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Texas poised to exempt tampons from state sales tax
Data: Alliance for Period Supplies; Note: Includes legislation that went into effect in January 2023; Map: Madison Dong/Axios VisualsAn unusual alignment of political interests means Texas is closer than ever before to exempting tampons and pads from sales tax.Driving the news: State Rep. Donna Howard, an Austin Democrat, laid out a bill this week before the House Ways and Means Committee that would exempt from sales tax menstrual products β as well as diapers, wipes, baby bottles, pregnancy clothes and breast-milk pumping products.Howard and other members β from both parties β have made similar proposals in several legislative sessions running...
What to do in Austin this weekend
It's a busy weekend in Austin with South by Southwest and the Austin Rodeo kicking off Friday.What to know: We've got you covered with events we're eyeing β some that put you in the middle of it all and others that will get you away from the crowd.πΈ Catch local artists at Hotel Vegas and The Volstead's SX Soundcheck Saturday. Doors open at noon and the event is free until 7pm.ποΈ Shop vintage clothing, art, jewelry and more at Kinda Tropical's market from 12-6pm Saturday.Plus, Zilker Brewing Co. will host Austin Flea, featuring local makers, crafters and vintage vendors from noon-5pm Saturday.π² Explore Austin's public art by bike during Downtown Austin Alliance and Pease Park Conservancy's free mural bike tour from 9am-1pm Saturday.π Explore the Sherwood Forest Faire 35 miles outside of Austin, featuring jousting, an artisan marketplace, magicians and other performances open each weekend through April 23.π Catch a comedy show at Fallout Theater's "Austin is for Lovers" sketch comedy show from 7-8pm Saturday. Tickets start at $15.
Chicken on Foot piece on view at Blanton
I stopped by the Blanton museum on Wednesday to see an excellent installation involving a lot of arms and legs.What's happening: A single room on the Blanton's second floor features four works from the museum's permanent collection, each a thought-provoking and playful examination of how we regard each other's appendages.Works from the 1960s and 1970s by Harold Stevenson ("The Arm of Don Juan"), Joan Semmel ("Mythologies and Me"), Philip Guston ("Two Legs") and Nina Sobell ("Chicken on Foot") are short on faces and long on limbs.Lurking in the thematic background in some of the work are the contemporary commodification of...
Chicken on Foot piece on view at Blanton
I stopped by the Blanton museum on Wednesday to see an excellent installation involving a lot of arms and legs.What's happening: A single room on the Blanton's second floor features four works from the museum's permanent collection, each a thought-provoking and playful examination of how we regard each other's appendages.Works from the 1960s and 1970s by Harold Stevenson ("The Arm of Don Juan"), Joan Semmel ("Mythologies and Me"), Philip Guston ("Two Legs") and Nina Sobell ("Chicken on Foot") are short on faces and long on limbs.Lurking in the thematic background in some of the work are the contemporary commodification of...
What to expect at SXSW 2023
Brace yourself. Here comes South by Southwest.Catch up quick: If you're new here, SXSW is among the city's largest events, with 300,000 people expected to attend across the conference and festivals.Throngs of musicians hoping for a big break, tech leaders, filmmakers and celebrities will descend upon the conference and multiple festivals that take place over 10 days, highlighting technology, film, culture and music.It's long been a breakout opportunity for musicians and indie film producers hoping to connect with power players.The big picture: The festival starts Friday and ends March 19, with airport officials warning of a busy spring travel period...
What to expect at SXSW
Brace yourself. Here comes South by Southwest. Catch up quick: If you're new here, SXSW is among the city's largest events, with 300,000 people expected to attend across the conference and festivals. Throngs of musicians hoping for a big break, tech leaders, filmmakers and celebrities will descend upon the conference...
How to navigate free events around SXSW
You donβt need a badge or wristband to experience the fun of South by Southwest.Yes, but: We know it's overwhelming to keep track of what's going on. We've got you covered with a quick guide for tracking the best free shows, parties and beyond:1. Keep tabs on social mediaFacebook, Twitter and Instagram will be your best friends.Details: Keep tabs on accounts like ATX Concert, Do512, The Dirty Team and WhenWhereWhat. Plus, The Austin Chronicle and Austin360 maintain a list of unofficial parties and free shows.2. Head to SXSW's official free eventsSXSW officials recently announced a number of official free events,...
