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Austin's COVID-19 cases remain most concentrated in East side ZIP codes.
The mountain of COVID-19 data released every day in Austin is easier to understand with visual aids.
Once a week, Austonia is taking a look at the previous seven days of COVID-19 statistics, all with the very helpful graphics of Austin resident and Reddit user Rational Anarchy, who has been producing daily visuals and posting them in the forum.
(Updated Aug. 7. All graphics: Rational Anarchy/Reddit)
Travis County’s daily confirmed new COVID-19 cases stop decline, hit plateau
After two weeks of steady decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases and daily hospital admissions, both trend lines now appear to be in a plateau.
"That's better than a surge - but still dangerous," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said during his State of the City address on Wednesday.
The seven-day moving average of daily new confirmed cases has risen slightly, to 262 as of Thursday evening compared to 218 last week. The moving average of daily new hospital admissions is now 38, up slightly from 37.7 last week.
Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott is concerned the plateau could reverse track, especially if schools reopen and sports stadiums welcome back fans.
"We've seen over and over again, across the country and across the globe, that when communities relax too soon, it results in a bounce of cases and a repeat surge," he told county commissioners on Tuesday.
Travis County’s reported COVID-19 deaths hold steady
As of Thursday evening, Travis County reported 288 deaths, up from 266 deaths a week ago.
The local case fatality rate—defined as the number of reported deaths per confirmed cases—remains around 1.3%, compared to 1.1% on July 9. But the 14-day moving average number of daily reported deaths has declined slightly, to four from around six last week.
Dr. Escott has attributed the increase to the fact that most of the patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in late July were over 60—and at much higher risk of death.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Austin metro continue to decline
The total number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is also declining. As of Thursday evening, 297 people were hospitalized with the virus in the five-county metro area, compared to 388 a week ago.
And ICU occupancy improved incrementally—only to bounce back
After six weeks of the ICU occupancy at more than 80%, it finally dipped to 78% on Tuesday evening, according to a joint update from Austin's three major hospital systems.
But on Friday, the three systems—Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White and St. David's HealthCare—reported an updated ICU occupancy rate of 82%.
Ventilator use is declining, however, with 73 people using them as of Thursday evening, compared to 97 a week ago.
Austin’s COVID-19 cases remain most concentrated on the East Side
New COVID-19 cases in Austin remain most densely concentrated on the city's East Side—and specifically in the ZIP codes 78744, 78753 and 78660.
Austin Public Health has opened testing sites in these areas to serve those most in need and has also targeted outreach to the city's Latino and Black populations, who are at the highest risk of being hospitalized with and dying from COVID-19.
Austin’s older residents remain most at risk of dying from COVID-19—amid other disparities
While young people age 20-39 make up nearly half of the total confirmed COVID-19 cases, they are much more likely to avoid hospitalization and recover.
In sharp contrast, people 60 years and older make up only 12% of confirmed COVID-19 cases but account for 80% of reported deaths, according to Austin Public Health.
