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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that existing federal civil rights laws regulating employment do protect gay and transgender workers, who are not currently explicitly protected by Texas state law, the Texas Tribune reports:
Texas is among a majority of states that do not offer explicit protections for LGBTQ communities in employment, housing or public spaces, though some of the state's biggest cities have passed some protections. And the ruling carries particular weight in a state where proposals to expand those protections have historically been dead on arrival at the GOP-dominated Texas Legislature.
The Tribune calls it a "major victory for gay and transgender workers in Texas and nationwide."
(Kent Wang/CC)
In a new real estate report looking at the most and least expensive cities to buy a house, Austin crumbled, falling near the bottom of the list and below every other Texas city mentioned.
<p>Of the country's 50 biggest cities, Austin fell to 36th place on <a href="https://smartasset.com/mortgage/where-the-average-household-can-afford-the-most-and-least-home-2020" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SmartAsset's</a> "Where the Average Household Can Afford the Most and Least Home–2020 Edition."</p><p>Using a <a href="https://smartasset.com/mortgage/how-much-house-can-i-afford" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">home buying calculator</a>, the financial website took the median household income and average non-mortgage debt per city and used it to estimate how much home an average household could afford. From there, cities were ranked based on the area's median home value.</p><p>Though fortunately Austin did not top the list of least affordable cities, the city is not doing residents any financial favors. With a median income of $75,413 and $27,193 worth of non-mortgage debt, the average Austinite can afford a home priced at $317,000.</p><p>The median house value in Austin is $378,300, making it only 83.8% affordable. <a href="https://smartasset.com/mortgage/where-the-average-household-can-afford-the-most-and-least-home-2019" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Last year</a>, Austin came in 36th place again, though at a 77.4% affordability rate. </p><p>With Detroit ranking first and 191.85% affordable and New York City coming in 50th and most expensive at 42.45% affordable, the other Texas cities on the list had a wide range to work with.</p><p>In ninth place, El Paso has a 133.23% affordability rate. Fort Worth came in 13th place with a 122.73% affordability rate, followed immediately by San Antonio in 14th place with a 121.57% affordability rate, Arlington in 20th place with 112.25% affordability rate and Houston came in 28th place with a 101.63% affordability rate.</p><p>Dallas came in 30th, the only other city not above 100% affordable, with a 92.91% affordability rate.</p><p>Austin is not alone though, as 22 of the 50 cities could not afford a house at the median value.</p>
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With Thanksgiving a few days away, finding the perfect wine to serve during dinner can be time consuming for anyone. Whether you are looking for a full-bodied red to serve during your dinner, or a rich white wine to pair with appetizers and desserts, Texas wines have so much to offer.
<p>Here are 10 Texas wines you should look for at your local grocery store that will pair well with your holiday dinner:</p><h5></h5>
2018 Haak Vineyards Ensaio BDB dry, $19
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjE4MS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDk2MTA4OH0.SVj7i9eqim_LGO_VAJ_vN7HCQtq-rzox9hKN2jj3Dq8/img.png?width=980" id="d9dc8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8574b90092484c3d2a449b099cf786c6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Haak Vineyards provides a refreshing wine to help kick off your Thanksgiving. Filled with rich melon and pineapple notes, Ensaio has a rich finish to help you enjoy the day cooking, munching on smooth cheeses or citrusy desserts. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.haakwine.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">haakwine.com</a>.</p>2019 Calais Winery Cuvee du Rocher Reserve, $36
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjE4NC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDQyOTc3Nn0.nVPN96n7-rY25Qu_rAQ7Lk6VIVQ4ARP-Kwer9M0Zeyo/img.png?width=980" id="57521" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1e9b4e2372d95616ccdfbf35a6e274af" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Like most sauvignon blancs, this light-bodied wine offers prominent citrusy aromatics yet it is elevated and finished with ripe pear, apricot and gooseberry notes. Pair this buttery sauvignon blanc with herb-filled sides, such as stuffing and soft cheese appetizers or an apple pie to finish off your Thanksgiving dinner. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.calaiswinery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">calaiswinery.com</a>.<br></p>2018 Brennan Vineyards Roussanne, $18
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjE5MS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDI5ODY5M30.xOENqjjewnhqYk7D86MjNzCijANZg3Qmddhhjwaq9NI/img.png?width=980" id="6da4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8ba7caadc009a601a307dfa5f14dc226" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>This roussanne is the perfect wine to pair at your table with hearty root vegetables and roasted turkey or ham. The wine offers notes of gala apples, papaya, dry mango and key lime for a crisp and sturdy finish. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.brennanvineyards.com/" target="_blank">brennanvineyards.com</a>.</p>2018 Duchman Family Winery Vermentino, $26
