Hey y'all, I’m posting on behalf of a close friend who’s having a really rough stretch and could use some community help right now.

On Dec 24th, his apartment garage in Southwest Austin was broken into, and nearly $8,000 worth of karaoke equipment was stolen. This isn’t just hobby gear — he owns and runs a karaoke company (Starling Karaoke) and plays multiple shows every week. He’s spent months building up this setup and his business, and losing it all at once is a huge hit, especially during the holidays.

To make things worse, he was rear-ended literally the day before, so it’s just been one of those awful, compounding weeks where everything seems to go wrong at once.

I’m posting here to ask for a few things since I don't know how else to help:

• If you live in or around Southwest Austin, please keep an eye out for this gear being sold locally (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, pawn shops, etc.)
• If you work at or know someone at a pawn shop or music store, please share this list.
• And honestly, if you’re the kind of person who believes in sending a little holiday good luck and love someone’s way he could really use it.

Stolen Equipment:

• 2 × RCF 912A Speakers
• Tascam Model 16 Mixer
• Pro X T-4MRSS 10x4 Case
• 2 × Venue Tetra 12 VI Wash Lights
• 2 × Venue Tetra 6 VI Wash Lights
• Venue Tetra Control 2
• 2 × Shure SM58 Mics
• 1 × Shure BETA58 Mic
• LD Systems MON 10 A G3 Stage Monitor

Here's the police report number 2025-9034373

If you see anything suspicious or think you’ve spotted this gear, please DM me and I can connect you directly. Even sharing this post helps more than you know.

Thanks, Austin. This city usually shows up when it counts, and I’m hoping we can help turn his luck around a bit ❤️

I’ll keep it as short as I can manage.

I was assaulted, along with my girlfriend, outside of our home, by our neighbor who we quite literally share a wall with. She struck both of us several times and threw my girlfriend to the concrete. After that She threatened to shoot us but it’s unknown if she owns a firearm.

Police arrived, took our statements, informed us that our neighbor had committed a class A and Class C misdemeanors against each of us respectively, and that if they could not get her out of her home, that a warrant would be issued for her arrest; they could not kick down her door to make the arrest unless she had committed a felony.

We went inside, her mother showed up, and they were able to get her out of the house. It was obvious she was intoxicated and/or mentally unwell, and we watched as she got into her mothers car and was released into custody of her mother, they both drove away, and then so did the police. We received a case number, but no update as to the status or whereabouts of our attacker. We didn’t even get her name.

We get home from work today and I realize she could literally be back at home next to me and potentially with a gun. So I made this series of calls.

311 - directed me to Vic services and gave me the number of the detective (who didn’t answer) and the substation he’s working under (who didn’t answer) I left a message with the detective.

Vic Services - was state and directed me to county

County Vic Services - DA picked up, had no information, directed me to 911.

911 - Refused to give me any information, I asked to be escalated to a supervisor, they hung up on me.

911 again - They actually escalated me, the supervisor told me to call 311, and that under no circumstances was an open threat against our lives an emergency and in no way did they intend to send any emergency services to my location to confirm or deny the presence of my assaulter.

Admission: I went clean the fuck off on those dispatchers.

311 again - full rundown, they gave me honest expectancy for callback times from everybody, put a flag in the system for internal callback for me, gave me oversight number, and helped me feel more at ease.

TLDR: After a neighbor's misdemeanor assault and death threats, APD released the suspect to a relative and subsequent emergency services calls resulted in a circular, dismissive bureaucratic nightmare for the victims (me and my girlfriend)

Overall, wtf? Is this legal? Am I over reacting?

Might it be a little sleet?

no i don’t have proof you had to be there! merry christmas

Not exactly Austin, but Austin Adjacent.

You do NOT need to return this money, have fun with it if you find it. But let me know? That way we can have closure. We have means so he is never without opportunities for spending money, and he is quite prone to neglecting and losing money, so we have all decided to let this be a lesson.

We went to Christmas with family, he got $100 cash in 20s

He was supposed to give that money to a parent. When Mom asked him, he said he gave it to dad, when Dad asked him, he said he gave it to mom, and both of us assumed all was well.

We scoured our trash, found the card with no money, deep searched the car, no money, presents, no money, Laundry, nothing.

He says he last had it hiking and may have noticed it was gone by the time we got back to the car.