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(Austonia staff)
Barton Springs pool will reopen on Saturday after being closed since late June due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barton Springs and Deep Eddy pools will reopen this Saturday on a modified schedule after being closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
<p>The Austin parks and recreation department announced that a limited number of its pool facilities will reopen this weekend. The other reopened pools are Springwoods in North Austin, Bartholomew in East Austin and Big Stacy in South Austin.</p>
<p>No reservations will be required, but capacity limits will be enforced. Once a pool reaches capacity, new swimmers will only be allowed in on a one-in, one-out basis.<br/></p><p>Patrons are asked to limit their visits to two hours. </p><p>A list of the pools that are reopening can be found <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/page/pools-splash-pads#north" target="_blank"><u>here</u></a>. </p><p>PARD closed both Barton Springs and Deep Eddy, along with a host of other parks facilities, <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/barton-springs-closes/particle-2" target="_self"><u>in late June</u></a> to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Previously the pools had been open on a limited, reservations-only basis. </p><p>The announcement comes after the average number of new confirmed cases each day has increased <u><a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/icu-medical-austin-2647779851/is-the-covid-situation-improving" target="_self">about 50% since Sept. 1</a>.</u> The Hospital admissions rate is declining as the majority of those cases are among the 10-29 age group.</p><p>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/icu-medical-austin-2647779851/particle-28" target="_self"><u>announced last week</u></a> that, in most of the state, businesses that had been limited to 50% capacity could expand to 75% capacity. This order applies to restaurants, office buildings, libraries, museums and gyms, among other businesses. </p><p>Abbott cited the decline in new COVID cases and related hospitalizations as reason for the change. While the daily caseload has declined post-surge, Texas has reported more new COVID cases than any other state in the last two weeks, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html#states" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>according to a data analysis by the New York Times</u></a>, and more than 15,000 Texans have died from the disease. </p>
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It's difficult to imagine running any modern business without some sort of conferencing capability, whether it's video, web or audio-based. While video conferencing has become an integral part of daily operations for many businesses, many companies still don't have a go-to service for interacting with clients. As a result, participants have to navigate the less-than-ideal 'which service should we use' conversation before each meeting, adding further complexity and distracting from the purpose of the discussion.
<p data-children-count="0">But, with dozens of providers offering basic conferencing capabilities, how do you know which is best for your business? Which features are most important? How do you avoid deploying a conference call service that is good for some use cases but fails to deliver for others?</p><p data-children-count="0">In this post, we'll cover what you need to know about the differences in conference call services — from basic web and audio conferencing capabilities to full-featured video conferencing platforms — and provide tips to help you select a platform that will help you deliver the experience your team and customers deserve.</p><p data-children-count="0"><img alt="Four doors, three yellow one purple, on a dark background" src="https://d9v4h7ffge8st.cloudfront.net/en/~/media/Images/blog/feature-images/Choosing%20the%20Right%20VCBlog%20and%20Social2xmin.jpg?h=393&&w=751"/> </p><h1 data-children-count="0">From audio to video: the evolution of conference call services</h1><h2 data-children-count="0">The beginning of conference calls</h2><p data-children-count="0">What many consider to be the <a href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/2874390/this-1915-conference-call-made-history.html" target="_blank">very first 'conference call'</a> took place more than a century ago, with a connection from New York to the site of San Francisco's Panama-Pacific International Exposition in January of 1915. It was Alexander Graham Bell who made the call, phoning his assistant, Thomas Watson. At that time, the American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) network spanned the continent with a single copper circuit (6,800 miles long) that could carry exactly one call at a time. There were already 8.6 million phones serviced by AT&T, but being able to speak to someone on the other side of the country was a momentous achievement for that era.</p><h2 data-children-count="0">Introduction of video and image alongside audio</h2><p data-children-count="0">By 1956, Bell Labs had improved on conference calling capabilities, but this technology wasn't introduced to the general public until 1964. Debuting at New York World's Fair that year, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/upshot/how-the-future-looked-in-1964-the-picturephone.html" target="_blank">The Picturephone</a> featured a small screen connected to the phone and allowed callers in New York to speak with Disneyland patrons out in Anaheim, California. Visual and audio information was sent on three phone lines simultaneously to handle the bandwidth required for the modest black-and-white screen. The Picturephone was meant for businesses to save on travel by hosting virtual meetings, but complexities in price and design proved a challenge to this vision.