An eye-popping new COVID case count of over 10,000 posted yesterday is a data anomaly - the actual count was around 900. State leaders and energy executives say Friday's expected new winter record power demand may reach up to 74,000 megawatts - but still insist ERCOT and the grid are up to the task. As many as 70,000 Texans are now without power due to localized outages - Governor Greg Abbott has issued disaster declarations for 17 Texas counties, including Williamson. H-E-B shuts down its local stores early at 6 Thursday evening, and plans to reopen a little late at 8am Friday morning. Friday closures include UT Austin and Texas State University, local city and county COVID testing operations, Austin Resource Recovery trash collection, Austin Public Libraries, all to resume on Saturday. ABIA is open, but saw most flights cancelled Thursday with the same expected Friday. Spider House Cafe is soon to re-open under new branding, while fellow UT neighborhood fixture El Mercado Uptown is likely soon to close, as its building is set to be demolished. Several local high schools will have new sports competitors in the fall as UIL announces realignments. And a couple more nights of lows in the 20's remain before the cold snap ends.
