UPDATE: Tux the cat just got a clean bill of health from an Austin vet. The cat went missing this weekend after a
@lyft
driver drove off with Tux still in the car. Palash Pandey says he still wants answers about how his cat could be gone 34 hours.
The new
@Whataburger
restaurant design is making its debut today in Austin. What’s different? Floor to ceiling windows, outdoor patio seating and a larger 100-seat dining area. Right now there’s just one and it’s located at 1616 E. Oltorf.
It looks like this Austin news photojournalist was grabbed from behind and pushed to the ground by a DPS trooper. He was clearly a member of the press.
Longhorn Lights is on! Half a million burnt orange and white lights are now twinkling on Guadalupe Street between 21st and 24th Streets. The
@UTAustin
holiday light show will run nightly through January 1.
NOW: U.S. Attorney Gregg Sofer says “defunding the Austin Police Department” is contributing to the dramatic increase in violent crimes in Austin. Murders are up 54% over last year. Aggravated assaults are up 13%.
@BetoORourke
is traveling from Austin to San Antonio this weekend to lay out his priorities for making Texas children safer. Hear the gun control legislation he thinks democrats and republicans can agree on to improve safety at Texas schools.
@cbsaustin
UPDATE: Austin’s Sixth Street businesses are preparing for the Final Patrol of Senior Police Officer Jorge “George”Pastore. Thin Blue Line flags are going up along Sixth Street just in time for tomorrow morning’s funeral procession.
JUST IN: Travis County Commissioners approve establishing a
#COVID19
mass vaccination site
@COTA
. The goal is to vaccinate 3,000 people a day in a drive-thru setting. The focus in the beginning will be teachers and school staff in Central Texas.
SXSW & The Boys! A-Train blasted into Austin today for a featured session at
#SXSW
and one of the biggest activations at the festival.
@PrimeVideo
just released a trailer for season 3 of
#TheBoysTV
.
NOW:
@AusPublicHealth
says increased shipments of the
#COVID19Vaccine
could allow Travis County to vaccinate 85% of the population in 12 weeks. This would be a public/private strategy and would include partnerships with HEB, CVS, Austin Regional Clinic and others.
#SXSW
welcomes Austin’s own Gabriel Luna. The local actor plays Tommy, the little brother of
#PedroPascal
, in the HBO post-apocalyptic series,
#TheLastOfUs
.
NOW:
@AusPublicHealth
says if we have a UT football game with 25,000 people in the stadium on September 5th, we are likely to be closing schools again and learning virtually by September 19th.
The Take Our Border Back convoy just arrived in Dripping Springs. A long line of vehicles is stretching down Hwy 290 waiting to turn in at RM 12 and Veterans Memorial Park.
UPDATE: Just approved drive-thru mass vaccination site
@COTA
in Travis County will get a trial run this weekend. If distributing 3,000
#COVID19
vaccinations goes smoothly the goal is to ramp up efforts and distribute 50,000 vaccines a week starting in early March.
Austin got RickRolled. This QR Code is the payoff for coming downtown and sitting through an hour-long countdown clock. Anyone else not thrilled with the Rick Astley payoff? I want a 600 drone mega show. 😕
UPDATE: A 3rd dog has apparently died after swimming in Lady Bird Lake near Red Bud Isle. Mia Mineghino says Koda became paralyzed and couldn’t breathe right after a swim in the Austin lake. She wants others to take the city’s warning seriously and not let pets in the water.
31 Austin low water crossings are closed on Monday morning due to heavy rain. This is the crossing at Old Spicewood Springs Road in North Austin. Turnaround don’t drown.
Country music star Granger Smith and his wife, Amber, make a donation to Dell Children’s Medical Center for $218, 791 in memory of their son River. The 3-year-old died June 6 after an accidental drowning at the Smith’s Georgetown home.
This is what it looks like when the
@HEB
Disaster Relief Unit rolls up to a major Texas disaster, such as a hurricane. The team brings a mobile kitchen than can serve 2,500 hot meals per hour, a pharmacy, and a business center that lets people cash checks and pay bills.
