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Axios Austin
Ice storm knocks out power to 30% of Austin homes
Roads and trees are beginning to thaw, but this week's winter storm again pushed the city to the brink.The big picture: Unlike the 2021 edition, temperatures in the Austin metro hovered near freezing and residential outages were localized, rather than part of bigger problems with the state's grid.Yes, but: As many as 28% of Austin Energy customers — or more than 155,910 homes — were still without power as of 6am Thursday as ice coated power lines and downed tree limbs.Local EMS and fire officials reported a high volume of calls related to downed power lines and tree branches falling...
Austin's winter storm in photos
News flash: It's been pretty dang cold.The big picture: Ice toppled trees onto roads, cars and houses across Central Texas on Wednesday, so we snapped photos around town — showing a very frozen Austin. A downed tree limb rests on a car in southeast Austin. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios Ice covers a tree limb in Austin. Photo: @austinfiredept on Twitter. Trees block a street in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood in South Austin. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios Limbs fall on a South Austin house. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios Light reflects off ice-covered grass and tree limbs at St. Edward's University. Photo: Nicole Cobler/AxiosGet more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
More than a quarter of Austin Energy customers lose power amid freeze
Freezing rain left thousands without power on Wednesday morning and emergency officials scrambled to respond to dozens of wrecks and downed power lines and tree limbs.Driving the news: The National Weather Service extended its winter storm warning through early Thursday, with freezing rain expected across Texas.As of 11am, Austin Energy reported that more than 25% of its customers were without power — nearly 150,000 — across the area because of the ice weighing down power lines and snapping tree limbs.Nearly 300,000 customers lacked power statewide, most along a swath from San Antonio northeast to Paris. Zoom in: Local and state...
How one Austin realtor regards a Texas proposal to ban Chinese homebuyers
We caught up with Rosalia Chiu, who has worked as a real estate agent in the Austin market for 21 years, to ask her about proposed legislation that would bar Chinese nationals from buying property in Texas.Born in Hong Kong, she moved to Austin in 2002 after a career in consulting and project management in Taiwan and Silicon Valley. She lives in Leander and calls her realty job "retirement community service."She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese and Taiwanese Hokkien — and at least half her clients are of Asian backgrounds, she tells Axios. Why it matters: State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, a...
How Austin's Carver Museum recognizes Black History Month
The Carver Museum in East Austin is rolling out a month of programming for Black History Month, celebrating activists, educators and more. Driving the news: The museum has partnered with local artists, businesses and organizations to offer interactive programs highlighting this year's theme, "Black Resistance."Details: The month of events kicks off at 7pm Wednesday at the Paramount Theatre for a conversation with Black scholar and revolutionary Angela Davis, and on Thursday, the Carver will host "Create and Heal: The Art of Drumming" with master drummer Armando Martin.Plus, Black Business Week begins Monday, showcasing local business owners.The month concludes with kids' day at the Carver, featuring crafts, music and activities.The bottom line: Most events are free and open to the public and can be found online.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
The best way to warm up on a cold Austin day.
Molière once wrote, "I live on good soup, not on fine words."Except it was in French. Why it matters: Hard to disagree, especially when cold winter weather takes hold in Austin. Here's some favorite soup spots:El TacorridoGrab grub at this Austin mini-chain of taqueria drive-thrus. Order this: The pozole — juicy chunks of slow-cooked pork in a rich, red stew with tasty bits of hominy and green chile, all topped with fresh cabbage and radish. Existential question: Does it count as a soup?Location: Spots on South First, East Riverside, Burnet and North Lamar.The Soup PeddlerFind The Soup Peddler at six...
Today is the property tax deadline: Travis County official urges e-payment
Time to get out that e-check and send a chunk of your cash to the local tax collector.Driving the news: If you're a homeowner, Jan. 31 is the property tax deadline.Why it matters: Property taxes pay for everything from city pothole repairs to teacher salaries. Between the lines: Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector Bruce Elfant is urging property owners to pay their property taxes online.The Travis County Sheriff's Office is investigating nine open cases of tax office customers who had their property tax payments stolen from the mail in the 2021 tax year, Elfant said.What they're saying: Citing jugging, the new...