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjE5OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzI0MDAyMH0.Kv_5KtI6sG0kssHcoqEICRWjRpgVhi6LZuvZB8rn4Uw/img.png?width=980" id="218d1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7a541b69cff9368723172f7211fa3ac1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Duchman Winery
<p>With so many new normals in 2020, you might want to switch up your Thanksgiving dinner by adding some seafood options. If you are looking for a wine pairing to suit your needs or to add flavor to any herb-filled dish, try this award winning vermentino. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.duchmanwinery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">duchmanwinery.com</a>.</p>2019 Landon Winery Viognier, $20
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjIwMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDAzNjA4Nn0.ai8nCQ4HtVt2p7XT57kOBXenNI6lRWXNdBfhX9yqusA/img.png?width=980" id="aaa2e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2d6b206fa7ac7f45ae818e3fdc847262" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>No holiday meal is complete without dessert. If you are in search of a light-bodied wine to pair with your fruit tarts and pies, this Viognier will do any dessert justice. With a peach, melon, wet stone and citrus flavors, finish off your Thanksgiving dinner with this creamy wine. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.landonwinery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">landonwinery.com</a>.</p>2017 Bending Branch Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, $50
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjIwNC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTU1MTA3OH0.DVeBrH8kkdWqGOcoltQZc83LLPEZrZTfVOSXsGVteas/img.png?width=980" id="7d84d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="70cc366c0eb003396eb22cf8b159042f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>This 2017 vintage of cabernet sauvignon has tasting notes of vanilla, red currant, black plum, leather, copper, figs, cinnamon, black pepper and warm herbs to fill the palate with a rich, intense finish. You can pair this cabernet sauvignon with red meats and sides with heavy herb influences. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.bendingbranchwinery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bendingbranchwinery.com</a>.</p>2017 Pedernales Cellars TX Malbec, $40
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjIxMC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjA4NjA0NH0.fQJ0amoXIjUsuDuLr7iX7Kgd1URmVEFQ4Zd8Q9HP0E0/img.png?width=980" id="75161" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b1bbef5a3d4fe105689b4ddb5d71801a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><br>It doesn't feel like a holiday dinner without a perfect Malbec to pair it with. With notes of plum, black cherry, currants, violets, earth and rosemary, this award winning Malbec by Pedernales Cellars can be a lovely pair for roasted meats and light cheese appetizers. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.pedernalescellars.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pedernalescellars.com</a>.</p>2017 Kuhlman Cellars Zinfandel, $34
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjIxMi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTE3Nzg1OX0.t94GOwH-fUpKDnp9Bgbz8k3LJXdShqnwvn1ZFA_20VA/img.png?width=980" id="5c629" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0c51053776822e0f5cfd4580994d1025" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>The savory characteristics of this zinfandel will pair perfectly with your Thanksgiving Turkey, and any other lighter meats at your dinner table. If you are a fan of lighter-bodied wines, this zinfandel will provide notes of roasted berries, dried cranberry and black tea leaves. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.kuhlmancellars.com/" target="_blank">kuhlmancellars.com</a>.</p>2013 Bending Branch Winery Tannat EM, $45
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjIxNS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyODMzNjc4MH0.PAL89dldrpFHFD4NINkRsfij4wAFAxGVix819jnEdWM/img.png?width=980" id="8e874" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3c055c6444d0819b76911151f7199655" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Bending Branch Winery
<p>Amplify the rich taste of any holiday meal with this Texas tannat. Your savory dinner options, such as roasted meats and salty entrees, will happily pair with the acidity and notes of cola, spearmint, cedar and violets with this tannat. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.bendingbranchwinery.com/" target="_blank">bendingbranchwinery.com</a>.</p>2017 Kuhlman Cellars Reserve Merlot, $38
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjIyMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTQ1MTkzOH0.0xAByeUklURkGx2z2EMbHkyvsrEKMEBi2gu8s3tjEeo/img.png?width=980" id="09a08" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c35faec57e42af9bf9d76ae847660186" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Looking for a Merlot to pair well with with a holiday roast? This classic French merlot is filled with rich aromas and significant notes of fresh figs and plums. Pair this wine with all of your favorite holiday meats such as ham, turkey or hearty sides. You can learn more about this wine at <a href="https://www.kuhlmancellars.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">kuhlmancellars.com</a>.</p>From Your Site Articles
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(Shutterstock)
Local immigration advocates expect that, very soon after President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20, he will begin overturning federal policies implemented during the Trump administration. And then they expect demand for immigrant legal services in Austin to jump.
