Local COVID hospitalizations hold a high plateau, while deaths begin to climb - a daily average of 4 in Austin, and half of recent COVID deaths in Williamson County are people under 50, all unvaccinated. Cases are jumping anew, especially among people under 18, and Austin Public Health draws a connection to school resuming. AISD reacts to the new Pfizer vaccine FDA approval with incentives, and likely eventual vaccine requirements for staff. Leander ISD defies advice from WilCo Health, refusing to shut down in spite of a big spike. AISD finds considerable traffic from Kazakhstan amidst online commentary on masking policy. Austin officials consider new limits on large gatherings, just as the ACL Fest approaches. UT classes start today with no vaccine or mask requirements - professors are not even allowed to ask symptomatic students to leave a class. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, passed by the U.S. House yesterday, may impact new voting restrictions and redistricting in Texas if it becomes law. A testy phone call between Republican Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly and Travis County GOP Chair Matt Mackowiac becomes a public embarrassment for the party. Wanderlust Wine Company opens a second location in East Austin. A recovery program from Yelp will assist House Park BBQ and Austin Pets Alive. Facebook is in talks to lease multiple floors of what will be Austin's new tallest building. And weather folks continue monitoring a potential new storm in the Gulf that could threaten Texas.
