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Austin ISD shut down its athletic and conditioning camps in the face of a surge of COVID-19 cases.
The district as a whole follows several individual AISD schools and a number of local districts and schools—including Round Rock ISD and Hays CISD—that have already closed down summer athletics.
Travis County continues to report high daily totals for new coronavirus cases, while average hospitalization rates in the region climb.
(Photo courtesy of Marisela Maddox)
Marisela Maddox's two children complete their online schooling from home, a reason she decided she needed to bring in extra help.
Marisela Maddox is no stranger to the nanny game, having hired at-home caregivers in the past to help with her two children, ages 5 and 10.
<p>In the early pandemic days, the Austin family managed without one, working and quarantining from home. But around June, when the national conversation about education started to lean toward online public schools, "I was starting to get very nervous," Maddox said.</p><p>So she looked for someone who could work full time and be ready to help with the education of her fourth-grader, who she assumed would be doing school entirely online.</p><p>That's when she learned that the market, the candidates, the health considerations and—most notably—the cost of hiring someone to be around your kids all day is a lot different now in the days of unpredictable and fast-changing school, work and money situations, than it was in the pre-COVID era. </p><p>When she hired a grad student in his late 20s, she said, the two other finalists were immediately hired by friends—a sign of the tight market that she hadn't seen before.</p><p>Maddox is paying 20% more than she used to—$25 an hour, up from the typical $20 rate—just to make sure the nanny was willing to stick with the family through such uncertain times. While her older child ended up returning to school, Maddox has kept the nanny around in the case that schools shutdown again. </p><p>"I think you have to pay more. I really do," said Maddox, a mediator and small business owner. "You have to incentivize people to want to stay because you really don't want to be doing this every three or four months." </p><p>Several employers and families said that pay has risen for several reasons: the influx of and demand for higher-paid educators into the nanny market, the instability of work and school schedules, the higher demands placed on caregivers and fear of COVID-19 all brought on by the pandemic. </p><p>The need for nannies, the availability of them and the ability to pay for them has risen and fallen as virus conditions and shutdowns have fluctuated throughout the summer, said Amber Mayhew, an Austin mom and nanny, and owner of <a href="https://www.nannypoppinz.com/agency/nanny-childcare-austin-texas.html" target="_blank">Nanny Poppinz,</a> a referral service she has operated in Austin for about a decade.</p><p>"In March, which is usually a very busy time of year for us, business stopped for a couple of months," she said. "And then it kind of picked up for a little bit, and then we kind of had the second flow of everyone panicking it seemed like, and so it slowed down again. And now it's starting to pick up again."</p><p>Along with the unstable market, families whose children are doing online school are looking for people who are more qualified in education or technology, and many of the candidates are now former educators or daycare workers who were laid off or worried about teaching in-person classes at public schools. </p><p>There is also less job stability because pandemic-era shutdowns, quarantines and COVID-19 infections put family needs in flux as schedules shift to accommodate school and work changes. And everything can shut down if a family member or the nanny gets sick and the nanny can't come into the home for weeks or months.</p><p>And the stakes are higher when it comes to health considerations. Families and nannies have to put a lot of trust in each other not to engage in behavior that could put one or both of them at risk. </p><p>"We've been very conservative in how much we've been leaving the house, and canceled all our vacations this summer, no road trips or anything, so the idea of having someone in our house was a little scary," said Austin mom Jeni Putalavage-Ross, who, after a difficult search, hired the daughter of a trusted friend to help with her 8-year-old and twin 6-year-olds.</p><p>All of this not only drives up the price, but it can make the overall experience more trying—both for the parents and for the providers. </p><p>"It can be done, but it requires more resources," Maddox said. "I had to do a lot of self checking. We had a lot of conversations around it. But I think it'll be OK. Everybody's sort of figuring it out right now."</p><p><strong>More on families: </strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/divorce-in-travis-county" target="_self">For better or for worse, for now: Austin divorces down in pandemic</a></h2>
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(Smnt/Wikimedia via Creative Commons)
Austin will soon be home to Tesla's fourth Gigafactory. The company's other factories are in Fremont, California; Sparks, Nevada (shown here); and Buffalo, New York.