</p><h2 data-children-count="0">The rise of conference call services</h2><p data-children-count="0">With the onset of the Information Age and the advancement of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s, conference call services were similarly on the rise, as well. In 1996, a company by the name of VocalTec created the first Internet phone for the masses, with a software application to compress the voice signal, translate it into digital packets, and distribute it over the Internet. This technology, called <a href="https://www.bdm-voice.co.uk/the-history-of-voip/" target="_blank">Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)</a>, helped users save money on long-distance and international phone charges, and was adopted by those who saw the benefits of communicating over the web rather than through traditional phone companies.</p><h2 data-children-count="0">Modern video conference call services as we know it today</h2><p data-children-count="0">Today, video conferencing services are more popular than ever, with users in every corner of the world connecting with family, friends, and colleagues daily. People now can meet with anyone, from anywhere, using virtually any internet-connected device and without breaking the bank. Video conferencing has not only influenced the way we communicate, but it has completely changed the way companies do business. </p><p data-children-count="0">According to a <a href="https://www.lifesize.com/en/video-conferencing-blog/video-conferencing-statistics" target="_blank">2019 Lifesize study</a>, the number of telecommuting remote workers has increased by 115% in the last decade alone, which means video conferencing services are being used at ever-increasing rates. And in an effort to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic, more and more companies have gone remote, which has contributed to a <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/30/video-conferencing-apps-saw-a-record-62m-downloads-during-one-week-in-march/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">massive surge</a> in demand for quality video conferencing apps.</p><h1 data-children-count="0">Look out for the right features when choosing a conference call service</h1><p data-children-count="0">Choosing the best conference call service for your business is essential in furthering the efficiency and effectiveness of your internal and external communications. With a variety of conferencing services available, the decision often boils down to your company's needs, which means looking out for the right features to help your team operate at peak performance.</p><h2 data-children-count="0">End-to-end encryption and enterprise security</h2><p data-children-count="0">While most video conferencing platforms offer basic security features, there is a growing demand for true <a href="https://www.lifesize.com/en/company/news/press-releases/2020/end-to-end-encryption" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">end-to-end encryption</a> (E2EE) for the most sensitive meetings. These <a href="https://www.lifesize.com/en/video-conferencing-blog/e2ee" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">advanced encryption techniques</a> provide additional peace of mind by establishing a secure line of communication that blocks third-party users from accessing data as it is transmitted. With Lifesize, E2EE is supported across both meeting room systems and our cloud conferencing service, so data is protected regardless of how you join a meeting, without you even having to think about it.</p><h2 data-children-count="0">BYOD capabilities</h2><p data-children-count="0"><a href="https://www.ibm.com/services/digital-workplace/byod" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">Bring your own device</a> (BYOD) refers to employees who use their personal devices (smartphones, personal computers, tablets, or USB drives) to connect to their organizational networks. With the rise of remote and <a href="https://www.lifesize.com/en/distributed-work-hub" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">distributed work</a>, BYOD capabilities have grown in importance. Team members can easily access documents and business systems, like video conferencing services, from anywhere, reducing the learning curve for new employees and saving the company time and money on purchasing and replacing technology.</p><h2 data-children-count="0">Recording ability </h2><p data-children-count="0">The ability to <a href="https://www.lifesize.com/en/video-conferencing-blog/conference-call-recording" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">record a video conference</a> is critical for several reasons. Not only does it prevent the team from missing a meeting (since it can be re-watched later on), but it improves engagement, provides understanding for how and why decisions were made, and ensures no details are lost or forgotten. By recording the audio or video from your online meetings, you can maximize the impact of your time and hold on to information to reference later on.</p><h2 data-children-count="0">Calendar integrations</h2><p data-children-count="0">Calendar integrations for video conferencing services make it possible to automatically detect all of your scheduled video meetings, providing a single source of truth for upcoming appointments. Additionally, with Lifesize, calendar integrations allow for intelligent features, such as just-in-time notifications on your mobile device or laptop when meetings are ready to start. That's right, no more sifting through emails for the meeting link. Once integrated, your conference calls and meetings are stored in one convenient place, providing a one-click join experience, so you're where you need to be when you need to be there.