<p>"We should see an immediate influx," said Justin Estep, director of immigration legal services at Catholic Charities of Central Texas. </p><p>In particular, Estep and other local advocates expect Biden to reinstate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which allows certain undocumented individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for a work permit. </p><p>The Trump administration attempted to stop the program, prompting the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in July that it must be reinstated. However, the Department of Homeland Security <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/07/28/department-homeland-security-will-reject-initial-requests-daca-it-weighs-future" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">then announced</a> that it would reject all requests associated with DACA and limit the period of renewed deferred action to one year. </p><p>Once in office, Biden will be able to overturn the Trump-era changes relatively easily, with a memo, said Sarah Pierce, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. </p><p>For many Austinites, this will be a welcomed change.</p><p>Nearly one in five city residents is foreign-born, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Austin-Round Rock metro has the 19th largest population of unauthorized immigrants in the country, according to a 2019 report from the Pew Research Center. </p><p>"We absolutely expect there to be some changes that make things easier for our clients," said Robert Painter, managing attorney for American Gateways, which provides immigrant legal services to low-income residents in Austin and San Antonio. </p><p>Both Painter and Estep expressed optimism that other policy changes—especially around the asylum seeking process—would come with the new administration. </p><p>But Pierce said they may be disappointed. </p><p>In particular, Trump's "Remain in Mexico" program, which allows U.S. border officers to send non-Mexican asylum seekers to Mexico as they await a ruling on their immigration claim, will be harder to undo. </p><p>Immigration was the Trump administration's top policy priority, Pierce explained. As such, his appointees helped transform the federal immigration landscape over the last four years, using multiple bureaucratic tools to "layer" policies—and making them harder to undo</p><p>"It's genius," she told Austonia.</p><p>The Biden administration, as a result, has its work cut out for it when it comes to immigration policy—not to mention managing the federal COVID response and addressing the economic fallout of the pandemic.</p><p>"Immigration will not even be in their top five priorities," Pierce said. "There's so much more going on in the country, and also immigration has never been a politically beneficial issue for the Democrats to pursue." </p><p>Despite this, she expects there to be an increase in the number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border come January.</p><p>"This is a business opportunity," she said, adding that smugglers pay attention to policy changes.</p><p>Painter expects to see an increase in local demand for certain legal services, such as asylum claims, that were effectively non-starters under the Trump administration. He is also looking forward to more stability in federal immigration policy. </p><p>"It can change day-to-day," he said of the bureaucratic layering that Pierce observed, which made his clients' cases more complex. </p><p>But until Biden is in office, there is little Painter can do for his clients other than encourage them to think through their immigration status and prepare any relevant paperwork.</p><p>"The thing that we want to emphasize to all of our clients is there is no Biden administration yet," he said. "People have to be patient."</p>
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Gathering for Thanksgiving? Local health officials offer advice (but the best bet is to stay home)
15h
(Pexels)
Local health officials repeated their request that Austinites not gather this Thanksgiving and recommended that Travis County schools return to virtual learning in the week after the holiday in an attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
<p>"The safest thing that we can do right now is not gather indoors in groups with people who we don't live with," Austin-Travis County Deputy Medical Director Dr. Jason Pickett said on Tuesday. </p><p>Austin Public Health announced it will send an emergency alert to residents who have registered with the Warn Central Texas emergency notification system on Tuesday afternoon, asking them not to gather outside their households on Thursday. </p><p>For those who are planning on ignoring this advice, there are certain modifications that will help reduce the risk of COVID-19. Pickett recommended staggering visits to avoid large groups, gathering outdoors instead of indoors and wearing masks.</p><p>"We understand … there are people who are going to (gather) no matter what we say," he said. "I want to have those folks consider ways that they can reduce the risk."