A new site plan filed by electric carmaker Tesla provides another glimpse at the company's forthcoming $1.1 billion, 2,100-acre Gigafactory in southeast Travis County.
<p>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the plan outlines "a huge & spectacular facility," <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TexansForAbbott/posts/10164380574395088" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>in a Facebook post</u></a>. "Construction equipment (has) been hard at work for weeks at the site where Tesla will build electric vehicles & may cast an even larger vision," he wrote.</p><p>The <a href="https://abc.austintexas.gov/public-search-other?t_detail=1&t_selected_folderrsn=12520107&t_selected_propertyrsn=156696" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>document</u></a> lays out Tesla's plan for 280 acres of the site, including the construction of a massive vehicle manufacturing plant that, including parking space, will cover 7.9 million square feet. </p><p>But it remains unclear what the company plans to do with the remaining 1,820 acres.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allowfullscreen="" aria-hidden="false" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d91499.73240710868!2d-97.69132077972772!3d30.22567775834569!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8644b75ba3b47c31%3A0x729bb90d7d737f1!2sHarold%20Green%20Rd%2C%20Texas%2078725!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1600449459810!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border:0;" tabindex="0" width="600"></iframe></div><p>Some analysts <a href="https://www.statesman.com/business/20200808/austin-factory-key-tool-in-teslarsquos-race-against-auto-industry-giants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>have speculated</u></a> that, in addition to producing <a href="https://austonia.com/future/tesla-cybertruck" target="_self"><u>the Cybertruck pickup</u></a> and Model Y SUV, the Austin factory may also manufacture batteries, <a href="https://www.tesla.com/gigafactory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>similar to the one in Nevada</u></a>.</p><p>There has also been <a href="https://www.builtinaustin.com/2020/07/23/tesla-austin-gigafactory-confirmed-hiring" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>chatter</u></a> that Tesla may consider relocating its headquarters from California, where CEO Elon Musk has <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/05/10/elon-musks-latest-fight-with-alameda-county-follows-familiar-path/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>clashed with county officials</u></a> over coronavirus orders, to Texas. </p><p>Musk announced Austin would be home to the next Gigafactory <a href="https://austonia.com/technology/tesla-coming-to-austin" target="_self"><u>in late July</u></a>, after a competitive selection process that saw <a href="https://austonia.com/technology/tesla-factory-austin-2646383822" target="_self"><u>Del Valle ISD</u></a> and <a href="https://austonia.com/business/austin-gigafactory" target="_self"><u>Travis County</u></a> offer the company tax rebates for building the factory in their jurisdictions.</p><p>In early August, construction supplier Martin Marietta disclosed it had sold the factory site—at the intersection of SH 130 and Harold Green Road, near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport—to a Tesla entity for $97 million, <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2020/08/07/tesla-buys-far-east-austin-factory-site-for-97m.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>according to the Austin Business Journal</u></a>. </p><p>Prior to both announcements, however, the site was a hotbed of construction activity as Tesla began reclamation work, that <a href="https://austonia.com/future/tesla-site-austin" target="_self"><u>a city staffer said</u></a> "would be the first step in preparing the site for future development."<br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1154825324a0b2ca47e16b29247a0f0c" style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" type="lazy-iframe" scrolling="no" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5w46XttA_Yw?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">New Tesla Gigafactory site in Austin, Texas</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=5w46XttA_Yw&feature=emb_logo" target="_blank">(youtube)</a></small>
</p><p>The first substantial completion, or construction milestone, is scheduled for next spring with the full factory expected to be up and running by the end of 2021, a spokesperson for the Austin Chamber of Commerce confirmed to Austonia, .</p><p>As proposed, the factory will provide at least 5,000 jobs, not including the thousands of construction workers who will build the facility.</p><p>The company currently has <a href="https://www.tesla.com/careers/search#/?region=5&country=0&city=9&state=21" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>21 Austin-based job postings</u></a> for the Gigafactory, including a construction project manager and site architect, in addition to other postings for jobs such as <a href="https://www.tesla.com/careers/job/video-gamesengineerinfotainmentsoftware-68339" target="_blank">game developers</a>. </p><p>Some of Musk's other ventures are also looking to lay down roots in the Austin area, including his <a href="https://austonia.com/elon-musk-neuralink-austin">"Fitbit in your skull" startup</a>, Neuralink, which is hiring four positions locally. </p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on Elon Musk and Austin:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/elon-musk-neuralink-austin" target="_self">Elon Musk's brain-connected computer startup Neuralink is hiring in Austin</a></h2>
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(Eva Rinaldi/Creative Commons)
An Austin man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for stalking and sending threatening letters and emails to pop star Taylor Swift's former record label.