</p><h2 data-children-count="0">Crystal clear audio and video</h2><p data-children-count="0">Making sure every one of your <a href="https://www.lifesize.com/en/video-conferencing-blog/golden-rules-of-a-successful-video-call" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">conference calls</a> has crystal clear audio and video is paramount to having a successful meeting. Stuttering audio or choppy video is annoying at best, but more likely to be a hindrance to your team's workflow. In contrast, having access to reliable audio and visual elements is attributed to higher productivity, client retention and team morale.</p><h1 data-children-count="0">No more jumping from conferencing service to conferencing service </h1><p data-children-count="0">With Lifesize, teams have access to virtual meeting spaces and collaboration features purpose-built for brainstorming ideas, making decisions, and working together in real-time. Lifesize isn't satisfied with settling for 'good enough' quality either. Our cloud video conferencing service and meeting room systems are engineered to make the user experience effortless and effective, providing a definitive conferencing solution for your most important meetings and everyday communications. With Lifesize, you have access to the highest-quality audio and video out there, and participants only need a Lifesize URL to join a call -- so no more installing six separate conferencing services each week!</p><p data-children-count="0">With more than fifteen years dedicated to developing conference room systems, wireless presentation devices, user-friendly mobile apps, and a global cloud network that brings it all together, Lifesize is a proven leader in the field of conference call services. By partnering with Lifesize, your company can stop jumping from one conferencing service to the next and start enjoying the benefits and features provided by a modern video conferencing platform.</p><h1 data-children-count="0">Keep your business moving, even when you can't be there</h1><p data-children-count="0">Whether your team uses audio, video, or both when conducting business, having conference call services available at all times is vital to keeping in touch with clients and employees alike. And because the global workforce has opened up more remote opportunities and work from home policies in recent months, trusted conferencing services are more critical than ever. Even when you can't be there in-person, video conferencing can keep your business moving, helping to maintain relationships and partnerships integral to your company's success.</p><h1 data-children-count="0">Conclusion</h1><p data-children-count="0">As more and more teams are now working remotely or from independent locations, video conferencing has become a non-negotiable tool for companies everywhere. Conference call services are an inexpensive but incredibly effective way to conduct meetings and handle business from anywhere in the world. </p><p data-children-count="0">By redefining the standards for video conferencing, Lifesize has empowered teams to be more connected, more productive, and more engaged with their work and with one another. <a href="https://signup.lifesize.com/?lang=en-US" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">Sign up</a> for your free Lifesize account today to take advantage of this invaluable service for yourself.</p>
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Gov. Greg Abbott calls for new crimes, mandatory jail time for certain offenses related to protests
7h
Gov. Greg Abbott help a press conference Sept. 24 to announce new legislative proposals.
By Jolie McCullough
At a campaign event in Dallas on Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a string of new legislative proposals to raise penalties and create new crimes for offenses committed at protests.
<p>Abbott isn't on the Nov. 3 ballot, but the event was the Republican governor's <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/10/greg-abbott-austin-police-budget-cuts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">latest move in a national political battle</a> during a tumultuous election that has pitted police officers and fears of rising crime against calls for an end to <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/13/defunding-police-texas-organizers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">police brutality and systemic racism</a>. Abbott's proposals, offered at a press conference at the Dallas Police Association headquarters, in part mirror a controversial set of measures Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed earlier this week.</p><p>"Today, we are announcing more legislative proposals to do even more to protect our law enforcement officers as well as do more to keep our community safe," said Abbott, who was flanked by police union officials, other Texas leaders and Republican politicians hoping to take Texas House seats from Dallas County Democrats in November.</p><p>The legislation, if passed by lawmakers in 2021, would create felony-level offenses for causing injury or destroying property during what is deemed to be a "riot." Blocking hospital entrances and using lasers to target police would also be felony offenses, Abbott said. Striking an officer with something like a water bottle would lead to a mandatory minimum of six months in jail.</p><p>Currently, the crime of "participating in a riot" is a misdemeanor offense in Texas with a maximum of six months in jail, and is labeled as a gathering of seven or more people that in part, creates a danger to a person or property. Many protesters in Texas have been arrested on suspicion of such offenses since protests erupted in May after the death of George Floyd. Others have been charged with felony-level crimes like assault on a police officer, including an 18-year-old who faces up to 20 years in prison for allegedly throwing a water bottle at an officer.