stayed his execution. Gov. Perry and other officials had made no move to even postpone the execution date after questions of his race being a factor in his sentencing were raised. Buck's lawyers assert that he is due a new sentencing hearing; the Supreme Court has temporarily postponed his execution while they review the lawyers' claims. You can read more about Buck's case in yesterday's post. more ›

Wearing only tattoos and a pair of boxer shorts, Lyle Monroe Bensley, 19, forced his way into the woman's Seawall Boulevard apartment early Saturday morning, where he began biting and hitting the woman in her bed. more ›

No, we're not talking an APD project to create Spartans (that would be MUCH cooler). This HALO, short for Higher Activity Location Observation, is a system of 24-hour eye-in-the-sky surveillance cameras with the ability to pan, zoom, and tilt. Four such cameras were activated Monday in areas along Rundberg Lane, positioned on telephone poles and at traffic lights. more ›

It's not just the coffee that packs a punch! Tuesday afternoon, a woman rushed into the Starbucks at Congress Avenue and 6th Street, stole a tip jar, and assaulted a customer for her wallet. Richard Chambers, another customer, stopped the woman outside the store and held her until police arrived. No one was seriously injured and the suspect was taken into custody. Austinist thinks Starbucks owes this guy a venti iced white mocha, breve and with caramel drizzle! more ›

This Fourth of July weekend probably was not the best one to pass on the taxi. In a span of four days the Austin Police Department's "No Refusal" initiative totaled 73 DWI arrests, the Statesman reported. Under the initiative, officers can obtain blood search warrants on suspects who refuse to give a breath or blood sample as required by law. more ›

The latest growing trend in nickel-and-dime larceny (pun intended) is copper theft. Copper tubing was stolen from the AC units at Ruiz Library in east Austin last weekend. The thieves stole the copper from four of the units on Friday. Then, in a move we can only describe as 'ballsy', returned Saturday night to finish the job -- pulling the wire from the remaining 7 units. The library is currently without any air conditioning and is closed indefinitely. Copper wiring was stolen from Blanco County on June 16th, leaving some Verizon customers without service. more ›

• Check out this White Denim video where they are playing the “prom.” Hello, yummy cheesiness!
• It’s a rap about Whole Foods. Yes, “It’s Getting Real In the Whole Foods Parking Lot.”
• The Austin Public Library (and the Austin Film Society) are screening some movies for FREE!

An Arlington teacher was arrested last week on five second-degree felony offenses for having sexual relationships with students. more ›

• These Sony attacks have to be an inside job.
• How long before we turn our war machine on Syria?
• Everyone can relax, CEO pay currently exceeds pre-recession level.

Angry that his daughter was in a lesbian relationship, an Austin father allegedly shot and killed his daughter's girlfriend Monday night. According to police, Jose Alfonso Aviles knocked on the front door of the home of Norma Hurtado, 24, and her mother, Maria Hurtado. When the women answered, he killed both of them. Aviles's daughter, who remains unidentified but is believed to be 18, was reportedly inside the home and found the victims. more ›

• Can you imagine using gold and silver coins as legal tender? Wonder if we will also start using bags with dollar signs printed on them to carry this gold...
• It looks like the U.S. Government will stay open for awhile. All the pages are likely very pleased.
• NATO starting to show strains over approach to Libya. And yes, the US still pays the tab when it is "NATO" operation.

A UT student was woken by an unwanted guest in her bed early Sunday morning. The recently renovated Moore-Hill dorm, where the incident occurred, has security measures in place. ID cards and dorm keys, however, aren't exactly ironclad. The intruder was described as an Asian male with short black hair, white t-shirt and black basketball shorts. It was reported that he tried to get on top of her, but left when she resisted. [KXAN] more ›

• There’s unhappiness at Arthouse.
• More bodies found just over the Texas border.
• Highly disturbing story about Houston twins who let their mother die…then lived with her decomposing body.

• NATO "regrets" shooting Libyan rebels
• The Ivory Coast situation reminds us of the Who song lyric, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."
• Yemen's President rejects pleas for his resignation while protests continue. Do you think the Mayans were on to something?

Apparently, laughter can really dampen the mood when you’re trying to rob a bank. On April 5th, at a Wells Fargo in Beaumont, a man wearing sunglasses and a hard hat approached a teller and handed her a note demanding she give him money. When the teller broke into laughter after reading it, the man snatched back the note and bee-lined for the exit. We’re hoping the teller will reveal what exactly was so funny about the note. [KVUE] more ›

• Tell your dad that prostate screening does not save lives.
• Hey, our mission almost accomplished in Libya. See, there was nothing to worry about?
• Relax, there is no oil in the Ivory Coast, so we are good there.

The community service: to sing in the Hudspeth County Courthouse in West Texas (Sierra Blanca, to be exact). In November 2010, Nelson had been pulled over in that county and charged with marijuana possession after authorities found 3-4 ounces of the drug on his tour bus. Kit Bramblett, Hudspeth County District Attorney, said in a radio interview on WOAI, "You can bet your ass, I'm not going to be mean to Willie Nelson." If the judge approves the plea deal, Nelson will just have to pay a small fine along with performing at the courthouse. [WOAI] more ›

• Fabulous video that captures what SXSW felt like this year.
• The “paper of record” covered SXSW. They also liked the bands Joy Formidable and 1,2,3!
• Yes, there really was an official British invasion of SXSW.

An Austin cable access staple, Prakashanand Saraswati aka Guru Swamiji was sentenced to 14 years in prison for each of 20 counts of molesting two girls who grew up on the Hindu ashram -- Barsana Dham -- he founded and led in Central Texas. Swamiji had been convicted in Hays County last Friday and was expected to appear in San Marcos Monday for the punishment phase of his trial. However, the guru never showed. more ›

• Wisconsin's controversial bill passes in their House.
• US government trying to back winners in MidEast protests.
• The U.S. Government would also like to know who is going to revolt next.

Twenty-year-old Saudi native and South Plains College student Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari was arrested yesterday after a chemical supplier -- and a delivery service as well -- reported his suspicious purchase to the authorities. Details are still coming out, but it seems Aldawsari bought some chemicals used in explosives and had considered using various means to possibly blow up George W. Bush's house in Dallas, along with other potential sites. He will make his first court appearance in Lubbock tomorrow. [MSNBC] more ›

A University of Texas student was arrested and charged with deadly conduct after he allegedly fired a shotgun at emergency responders. The firefighters were responding to a call at the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity house at about 3 am Friday when James Harlan Bayless allegedly fired at four firefighters as they climbed the stairs. No one was injured, but according to the Statesman, there was damage to the laundry room and laundry machines. [Statesman] more ›

• AZ Rep. Giffords on her way to Houston for further treatment/future rehab.
• Ronald Barber remembers the shootings in Tucson vividly, except for Judge Roll's attempts to save him.
• Abortion: the GOP's next target.