City health leaders advise caution as precaution levels are lowered to Stage 3, while strategy begins for anticipated vaccine approval for kids under 12. Mayor Steve Adler recommends that local businesses mandate COVID tests instead of vaccines to comply with new orders from Governor Greg Abbott against vaccine mandates. KVUE is set to host a debate on Prop A on Thursday night. Census data analysis shows that the Austin area has shifted from a majority-white to a majority-minority region over the last decade. A Downtown Austin Alliance survey finds Red River and East Sixth street bars and venues lagging behind those on Rainey and West Sixth Streets in recovery since the pandemic shutdown. A city-funded survey finds that about half of LGTBQ Austinites report having been harassed. The Eater 38 gets its quarterly update, while the New York Times names East Austin's Birdie's as one of America's 50 most exciting restaurants. The world's largest bounce-house is on tour and coming to Carson Creek Ranch in early November. A few hours to the west, William Shatner is sitting atop a Blue Origin rocket near Van Horn, Texas right now awaiting launch. And Hurricane Pamela is making landfall on the western Mexican coast now, soon to bring additional rain to Central Texas.
