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(Laura Figi/Austonia)
Lotto fever is reaching a peak here in Texas and it's no surprise why—this drawing's players stand to win $550 million in Powerball and a stupefying $750 million in Mega Millions. Needless to say, many Austinites are trying their luck this time around.
<p>The next Mega Millions drawing will name winners tonight and the Powerball drawing is tomorrow. The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 302,575,350.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f7a57e7d42b8e6e308db52a5f90715b8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="ae471" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ2MDE0OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTg4Mjc2NH0.gkY-LHC2qJKh0-lX1gEKRs1tpToQK6YxBc-xdpgbXQY/img.png?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Texas Lottery)</small></p><p>Local gas station employees, all of whom asked to remain anonymous, said they see upwards of 100 ticket sales per day when lotto numbers reach this high. Just this morning, someone bought $300 worth of Mega Millions tickets at a 7-Eleven downtown.<br/></p><p>A gas station manager on South Lamar said people get excited to play the lottery, and even though he's fairly sure he isn't going to win, he always buys one ticket. Last week, he said he sold 100 tickets to the same person. One time, he even sold $500 worth of tickets to a single person.</p><p>At the Valero on 628 E. Oltorf St., managers said they see wins in the $150-$500 range pretty frequently and they've even seen a few customers win higher jackpots.</p><p>Despite saying she almost never played the lottery, one woman, who also asked to remain anonymous, bought a ticket each for Powerball and Mega Millions. Though she doesn't expect to win, she said she would be generous if she did.</p><p>"I would buy a house and give a ton of it to charity," she said. "I would give it to try and help animals, end factory farming and help the environment."</p><p>Though the chances are ultimately very slim, the last Mega Millions draw saw one $1 million winner and 10 $10,000 winners from Texas, while the last Powerball draw saw two $1 million winners and eight $50,000 winners from Texas. You can't win if you don't try!</p><p>You can check your results <a href="https://www.txlottery.org/export/sites/lottery/Games/index.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
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(Christa McWhirter)
After supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a deadly riot last week, the FBI circulated an internal bulletin warning of armed protests being held at all 50 state capitols at least until Inauguration Day.
Here in Austin, local and state law enforcement officials have ramped up security around the Texas Capitol, the Texas Legislature has adjourned until Jan. 26 and downtown businesses have boarded up their storefronts—again.
<p><strong>Law enforcement</strong> </p><p>The Texas Capitol reopened on Jan. 4. Two days later, it closed abruptly due to the Capitol riot, which was accompanied by <a href="https://austonia.com/trump-rally-photos" target="_self">a local protest</a> of Trump loyalists with signs that read "Hang traitors" and vehicles decorated with Qanon hashtags. By Tuesday, it had reopened in time for the first day of the Texas legislative session. Lawmakers gathered for the first time in two years, amid the ongoing pandemic and under <a href="https://austonia.com/state-capitol-security" target="_self">heavy security presence</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQzNTczOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTc4NDE5OH0.1aL6UyM08vDA0B9LlJS8itZ_9FG9IwcsqSaF6B8uTlk/img.jpg?width=980" target="_blank"><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="50c8763703f436ad600db1767aed8409" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="9feb1" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQzNTczOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTc4NDE5OH0.1aL6UyM08vDA0B9LlJS8itZ_9FG9IwcsqSaF6B8uTlk/img.jpg?width=980"/></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">DPS troops lined the Texas Capitol Jan. 7 after pro-Trump protesters infiltrated the U.S. Capitol.</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
(Bob Daemmrich)
</small>
</p><p>The police presence will continue at least through Jan. 20, when President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be inaugurated.<br/></p><p>The Texas Department of Public Safety has deployed additional officers to the Texas Capitol and "is continuously monitoring events and their impact on public safety," according to a statement shared with Austonia. "While we do not discuss operational specifics, DPS will continue to adjust our operations as needed to maintain public order and address potential threats."</p><p>DPS Director Steven McCraw told state senators this week that authorities are monitoring multiple sects, which could prompt the need for reinforcements if they decide to travel to the capital and band together, as <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/15/texas-readies-fbi-warns-state-capitols-protest-threats/4174667001/" target="_blank">the Austin American-Statesman reported Friday</a>. </p><p>The Austin Police Department confirmed it has "reports of planned assemblies" in a similar statement. "We fully respect people's ability to exercise their First Amendment rights, and we will be prepared to respond as needed to ensure the community's safety," it read in part.</p><p>DPS has not requested the assistance of the Travis County Sheriff's Office, but the agency has a plan in place to respond if that changes, a spokesperson wrote in an email.</p><p>Meanwhile, federal law enforcement is also at work.</p><p>The San Antonio branch of the FBI said its "efforts are focused on identifying, investigating and disrupting individuals that are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity," in a statement shared with Austonia. </p><p>And the U.S. Attorneys representing the four districts in Texas <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/us-attorneys-warn-dont-mess-texas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">issued a press release</a> on Wednesday headlined "Don't Mess With Texas," which announced their intent to prosecute any crimes committed at the Texas Capitol or elsewhere in violation of federal law. </p><p><strong>Elected officials</strong></p><p>After the riot at the U.S. Capitol, three Democratic state senators, including Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, sent a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan asking them to prohibit firearms at the Texas Capitol on the opening day of the legislative session.</p><p>"As there are still individuals who are questioning the legitimate results of the November General Election, it is imperative we take action to prevent this anger from making its way into the halls of the Texas Capitol," they wrote.<br/></p><p>The state Republican leadership denied the request.