Local COVID-related hospitalizations continue their vertical ascent, while statewide new cases are at their highest clip ever. Long waits at City-run COVID testing centers lead to accusations of inequity. Dell delays plans for a return to in-office work, while the Kerrville Folk Festival announces a vaccine mandate. Pflugerville leads the area in new COVID cases, while a positive test in a young child is found after a pre-school gathering of kindergarteners in Lago Vista. AISD holds the first of two pre-semester town halls, watch the video here. The University of Texas offers a tuition-free online option for local high schoolers. An APD detective accuses DA Jose Garza of coercion to alter evidence. Austonia ranks Austin's party districts for safety and crime, while the Austin City Council mulls a big spend for active shooter and mental health incident response. Austin FC wins its first regular season intra-state rivalry game over Houston, and travels to Dallas on Saturday. Longhorn Ryan Crouser scores gold in the shot put at the Tokyo Olympics. Beer giant Anheuser-Busch eyes a new Austin foothold, and New York pizza giant Grimaldi's is coming to town as well. Austin prepares to celebrate its 182nd birthday. And another cool day Thursday may be the last for awhile.