</p><p>In another effort to slow spread, APH recommended area schools delay a return to in-person learning "so that anticipated increase in infection that we will see in association with Thanksgiving has time to declare itself … before we start getting people together in larger groups," Pickett said. Some school districts, such as Austin ISD, have <a href="https://austonia.com/aisd-school-closures" target="_self">already floated</a> the idea. </p><p>Although COVID-19 does not appear to be spreading in the classroom environment, where masking and social distancing are observed, local cases have been traced to extracurricular activities, such as sports, and carpooling. </p><p>The number of cases reported at area school districts increased slightly last week, up to 87 from 82 the week before.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2e49e4ec60ba36f045de8f96d1c6fd9d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="67c96" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNjEyNS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTA1NTI1N30.Ei6PjgTbQ6zheNi8DoDrYAVM8_HllJdC3VpYb36enV4/img.png?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Austin Public Health) </small></p><p>Overall, local trend lines continue to point to a worsening surge.<br/></p><p>Travis County is reporting an average of 284 new confirmed cases each day, up from 198—or 43%—a week ago. Hospitalizations are also on the rise, with an average of 35 new COVID-related admissions each day, up from 30 a week ago. </p><p>Local health officials are concerned about hospital capacity, despite what they describe as an adequate supply of beds and other equipment, such as ventilators.</p><p>"Our weight limiting factor is staff," Pickett said. "As other (jurisdictions) in the state are surging right now, our ability to increase the number of staff available for the intensive care units is not what it was." </p><p>As a result, officials announced last week that Travis County is now at Stage 4, according to APH's risk-based guidelines. At this level, the department recommends residents avoid non-essential travel and, for those at high-risk, gatherings of more than two people. </p><p>In more positive news, APH data shows that this year's flu season is "tracking well below" that of the last three years, Pickett said, a change he attributed to preventative COVID measures.</p><p>Despite a significant increase in demand for COVID testing ahead of the holiday, APH is also reporting relatively fast turnaround times for results—around 24 to 48 hours, Pickett said.</p>
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(Williamsom County)
Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell reportedly violated his own stay-at-home order by attending a family birthday party in the spring.
<p>Gravell will <a href="https://www.statesman.com/news/20201124/williamson-county-judge-cited-for-violating-stay-at-home-order" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">plead guilty</a> to a misdemeanor related to the episode and pay a $1,000 fine, the Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday. </p><p>A criminal complaint about the incident prompted the appointment of a special prosecutor and an investigation by the Texas Rangers. </p><p>Gravell's attorney Bill Hines said his client is the only person in the county to be prosecuted for the order, and that the Rangers found no other wrongdoing, the Statesman reported.</p><p>Georgetown attorney Robert McCabe filed the complaint in April, accusing Gravell of violating his own stay-at-home order, as well as official oppression and abuse of official capacity.</p><p>A week earlier, on April 7, a Twitter account posted pictures it said were of Gravell arriving at a gathering, "driven by a deputy." Gravell was wearing a fireman's suit with a special breathing apparatus.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8635b2a2011beedbb709d111f5a0b81a" id="4df46"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1247613312327716866"><div style="margin:1em 0">These photos provided by a very annoyed neighbor apparently, who is sick of the rules not applying to everybody. Is… https://t.co/pdRuzued6Y</div> — Buddy Falcon (@Buddy Falcon)<a href="https://twitter.com/buddy_falcon/statuses/1247613312327716866">1586289167.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Williamson County residents expressed disapproval of the posted photos.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="242ea3bd7aabf636424e70719b12a2cd" id="2ca3a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1247679009896398850"><div style="margin:1em 0">@buddy_falcon @BillGravell @SheriffChody This just keeps getting weirder and weirder. Smh 🙄 Hope he is held accountable.</div> — Scott Phillip Lewis (@Scott Phillip Lewis)<a href="https://twitter.com/THETRUTH_ABC/statuses/1247679009896398850">1586304831.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="26fadea8e963ce6d1f90ae5c6a81fca1" id="4f7ff"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1247621635949113345"><div style="margin:1em 0">@buddy_falcon @BillGravell @SheriffChody This is wrong on so my level. @BillGravell You’re so out of touch with reality it’s scary God</div> — Michael Novick (@Michael Novick)<a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelNovick5/statuses/1247621635949113345">1586291152.