Global News
Nepal Unrest Erupts
When the Nepali government banned several major social media platforms on Sept. 6, a group of largely Generation Z protesters launched a movement that quickly flamed into a violent revolution. Armed with matches and their phones, young demonstrators set fire to the Nepali’s Parliament building, forcing communist Prime Minister Oli Sharma, known for cronyism and oppression, to resign. Taking his place as interim prime minister is Sushila Karki, who was elected over the messaging app Discord. Karki is a former Chief Justice of Nepal and its first female leader. She will be in power until they hold formal elections in March.
Former French President Sentenced to Prison
On Sept. 25, 2025, Nicolas Sarkozy, who served as President of France between 2007 and 2012, has been sentenced to prison on charges of criminal conspiracy. The BBC covered new evidence that shows that his 2007 campaign accepted millions of euros from then-president of Libya Muammar Gaddafi. The conservative leader will be fined 100,000 euros and serve five years in prison. The prosecutors are yet to determine the date his sentence will start.
National News
Southwest Changes Policies
In response to declining profits, Southwest Airlines announced on March 11, 2025 on its website that it will update some of its policies regarding seating. Previously, it was one of the only airlines not to directly sell seats along with tickets to customers, and instead assigned them to boarding groups based on when they checked in for their flight. Now, passengers will buy specific seats with their tickets. They will also begin requiring payment for checked bags. Part of this rearrangement includes paying extra for plus-size seating instead of receiving it for free. According to The Los Angeles Times, plus-size customers who formerly saw Southwest as a haven responded negatively to the change on social media, and others expressed discontent with the increased number of charges. This policy, along with all their other changes, will go into effect on Jan. 27, 2026.
Charlie Kirk Assassinated
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, known for argumentative political discourse that energized young people around President Donald Trump, was shot in the neck during a rally at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. The 31-year-old passed away several hours later that day. Although many politicians condemned the perpetrator, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, several online users praised his action, leading to further political unrest and tension as a polarizing figure suffered a tragic death.
Government Shutdown Takes Hold
As the Sept. 30 midnight deadline for a congressional budget came and went, the federal government entered a shutdown. NBC reported that roughly 750,000 federal employees, working in national parks, hospitals, and defense agencies, received furloughs, suspensions of their pay for an indefinite period. The shutdown came after President Donald Trump withheld $4 billion in foreign aid from a previous appropriation, which Democrats are now trying to prevent, refusing to give Republicans the 60-vote supermajority they need. Democrats are working to uphold a reduction in premiums from the Affordable Care Act.
State News
Politicians Enter Texas Senate Primary
Several politicians have announced their candidacies for the 2026 Texas U.S. Senate Race. Republican incumbent John Cornyn, a conservative mainstay who represents a pre-Trump ideological idealism, has been challenged by firebrand Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the GOP nomination. Democratic nomination seekers include Colin Allred, returning from a lost 2024 Senate campaign, and James Talarico, a young and progressive U.S. representative who utilizes Christian values in his messaging and arguments. Democrats Beto O’Rourke, who ran in the 2018 Senate election, and Joaquin Castro, who attempted the 2020 presidential nomination, have also floated speculations of running.
Hybrid of Blue Jay and Green Jay Appears
To South Texans, the Green Jay is always present: a loud and gregarious bird of backyards and birdbaths. People in other parts of the state are familiar with the Blue Jay, which has a diamond-shaped head and loud crow. Their hybrid, however, is altogether new. Nicknamed the “Grue Jay”, a single individual was found near San Antonio. According to VICE, this anomaly is a sign of shifting climate that allows formerly isolated species’ ranges to overlap.
Local News
Santa Rita Courts to be Renovated
The country’s oldest public housing is about to become Austin’s newest renovation project. Santa Rita Courts, a subdivision on Second Street in East Austin, has been an affordable home for hundreds of low-income residents since local congressional representative Lyndon Baines Johnson, who would later become president, advocated for its establishment in 1939. The Housing Authority of the City of Austin will demolish some of the buildings to construct multi-story apartments and undertake internal refurbishing of other rooms to include central heating and air, insulation, and amenities such as dryers.
Yogurt Shop Murders Solved
DNA evidence has revealed the killer of four teenage girls in the 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders, a gruesome murder that garnered large media attention. On Sept. 26, 2025, the Austin Police Department announced that comparisons with genealogy databases allowed them to narrow in on Robert Eugene Brashers, who committed suicide in 1999 during a confrontation with police. Similar bullet casings found at the scene of the crime and that of the suicide further confirmed investigators’ conclusions. The suspect had been convicted of a number of similar crimes while alive.
Austin Rebrands
The City of Austin announced a redesign of its 1916 seal on Sept. 4, 2025. The new logo features a green and purple “A” above the word “Austin”, which the city said reflected Austin’s violet crown skies and green spaces. The update was not without criticism: 94% of responders to a CBS Austin poll answered that they did not like the change. The logo has gone up on the city’s official website and will appear on other municipal materials, uniforms and properties.