Here are things to know for Thursday, May 6:
1. Texas Senate approves permitless carry bill in prelim vote
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The Republican-led effort to allow Texans to carry handguns without any kind of license cleared what is likely its biggest remaining hurdle in the Capitol on Wednesday, when the Texas Senate moved in a nail-biter vote to bring the measure to the floor and then gave it approval.
The measure – already passed by the Texas House – heads to a conference committee for the two chambers to hash out their differences, unless the House accepts the Senate amendments. Then the bill heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, who said last week he would sign the permitless carry bill into law.
House Bill 1927 would nix the requirement for Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns if they’re not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a gun. The Senate approved the bill in an 18-13 vote, less than a week after it sailed out of a committee created specifically to tackle the legislation.
2. Texas House advances bill that would ban homeless encampments in public
The Texas House on Wednesday moved to advance a bill that would ban homeless encampments in public places statewide, a move that comes less than a week after voters in Austin reinstated a similar ban that was removed two years ago.
Critics say that removing the ban in Austin triggered the proliferation of tent cities there, sparking a fierce and divisive debate over how to handle homelessness in the state capital, where some 10,000 people are estimated to have experienced homelessness in the last year.
The bill initially passed by the House on Wednesday would make camping in an unapproved public place a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. It still needs final approval by the House — usually a formality after it’s passed in the first vote — and then will head to the Senate.
The statewide ban was approved by a vote of 85-56, with most of the opposition to it coming from Democrats, although the legislation has sponsors from both parties.
3. 5 undocumented people found during human smuggling investigation near Katy
Five undocumented people were found Wednesday during what investigators described as a possible human smuggling attempt near Katy.
A business owner at the scene on Vander Wilt Lane said he called authorities after noticing people outside of his business, worried that his business was being burglarized. Deputies from the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office responded and secured the scene.
Tim Oberle, public affairs officer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Homeland Security investigators also responded.
“Five undocumented individuals were found at the scene in what appears to be a suspected human smuggling attempt,” Oberle said in a written statement. “We cannot comment further on this case at this time as our investigation remains ongoing.”
4. Residents in Spring on high alert after thief caught on camera stealing several backflow preventer devices
Residents in Spring are asking for help in identifying a man they said stole several backflow preventers from at least two different communities.
The thief was caught on several different surveillance cameras in the Wright’s Landing subdivision wearing a red hat and an AT&T vest.
Melissa Solis said she first noticed her backflow preventer was missing Tuesday afternoon.
“When we came out, we noticed that not only ours was missing, but our neighbors were missing as well,” said Solis.
The backflow preventer is essentially a part for your sprinkler system. Its purpose is to only allow water to flow in one direction, and it stops contaminated water from the sprinkler system from entering your home’s supply of drinking water.
“For them to hit our neighborhood, not only ours but another neighborhood as well, it’s definitely really frustrating that we can’t do anything about it,” said resident Jocelyn Davis.
5. All 100,000 of Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival tickets sell out in 30 minutes
On the day of his birthday, Travis Scott announced that his Astroworld Festival will officially return in the fall of 2021.
The official dates will be through November 5-6 at NRG Park in Houston. In a press release, the festival cited overwhelming demand as well as rave reviews for the decision to expand to two days this year.
Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. on Wednesday but they sold out in 30 minutes. Fans were encouraged to get their tickets early since only 100,000 would be sold.