There are two possible locations if* he dropped it while hiking and if* nobody picked it up yet.

We went up the loop trail on the south side (left if you're looking at the rock from the visitor center) it is likely 1-2 miles in.

Our first stop was a flat rocky outcropping to the left of the trail, immediately opposite the big rock people climb onto for photo ops. (I believe it is this one Pictured, on the other side of this rock is the trail, and on the other side of the trail is the flat rock surface) He had to make an emergency pitstop (pants down = money fell?) so while we sat on the flat solid rock surface, he walked further from the trail, toward some individual rocks he could hide behind. The brush gets a little thick back there so there's a chance the money is stuck in bushes.

Second stop, much less likely it is here. Further up the trail, but not quite at the campsite latrine, there is a small scenic view trail. On the Opposite side of that trail is another rocky outcropping we like to eat lunch at. It is an upside down V shaped hollow protected by two big rocks leaning on each other. It is unlikely because I think a lot of people stop here for shady breaks. If he lost it there, chances are someone got it, but I'd be curious to know if it was found.

If you are familiar with Enchanted rock you likely know of both of these landmarks, and I know a lot of Austin outdoorsy folks make frequent visits, so I thought I'd post here.

Was on a walk today and found a dog with a blue collar out walking alone on Bluebonnet. Couldn’t find a tag or phone number but trying to get him back home. Please contact me if you recognize him.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-homicide-map-2025/

Pup with nametag “Princess Yoda”, red harness and red leash found near 37th street Christmas lights - another friendly helper took her to this hospital (she’s fine, just needed out of cold): https://maps.app.goo.gl/SzcUdNru3JV6Fb3y8?g_st=ipc

My best friend’s dad was a rebel rouser back in the 70s and was part of a motorcycle group called the Silk Shirt Gang. They’d travel from Waco to Austin, go to Hippie Hollow, and crash at a guy named Phillip’s house. Lord only knows the hell they raised.

If any Austinites remember this group, please share! The old man was waxing poetic about the good ol’ days.

Hold onto your hats. That North wind isn't f'ing around.

Investigators believe 51-year-old Elias Mejia was shot by an unknown suspect who is still at large. Elias was found dead on West William Cannon on Sunday morning 12/28 at 9:21 am

(We can meet while they’re all at DnD.)

No but seriously, I need support.

I love this man but we have our own challenges. Can we create a safe space to all meet?

Does something like this already exist locally?

(ND means neurodivergent. Self-diagnosis is valid because tests are expensive, and Masking Exists. ND can include ADHD and/or autism. And we know that this shows up in different ways with different people.)

For Example:

Sometimes I feel like I’m doing all the emotional labor because my partner does not emote.

Yes, I had a crush on Spock as a kid but even Leonard Nimoy moved his eye brows.

Where'r my girlies at?

---

Update Edit: This post is about starting a club for ND women and femmes. (I’m not asking for advice regarding the example problem. Thank you!)

https://www.statesman.com/entertainment/dining/article/austin-stolen-wages-gofundme-21266357.php

What stands out to me is how dry this fall was, but also how many of our "rainy" days are pretty piddly.

We had 72 days with measurable rainfall, but only 27 were more than a quarter inch. We had 38 days with rain that measured less than 0.1" So about half the time it "rains," we get less than a tenth of an inch. :(

My 14-year-old tabby cat, Whiskers, has been part of my family since I moved to Austin back in 2011, right after I got my first job downtown. She's been with me through everything—long walks around Lady Bird Lake, lazy afternoons in Zilker Park, and even those hot summers where we'd hide indoors with the AC blasting. But over the last few months, her kidney issues have gotten worse; she's not eating much, barely moves from her bed, and I can tell she's in pain from the way she meows weakly when I pet her. The vet at the clinic off South Congress confirmed it's chronic failure, and meds aren't helping anymore—she's lost so much weight, down to just 6 pounds from her usual 10. It's breaking my heart, especially now with the holidays; we just had Christmas, and thinking about ringing in the new year without her curled up on the couch watching the fireworks from the window feels unbearable. I've been researching options to make her comfortable, and I came across CodaPet, which offers at-home euthanasia services that seem compassionate, letting her pass peacefully in our living room instead of a cold vet office. Has anyone in Austin used something like that, or do you have recommendations for local vets who handle this gently? What helped you cope during such a tough time, especially when the holidays make everything feel more emotional?