Austin officially enters Stage 5 COVID precautions, and they look different than last time. Researchers at UT predict new record highs in ICU COVID demand. New pandemic precautions from the TEA are limited at best, while most Austin families say they'll tell their kids to mask up at school. Local music venues and musicians begin enforcing their own precautions - shows this weekend at ACL Live with Jason Isbell will require proof of vaccination or a recent negative test. Governor Greg Abbott calls another special Lege session, to start Saturday. An Austin toddler may have been sickened by toxic blue-green algae. HBO and Netflix have signed leases on new production spaces in the area. Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ preps new digs in Buda. And KOKEFest hits Hutto with Koe Wetzel, Kevin Fowler, Pat Green and more this weekend.
