Latest news with #AbileneCityCouncil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
2nd shooting at Abilene hookah lounge leaves residents, nearby businesses concerned
ABILENE, Texas () – A hookah lounge located on the 700 block of North 6th Street experienced a second shooting incident in less than a year. Victim shot at Abilene hookah lounge The 6th Street Center is a historic property built in the early 1900s and is recognized as the first African American hotel in Abilene. Located in the 700 block of North 6th Street, this property is now home to several businesses, with the second floor previously serving as an event center. Most recently, the second floor has been rented out to serve as a hookah lounge and local hangout. On Saturday, May 31, at around 2:00 a.m., an incident occurred at that hookah lounge when one patron shot another. This type of incident isn't new for this location, as back in October of 2024, when a man who was in a crowd allegedly tried to push his way inside the establishment, and a security guard who was hired by the hookah lounge was accused of fatally shooting the individual. Concerns over this gathering spot have been voiced as recently as the May 8 Abilene City Council meeting, where notable Abilene figure Reverend Andrew Penns addressed the council about issues he and those who live in the area are experiencing. 'I come with a concern about a club that has opened in the Carver neighborhood. Anytime from about 2 to 3:00 in the morning, I'm being woken up by music from that club. Not only myself, but others in the neighborhood have voiced concern,' Penns said to the council. Security guard arrested on murder charge in connection to death of Abilene man Businesses in the area are also expressing concerns following the incident at the historic building. President Shawnte Fleming-Lewis of the non-profit Let Us Breath-Abilene, which is located right next to where the shooting occurred, spoke about what she and other business owners are now facing. 'It was always a privilege for me to be here. The residents are all complaining about here, and eventually, this is going to turn into something bigger that is going to be out of control,' Fleming-Lewis shared. 'We're just looking to try to contain, try to figure out what the best plan is. We just have to do a better job about protecting Abilene.' The property owner for the 6th Street Center, who wishes to remain unidentified, spoke about how he traditionally rents the space for events and was leasing the property to a 3rd party when the incident occurred. They say that after this incident, they are looking to cooperate fully with city authorities for the next step in securing safety on this property. 'I'm going to take the recommendations from the police department and the city. We're going to comply fully with whatever the city says. The violence… It's got to stop.' As of now, neither the individual who was shot nor the shooter has been identified. The injured party was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and the suspect in this incident has not yet been arrested. An investigation is currently underway, and police are asking anyone with information on the incident or the possible shooter to come forward and contact Abilene Crime Stoppers at (325) 676-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Early or on Election Day: What to know about voting in Abilene City Council runoff race
Early voting turnout has been low for the Place 5 Abilene City Council runoff election compared to previous years. During the last runoff race for Abilene City Council Place 5 in 2019, the Taylor County Elections Office reported a total of 2,297 votes were submitted by the fourth day of the early voting period. This year, the race between incumbent Kyle McAlister and newcomer Miguel Espinoza has had a turnout of 1,537 votes. With early voting running through Tuesday and Election Day on Saturday, the last days will be the final push for the two candidates' campaigns. Get to know the Place 5 candidates: Espinoza or McAlister? Early voting open for Abilene City Council runoff election There is still time to get to the polls for early voting through Tuesday. Early voting polling locations are located at: Taylor County Plaza, 400 Oak St. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mall of Abilene, 4310 Buffalo Gap Road. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Abilene City Hall, 555 Walnut St. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Four voting centers will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day Saturday. Here are the Election Day polling locations: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4515 South 14th St. Abilene City Hall, 555 Walnut St. New Beginnings United Pentecostal, 5535 Buffalo Gap Road Taylor County Plaza, 400 Oak St. What to know about the upcoming 2025 Children's Art and Literacy Festival Development Corporation of Abilene seeks approval for $3.5 million Project Surf incentive This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Polls open for Abilene City Council runoff election
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Espinoza or McAlister? Early voting open for Abilene City Council runoff election
