Headlines

Surrounded by well-wishers, Council Member Lee Leffingwell spent election night with a comfortable lead in the five-way mayor’s race. (Photo by Jana Birchum)

• Outrage erupted in East Austin Monday, when Austin Police Officer Leonardo Quintana fired on two black youths, killing one, 18-year-old Nathaniel Sanders II. A crowd assembled as news of the shooting spread through the neighborhood, the police calling out SWAT in response to objects being thrown at officers. See "Eastside Police Shooting."

• Bye-Bye Brewster: Following a second-place showing 20 points behind Lee Leffingwell, Brewster McCracken conceded the mayor's race, making Leffingwell Austin's 51st mayor. In Place 1, Chris Riley blew Perla Cavazos out of the water, while two incumbents and unopposed Bill Spelman all won handily. See our election page for more coverage.

• Capital Metro released a "progress report" Wednesday on its delayed commuter rail line. Saying it's entered "the final phase before service will begin," the agency declined to issue a start date but promises a new update in June.

• Michael Scott, one of two defendants convicted in the long-running yogurt shop murder case, will receive a retrial in July, the Statesman reported Wednesday.

• City Council has a sparse agenda today (Thursday), the centerpiece being a 2pm briefing on the feasibility of creating a city music department. See "City Counseling."

James Clayton

• Austin has its own theme song: Those hep cats at the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau selected Austinite Ryan Harkrider's "Nobody Ever Wants to Leave" as the city's musical welcome mat. The bureau plans to hold an annual contest for the honor.

• Chronicle staff writer Katherine Gregor has received a Community Stewardship Award from Envision Central Texas. Gregor was recognized for raising public awareness through her stories on growth and development issues in the Austin area.

• Alleged bicycle thief James Clayton was due in Travis Co. court Wednesday as we went to press. Members of Austin's bicycle community – several of whom accuse Clayton of stealing their high-end bikes – were expected to attend the pretrial hearing.

• End of an era: Breaking a tradition going back to 1900, The Daily Texan ceased production using its own presses on May 13 and from now on will be printed at the Austin American-Statesman facilities. Five Daily Texan print-unit employees lost their jobs in the transition.

• Rep. Edmund Kuempel, R-Seguin, collapsed in the Capitol late Tuesday night and was rushed to Brackenridge Hospital, where on Wednesday he was reported to be in a medically induced coma. A 26-year veteran of the House, Austin-born Kuempel rose to prominence this session as part of the "Gang of 11" that took Speaker Joe Straus to power.

Quote of the Week

Photo by John Anderson

"To paraphrase W.C. Fields, all in all, I'd rather be in St. Louis."

– Brewster McCracken, announcing his concession after taking a beating in the polls (and a verbal beating from St. Louis residents offended by his campaign ad slighting the Midwestern city)