Local COVID hospitalizations are now very close to crossing into Stage 4 range, but dropping slower than previously expected - the Omicron subvariant BA.2 could be a factor. University of Texas faculty are alarmed at Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's comments about The Liberty Institute - a new conservative-backed think tank at UT - and worry that it is aimed at suppressing the accurate teaching of history. Austin Water has been flushing lines in south Austin after residents complained of foul smelling and tasting water - it apparently has nothing to do with the recent boil-water notice. Capital Metro expects to restore local transit service to full capacity by late this summer. Austin Bergstrom International Airport saw its fourth-busiest year in 2021 and its busiest December ever at the end of last year. Houston's Fajita Pete's opens it first Austin location with goals to open five more. The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians or HAAM has purchased an office building on South First and expects to open it by this fall. The DeLorean sportscar is making a comeback as an electric vehicle and its HQ will be in San Antonio - Austin is a possibility for the location of DeLorean manufacturing. Nine local craft brewers take gold medals in the first Texas Craft Brewers Cup with Black Star Co-op winning Best Small Brewery and Real Ale Brewing winning Best Large Brewery. And a cold front is inbound, cooling down our Friday, prior to a weirdly warm Monday and Tuesday next week.