</p><p>"We've had security briefings and also had increased trooper presence for Opening Day," State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, said in a statement shared with Austonia. "We all felt safe, protected and able to focus on the business of the people." </p><p>Two days into the session, both houses of the Texas Legislature adjourned until Jan. 26, which will keep lawmakers away from the Capitol until after Inauguration Day. Coupled with the increased police presence, this vote has led State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, to feel more safe. "That, of course, will help," she told Austonia. </p><p>But Goodwin remains concerned about the prospect of violence on Wednesday. "Of course, there will be those who show up at the Capitol, and I just think that people should be very wary and cognizant of what's going on around them," she said. </p><p>In the meantime, she is focused on her work as a legislator. </p><p>Last month, Goodwin filed a bill that would make it a class B misdemeanor to display a firearm while "attending or within 500 feet of a public demonstration." She was prompted to do so by the death of Garrett Foster, who was shot by <a href="https://austonia.com/army-sgt-daniel-perry-who-claims-he-shot-blm-protestor-garrett-foster-was-driving-for-uber" target="_self">an Uber driver</a> while attending a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Austin last July. </p><p>"If somebody is at a rally to express their point of view, we don't need that extra tension in the air," she said. </p><p>She also plans to be at the Capitol on Jan. 19, the day before the inauguration, to advocate against Confederate Heroes Day, <a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/texas-confederate-heroes-day-abolish/" target="_blank">a state holiday</a> that sometimes conflicts with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is on Monday.</p><p><strong>Local businesses</strong> </p><p>A handful of downtown businesses—including 7-Eleven, Total Men's Primary Care and a post office branch on Congress Avenue—have boarded up their storefronts ahead of Inauguration Day.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2bd5c673303e0ccbb4fdaa8ce129252e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="16fef" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ1NTUwNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDExNDA0OH0.3GXfuJ6ijXZgpMp5hvAYrKxdhSJtfOv9qcgUTs7C_dk/img.jpg?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Christa McWhirter) </small></p><p>Buford Snyder, who owns Snyder Commercial Glass Service, <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/safety-concerns-arise-after-some-armed-protesters-show-up-at-texas-capitol/" target="_blank">told KXAN</a> that his company boarded up several businesses this week amid concern about looming protests.<br/></p><p>Still, many storefronts remain uncovered. </p><p>Eric Joyner, a security guard in the area, says most of the buildings he patrols were untouched over the summer, when protestors gathered en masse in response to police violence and racial injustice. "You just never know what's going to happen though," he said. </p><p><em>Christa McWhirter contributed to this story.</em></p>
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(TechCrunch/CC)
COVID-19 is still raging on, reaching the Texas House earlier this week, but Austin's tech sector is booming.
Here are some of Austin's most breaking stories, broken down into bite-size pieces, so you can be informed quickly.
<p><strong>Austin Convention Center receives first patients:</strong> The Austin Convention Center's alternate care site opened its doors on Tuesday and received its first three patients on Thursday. Following the surge resulting from holiday gatherings, hospital admissions for the virus have been on a steady incline, which puts other emergency patients at risk. With up to 200 spare beds to relieve hospital ICUs, Austin Public Health hopes the site will help control the overwhelming surge.</p><p><strong>Bumble files to go public:</strong> Austin-based matchmaker app is ready to get <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/business/2021/01/15/austins-bumble-files-paperwork-go-public/4175483001/?utm_source=SND&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=statesman" target="_blank">on the market</a>—the stock market, that is. Bumble filed its registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, estimating that the initial public offering could raise $100 million, and could hit the stock market as early as this year. Though it hasn't released the number of shares it plans to sell or the price range, keep an eye out for the ticker "BMBL" on the NASDAQ.</p><p><strong>Chencho Flores dies after COVID-19 complications: </strong>Lifelong Austinite and multi-talented musician Chencho Flores said a final goodbye to his home city on Jan. 10 after suffering <a href="https://www.austin360.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/01/14/chencho-flores-renowned-austin-conjunto-musician-dies-covid-19/4159208001/?utm_source=SND&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=austin360" target="_blank">COVID-19 complications</a>. The 91-year-old began playing music around the community in the 1940s, picking up guitar, accordion and eventually becoming known for his singing and MC abilities. He stayed active in the community with Conjunto Los Pinkys up until his death.</p><p><strong>COVID-19 in the House: </strong>State Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, tested positive for COVID-19 three days after the Texas lawmakers called this year into session, he <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/15/texas-house-member-coronavirus-quarantine/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">told the Texas Tribune</a>. Deshotel had received a test six days before he tested positive and said he had "no idea" how he contracted it, though he is now in quarantine. The news came the day after House members gathered for the start of 2021 session, which will not require members to get tested before they enter the chamber. Upon hearing the news, some House members, including Democrats Erin Zwiener and Michelle Beckley, said they would quarantine according to CDC guidelines.</p><p><strong>Digital Realty goes east: </strong>Joining an ever-growing list of companies making Austin home base, <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-realty-announces-relocation-of-global-headquarters-to-austin-tx-301208446.html" target="_blank">Digital Realty announced Thursday</a> that it would be packing up and moving its HQ from San Francisco to Austin. Austin has become a choice destination for business owners with <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-oracle-hq?q=oracle" target="_self">Oracle</a> and <a href="https://austonia.com/tesla-gigfactory-site-plan?q=tesla" target="_self">Tesla</a> both announcing their move to the city last year. Digital Realty already has Texas roots: an office in downtown Dallas and more than 30 data centers around Texas. The company did not announce when they would make it to Texas but they maintain they will keep a strong presence in San Francisco.</p>
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