Local news and fun, every day 6am.
Featured
austonia newsletter
Most viewed

Gov. Greg Abbott at a press conference last month.
Texas hair stylists, nail salons, tanning salons and barber shops may reopen for clients this Friday, and gyms may open on May 18, as long as they follow new social distancing and health guidelines, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday.
Texans are still required to practice social distancing in those businesses and are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings when patronizing them if they want the economy to continue to reopen, Abbott said.
"Our ability to continue that effort will be hinged to how well Texans respond in the future," Abbott said.
Bars are still closed until further notice, but Abbott said the state is continuing to seek safe strategies for those businesses, which operate by nature in an environment that "promotes the transmission of infectious disease."
His remarks come just over a week after he lifted restrictions on nonessential businesses like retail stores, and allowed restaurants to reopen their dining rooms with 25% capacity last Friday. It was the first phase of what he said was a multi-tiered plan to gradually lead Texas out of the self-imposed quarantine that has devastated businesses and workers for weeks.
He and other state officials said testing had ramped up significantly in the week since that announcement was made, but infection rates are actually going down and hospitalization rates seemed stable, justifying the decision to further open businesses with strict guidelines.
Salons may reopen as long as their clients wait outside the location or inside while maintaining proper distance from each other. Only one person per stylist may be inside at a time, and clients and stylists are encouraged, though not required, to wear masks.
Gyms may operate at 25% capacity, equipment must be sanitized after every use, and clients are encouraged to wear gloves and masks and must stay six feet distance from each other.
Abbott also said weddings, funerals and memorial services are considered church services and may go on as long as participants follow social distancing guidelines. High schools may have graduation ceremonies outside, online or in drive-in settings. Rules for state parks also apply to beaches and other outdoor natural spaces.
As of Tuesday, there have been 33,369 positive tests reported in Texas and 906 deaths related to COVID-19. There are now more recoveries (16,791) than active cases (15,672), according to official counts.
Some 427,210 Texans have been tested, with the help of the state's military department, with more than half of those tests administered in the past week, Abbott said. More than 95% of those tests have come back negative, he said.
Texans can click here to find a testing station in their area. There were more than 400 testing sites in more than 150 counties across Texas as of Tuesday.
Dr. John Hellerstedt of the Texas Department of State Health Services called Texas' efforts to slow the spread of the virus a success that shows in the numbers.
"This is not a one-way street," he said. "We have seen the way the people of Texas have responded to these first challenges, and it worked."
- Magnolia South to test brunch service, announce reopening dates ... ›
- Less distancing may come at 'substantial cost' in lives, UT COVID ... ›
- Risk of dine-in too high for some: 'Who the hell wants to close their ... ›
- Business isn't bad at restaurants reopened at low capacity, but 'You can't really make a living like that' - austonia ›
- City, county extend unenforceable 'Stay Home-Work Safe' orders with concern over second surge in COVID cases - austonia ›
- City, county extend mostly unenforceable 'Stay Home-Work Safe' orders amid concern over second surge in COVID cases - austonia ›
- Home haircuts on the way out as salons reopen - austonia ›
- Home haircuts on the way out as salons reopen - austonia ›
- Up next: gyms, yoga studios weigh cost of reopening - austonia ›
- ‘A frog being boiled slowly’: Officials worry Austin is forgetting the pandemic - austonia ›
- ‘A frog being boiled slowly’: Officials worry Austin is forgetting the pandemic - austonia ›
- Texas AG says "Orwellian" local stay-home orders sow confusion - austonia ›
- Texas AG says "Orwellian" local stay-home orders sow confusion - austonia ›
- Texas amusement parks can now open to 50 percent capacity - austonia ›
- Governor will require masks in most Texas counties - austonia ›
- Westlake football players get glam championship rings - austonia ›
- Austin gyms look forward to 2021 - austonia ›
Popular
(Moriah Wilson/Instagram)
Austin police have charged Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, a local cyclist, for the murder of Moriah "Mo" Wilson.
Wilson, a rising star in the gravel and mountain bike community, was found dead with gunshot wounds inside an East Austin home on the night of May 11 when she was in town for the weekend Gravel Locos race in Hico, Texas.
Police believe Wilson was having a relationship with a man Armstrong was also in a relationship with. The man, another gravel cyclist, Colin Strickland, has since issued a statement on the murder.
In his statement, he said he had a brief romantic relationship with Wilson in October 2021 before he resumed his relationship with Armstrong, but that he remained friends with Wilson. "There is no way to adequately express the regret and torture I feel about my proximity to this horrible crime. I am sorry, and I simply cannot make sense of this unfathomable tragedy.
NEW: Austin professional cyclist Colin Strickland has just released a statement about the murder of cyclist Moriah Wilson, clarifying his relationship with her and expressing “torture about my proximity to this horrible crime.” pic.twitter.com/KnIna3mWrE
— Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) May 20, 2022
Wilson, a 25-year-old Vermont native living in Colorado, had won a slew of races becoming a fan favorite. She had just become a full-time racer this year.
Anyone with information on this crime can contact Austin police at 512-974-TIPS or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 512-472-8477.
- Star biker Moriah Wilson found dead in Austin home - austonia ›
- Man killed in north Austin shooting - austonia ›
- 1996 Californian cold case: Murder suspect arrested in Austin ... ›
Kelly said the planned homeless housing hotel suffered months of damage. (Mackenzie Kelly)
Austin has added 24-hour security to the city-owned Pecan Gardens property, which will be converted into supportive housing for people exiting homelessness, after the former hotel was found with months of damage and vandalism May 5.
The building, which was broken into and stripped of copper and had people illegally sleeping inside of it, has been secured, Kelly said in a Friday press conference. Kelly said the city confirmed a measure to implement 24-hour security, including updates every 60 days until the property opens up as supportive housing.
"We cannot let this happen to any vacant city-owned property ever again," Kelly said. "This blatant act of disregard and criminal behavior will not be tolerated in our community."
The city bought the former hotel in August 2021 for $9.5 million with plans to renovate the property into a 78-unit supportive housing property. Those 55 or older that are experiencing chronic homelessness can qualify to live at the site once it is completed in late 2022-early 2023.
While the council was set to discuss a $4 million deal with Family Eldercare to begin converting the property Thursday, Kelly pulled the item for a later executive session due to security concerns. But the council did approve an item to authorize city leaders to begin negotiating other renovation contracts.
"I want to thank my colleagues for pumping the brakes on this contract and realizing that we owe the community not only an apology, but reassurance that the protection of the assets the city owns is vital to the success of achieving our intended goals," Kelly said.
When the building was found vandalized May 5, Kelly, who presides over the district containing the property, said damage included:
- Damage spanning all three floors of the building and is in nearly every room.
- The entire hotel was stripped of copper.
- Destroyed washers, dryers, air conditioners and electrical wiring.
- People sleeping at the hotel without permission.
On Tuesday, Austin’s Homeless Strategy Officer Dianna Gray apologized and said there was no security due to a delay in processing the request.
- City Council approves purchase of Northwest Austin hotel for ... ›
- Austinites weigh in on city's homeless hotel housing strategy ... ›
- Officer apologizes after break-in at homeless hotel vandalized ... ›