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.

News Briefs from the Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX

News Briefs from the Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX

Austin News Briefs - Austin American Statesman

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

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.

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

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