</p><p>During a summer of national unrest after Floyd's death, protests in Texas sometimes turned unruly, leaving broken windows and dents in police vehicles, graffiti on government property and police officers with cuts and bruises. Most protests in Texas have been peaceful and have not left massive amounts of property damage — like burned buildings or looted storefronts — in their wake. Police have sprayed tear gas and pepper spray into crowds and fired bean bags out of shotguns at nonviolent demonstrators, sometimes seriously injuring them.</p><p>In recent months, the Austin City Council issued a vote of no confidence in police leadership to make changes to end police violence against people of color and, later, cut the department's budget. In Dallas, Police Chief U. Reneé Hall <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/08/dallas-police-chief-renee-hall-resigns/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">announced she would resign</a> at the end of the year after her department's use of force during protests was heavily criticized.</p><p>Abbott's new proposal would also pursue organizers of unruly protests. A new felony offense would be created for those who "aid and abet riots with funds and organization assistance," he said, and give the Texas Attorney General power to pursue civil penalties against such organizations as well.</p><p>And it would also keep anyone arrested on suspicion of riot offenses in jail until they could see a court officer.</p><p>"We're tired of seeing all these rioters do their rioting, they get arrested, they go in, and 30 minutes later, they're back on the street," Abbott said.</p><p>In Florida, DeSantis also announced Monday a proposal to delay releasing people who could make bail.</p><p>Democrats in Florida slammed DeSantis' proposal as unconstitutional and fear mongering, according to the Tampa Bay Times. One Florida lawmaker said the governor had "declared war on our civil rights."</p><p>In Texas, the proposals already had fierce opposition from organizers. David Villalobos, with the Texas Organizing Project in Dallas, said he is concerned about how police are able to determine when something is a riot and who they will target, and how it will affect a community that already doesn't trust the police.</p><p>"We wouldn't want [police] to have this wide discretion to deem which protesters are taking part in disorderly conduct or unlawful protests," he said Thursday. "This seems like a step that would really try to stifle the voice of the people, the people's right to march and peacefully assemble."</p><p>In Austin, where City Council members last month cut the police budget amid an outcry to defund policing and reinvest in other social programs to reduce crime, Austin Justice Coalition Founder Chas Moore said it seemed "democracy is hanging on by a thread."</p><p>"I don't think the governor is moving in the right direction if he's trying to penalize people for protesting or speaking out against the things people have grievances about," he said. "It's not going to stop people from protesting, but I do think we have a more emboldened police department and police forces."</p><p><em>Juan Pablo Garnham contributed to this story.</em></p><p><em><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Texas Tribune</a> is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. </em></p><p><em><br/></em></p><p><strong>More on Abbott:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/abbott-legislature-police-austin" target="_self">Abbott threatens legislative action after Austin cuts police budget</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzkxOTcyMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDYzMDc3OX0.WlDNsUDAkxPE5CIrgIBgGkCqbbWPxkkyJyLXfF4odzQ/img.png?width=980" id="27318" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e7cf7bbcb7ac38befe8f83edde1714ee" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs anti-defunding pledge in response to Austin's police budget cuts
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(Realtor.com)
Elijah Wood's Austin home goes on the market.
It may not be The Shire, but Elijah Wood is selling the next best thing: his 130-year-old classic Victorian home in Austin.
<p>The "Lord of the Rings" actor, famous for his role as Frodo Baggins, is selling his former home for $1.85 million. Wood bought the house for $1.075 million back in 2012 and has since made a great deal of upgrades to the three-story home. </p><p>The house, located at 608 W. Mary St., features luxury amenities like a clawfoot bathtub, marble countertops, hand-carved trim and banisters, a guesthouse and a large front porch, perfect for watching Texas' famous sunsets.</p><p>The 3,285-square-foot home has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, two living rooms and a third story that overlooks the Austin skyline.</p><p><a href="https://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=2786630" target="_blank">The listing</a> is held by Blake Taylor of Taylor Real Estate.</p>
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(Pexels)
Rapid antigen tests are popular because they return results in 15 minutes. But positive results are considered "probable" rather than "confirmed," per CDC guidelines.
When the University of Texas at Austin hosted its first home football game of the season, administrators required student attendees to be tested for COVID-19 before entering the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Of the 1,198 students who were tested that day, 95 returned positive results, according to a university spokesperson. But none of these cases were logged on the Austin-Travis County COVID-19 dashboard or counted toward official totals.
