The San Marcos Activity Center at 501 East Hopkins Street will be closed indefinitely because of water damage that occurred in the building early Friday. Officials said the flooding appears to be the result of a 3-inch pipe that disconnected from its coupler, causing several inches of water to cover the entire facility. Police were flagged down at approximately 3 a.m. after a resident saw water coming from the building. Officers notified the Fire Department and crews successfully shut off water to the building. The city’s insurance carrier has been notified and is assessing damage and providing assistance where possible. 

The San Marcos Activity Center at 501 East Hopkins Street will be closed indefinitely because of water damage that occurred in the building early Friday. Officials said the flooding appears to be the result of a 3-inch pipe that disconnected from its coupler, causing several inches of water to cover the entire facility. Police were flagged down at approximately 3 a.m. after a resident saw water coming from the building. Officers notified the Fire Department and crews successfully shut off water to the building. The city&rsquo;s insurance carrier has been notified and is assessing damage and providing assistance where possible.

San Marcos Activity Center closed indefinitely due to water damage

The Austin school district is defying a request from a Republican state lawmaker for select school districts to investigate and catalog library and classroom books related to race, gender identity or sexuality. On Friday, district spokesman Jason Stanford said in an email that district officials "decided that a response is not necessary, especially since anyone can search our library catalogues on this website." Austin school Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde had told the American-Statesman on Wednesday that the district would work to respond to the request, but she did not want to "turn everything upside down" because of the labor-intensive inquiry. 

The Austin school district is defying a request from a Republican state lawmaker for select school districts to investigate and catalog library and classroom books related to race, gender identity or sexuality. On Friday, district spokesman Jason Stanford said in an email that district officials "decided that a response is not necessary, especially since anyone can search our library catalogues on this website." Austin school Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde had told the American-Statesman on Wednesday that the district would work to respond to the request, but she did not want to "turn everything upside down" because of the labor-intensive inquiry.

Austin ISD dismisses Texas lawmaker's probe into books on race, sex

Texas health officials on Friday recorded 3,646 people in the hospital for COVID-19 statewide, or about 26% of the summer peak total of 13,932 on August 26th. Meanwhile Travis County coronavirus data released Friday showed enough improvement in hospital trends for COVID-19 that health officials maintained the community threat level at Stage 3. The county recorded 9 new hospital admissions for COVID-19. The rolling seven-day average of new daily hospital admissions, which helps Austin Public Health determine guidelines for the most medically vulnerable members of the community, stayed at 14. 

Texas health officials on Friday recorded 3,646 people in the hospital for COVID-19 statewide, or about 26% of the summer peak total of 13,932 on August 26th. Meanwhile Travis County coronavirus data released Friday showed enough improvement in hospital trends for COVID-19 that health officials maintained the community threat level at Stage 3. The county recorded 9 new hospital admissions for COVID-19. The rolling seven-day average of new daily hospital admissions, which helps Austin Public Health determine guidelines for the most medically vulnerable members of the community, stayed at 14.

Texas records 3,646 hospitalized for COVID; Austin area tracking 135 inpatients with coronavirus

Three large dinosaur statues stolen from a dinosaur museum in Bastrop County were found this week at a University of Texas fraternity house. The Dinosaur Park in Cedar Creek wrote in a Facebook post that the statues, which are 6 to 10 feet long, had been stolen last week from their exhibit areas. The statues were found and returned to the park on Tuesday evening with some damage, according to an update posted Wednesday on Facebook. Austin Nunez, who does marketing for the park, said someone at a fraternity party on Saturday left a tip that led to the recovery of the dinosaur statues. The Bastrop County sheriff’s office worked with the U-T Police Department to recover the statues, he said.

Three large dinosaur statues stolen from a dinosaur museum in Bastrop County were found this week at a University of Texas fraternity house. The Dinosaur Park in Cedar Creek wrote in a Facebook post that the statues, which are 6 to 10 feet long, had been stolen last week from their exhibit areas. The statues were found and returned to the park on Tuesday evening with some damage, according to an update posted Wednesday on Facebook. Austin Nunez, who does marketing for the park, said someone at a fraternity party on Saturday left a tip that led to the recovery of the dinosaur statues. The Bastrop County sheriff&rsquo;s office worked with the U-T Police Department to recover the statues, he said.

Dinosaur statues stolen from Bastrop County museum found at UT fraternity house

Two freshmen at Texas A and M University are suing a fraternity after they say they faced “serious” bodily injury when industrial strength cleaner was poured on them. The students, Patrick Close and Jose Figueroa, filed a complaint in state District Court in Harris County against Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Incorporated, A and M’s chapter of S-A-E, and members of the A and M fraternity at the time for violation of the anti-hazing statute in Texas.

Two freshmen at Texas A and M University are suing a fraternity after they say they faced &ldquo;serious&rdquo; bodily injury when industrial strength cleaner was poured on them. The students, Patrick Close and Jose Figueroa, filed a complaint in state District Court in Harris County against Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Incorporated, A and M&rsquo;s chapter of S-A-E, and members of the A and M fraternity at the time for violation of the anti-hazing statute in Texas.