Early voting for the Abilene City Council Place 5 runoff election kicked off Tuesday in Taylor County. Newcomer Miguel Espinoza and incumbent Kyle McAlister are vying for the Place 5 seat. A candidate must garner 50% of the vote plus one vote to win. During the May 3 election, three candidates split the vote in the race for Place 5. McAlister received 49.78% of the vote, and Espinoza received 42.98%. The third candidate Cynthia Alvidrez received 7.24% of the vote. Eligible voters can put their vote in for Espinoza or McAlister at three polling locations during the early voting period, Tuesday-Friday this week and June 2-3. Here is where you can vote early: Taylor County Plaza, 400 Oak St. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 27-30 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 2-3. Mall of Abilene, 4310 Buffalo Gap Road. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 27-30 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 2-3. Abilene City Hall, 555 Walnut St. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 27-30 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 2-3. Election Day voting centers are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. June 7. Here are the Election Day polling locations: Abilene City Hall, 555 Walnut St. New Beginnings United Pentecostal, 5535 Buffalo Gap Road Taylor County Plaza, 400 Oak St. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4515 South 14th St. Espinoza is a born-and-raised Abilene native, a graduate of Abilene High School and Abilene Christian University and works as an accountant at a local Abilene firm. As he grew professionally, Espinoza said he found a passion for nonprofit work. He volunteered with All Kind Animal Initiative since its fruition serving on its board as treasurer and president. He sits on the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature Board and serves on several state committees related to his career in accounting. Espinoza said his reason for running for City Council stems from his desire to pour back into the community that gave him so much. "I love my community, and I want to set an example for, hopefully one day, my future children and grandchildren," he said. Do not just exist in your community, Espinoza said. Use your gifts and personal blessings and give back. McAlister, the Place 5 incumbent, has served on the City Council since 2013. He said he is ready and able to serve again. "The challenges that we have ahead of us are really some of the same challenges that we've always had," McAlister said. City officials are tackling streets and water, solidifying infrastructure and continuing to develop job opportunities by bringing in companies and offering incentives to those companies, McAlister said. "I want people to know that I'm working hard for them and that I am here to listen," McAlister said. His job as a City Council member is to get results and work with the public, the other council members and city staff to work through problems together, he said. Crash takes man's life Memorial Day brings remembrances of those who served and those who gave all This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Early voting open for Abilene City Council runoff election
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
BIG COUNTRY POLITICS: Runoff momentum, HB 1375 debate & one candidate's takeaway from it all
BIG COUNTRY, Texas () – Despite not winning her race, Abilene City Council candidate Tammy Fogle says the campaign trail was a valuable and rewarding journey that deepened her connection to the community and strengthened her voice on issues she cares about, both locally and in Texas legislation. As she reflects on the election, political analyst Dr. Paul Fabrizio offers insight into what shaped voter turnout, while also commenting on the recent election of Pope Leo XIV. Abilene City Council Election Results: Candidates share reactions Tammy Fogle recently ran for Abilene City Council Place 6 against incumbent Travis Craver. Despite not securing the seat, she says she learned a lot and enjoyed her campaign experience. 'It's interesting because you never know what part of your life is going to be a linchpin for something that blows up in your face. You try to think, 'What have I done in my life?' And that's probably the scariest part, the unknown; but actually, I had so much fun,' Fogle shared. 'I don't recommend it for everyone, because it is a little grueling, but it was really an amazing experience, getting to connect with citizens and talk with them about what concerns them, and people that I never would have gotten to have conversations with had I not run for office.' Abilene voters pass $20 million bond for airport upgrades In the same election, voters approved a $20 million bond for airport improvements — by a slim margin of 52%. While she initially saw the proposal as reasonable, she later questioned the motives behind the push. 'I thought there was some legitimate need for it. As I watched the campaign unfold, the fact that we had the Chamber of Commerce investing advertising into this to promote it caused me great concern, because they have an agenda, and I think the city has a different agenda,' Fogle explained. 