Why?
<p>Because the tests used at the game were rapid antigen tests. Like the genetic, or polymerase chain reaction, tests offered by Austin Public Health and other providers, these tests detect active COVID infections. They also provide results in 15 minutes, bypassing the need for processing at clinical labs, which can lead to wait times of <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/covid-19-test/delays-everywhere" target="_blank">up to two weeks</a>.</p><p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that positive rapid antigen test results be considered "probable" rather than "confirmed" because they are <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.22.20136309v2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>marginally less sensitive</u></a> than genetic tests.</p><p>As a result, the Texas Department of State Health Services and Austin Public Health do not count positive rapid antigen test results toward their official "confirmed" caseload or consider them when calculating the local positivity rate. </p><p>Austin Public Health did not respond to multiple inquiries about how many rapid antigen tests have been conducted locally. Austonia has filed a public records request for more information.</p><p>State data indicates that rapid antigen tests make up a small portion of the tests administered in Texas. </p><p>DSHS began reporting the number of antigen tests administered on Aug. 6; since then, just over 71,000 tests have been conducted. In that same time period, DSHS reports around 1.7 million genetic tests and more than 128,000 antibody, or serology, tests have been administered. </p><p>Some private testing sites, however, only offer rapid antigen tests or report more demand for them compared to other kinds of tests because of the convenience they offer. </p><p>Tarrytown Pharmacy has offered rapid antigen tests since mid-July, Pharmacist-In-Charge Rannon Ching said, and demand has remained steady, despite the deflated surge.</p><p>UT students whose parents were concerned about case clusters on campus have sought out testing, as have Austinites who want assurance they can see parents and grandparents for the first time since the pandemic and aren't putting them at risk, Ching said. The local business, which has two locations, has also coordinated with companies and restaurants that seek testing for their employees. </p><p>"I would say demand is up," Ching said. </p><p>Other private testing sites have seen similar trends.</p><p>At Total Men's Primary Care, which has 16 locations in and around Austin, demand for genetic tests is down because of the long turnaround times, CEO Robert Sek told Austonia <a href="https://austonia.com/coronavirus-test" target="_self"><u>last month</u></a>. </p><p>Similarly, Texas MedClinic COO David Gude has said rapid antigen tests are the clear favorite among patients at its 19 Central Texas locations. Genetic test results, which may be required for patients traveling abroad or awaiting surgery, tend only to be requested when an agency or entity is requiring them, he added. </p><p>This summer, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott floated the idea of <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-rapid-covid-19-test" target="_self"><u>offering rapid antigen tests</u></a> at public testing sites. </p><p>At the time, slow turnaround times for genetic tests were interfering with containment efforts. Residents were waiting up to two weeks to get results at the height of the local surge; by the time they learned they were positive, some had already recovered—and missed the chance to avoid infecting others. </p><p>"It's not quite as accurate as the regular (genetic) testing that we send off to labs, but it's probably good enough," he told Travis County Commissioners on July 28. "So we can get a whole lot better control over this for future outbreaks than sending off tests that are going to take three or four or 10 days."</p><p>APH has not added rapid antigen tests to its repertoire in the time since.</p><p>But Escott has hinted at the possibility of more rapid antigen testing data in the short term. </p><p>"I expect that we may see some changes in how the state and federal government want to treat those cases (indicated by rapid antigen test results)," he said during a press conference on Sept. 18. "But for now, we're looking at options to display both the probable and the confirmed (cases)."</p><p><strong>More on COVID:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/icu-medical-austin-2647779851" target="_self">Everything we know about COVID-19 in Austin right now: new cases, schools, testing</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQ1OTQ4MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDk1NzA2MX0.UsRYVQMI4Y2fk2fhagz6wfpGiKwour-_MjGC20Ra8B4/img.jpg?width=980" id="00f3e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9174fa8be42ec0e168497e7c29e92784" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Everything we know about COVID-19 in Austin right now: new cases, schools, testing
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(Laura Figi/Austonia)
Hiram Garcia, on the right with a white mask, talks to a protester after he is shoved to the ground for live streaming.
