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Axios Austin
Austin African-American Book Festival runs Saturday
The one-day Austin African American Book Festival comes to East Austin on Saturday. The big picture: The festival, themed "Our Undefeated Legacy," has an all-star lineup, including Austin children's book writer Anne Wynter and University of Texas public affairs professor Peniel Joseph. Wynter, who won the Ezra Jack Keats award...
What to do this weekend in Austin
It's hot, but there's plenty to do around town this weekend. ποΈ Discover new artists, browse local art and grab a bite to eat from 2-9pm Saturday at the Monthly Music Market at 3908 Menchaca Road. $10 cover and kids get in free. π Laugh during ATX Sketch...
Poll: Texans not confident in grid reliability
Texans aren't too impressed by lawmakers' work in the Capitol this year, according to a new poll from the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas.By the numbers: The poll, which was conducted from June 2-11 and released today, found that just 33% of voters approve of the work the Texas Legislature is doing. Among the poll results:47% were "not very confident" or "not confident" that the Legislature increased the reliability of the state's electric grid, which has recently been pushed to the brink during the heat wave. Meanwhile, 18% were extremely confident or very confident, and 22% were...
Austin turns to emergency shelter approach for homelessness
The city of Austin is shifting to an emergency shelter approach β in addition to its focus on permanent housing β to address homelessness.The big picture: Fewer than 900 of the roughly 5,000 people experiencing homelessness in Austin currently receive some form of shelter, per city officials.What they're saying: "Additional shelter beds can't come fast enough," Mayor Kirk Watson wrote in a newsletter earlier this month."Our encampments have grown in both numbers and size. The conditions in these encampments in many cases pose a danger to the people living in them. The encampments also violate the public camping ban reinstated...
UT audio production house releases "Lady Bird"
The Drag Audio Production House, part of Texas Student Media at the University of Texas, this week released its latest podcast, a series that will explore the life and legacy of Lady Bird Johnson.The big picture: "Lady Bird" podcast host Jade Emerson, a 2023 UT journalism graduate, spent more than a year sorting through roughly 100 hours of unplayed audio of the former first lady and interviewing family, friends and White House staffers.The podcast features interviews with daughter Luci Baines Johnson and granddaughter Catherine Robb.Details: The 12-episode series follows Lady Bird Johnson's romance with President Lyndon B. Johnson, her upbringing...
ERCOT issues voluntary conservation notice
The Texas power grid operator called on residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce electricity use Tuesday as the prolonged heat wave brought yet another sweltering day of triple-digit temperatures.Driving the news: Electric Reliability Council of Texas officials issued a voluntary conservation notice β the first of the year β from 4pm to 8pm Tuesday as anticipated demand came perilously close to the grid's power generation capacity.ERCOT's voluntary notice requested that all government agencies reduce energy at their facilities and called on Texans to conserve power if safe to do so.ERCOT issues the notice to try to avoid heading into energy...
Pickleball popularity on the rise in Austin
Austinites have been jumping on the bandwagon to play one of the fastest-growing sports in America: pickleball. By the numbers: Austin has 4.7 pickleball courts per 100,000 people, according to the Trust for Public Land, a pro-parks nonprofit, Axios' Jennifer A. Kingson and Alice Feng report. Catch up quick: There's...
How BLM art has faded as politics have turned
Many Black Lives Matter murals painted about three years ago on city streets have faded or vanished altogether.Why it matters: Cities across the country, including Austin, rushed to put up art following the 2020 murder of George Floyd to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement.Driving the news: Support for the Black Lives Matter movement has decreased since Floyd's murder, according to a recent survey. A slim majority of Americans (51%) still back BLM, but the movement aimed at dismantling systemic racism has seen a sharp drop in support amid conservative backlash and reports of infighting and financial mismanagement.At...
Where to celebrate Juneteenth in Austin
Austin offers plenty of ways to spend Juneteenth β the moment when the last enslaved people in the U.S., in Galveston, were informed of their freedom, on June 19, 1865.π Celebrate Juneteenth at 6pm Saturday during the first annual Eighteen65 event from Origin Studio House and The Emancipator. Tickets start at $20 and include food from Phoenix Grille and Nosh'd Luxury Snacks at the new Origin Studio House at 2925 East 12th Street.π Listen to activists and scholars make sense of the rich history of Juneteenth at the third annual Juneteenth Freedom Summit at the University of Texas. The free...
Austin heat grows dangerous
Dangerous heat has set in this week in Austin.Driving the news: Despite hopes that May rains would tamp down temperatures, Thursday's high is currently projected to reach 102Β°, with heat indices (or "feels like" temperatures, when factoring in humidity) as high as 112Β°.High temperatures will hover above 100Β° at least through the weekend, according to National Weather Service meteorologists.Why it matters: Prolonged heat exposure can cause emergency health situations.Zoom out: 2022 was Austin's second-hottest summer on record.At least 279 people in Texas were killed by heat last year, per a Texas Tribune analysis β a large portion of those deaths...
ERCOT predicts record energy demand in Texas
The state's electric grid operators issued a Weather Watch through June 21 and forecasted a record-high demand for energy in Texas as temperatures hover above 100Β° in much of the state.Why it matters: A weather watch alert signals that higher demand is expected, but officials have not yet called on Texans to conserve energy or warned of the possibility of widespread power outages.What's happening: Grid conditions remain normal as of Thursday morning, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) website.ERCOT's six-day forecast predicts that peak demand could surpass 80,000 megawatts by Friday afternoon as homes and businesses rely...