'But what was promoted was that we needed to have a beautiful airport, and to me, as a person who pays taxes and wants our taxes to go down, that's concerning, because a beautiful airport is not necessarily one that's going to bring in more airlines… What needs are there, and what wants are there? I feel like it was a want. And on top of all the other taxes that are going to be coming our way, raising our taxes, I think it's concerning that, due to a lack of information, citizens did approve it by a small, small margin.' Outside of city politics, Fogle has been vocal in her support for House Bill 1375. The bill would hold businesses accountable—particularly bookstores—for distributing what it defines as harmful material to minors. Big Country Politics: Abilene bookstore owner discuses concerns of House Bill 1375 The bill has sparked debate across the state. Recently, on Big Country Politics, Arlene Kasselman, owner of Seven and One Books, shared her concerns about vague language and the potential legal consequences for independent bookstores. 'I think the education on this has been really stifled by a lot of the conversations that happened through people like the owner of Seven and One Books, who come out and say, This bill is dangerous. It can cause censorship,' Fogle said. 'A group that I follow told me about this, [saying] there's no explanation in the bill. What concerns me most is that I don't even know if the person has read the bill. If you look at the bill, it says the definition is harmful, it says what harmful and obscene material is, and it tells you it's a Texas penal code… It says that it's prurient material, which is basically an excessive interest in sex.' According to Fogle, the issue isn't new, as the state legislature has been working on this topic for nearly eight years. 'One of the things she failed to even acknowledge in her discussion of it is that this is focused on books of sexual content. Not racism, not the color of your skin, not that kind of thing. In fact, most of the books she listed were not even books about sexual content, which is something that is harmful to children,' Fogle said. 'So this is kind of a last-ditch effort to say, 'whoa, whoa, whoa. We don't want to have to be responsible for making sure we protect children.' I think HB 1375 is a great bill that actually helps people know that even if you don't understand the law, it doesn't mean you're not accountable for it.' To better understand the bill, Fogle reached out directly to the author. 'They gave me a one-pager that talks about how it creates a civil right to sue over obscenity. It targets companies that distribute porn to minors, and that was one of the things mentioned,' Fogle shared. 'The owner said she wasn't talking about pornography. Well, this is, and there's a clear distinction between things that are sexual. Unlike, you know, Anne Frank is a book she mentioned, Diary of Anne Frank. The only reason that's on a banned book is because it was republished as a graphic novel, and the graphic novel took liberties that weren't in the original book. So we have to be careful that we're informed and understand, and if you hear what I say, I encourage you to go look it up and make sure what I'm saying is accurate. Don't just trust my word for it. We need to make sure we know how to find the sources to be able to validate and have intelligent conversations about these issues.' However, like many others, HB 1375 will not advance this session. Nearly 4,800 bills in the Texas Legislature didn't make it to the House floor. Thousands of Texas House bills 'die' at key midnight deadline Switching gears back to the recent local election, Dr. Paul Fabrizio, a political science professor at McMurry University, noted the low voter turnout in Abilene. 'I would argue that for local elections, it's the responsibility of the candidates to generate excitement for an election. Really, it falls on the challengers to come up with good, valid reasons to toss out the incumbents, and those reasons have to be compelling enough to get voters' attention and to get them to the polls,' Fabrizio explained. 'We have seen elections in this town with a much higher turnout than what we've had this time, and it was because the challengers really got into it. They were talking about issues that voters cared about, and it worked because voters turned out. And so, because of that, the voters responded. Nobody really asked them to come and vote, so they didn't vote.' Now, in the City Council Place 5 race, incumbent Kyle McAlister and challenger Miguel Espinoza are preparing for a runoff after neither candidate secured the required 50% of the vote. But will turnout improve? 'Again, it comes back to the two candidates in the race, and most especially the challenger, Miguel Espinosa. He has to get voters out. He has the tough job of getting his voters to come out a second time and converting voters who voted for the other candidates, Cynthia Alvidrez, to support him as well if he wants to win this race,' Fabrizio said. 'That's going to be really tough to do. So in the next couple of weeks… he's got to generate that kind of excitement.' Place 5 race not over yet: McAlister, Espinoza gear up for runoff Fabrizio added that while runoff elections can favor challengers, the odds may be stacked against Espinoza. 'You look at a race, and there's going to be a runoff, you can make the argument that the challenger has the best chance to knock off the incumbent because the incumbent failed to get a majority of the votes,' Fabrizio shared. 