<p>Eric Swarbrick, who describes himself as a thinker, writer and driver <a href="https://twitter.com/emswarbrick?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>in his Twitter profile</u></a>, sent more than 40 letters and emails to Big Machine Label Group, <a href="https://apnews.com/9c287fddc520780f133e2d8e19711a8c" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>according to the Associated Press</u></a>.<br/></p><p>Over time, the letters became increasingly "violent and threatening," per the Associated Press, and Swarbrick even drove 900 miles from Austin to Nashville to hand deliver some of them. </p><p>In his letters, Swarbrick expressed his desire "to rape and kill" Swift and also threatened to kill himself in front of BMLG CEO Scott Borchetta, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/pr/texas-man-facing-federal-charges-after-threatening-letters-sent-taylor-swifts-record" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>according to the Department of Justice</u></a>. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a26628467/taylor-swift-30th-birthday-lessons/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>a personal essay published by Elle in 2019</u></a>, Swift wrote about the impact stalkers and events such as the Manchester Arena bombing and Las Vegas concert shooting have had on her life.</p><p>"I carry QuikClot army grade bandage dressing, which is for gunshot or stab wounds," she wrote. "You get enough stalkers trying to break into your house and you kind of start prepping for bad things." </p>
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In a historic win for college athletes and voter advocates, led by former NBA champion and Austinite Chris Bosh, the NCAA voted this week to require an annual November Election Day "off day" for Division 1 student athletes to vote or volunteer in election activities if they choose.
<p>The "Civil Engagement" resolution, approved this week, gives these athletes the day off of training, practices and games on the first Tuesday following Nov. 1 each year. The new rule starts with this year's Nov. 3 election.</p><p>"Division I student-athletes will not practice and compete, among other countable athletically related activities, on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1 every year, including the upcoming Election Day on Nov. 3," the NCAA announced on its Twitter feed.</p><p>University of Texas-Austin Head Men's Basketball Coach Shaka Smart applauded the resolution's passage.<br/></p><p>"Many of our greatest patriots fought for the right to vote for all, and it's important that we provide maximum flexibility for student-athletes to exercise their right, as we should for all Americans," he said in a statement to Austonia. "UT has done a great job providing resources to enable student-athletes to register to vote and now, on Election Day, they'll definitely have the time to do so."</p><p><span></span>Pushing for the resolution, Bosh took to <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/chris-bosh-college-basketball-voting" target="_blank">The Players Tribune</a> to write to colleges around the country and to the NCAA, making the case for student-athletes to have Election Day off—not just this year, but every year, so students could be given the chance to vote as well as volunteer in the communities they live in. </p><p>Bosh's editorial, titled "Let them vote," described a time when his parents took him to Selma, Alabama where civil-rights leaders marched for equal rights and social justice, "all so people like me, and my children, and my children's children would have the opportunity to vote in elections." </p><p>The schedule of a student-athlete, Bosh wrote, is a topic that many fans are quick to brush off. The schedule for the majority of student-athletes consist of hours of weight training, film study and practice—on top of the hours of classes and study sessions. </p><p>"You're basically working two full-time jobs. And with respect to both of them, you're being held to the highest of standards," he wrote. "There's no margin for error. It's not like you can just be like, 'Hey Coach, you know what? I'd love to join you guys at this practice … but I gotta run out and vote for the county commissioner right now.'" </p><p>The point Bosh makes in the piece is one that many politicians and election advocates have been making for some time. Former democratic candidate Andrew Yang made headlines by pushing for <a href="https://www.yang2020.com/policies/election-day-holiday/" target="_blank">Election Day to be a national holiday</a>, which he said would give lower-income people a chance to make their voice heard.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f1934c0fc5bf3d84b1d3d93b3d5b7934" id="4948c"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1306357931525505034"><div style="margin:1em 0">Division I student-athletes will not practice and compete, among other countable athletically related activities, o… https://t.co/csbq4IgyGV</div> — NCAA (@NCAA)<a href="https://twitter.com/NCAA/statuses/1306357931525505034">1600294976.