After a Kentucky grand jury ruled not to charge two of the three police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, protesters across the country took to the streets, including at the Texas Capitol and Austin City Hall to stand against the decision.
<p>The protest, titled "Justice for Breonna Taylor—Solidarity with Louisville," started at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The protest was not organized by a specific group or person, though groups like the Mike Ramos Brigade, a local anti-police organization with ties to antifa, and Back the Blue, a pro-police organization, were present.</p><p>Protester Ellie A., who was not affiliated with any group, said she was there to protest for what matters.</p><p>"Black lives matter," Ellie said. "That is not apparent from the things that happen in our world."</p><p>Shortly after the protest began, a group of protesters attacked Hiram Garcia, an independent streamer who often films protests and "history in the making," by shoving Garcia and his camera to the floor. Some protesters yelled and suggested he leave the protest. </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5489f343d934e9a702a23162e2250d33" id="ae9c0"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1308931333129895937"><div style="margin:1em 0">A fight has broken out against Hiram Garcia, an independent streamer. Protesters became physical and tried to knock… https://t.co/MSCmkMy0Ay</div> — Laura Figi (@Laura Figi)<a href="https://twitter.com/figlet__/statuses/1308931333129895937">1600908523.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Garcia, who streams on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ImHiram/videos/2476267032669707/" target="_blank">Facebook Live</a>, said he has been attending protests since May 30 and said people are quick to recognize him.<br/></p><p>"They just don't want me here, that's it," Garcia said. "The problem is I'm an unbiased host."</p><p>Protest attendee, who goes by the name Shera, has been protesting for racial justice since May and said she has faced dangerous situations, such as being pepper sprayed. Shera said Garcia was generally accepted at first, but while he elects to remain neutral, he has gained a right-wing audience he has yet to denounce.</p><p>"(Garcia has) talked to the cops in a way that a lot of the protesters don't like, or just giving them airtime (on the livestream) and loving them—pretty much speaking propaganda," Shera said. "It's okay if they don't want him here but getting physical like that … is just completely uncalled for."</p><p>About 45 minutes into the protest, protesters took to West Cesar Chavez Street and blocked traffic. Shortly after, they were followed by multiple police cars, who ordered them to clear out the roads under threat of arrest.</p><p>Groups of protesters continued to march through the streets, as several people were arrested. One protester was arrested on 3rd Street and San Jacinto, seen being patted down with zip-tied wrists.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1e884ae11332299f212f033562714939" id="2c229"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1308941191304667137"><div style="margin:1em 0">Here on 2nd Street and San Jacinto, a protester is being arrested. An officer said she was being arrested for “thro… https://t.co/xKcMdeYi60</div> — Laura Figi (@Laura Figi)<a href="https://twitter.com/figlet__/statuses/1308941191304667137">1600910873.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Several protesters were arrested for class B and C misdemeanors, according to the Austin Police Department. <br/></p><p>Shera said the protests were meant to show solidarity with Louisville and Breonna Taylor, and the ruling was disappointing. </p><p>"We are not done," Shera said. "We are still waiting for a lot of justice to be served for the police that have hurt all of the protesters that are out here."</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on protesters:</strong> </p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/austins-protests-black-lives-matter" target="_self">Austin's amateur sleuths spotlight police violence at BLM protests</a></h2>
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Texas begins letting people register to vote online when they’re updating their driver’s licenses
9h
Jordan Vonderhaar/The Texas Tribune
Forty-one states have passed laws allowing online voter registration; Texas is not one of them.
By Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff
When Jarrod Stringer updated his driver's license address in 2014, the Texas Department of Public Safety website asked if he wanted to register to vote. He clicked yes and thought he was registered. That fall, when he went to vote in San Antonio, he was denied. According to the system, he had never registered. It was past the registration deadline, so he couldn't vote.
