Weekly CDC COVID risk levels are released: Blanco County is upgraded to High risk, joining Milam, Fayette, Caldwell and Lampasas Counties, while the rest of the area remains at Medium risk, including Travis and Williamson. COVID-related hospitalizations have continued to slowly rise to 188, up from 170 one week ago. Meanwhile, monkeypox cases have continued to climb, and Austin Public Health confirms that West Nile virus has been detected in Travis County mosquitoes.
Austin has officially seen its hottest July record, and we're now in drought conditions that are the worst in over a decade.
Former Austin auto dealership magnate Erik Charles Maund, in jail in Nashville awaiting trial for arranging the murders of a mistress and her estranged boyfriend, is accused of attempting to arrange the murder of one of his accomplices - from behind bars.
As part of yesterday's marathon session, the Austin City Council has approved a $350 million bond for affordable housing efforts on the November ballot.
The Travis County Commissioners Court has approved a resolution imploring LCRA to take more impactful measures towards conservation of water in the Highland Lakes system.
Austin's police and transportation departments are working on strategies to reduce the rising number of severe car accidents in the city.
Speaking of APD, the Austin Chronicle has published an article on the department's use of long range acoustic devices or LRAD's as a crowd control measure - if improperly used, they can cause permanent hearing loss and brain injuries, and in theory interfere with heart function.
The race for Austin Mayor just got a little testier, as candidate Celia Israel has characterized parts of her opponent and former Mayor Kirk Watson's housing plan as "racist".
The two-screen Doc's drive-in movie theater near Buda is for sale - the land and the business are included for just under $4 million.