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Williamson County Fire Chief Mark McAdams told <a href="https://www.kxan.com/investigations/special-prosecutor-appointed-to-lead-criminal-investigation-into-judge-bill-gravell/" target="_blank">KXAN</a> Gravell borrowed the fire equipment as a COVID safety measure during his visit to his grandson's party.<br/></p><p>County residents at the time were barred from gatherings, following Gravell's <a href="https://communityimpact.com/austin/georgetown/coronavirus/2020/03/24/just-in-williamson-county-issues-stay-at-home-order-through-april-13/" target="_blank">stay-at-home order</a> that forbade residents from leaving their home except for essential business. The order was in effect from March 24 through April 30. </p><p>After Williamson County attorney Dee Hobbs recused himself from the case, the criminal complaint zigzagged through courts for nearly two months, as officials grappled with how to handle the investigation. The Texas Supreme Court ultimately decided to appoint Milam County District Attorney Bill Torrey as special prosecutor.</p><p>Earlier this month, amid a new surge in COVID cases, Gravell said <a href="https://communityimpact.com/austin/georgetown/coronavirus/2020/11/12/county-judge-no-stay-at-home-order-for-williamson-county/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">he would not close the county</a> with another stay-at-home order.</p><p>Gravell was sworn into office on the first day of the year in 2019. He previously had served as a Justice of the Peace from 2015 to 2018.</p>
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(TechCrunch/CC)
Dropbox CEO Drew Houston speaks onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2018 on September 5, 2018 in San Francisco.
The CEO of Dropbox, one of the most popular cloud storage services, is planning a move to Austin.
<p>Drew Houston, whose net worth is about <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/drew-houston/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$1.4 billion</a>, has purchased a home in Austin that he plans to make his full-time residence, according to <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/tech-ceos-are-saying-goodbye-to-san-francisco" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a report from The Information</a>.</p><p>Houston is the latest tech mogul to make a high-profile departure from Silicon Valley, a trend that has only accelerated under the pandemic. As remote work policies loosen across the tech industry, executives and workers alike have been pouring into the nation's more affordable interior.</p><p>In October, Dropbox announced it would stop asking employees to come into its offices and instead make remote work the standard practice, even after the pandemic ends. </p><p>Houston isn't the first Silicon Valley capitalist to hang his hat in Austin. Douglas Merritt, the CEO of software company Splunk, also recently purchased an Austin home. While Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale already lives in Austin, he recently confirmed that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-lonsdale-palantir-8vc-firm-moving-sf-to-austin-2020-11" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the VC firm will also be making the move to the capital of Texas.</a></p><p>Austin has been a growing hotspot for tech startups since Dell's founding in the mid 80's. Tesla's announcement earlier this year of plans to build its next Tesla Gigafactory arrived with a thump, electrifying critics and supporters by <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2020/11/04/austin-tesla-factory-affordability-jobs-concerns.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">accelerating the city's transformation</a> into a tech city. Tesla founder <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj5zrexwpvtAhUG2qwKHaUXBTIQFjAAegQIBRAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizjournals.com%2Faustin%2Fnews%2F2020%2F10%2F22%2Felon-musk-austin-factory-timeline.html&usg=AOvVaw3gFSlmZWXrtjMXtB8SwC5F" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elon Musk</a> has said he plans to spend more time in the city, even teasing moving the Tesla headquarters to Austin.</p><p>The reasons for the exodus from California to Austin can be attributed to costs. California has some of the highest taxes in the nation, and San Francisco is one the most expensive housing markets in the country. The median rental price for a two-bedroom apartment is the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-cities-worldwide-to-rent-an-apartment-2019-5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">highest in the nation.</a></p><p>Austin, meanwhile, has a friendly character that is inviting with Texas' lack of personal income tax. </p>
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When local officials recommended businesses limit their capacity beyond state requirements due to the current surge in COVID cases, restaurateur Eric Silverstein was discouraged.