'Kyle McAllister was really, really close to getting that majority, you know, just a handful of votes, and he would have gotten it, so he is almost there. So in that sense, he just has to get his voters to come out, and a few more voters, and he's got this election. So I would argue Miguel has the most difficult road to go, but it's not insurmountable. In the city, we have had other runoffs where the challenger has beaten the incumbent in those runoff races. So it's certainly possible this time, but you've got to get people out… But as I drive around the city, as I talk to people, I'm not having conversations with people about this runoff race. Usually, when there's a runoff election, people are talking about it.' Fabrizio also weighed in on an international development — the recent election of Pope Leo XIV. He said, like most things, it's deeply political. 'You don't want to think that politics plays a part in it. But all of these people who participate, all these cardinals, have risen up through the ranks to become members of this very, very small body, right? They've all demonstrated political skills to get there, and they're not going to just turn it off once they're with the others to choose a candidate,' Fabrizio explained. 'To me, the big surprise was that they chose an American. Because all along, the story has been that no American would ever be elected Pope.' According to Fabrizio, Leo XIV isn't your average American cardinal. 'The reason for that is very simple. He spent so little time in the United States. He is really a creature of being a missionary in Peru and then a bureaucrat in the Vatican Curia. He's lived two-thirds of his life outside of the United States,' Fabrizio explained. Abilene woman marks Jubilee Year at the Vatican, sees Pope Francis in his final days And while Pope Leo XIV embraces some traditions of papal authority, Fabrizio sees a familiar thread from his predecessor. 'What I see when I look at him is one who is comfortable with traditional styles of liturgy, of worship. You noticed that when he came out, he was wearing the red stole that Pope Francis did not wear,' Fabrizio shared. 'He's moved into the Apostolic Palace, which Pope Francis did not move into. So he's saying, I am comfortable with some of the trappings of Papal power, papal looks, that sort of thing. But then his words, actually, when he talks about immigrants, when he talks about migrants, you look at some of his tweets that he's put out criticizing the Vice President of the United States, you go, okay, he probably has a missionary's heart and is really focused on the people on the margins. In that sense, very much a continuation of where Pope Francis was.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Abilene restaurant owner faces challenges with homeless encampments
ABILENE, Texas () – Just over a year ago, BigCountryHomepage spoke with Jack Kaikratoke, owner of the China Star restaurant on South 1st Street, about the massive amounts of debris piling up just along the edge of his property line. Unhoused residents camping in the nearby wooded area of Elm Creek and passing under the South 1st Street overpass left debris there. Following a large-scale clean-up project by the city, Kaikratoke says some things have improved, but not enough to keep the issue from returning. 'Needles all kinds of stuff': Abilene restaurant owner overwhelmed by trash from growing homeless camp 'They don't come camping here no more…The major one is under the bridge…My business has dropped big time… Once a week, I have to come and clean this,' Kaikratoke said as he patrolled the property line with a bucket and garbage grabber in hand. The city's clean-up efforts have dramatically transformed the wooded area near his parking lot. He says homeless residents returned to the area underneath the South 1st Street overpass bridge almost immediately or, if not returned, continued to tell others about the spot. 'The old ones that you see are gone, and the new ones come replace it…It just. It seems like an issue that we cannot solve,' said Kaikratoke. His repeated encounters with unwelcome campers continue to be an issue for his business and safety. A couple of weeks ago, he installed motion-activated exterior lights and is now considering a security camera system. Kaikratoke says he has called the city and police on multiple occasions. Still, the campers continue to return, unwilling to pick up after themselves and, at times, becoming aggressive or even racist towards him, a Thai man who has owned and operated his restaurant in Abilene for about 40 years. 'They know where my property line is, so they stay just outside, so I cannot do anything about it. I ask them nicely, 'Please can you leave?' But if they don't leave, they'll be aggressive. They say, ' Well, I'm not on your property. ' Some of them even say, 'You should go back to where you came from.' I don't know what we can do but the city and whoever's in charge,' Kaikratoke shared. The clean-up efforts on Elm Creek were part of a larger project by the city to clear out known encampments around town. GALLERY: Homeless camp cleanup efforts have cost City of Abilene $100,000 The Abilene City Council will discuss the Abilene Homeless Initiative at their next meeting on March 13 at 8:30 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
