Adding insult to injury, the current historic heat wave has also resulted in the worst air quality in Central Texas in a decade. Meanwhile, ERCOT's chief is concerned about the ability of Texas' older power generators to keep up with the ongoing record demand for power this summer.
Austin Public Health declares that monkeypox has achieved community spread in Austin. Meanwhile, COVID-19 risk remains at Medium level for Travis County, and hospitalizations continue tracking upward - as of yesterday at 159, up from 68 one month ago.
Friends of an elderly cyclist who died in a hit-and-run crash in March are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.
The director of Austin's Office of Civil Rights remains on paid leave following an investigation that appears to confirm employee allegations of a hostile work environment.
Trash collection schedules have been moved earlier to allow workers to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat - we're now asked to have containers on the curb by 5:30am.
A new poll commissioned by the Austin Monitor shows deep division in Austin over police spending and public safety, and that Austinites are dissatisfied with local government - and keen to vote in November.
Lawyers for Alex Jones want to bar any mention of white supremacism or extremism from the cupcoming trial to determine how much he owes the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims whom he defamed. Meanwhile, his ex-wife Kelly Jones claims to have "insider info" which she's volunteering to the House Select Committee on the January 6 insurrection.
A stretch of West Sixth Street, roughly the block east of Clark's Oyster Bar, is being eyeballed for a vertical mixed-use makeover.
Our Thursday weekend live music outlook: Friday shows include Brandi Carlile and Lucius at Waterloo Park, Purity Ring at ACL Live, Billy Currington at Round Rock Amp, and the Roky Erickson Birthday and Ice Cream Social at Hotel Vegas. Saturday catch the Rebirth Brass Band at the Far Out Lounge, Atmosphere at Stubb's, Coheed and Cambria at Waterloo Amphitheater, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd at ACL Live.
And extreme heat continues, with a high of 105 coming today - but with a welcome chance of rain, most likely between 3pm and 10pm today.
