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Dog dies after swimming in Lake Travis | Why officials urge keeping pets out of the lake
AUSTIN, Texas — Officials are urging people to keep their pets out of Lake Travis after reports of a dog dying. The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) reports that a dog died after swimming in Lake Travis near Point Venture. Officials with the LCRA say they took samples from...
Texas workers can’t afford to wait years for OSHA's new heat safety policy | Grumet
John Guerrero Jr.’s first day on the job was also his last day on Earth. The 46-year-old was part of a crew framing walls for a luxury apartment building sprouting in East Austin on May 16, 2022. The heat index that day reached 96 degrees. “The worksite was in direct sunlight with no shade available,” an inspector with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration wrote.
City of Austin to continue clay treatment to reduce toxic algae in Lady Bird Lake
AUSTIN, Texas — The city of Austin is gearing up for its second clay treatment of Lady Bird Lake to reduce algae growth. This is the fourth year of the city's five-year pilot program to reduce toxic algae growth on the lake. So far, officials believe the treatments are working.
Austin Humane Society evacuates animals in the path of Beryl
AUSTIN, Texas — As Beryl continues to impact the Texas coast, it's not just people who need to take cover, but animals too. On July 6, the Austin Humane Society (AHS) activated its Emergency Pet Shelter in preparation for the storm system, which officially made landfall in Texas Monday morning, not far from Houston.
Austin Residents and Businesses Brace for Potential Water Bill Increase of Up to 9.5%
Brace your wallets, Austinites. If you thought your water bill was drying up your funds before, get ready for a potential surge. Austin Water is pushing for a rate increase that could spike the average residential water and wastewater bill by 9.5 percent—taking it from about $85 to $93.12 a month, based on average consumption numbers. This jump is riding the wave of an increase just last year when bills went up by 3.3 percent. The reason, as reported by The Austin Monitor, is a mix of escalating costs for necessary water treatment chemicals, staff payrolls, and the repair of aging infrastructure.
'Trust me, you don't want to be in a Category 1' | Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urging Texans to take Beryl seriously
AUSTIN, Texas — On Sunday afternoon, leaders with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick held a press conference warning Texans to take Beryl seriously. “It will be a deadly storm for people who are directly in that path,” Patrick said. Patrick is...
New Austin Super Tower Will Be The Tallest Building in Texas by 20 Feet
"Everything is bigger in Texas." Yeah, we're all familiar with that ol' Chesnut. Maybe a new saying should be "Everything gets bigger and bigger in Texas." Soon Austin, TX, will be home to the tallest building in the state. Currently, the tallest building in Austin is The Independent and the...
Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax to Unveil Anticipated Budget Amid $13.2 Million Deficit Concerns
Austin's City Manager, T.C. Broadnax, is gearing up to reveal the proposed city budget for the following fiscal year on July 12th, in what marks one of his first significant public engagements since taking office this past May. This announcement, usually a dry affair, takes on heightened importance due to the financial challenges the city faces. According to the Austin Chronicle, the upcoming budget is expected to have a $13.2 million deficit, a shortfall projected to, unfortunately, expand to nearly $60 million in coming years.
State of Texas: Texas Democrats divided on Biden’s ability to win after presidential debate
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — More than a week after the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season raised concerns about President Joe Biden’s ability to serve, many Democrats are still reconsidering their support for the President’s re-election bid. Two House Democrats from Texas issued differing public statements...
Voices of Veterans: Private First Class Buster Lee Bailey shares his story of service in the US Army Air Force
Jul. 8—AUSTIN — Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this episode, we hear the story of Private First Class (PFC) Buster Lee Bailey. Bailey was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in ...
Developer expects to reach agreement for Crestview project this fall
The firm selected to lead in the redevelopment of a former utility yard in Crestview doesn’t expect the city’s recent changes to land use for transit-oriented developments to impact its plans for the site that has long been earmarked for substantial new housing. In May, the Austin Housing...
City of Austin invests in more shaded structures citywide
Several shaded structures are under construction in public recreational areas within Austin to make the city more heat resilient. Between May 1 and June 22, Austin-Travis County EMS reported 246 heat-related hospital visits, with officials expecting that number to increase as temperatures get higher. Austin Parks and Recreation Department and...
Austin Suburb Launches Walkability Study
The rapidly expanding Austin suburb of Kyle, Texas is launching a walkability initiative, reports Natalie Petrovich for Hoodline. According to Petrovich, “the City of Kyle is putting its gears into motion to develop a Sidewalk Master Plan—a blueprint to not just fix up existing pathways but also to strategically lay new ones, making to efficiently use the city's financial resources.”
Connecting Round Rock: Advocates for Veterans – ROCK Ride on Center for Kids
ROCK – Ride on Center for Kids. ROCK Ride On Center for Kids offers ROCK On Veterans, a program for active-duty service members and veterans partnering with horses and veteran volunteers. The goal of this program is to improve the lives of servicemen and women who have suffered injury in the line of duty, helping them adjust physically and emotionally to their post-war lives. The cost for veterans and service members to participate in three 8-week sessions is 100% covered through fundraising efforts and grants.
Hills Fire Department explains absence of firefighting agencies from 4th of July parade
The Hills Fire Department has released a statement explaining the absence of firefighting agencies from the city’s annual 4th of July parade earlier this week. According to a statement posted to the Hills Fire Department Facebook page late Thursday night, parade organizers have been showing increasing disrespect to Hills and surrounding firefighting agencies by placing them further and further back in the parade, as well as general rude treatment from multiple parade volunteers.
‘The Day Madear Voted’: New Children’s Book About Voting Rights
Local children’s book illustrator, Don Tate, has a new book out on July 9th, in collaboration with author Wade Hudson, called “The Day Madear Voted.” Don, who is also an author in his own right, visited with Studio 512 about the new story, which is geared toward young readers, ages 3-7.
Why Austin, Texas, is the New Tech Hub
While many might have stereotypes of Texas as being all about barbeque, southern hospitality, country music, and an epicenter for oil production, the Lone Star State is an innovative center for all things tech. In recent decades, cities such as Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio are making new headways for tech to explode and become more and more relevant and inventive as the times change. But Austin is one specific city that’s been making extreme progress in the tech industry that keeps growing at unprecedented rates.
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