Average Austin rents jumped 8.6% in the 4th quarter
Data: Moody's Analytics; Table: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosIn the fourth quarter of 2022, the average asking rent in Austin was $1,585, up 8.6% from a year earlier, per economic research firm Moody's Analytics.Why it matters: Affordability concerns are starting to weigh down the booming rental market.What's happening: Many would-be homebuyers chose to rent longer last year, sustaining apartment demand, according to economists at Moody's Analytics. But folks are hitting their spending limit.For the first time in over two decades, households now have to spend 30% of their income on average rents, a new report shares.What they're saying: Year-over-year rent growth slowed in...
How an Austin ad agency figures into Southwest Airlines' next step
An old and trusted Austin partner will likely play a key role in Southwest Airlines' efforts to rehabilitate its reputation after recent operational failures that affected roughly 1 million holiday travelers.The big picture: GSD&M, the powerhouse Austin ad agency that has told the airline's story for decades, figures to be at the heart of Southwest's long-term reclamation project.The agency conceived Southwest's "You are now free to move about the country" tagline.Between the lines: GSD&M co-founder and chairman Roy Spence was a long-time friend of the late Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher — and the airline's success tracked with the ad agency's...
Rosie's Wine Bar brings the charm to Clarksville
Always on the hunt for opportunities to try unique wine, we finally got the chance to stop by Rosie's Wine Bar, one of two McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality bars new to Clarksville.Why it matters: It's another sign of MML Hospitality's takeover in Austin, as they've steadily added properties since Texas chefs Larry McGuire and Tom Moorman first founded the group in 2009.Now, 21 MML restaurants are spread throughout the city, including staples like Pool Burger, Clark's Oyster Bar, Perla's Seafood & Oyster Bar and Ski Shores Cafe.Details: Nestled behind Howards — the more lively of the two MML Clarksville properties...
Things to do in Austin this weekend
There's plenty to do in Austin this weekend. We've rounded up the events we're eyeing:🎨 Find original works and prints from atxGALS, a local women and nonbinary artist collective, at the Cathedral's January open house from 7-10pm Friday.🍺 Spend the afternoon in San Marcos with music, games and a cold beer from New Belgium at the Fat Tire Alternatively Powered Block Party from 2-5pm Saturday.🛍️ Get inked at the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival Festival from Friday to Sunday at the Palmer Events Center. Book appointments in advance or just stop by to see the tattoo of the day contests, burlesque shows and special appearances from comic book artists and more.🧧 Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit on Saturday at East Austin dessert shop OMG Squee's three-year anniversary and Lunar New Year party with free drinks, music and an APPI-vendor market.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Austin to conduct first homeless count in three years
Austin nonprofit Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, or ECHO, is preparing for the area's first count of the local homeless population in three years.Why it matters: The results of the annual count will show whether city strategies to create more shelter space and build housing units are making a dent in the Austin homeless population, which has climbed with the city's overall population growth.The count, which is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, helps determine how much federal funding the county receives for housing-related programs. It also informs local strategic planning to address homelessness.Yes, but: ECHO is...
Why 150 Austin tech workers are aiming for a union.
Workers at an Austin tech company dedicated to connecting those in need with social welfare services are trying to unionize. Why it matters: The union effort reflects worker unrest amid a wave of layoffs in the tech industry.In the last year, Austin has seen new union efforts by baristas, nurses and pizza workers.Driving the news: More than 150 employees at the company Findhelp — including engineers, business analysts and production support workers — have filed for a National Labor Relations Board union election, per a press release this week from the group.They're seeking representation with the Office and Professional Employees...