UPDATE:
@lyft
says it will pay Tux’s vet bills after the cat was missing 34 hours. A statement from LYFT also said, “We are actively working with all involved to fully understand the situation - to help prevent it from happening again.” Tux was reunited with her owner today.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:
Austin/Travis County is testing its first patient or patients for possible Coronavirus. Dr. Mark Escott, Medical Director for Austin Public Health, says travel history and symptoms prompted the testing.
*This is NOT a confirmed case or cases of Coronavirus.
Window seats! We are over the clouds and seeing blue skies on
@SouthwestAir
flight 1721. This flight from Austin to Indianapolis follows the eclipse path of totality. We are minutes away from darkness. Can’t wait to share!
@cbsaustin
Funeral Procession: This is the Final Patrol for APD Senior Officer Jorge “George” Pastore. Hundreds of first responders from across the state joined the funeral procession this morning that passed by the State Capitol.
BREAKING: 5-year-old Ulises Rodriguez Montoya was identified today as the Pre-K student at Tom Green Elementary in Buda who died as a result of injuries suffered in Friday's school bus accident. The Hays CISD students were returning from a field trip to a Bastrop County zoo.
Half a dozen Sixth Street businesses have already raised the black and white flags that have a thin blue stripe. Workers raising the flags say this is their way of honoring Officer Pastore who died in the line of duty on Saturday.
More than 100 officers and staff from Round Rock Police salute Officer Charles Whites who died in the line of duty.
@roundrockpolice
formed a Police Honor Wall outside the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.
An Austin artist plants 2,302 flags in his front yard in tribute to Texas coronavirus victims. "These aren’t numbers. These are people’s lives. They’re people’s families and they matter," said Shane Reilly.
Buc-ee’s is biggest in Texas!Today ground was broken on what will be the largest
@bucees
in the country. Texas lost those bragging rights when a 74,000 square feet Buc-ee’s opened in Tennessee. But the new store in Luling will top it at 75,000 sq ft.
UPDATE: Johnson City hail punched holes in dozens of roofs, broke windows and damaged vehicles. In Ranchers Estates the hail went through the roofs & decking and into attics.
I am about to take off on a special eclipse-watching flight that will follow the path of totality from Austin to Indianapolis. We can’t wait to share the sky-high views from the window seat of
@SouthwestAir
flight 1721 that takes off at 12:55pm.
The first customers are in the door at the world’s newest & biggest Buc-ee’s! A 75,000 square feet
@bucees
opened this morning in Luling. This brings the largest travel center back to where the legend began in 2003.
Black Austin Matters. 40-foot tall letters span Congress Avenue from 6th to 9th Streets. City officials say the street will be blocked off through the end of the week so everyone can get an up-close view.
NOW: Second and third grade students from the Cathedral, School of Saint Mary are at the State Capitol to honor the sacrifice of slain APD Officer Jorge “George” Pastore. The funeral procession is expected to pass by the Capitol within the next 30 minutes.
BREAKING:
@AusPublicHealth
just relaxed masking recommendations for Austin & Travis County. Those who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors at private gatherings. This is part of the transition to Stage 2 of the COVID-19 Guidelines.
Texas has the worst corn conditions in the country. The latest crop report from the USDA says widespread, intense drought is largely to blame. I took these pics in Milam County to show the shriveled conditions growers are seeing in their Central Texas fields.
"Masks are more effective than we originally thought," said Dr. Mark Escott. "If we want to keep the economy open we have to continue to wear masks, wash our hands and continue social distancing."
Guitarist Ted Nugent plays the Star Spangled Banner at the
#TakeOurBorderBackConvoy
rally in Dripping Springs. A crowd of over a thousand turned out to express concerns about border security.
NOW:
@AusPublicHealth
is offering a "School Saturday" this Saturday to vaccinate teachers, school staff and child care workers. The plan is to continue School Saturdays to help get educators and support staff vaccinated more quickly.