How to navigate free events, parties around SXSW
You donβt need a badge or wristband to experience the fun of South by Southwest. Yes, but: We know it's overwhelming to keep track of what's going on. We've got you covered with a quick guide for tracking the best free shows, parties and beyond:. 1. Keep tabs on...
Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk wins ATX Open tennis tournament
Marta Kostyuk, a 20-year-old Ukrainian, defeated 22-year-old Russian Varvara Gracheva to win the inaugural ATX Open on Sunday.With the Westwood Country Club crowd in her corner in the final of the WTA event, Kostyuk won 6-3, 7-5 β and a champion's check for $34,228.What they're saying: "Being in the position that I am in right now, it's extremely special to win this title and I want to dedicate this title to Ukraine and to everyone who is fighting and dying right now," Marta Kostyuk said during her trophy acceptance speech. "Obviously, it's a very special moment."Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk wins inaugural ATX tennis tourney
Marta Kostyuk, a 20-year-old Ukrainian, defeated 22-year-old Russian Varvara Gracheva to win the inaugural ATX Open on Sunday. With the Westwood Country Club crowd in her corner in the final of the WTA event, Kostyuk won 6-3, 7-5 β and a champion's check for $34,228. What they're saying: "Being...
An East Austin neighborhood wants a monument removed
Residents of an East Austin neighborhood are trying to persuade city officials to remove a memorial they say is offensive.Why it matters: Even as monuments in prominent public places win notoriety as they are removed, statues and plaques glorifying white conquest still dot our communities.Details: The large granite monument is located near a playground and basketball court at Bartholomew District Park and facing the busy intersection of Berkman Drive and East 51st Street. It memorializes Josiah Pugh Wilbarger, who was "stabbed and scalped by the Indians" in 1832 while "locating lands for the Colonies," as "a true pioneer and patriot."Accounts...
An East Austin neighborhood wants a monument removed
Residents of an East Austin neighborhood are trying to persuade city officials to remove a memorial they say is offensive.Why it matters: Even as monuments in prominent public places win notoriety as they are removed, statues and plaques glorifying white conquest still dot our communities.Details: The large granite monument is located near a playground and basketball court at Bartholomew District Park and facing the busy intersection of Berkman Drive and East 51st Street. It memorializes Josiah Pugh Wilbarger, who was "stabbed and scalped by the Indians" in 1832 while "locating lands for the Colonies," as "a true pioneer and patriot."Accounts...
SNAP cuts could push Austinites off 'hunger cliff'
One of the last remaining major pandemic relief programs β the expansion of SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps β ended last week, pushing about 32 million Americans off a "hunger cliff," advocates say. Why it matters: Since 2020, a massive boost in funding toward programs for...
Meet the Texas Smoke, Austin's new pro softball team
A former major league baseball player and a professional wrestler are teaming up to bring a pro softball franchise to Austin.Driving the news: The Texas Smoke will be the fourth franchise in Women's Professional Fastpitch.The league replaces National Pro Fastpitch, which shuttered in 2021 after two decades due to COVID-induced financial losses.The other current teams in the league are in Viera, Fla.; Oklahoma City; and Rochester, N.Y.What's happening: The squad is owned by (married couple) former Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and pro wrestler Jade Cargill.Details: Former University of Texas softball player and 2022 World Games gold medalist Janae...
How Austin's transportation chief likes to spend her day
We caught up with Dottie Watkins, recently named CEO of CapMetro.An Austin public school product β she attended Reilly, Kealing and McCallum β Watkins grew up in the business. Her father was a CapMetro vehicle mechanic and she started working for the agency as a part-time driver in 1994 when she was a University of Texas undergraduate.How would you characterize CapMetro's performance?ββThe bread-and-butter of what CapMetro does is connect people to opportunities, to work, to play, to social events, so they can take kids to the park and get to doctorβs appointments. When our service quality is not great people...
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