Desert Island Dish: Fil n' Viet chefs tell us their favorite dish
Married couple Kevin Truong and Rosie Mina-Truong run Fil N' Viet, an East Austin food truck that dishes out Filipino and Vietnamese food.In just two years, Fil N' Viet has made its mark on the Austin food scene with its inventive flavor mashups, reflecting the couple's individual culinary heritage.Background: Kevin grew up in Oklahoma, the son of Vietnam War refugees, and worked as a chef in Chicago before moving to Austin in 2017, working at downtown tasting-menu restaurant Counter 3.Five.VII and as the chef de cuisine at the Fairmont Hotel.That's where he met Rosie, who had moved to the U.S....
Meta putting more Austin real estate up for sublease
Tech giant Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is easing out of yet more downtown office space.Why it matters: Austin real estate is increasingly tied to the fate of Big Tech, and any persistent Silicon Valley downturn could damper Austin's post-pandemic recovery.Details: Meta is subleasing over 100,000 square feet of space at 300 West Sixth St., per the Real Deal.The decision comes seven months after it opted to sublease 589,000 square feet at Sixth and Guadalupe.What they're saying: "Our aim is to build a best-in-class remote work experience to help everyone do the best work of their careers no matter...
Austin home on the market for $50 million
A compound for sale by Lake Austin could set a record for the state β if it fetches its $50 million asking price.Driving the news: The property, situated on 5.85 acres, with a total living space of 10,505 square feet, went on the market last week.Details: Including three guesthouses, the property has nine bedrooms and 11 bathrooms β and a private boat dock.Between the lines: Listing agent Bridget Ramey of Kuper Sothebyβs International Realty tells Axios the property has singular appeal for "uber-luxury" buyers."They might be coming from California to take advantage of our no state income tax and they...
Where to find Austin's best meatballs
I recently ordered the terrific meatballs at Show Me Pizza on South First Street.The pork-and-beef 'balls ($10) come soaked in tomato sauce, with a puddle of ricotta cheese and, as a breath of green, a sprig of basil.It was a midafternoon snack and I managed to get through only one meatball β there are three to an order β before packing the others up.Why it matters: Meatballs are arguably the ultimate comfort food β pillowy, filling, a little chewy, and, in their unadulterated meatiness, primitive.It feels especially decadent to eat them on their own β not even on perched a plate of pasta or snuggled into a sub.π¬ Let us know your favorite meatballs in town β and we'll spread the word in our Axios Austin newsletter.Write to austin@axios.com.
Texas woman killed after shooter shouted anti-gay slur
A woman was killed in an Austin suburb after a man called her an anti-gay slur, according to an arrest affidavit released Friday.Driving the news: The man arrested in the fatal shooting of a woman outside a Cedar Park gas station in early June called her a homophobic slur before firing three shots at her, per the affidavit, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman.What happened: Akira Ross, 24, drove up to a Cedar Park gas station on June 2, traveling with her partner, Tanya (who has asked that her last name be withheld due to safety concerns), and a friend.Ross...
What Nate Paul's arrest means for Ken Paxton
Attorney General Ken Paxton didn't appear in a federal courtroom in Austin on Friday, but his fate may be tied to the man who did.Driving the news: The impeached attorney general is not set to appear before a jury of Texas senators until later this summer, but the Austin real estate developer who is central to claims of Paxton's abuse of office has been indicted by the feds.Nate Paul, once famous for his meteoric rise as a buyer and seller of Austin property, appeared in an initial arraignment Friday. He was ordered to surrender his passport and released on bond,...
Austin celebrates Juneteenth with "Stay Black and Live" fest
Austin's "Stay Black and Live" festival kicks off Monday as part of the city's Juneteenth celebrations.The big picture: The festival was launched in 2020 to bring people together during the pandemic β albeit virtually β and to celebrate Black lives in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.This year's events, with a theme of Austin Family Reunion, will take place once more at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center at 1165 Angelina St.Context: ββJuneteenth memorializes the moment when the last enslaved people in the U.S., in Galveston, were officially informed of their freedom, on June 19,...
More money for Texas film and TV productions
Austin film electricians, hairstylists and carpenters can look forward to a gusher of state money this fall β but a legislative push to win long-term incentives for the industry fell short.The big picture: Some fantastic TV shows and movies, like "Friday Night Lights" and "Dazed and Confused," have been filmed in Austin, but many that are set in Texas are actually filmed elsewhere, in part because filming incentives in other states are more appealing to production companies.State of play: The Legislature plumped up its Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program from $45 million for the current biennium to $200 million...
Texas peaches in short supply
Hill Country peaches are in short supply as a mild winter and spring, combined with a long-term drought, have crippled fruit production.Why it matters: A juicy Fredericksburg peach β sweet, fuzzy, with a teasing trace of tartness β is the taste of a Texas summer.Lounging on a screened-in porch, scarfing varieties with names like Flame Prince, Regal and Majestic, can make a person feel like royalty.Get smart: Fruit trees depend on cool winter weather to promote proper growth in the spring. If plants don't receive enough chill hours, they can be slow to leaf out, which typically leads to misshapen...
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Axios Austin, anchored by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
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