Six Austin chefs named James Beard semifinalists
Six Austin chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists for prestigious James Beard awards on Wednesday.Details: Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Caribbean restaurant Canje, Damien Brockway of barbecue joint Distant Relatives, and Kareem El-Ghayesh of KG BBQ are in the running for the "Best Chef, Texas" category.Plus, baker Mariela Camacho of Comadre Panadería is a semifinalist in the "Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker" category.Downtown Mexican restaurant La Condesa is nominated in the "Outstanding Restaurant" category, and East Austin's Suerte made the "Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program" category.Why it matters: The James Beards are the Oscars of the food world, and our continued recognition by the culinary awards reminds the nation that Austin's food scene is flourishing.Flashback: Four Austin chefs were named as semifinalists last year, and Edgar Rico of Nixta Taqueria and Iliana de la Vega of El Naranjo took home the award.What's next: James Beard nominees will be announced on Mar. 29, and winners will be celebrated at a June 5 awards ceremony in Chicago.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Tampons, pads are now available in all Austin library bathrooms
Menstrual products are now widely available for free at city of Austin libraries and other city-owned facilities.Driving the news: City workers this month distributed pads and tampons in bathrooms at branch libraries — and at the Central Library in December.Context: In May, the Austin City Council passed a resolution calling for the city to provide free menstrual products in:City-owned showers and bathrooms accessible to people experiencing homelessness.City-owned recreation centers, public health facilities and summer camps.All Austin Public Library facilities.Fighting period povertyBy the numbers: The average woman has her period for 2,535 days of her life, which is about seven years,...
Austin police report a big jump in the number of 'jugging' incidents
Data: Austin Police Department; Chart: Axios Visuals Austin police figures obtained by Axios show how crimes classified as "jugging" are jumping.The big picture: Jugging involves thieves staking out unsuspecting victims at banks or retail stores before following and robbing them while they juggle smartphones and car keys in parking lots or at home.Flashback: We wrote last month about how the new crime trend is targeting the distracted and the elderly.How it works: Juggers wait in parking lots and watch for people to withdraw large sums of money from ATMs.Around noon on Dec. 29 at a Bank of America on South...
Bumble launches Netflix partnership for matches to find movies, shows in common
Binge-watching TV shows could soon help you find love on a dating app.Driving the news: Austin-based dating app Bumble this week announced a partnership with Netflix to create a game centered around the streaming service's most popular shows, including "Emily in Paris," "Squid Game," "Selling Sunset," "Stranger Things" and more.The game, which will launch Jan. 30, allows users to ask TV show-themed questions of their matches such as "Which Netflix character would be your BFF?"The game requires both people who have matched to answer the question before responses are revealed.Why it matters: Finding common interests are an important part of...
Texas officials look to bar Chinese property purchases
Amping up rhetoric against China, Gov. Greg Abbott and other Texas officials are threatening to bar Chinese nationals — as well as those from Iran, North Korea and Russia — from buying property in Texas.The big picture: Suspicions about connections between the Chinese government and Chinese companies and individuals are running red hot, from Washington to state capitols across the country.Abbott has already called for barring TikTok, owned by a Chinese company, from state-owned devices over cybersecurity concerns.Critics say the policies demonize Chinese Americans, pointing to racist attacks against people of Asian heritage.Driving the news: State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, a...
Where to find some of Austin's best soups
I recently headed to FoodHeads, a sandwich and soup joint on West 34th Street by Guadalupe.In operation for more than two decades, FoodHeads occupies a Craftsman bungalow with warm wood floors and a wide, sunny porch.The big picture: For all the allure of Austin's many trendy new restaurants, sometimes you want to hit an oldie-but-goodie, the kind of place where the food is reliably very good, the service is easy and the atmosphere is pleasant. Details: Joined by Axios Austin reader Tommy M., we ordered the tomato-and-coconut soup, sweet, bright and toasty, and a hearty Tuscan white bean soup —...
La Niña ebbs: Texas looks to a wetter 2023
Data: NOAA/Climate Prediction Center; Chart: Thomas Oide/AxiosRain today in Central Texas could be a foretaste of a wet 2023.As much as 2 inches could fall in the Austin area, per the National Weather Service.Why it matters: Much of Texas along and west of I-35 is experiencing drought conditions, with exceptional drought, the most critical level, in portions of the Hill Country, per the U.S. Drought Monitor. Between the lines: Rainfall is critical for agriculture and replenishing the Highland Lakes northwest of Austin that serve as Austin's water supply.Lakes Travis and Buchanan are now at 52% capacity. The communities on...
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