Texas A&M students sue fraternity for hazing after experiencing alleged severe burns

A Southwest Austin man, who had been in a standoff with police after firing a gun from the residence when city code personnel came to cut his lawn, was fatally shot by police after the home caught fire Wednesday afternoon. The man, who was only described by police as being in his 50s, was not immediately identified by Austin police on Wednesday night, pending notification of his family, Police Chief Joe Chacon said.

A Southwest Austin man, who had been in a standoff with police after firing a gun from the residence when city code personnel came to cut his lawn, was fatally shot by police after the home caught fire Wednesday afternoon. The man, who was only described by police as being in his 50s, was not immediately identified by Austin police on Wednesday night, pending notification of his family, Police Chief Joe Chacon said.

Southwest Austin man, in SWAT standoff after opening fire on city code staff, fatally shot by police

The average Hutto homeowner will see their taxes increase by about 52 dollars in the city's new budget. The average homestead property in Hutto has increased in taxable value by 16.5 percent, from $208,496.88 last year to $242,978.72 this year. Under the new tax rate, the average homeowner would pay $1,303.45. The average homeowner paid $1,250.98 last year. The city has adopted a property tax rate of 53.6 cents per $100 valuation. The current tax rate is 60 cents per $100 valuation.

The average Hutto homeowner will see their taxes increase by about 52 dollars in the city's new budget. The average homestead property in Hutto has increased in taxable value by 16.5 percent, from $208,496.88 last year to $242,978.72 this year. Under the new tax rate, the average homeowner would pay $1,303.45. The average homeowner paid $1,250.98 last year. The city has adopted a property tax rate of 53.6 cents per $100 valuation. The current tax rate is 60 cents per $100 valuation.

Average Hutto homeowner's taxes will increase by $52 in city's new budget

Powerful westerly winds buffeted Austin-area neighborhoods Wednesday, rampaging across lawns festooned with Halloween decorations and reportedly damaging trees in Wells Branch and Cedar Park. The gusty winds had been preceded by a fast-moving but noisy wave of thunderstorms that heralded the arrival of a cold front moving through Central Texas early Wednesday. The storms dropped up to an inch of rain across the Austin area and left more than 6,000 Austin Energy customers without power.

Powerful westerly winds buffeted Austin-area neighborhoods Wednesday, rampaging across lawns festooned with Halloween decorations and reportedly damaging trees in Wells Branch and Cedar Park. The gusty winds had been preceded by a fast-moving but noisy wave of thunderstorms that heralded the arrival of a cold front moving through Central Texas early Wednesday. The storms dropped up to an inch of rain across the Austin area and left more than 6,000 Austin Energy customers without power.

Predawn Austin storms bring up to inch of rain, leave thousands without power

Gas prices in Austin have risen to their highest level since 2014, according to industry experts, and local drivers and businesses are feeling the pinch. The cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Austin increased 5 cents in the past week, reaching an average of $2.96 a gallon, according to industry website GasBuddy, which tracks fuel prices nationwide. The last time the average price in Austin was higher was the week of Oct. 10 in 2014, when the average price was $3.08 per gallon.

Gas prices in Austin have risen to their highest level since 2014, according to industry experts, and local drivers and businesses are feeling the pinch. The cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Austin increased 5 cents in the past week, reaching an average of $2.96 a gallon, according to industry website GasBuddy, which tracks fuel prices nationwide. The last time the average price in Austin was higher was the week of Oct. 10 in 2014, when the average price was $3.08 per gallon.

Austin gas prices have hit a 7-year high -- and drivers are feeling the 'painful' sting

Texas is already home to some of the highest levels of semiconductor output in the nation, but as the industry sees unprecedented federal investment, industry leaders want to ensure the Lone Star State remains at the forefront. Governor Greg Abbott has created a semiconductor task force that will work to attract semiconductor investment into the state, including two key institutes being created by the federal government. The Texas task force will bring together semiconductor industry stakeholders from the private sector, higher education institutes and community partners to develop a proposal for the U.S Department of Commerce to choose Texas as the site for both the National Semiconductor Technology Center and the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program.

Texas is already home to some of the highest levels of semiconductor output in the nation, but as the industry sees unprecedented federal investment, industry leaders want to ensure the Lone Star State remains at the forefront. Governor Greg Abbott has created a semiconductor task force that will work to attract semiconductor investment into the state, including two key institutes being created by the federal government. The Texas task force will bring together semiconductor industry stakeholders from the private sector, higher education institutes and community partners to develop a proposal for the U.S Department of Commerce to choose Texas as the site for both the National Semiconductor Technology Center and the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program.

New Texas task force aims to boost state's semiconductor industry

News Briefs from the Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX

News Briefs from the Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX

Austin News Briefs - Austin American Statesman

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