UPDATE: Here’s the
#SXSW2019
traffic/scooter/pedestrian management plan for
#SXSW
. Everything in red is a pedestrian zone. No scooters allowed. Bicycles must be dismounted and walked.
BREAKING: Austin is now in the strictest Stage 5 COVID-19 guidelines.
@AusPublicHealth
tightened the recommendations for masking this morning because of the omicron surge, increased hospital admissions and a positivity rate of 29%.
One of the best views of the
@AFThunderbirds
Austin flyover! A thunderous tribute at the State Capitol to doctors, nurses and first responders fighting the coronavirus.
#AmericaStrong
#Thunderbirds
BREAKING: UT President Greg Fenves says all events at Bass Concert Hall and Frank Erwin Center are canceled starting today due to concerns about spreading coronavirus.
NOW: More tents are being set up at Austin City Hall to protest the passage of
#PropB
on Saturday. The goal is to surround city hall with tents that will eventually be donated to Austin’s homeless community.
NEW: I took a
@COTA
speed lap through the racetrack’s dazzling Peppermint Parkway! Here’s a quick look at the 6 million lights you’ll see at the holiday drive-thru event that’s open through December 26.
@PeppermintPkwy
#PeppermintParkway
Drive-thru voting in Travis County for the November election. The Travis County Clerk wants to set up 10 drive-thru lanes in three downtown locations for people to drop off their mail-in ballots in order to avoid using the postal system.
NOW: Austin just hit the milestone of getting 70% of those 12 and older vaccinated with at least one dose of the
#CovidVaccine
. Travis County is the first Central Texas county to hit this goal.
No one could top the entrance of
@erniecline
at the world premiere of
#ReadyPlayerOne
at
#SXSW
! Pulled up in his DeLorean! Actors Tye Sheridan and Ben Mendelsohn wish their rides were this cool.
Whataburger to the Rescue:
@Whataburger
braved the freezing temps and slick roads to open the dining room for Hays County constables and sheriff’s deputies to get a hot lunch. FYI- the drive-thru is open for everyone else looking for a jalapeño cheeseburger and fries.
NOW:
@AusPublicHealth
is reporting a 25% increase in the average number of new
#COVID19
cases this week. The average number of COVID hospitalizations is up by 10% week to week.
BREAKING: The Austin area will remain in Stage 4 COVID-19 Guidelines. Dr. Escott with
@AusPublicHealth
says the drop in hospital admissions isn't steady enough to justify dropping to the less restrictive Stage 3. Another concern is the end of the statewide mask mandate on 3/10.
UPDATE on San Marcos Apartment Fire: Investigators say there are no fire suppression sprinklers in the Iconic Village complex. It was built in the 1970’s, prior to when they were required. Now checking whether smoke detectors were working.
Boil Water Notice: It didn’t take long for all the bottled water to disappear
@HEB
stores around Austin. Signs are already up limiting customers to 2 cases or gallons.
UPDATE: An armored bobcat just rolled up at the ongoing police standoff in South Austin. "The Rook" was brought in from Houston's police department this afternoon to help end a standoff that's been going on almost 24 hours.
New press conference protocol to allow for 6-feet of social distancing. This is the first time we’ve seen this type of arrangement in Austin for TV news coverage. Thanks to
@AustinISD
for trying to keep us healthy.
#CoronavirusOutbreak
Can you picture this mega development replacing the Austin American Statesman building on S. Congress? It's the first major mixed-use project being proposed for the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. The rezoning application will be filed this month.
“Well, hello there,” to Star Wars actor Ewan McGregor and his daughter, Clara. They’re
@sxsw
for the world premiere of, “You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder.” It’s a fictional story, but the road trip drama is loosely based on their own relationship.
#SXSW
"In the Austin Independent School District, where they have masking enforcement, they’re not having the same increase in cases that we’re seeing in other school districts where masking is optional," said Janet Pichette with
@AusPublicHealth
.
