Austin officially reduces pandemic precaution levels from Stage 5 to Stage 4 for the first time this year, while the CDC is set to revise its official mask guidelines today, and the Austin Independent School District seeks public input on how to modify its COVID protocols with dropping numbers. With a recent rise in traffic fatalities, the City is looking to Travis County law enforcement to fill the traffic patrol void that's been left by the Austin Police Department drawdown. Austin Mayor Steve Adler is recommending beefing up City cybersecurity infrastructure in response to the Russian military assault on Ukraine, while locals gather at the Capitol to rally against Russian aggression. The organizers of SXSW issue a formal statement condemning new orders from Governor Greg Abbott that would criminalize the families of transgender children, while prosecutors in Austin and other large Texas cities say they'll not play along, and a growing list of celebrities back Texas trans families as well. The hundreds of millions of dollars paid last year by Austin ISD into the state's Robin Hood funding recapture program over amounts paid by every other district in the state will be even more next year. Today's the last day of early voting in the primary election and Travis County polling stations will stay open until 10pm to make up for reduced hours due to freezing weather earlier this week. A Houston businessman has made a 1 million dollar donation to the University of Texas in honor of his father, who was the first Black architect in Texas, while a new student lounge at the McCombs School of Business is named in honor of UT's first Black business graduate. Austin FC's Q2 Stadium ha been nominated as Stadium Of The Year for 2021. Players for the state champion Westlake Chaparrals football team are well-represented in this years list of All-State selections while players from Lake Travis, Vandegrift, Rouse, Liberty Hill, Dripping Springs, Manor, McCallum, LBJ, Wimberley, Smithville, Lampasas, Lago Vista and Thorndale are honored as well. KVUE TV is set to be bought by new ownership, who plan to sell it again immediately. The celebrated McGuire Moorman Lambert restaurant group is set to open three new places in Clarksville. And cold weather continues thru Saturday with a warmup coming Sunday.
