Student protests, Highway 71 crash, and Tesla robotaxis lead today’s Austin headlines

Austin, TX is starting the week with major civic action, serious traffic disruptions, and new questions about autonomous vehicles on city streets.

Students march on Capitol in ICE protest

Hundreds of Central Texas students and families spent Presidents Day in downtown Austin protesting federal immigration enforcement. Demonstrators gathered at City Hall and marched up Congress Avenue to the Texas Capitol, part of a broader wave of school walkouts across the region.

Organizers framed the action as a defense of immigrant communities rather than a day off from class. Students from Austin ISD and surrounding districts spoke about family separations, recent immigration raids, and the emotional toll on classmates.

The protests come as the state attorney general investigates multiple districts, including Austin and Manor, over earlier student walkouts. District leaders have pushed back, saying staff presence at events is focused on keeping students safe, not organizing demonstrations.

Major crash shuts down Highway 71

Drivers heading between Austin and the Hill Country faced long delays after a serious crash forced the closure of all lanes on Texas Highway 71 near Cypress Ranch Boulevard. The multi vehicle incident, reported late Sunday afternoon, halted traffic in both directions for hours.

State transportation officials rerouted vehicles onto nearby residential roads and suggested alternate routes such as Bee Creek Road and Pace Bend Road. The backup was worsened by holiday weekend travel, and investigators with the Department of Public Safety continue to review what led up to the collision.

Tesla robotaxis log more Austin crashes

New federal filings show Tesla’s robotaxi service in Austin has now been involved in 14 reported crashes since launching in 2025, with five new incidents added from late December and January. All of the latest crashes involved Model Y vehicles operating with an automated driving system engaged.

One previously reported crash has been updated to include a hospitalization, raising additional concerns from safety advocates who have pressed for more transparency around autonomous vehicle testing on public roads. Tesla reports the incidents through a national database that tracks crashes involving automated driving systems.

City leaders and residents are watching closely as Austin balances its role as a testing ground for emerging transportation technology with ongoing questions about safety, street design, and oversight.

Looking ahead

Between youth led activism, major traffic incidents, and evolving mobility experiments, Austin enters the rest of the week with busy streets and even busier civic conversations.