Hollywood is arriving in Austin for
#SXSW
. Actor Armie Hammer and director Paul Thomas Anderson will unofficially kick off SXSW tonight when they accept their Texas Film Awards from
@austinfilm
. Director Richard Linklater and actress Regina Hall are also here for
#SXSW2018
.
A Uvalde teacher who survived the mass shooting at Robb Elementary today asked the Texas Legislature to raise the minimum age to buy a gun to 21. He lost 11 students during the 2022 Uvalde shooting.
Batman unveiled at
#SXSW
! This mural painted by Austin artist Mez Data kicks off the 80th anniversary celebration of the caped crusader. Check it out on E. 4th Street at the
@NativeHostels
.
#LongLiveTheBat
The Take Our Border Back convoy is delayed getting from Houston to Dripping Springs. Supporters have set up in Veterans Memorial Park to welcome the convoy when it rolls in later tonight. A pep rally is planned for Thursday in Dripping Springs.
A first in Austin! A scooter rider wearing a helmet...😄! Full disclosure-it’s me on my first ever ride at a pre-SXSW scooter safety & training session. 30% of Austin scooter accidents involve first time riders.
@LonghornMorty2
Her dog appears to be the first one that passed away. It was three weeks ago when the algae was first starting to become more pervasive. The other two dogs died last Thursday and Saturday. She’s still very upset but thought her story could help others.
Austin actor Glen Powell is about to walk the red carpet for the
@netflix
premiere of Hit Man. A star in Anyone But You and Top Gun:Maverick, Powell will also be inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame tonight at Austin’s Paramount Theater.
@cbsaustin
Here she comes again! And, just like her song says, “lookin’ better than a body has a right to.” Dolly Parton shined in her first
#SXSW
performance with
@wearebcl
and
#Dollyverse
. What a night for Austin!
Mayor Steve Adler says the goal is to stay below 20 hospitalizations. “If we get to 20 we are on a path to overwhelm our hospitals and we don’t want to get to that,” said Mayor Adler.
🎬 Film Director Ron Howard is bringing his new documentary, We Feed People, to
#SXSW
. Renowned Chef Jose Andres says he agreed to the project because he didn’t want to be 90-years-old and regret the day he told
#RonHoward
no.
Fredericksburg peach growers just told me their crop survived the March freeze and they’re already picking their first round of peaches.
Peach 🍑 stands will be open for the long Memorial Day weekend.
UPDATE:
@AusPublicHealth
says it is considering leaving its vaccine appointment portal open around the clock in reaction to the slowdown in the number of people signing up for COVID19 vaccines.
#TakeOurBorderBackConvoy
is in Dripping Springs today for a 5pm pep rally. Organizers say the rally will be a “peaceful first amendment gathering” at One Shot Distillery & Brewery. From Dripping Springs the convoy will head south to Eagle Pass.
Austin's Field Hospital at the Austin Convention Center has 100 beds ready to treat
#coronavirus
patients. The 3 types of makeshift rooms can be used for a range of patients from those with less severe symptoms to those needing to be transferred to ICUs in hospitals.
Thin Blue Line flags will line Sixth Street for the funeral procession of slain APD Officer Jorge "George" Pastore. "The least we can do is show our support with these flags," said Matt Whelan at The Dizzy Rooster.
Here's a first look at COTA's Peppermint Parkway! In addition to the mile-long drive-thru display of holiday lights -- there's an all-new Holiday Market and the Wonder Woods Discount Tree Lot. The
@COTA
event runs through December 30.
Travis County voters will be able to hand deliver mail-in ballots at this downtown Austin parking garage. The drive-thru process addresses concerns about postal slowdowns and coronavirus. 3 downtown locations will be used for ballot drop-off.
Here is the resignation letter from Rep. Bryan Slaton.
He resigned from the Texas House today after an investigative panel found he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 19-year-old woman on his staff.