<p>That kicked off a six-year legal battle that included two lawsuits for the right for Texans to register to vote online while updating their licenses.</p><p>"It's traumatic when you can't vote," Stringer said. "It's implicitly saying, 'You don't have a voice. You can't participate in change.'"</p><p>On Wednesday, Stringer won that "mind-boggling" fight with the state of Texas two weeks before the deadline to register to vote in 2020. Acting on a federal judge's orders, the state updated its online systems to allow people to add their names to the voter rolls when they update their licenses.</p><p>While it's a limited step — the online option is still only available to people updating their licenses — the change marks the first time Texans have been able to register to vote online, which advocates say could significantly increase turnout both this year and for future elections.</p><p>Mimi Marziani, the president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, which brought forward the lawsuits, said the change specifically helps marginalized Texans, who most often move.</p><p>"This is absolutely a victory for voting rights for all Texans," Marziani said. "It's a particular victory for younger Texans, poorer Texans and Texans of color."</p><p>The National Voter Registration Act, known as the motor voter law, requires states to let residents complete their voter registration applications when they apply for or renew their driver's licenses. Marziani said she took up the case because Stringer had been denied that right.</p><p>Previously, Texans like Stringer who tried to register while using the state's online license portal were directed to a blank registration form they had to fill out, print and send to their county registrar. The state was forced to change that system after U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/08/28/texas-voter-registration-laws/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ruled last month</a> that DPS is "legally obligated" to allow voters to simultaneously register to vote with every license renewal or change-of-address application. Garcia had ordered the state to set up a "fully operable" online system by Wednesday.</p><p>"The Secretary of State and Texas Department of Public Safety are in compliance with the court's order," said Kayleigh Date, a spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General, in a statement.</p><p>According to Marziani, 1.9 million Texans use the Department of Public Safety's online portal to update their driving information each year, and 96% of eligible Texans have their driver's licenses. Texas drivers can renew their licenses online if they renewed them in person the previous time, they are older than 18 but younger than 79, and their licenses expire within two years or have been expired for less than two years, among other restrictions. Texas has more than 16.6 million registered voters.</p><p>The coronavirus has brought widespread concern about how people can vote safely in Texas this November, especially as the state's elected leaders have resisted the idea of broadening who is eligible to vote by mail. Campaigns and advocates from both parties have found that registering new voters has been a challenge without online voting. <a href="https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/electronic-or-online-voter-registration.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Forty-one states</a> have passed legislation to allow residents to register to vote online; Texas is not one of them.</p><p>Marziani said Wednesday's move shows the state has the infrastructure in place to expand online voting beyond DPS and renewing driver's licenses.</p><p>"The system they use is the exact same system that they would implement for a broader online voter registration," Marziani said. "This is a flashing green light for the Legislature to finally bring Texas in line with states across the country and pass online voter registration."</p><p>Date did not answer questions about whether this would be possible or whether the state expected to expand online voter registration.</p><p>While some state leaders have staunchly opposed any form of online registration, Garcia's ruling last month said online registration would actually bolster security and election integrity.</p><p>"Uncontested expert testimony shows that a compliant DPS system would very likely lead to great efficiency, less human error, a massive saving in costs, and increased voter registration," Garcia wrote.</p><p>For Stringer, who moved again in August and waited to update his license until Wednesday, the action by the state was a relief.</p><p>"The representation of the people in the state of Texas is more fair today than it was two weeks ago," he said. "Part of what it means to be a citizen is to vote without duress. It's a huge deal."</p><p><em><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Texas Tribune</a> is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.</em> </p><p><em><br/></em></p><p><strong>More on the election: </strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/city/5-lessons-learned-election" target="_self">Pandemic voting: 5 things Austin learned from the July election that will matter in November</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQ4MTU4OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNDA4MTQ2OH0.4s40aKJ_LAs5qU7Fs07Rvln0kH5lNg8ltaAkP5S1tYw/img.jpg?width=980" id="261f3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="908b01e6dd7d428791b8de9a5a6a6ef1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Pandemic voting: 5 things Austin learned from the July election that will matter in November
<h2></h2>
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