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The former Miami Heat player received praise and support for his part in the historic win on social media with the hashtag #MakeHistoryWithAVote.<br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0de2c7fccda8eb1d762e0ee58b7dd1c1" id="74d5f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1306266793481310211"><div style="margin:1em 0">College student-athletes across the country are motivated to have their voices heard in this year's election and ar… https://t.co/htQQ5z8yVG</div> — Miami HEAT (@Miami HEAT)<a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/statuses/1306266793481310211">1600273247.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="062bb04df3745fca7e4e094e291658e1" id="afac2"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1306406347345330178"><div style="margin:1em 0">Yesssssssssss!!! https://t.co/edKKRw0LkO</div> — Gabrielle Union (@Gabrielle Union)<a href="https://twitter.com/itsgabrielleu/statuses/1306406347345330178">1600306519.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Austin Trail of Lights will take place this holiday season.
The Austin Trail of Lights—an annual event that transforms Zilker Park into a winter wonderland, featuring more than 60 displays and two million lights—will take place this holiday season, despite the pandemic.
<p>The Trail of Lights Foundation announced Thursday that this year's event will be a drive-thru experience after Austin City Council voted to approve <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=346801" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>the change and extend the event period to 30 days</u></a>. </p><p>"What is old is becoming new again," Executive Director James Russell said in a statement. </p><p>In recent years, the Trail of Lights has attracted around 400,000 visitors annually. The drive-thru model will allow approximately 1,300 cars to attend each evening—or around 39,000 over the course of the event period—and adhere to local public health orders meant to contain the spread of COVID-19.</p><p>More details about the 56th annual Austin Trail of Lights will be released in mid-October. </p>
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Gov. Greg Abbott eases COVID business restrictions as Texas reports more new cases than any other state
17 September
(Office of the Governor)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that restaurants and other businesses can expand their capacity to 75% starting on Monday in most parts of the state.
In most of the state, businesses that had been limited to 50% capacity—including retail stores, restaurants, office buildings, libraries, museums and gyms—can move to 75% capacity starting on Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Thursday. Bars must remain closed.
<p>Citing the decline in new COVID cases and related hospitalizations, Abbott also announced that hospitals may resume elective surgeries, effective immediately, and long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, may reopen to visitors, with certain precautions, starting next Thursday. </p><p>The reopening order applies to hospital regions where fewer than 15% of hospitalizations have been related to COVID-19 for seven consecutive days. Of Texas' 22 hospital regions, 19 currently meet this standard. The state will continue to work with the remaining three "danger zones"—the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Victoria—to contain the spread of COVID, Abbott said. </p><p>If more than 15% of hospitalizations in a region are due to COVID for more than seven days, a course correction will be needed, Abbott said, although he did not explain what that would entail.</p><p>Texas has reported more new COVID cases than any state in the country over the last week, <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>. Nearly 14,500 Texans have died from COVID since March, per the <a href="https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>DSHS dashboard</u></a>.</p><p>Abbott encouraged Texans to continue to practice protective behaviors, such as masking, social distancing and hand-washing, to which he attributed the decision to move forward with the state's reopening plan. </p><p>Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, said there should be no doubt about the efficacy of such precautions.</p><p>"The thing that the summer taught us is the risk, the danger, the devastation, the destruction, the loss of life that COVID-19 can cause," he said. "So we know that the threat is real, but we also know that the things that we have undertaken have worked."</p>
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