<p>Silverstein owns The Peached Tortilla on Burnet Road and Bar Peached on West Sixth Street, the latter of which was closed for more than two months before opening recently for outdoor-only dining. </p><p>Neither is close to the 75% capacity limit allowed under state orders. Instead, they've hovered around 40% in recent months. And Silverstein is still trying to get back to his pre-pandemic staffing levels.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="af24a27e1aceaca83d457d49c4f4daa3" id="9addb"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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</div></blockquote></div><p>So when city officials asked businesses to keep their capacity between 25% and 50% last week due to rising case counts, Silverstein worried that the message would further jeopardize his attempts.<br/></p><p>"We're trying to run a business, and when the entire marketing campaign is sort of geared against you it's difficult," he said. "When the mayor and the city are like, 'Restaurants are dangerous,' it's going to affect your business." </p><p><strong>A new phase</strong> </p><p>Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott issued the new recommendations on Thursday, citing the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Travis County and concerns about adequate ICU personnel. </p><p>Travis County also moved to Stage 4, according to Austin Public Health's risk-based guidelines, which asks residents to avoid non-essential travel. </p><p>"We know this has been a hard time for our businesses, but we want to keep them open," Escott said. "And the best way to do that is to limit the risk that we have now and keep them functioning, keep them open and keep them productive."</p><p>Escott also asked Austinites to limit their exposure to others outside their household, such as by not eating inside at restaurants in large groups. </p><p>"It's okay for families, if you live in the (same) household to go to a restaurant and have a non-home-cooked meal," he said. "The pattern that we've been seeing over the past couple of months is that people are going out to restaurants with friends and with neighbors and with larger groups of people." </p><p>Austin Mayor Steve Adler acknowledged the burdens the pandemic poses to local business owners—especially those in the hospitality sector, such as restaurants, hotels and music venues—and said federal funding is needed to help address them. </p><p>"Everybody should be reaching out right now to our delegations in Washington because that's where this kind of relief needs to come from," he said last week. </p><p>In the eight months since Congress passed the CARES Act, countless local businesses <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-businesses-closures-and-to-closed" target="_self">have closed</a>.</p><p><strong>One step forward, two steps back</strong> </p><p>The Stage 4 announcement came at a bad time for Sammy Lam, who opened Wanderlust Wine Co. in downtown Austin in June.</p><p>The first two months were tough, but as the curve flattened in August people felt more comfortable visiting the wine bar. </p><p>"August and September, we just started seeing this overall increase in business after having nothing—almost this point of no return," Lam said.</p><p>But the new recommendations threaten this progress. </p><p>The six-month deferment period for Wanderlust's debt payment ran out in October, and Lam was banking on continued business through the holiday period before the traditionally slow months of January and February, when people often resolve to drink less.</p><p>With the recent surge in new cases, however, Lam has seen a decline in foot traffic, which was already hard to come by as a new business in an area with a large population of homeless people. </p><p>"It's understandable, of course," he said of the officials' decisions. "But from a business standpoint, we're just doing everything we can to survive."</p><p>Silverstein echoed this feeling, saying that he "absolutely believes in the virus" but thinks that restaurants are getting an unfair rap.</p><p>"I'm paying for the sins of other people, and I think that's bullshit," he said. </p><p>Silverstein anticipates even fewer people will come out to eat at his restaurants with the new recommendations in place and encouraged Austinites to spend money at their local favorites any way they can.</p><p>"I think we're going to see a pretty brutal winter," he said. </p>
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