Never miss a story
Sign up for our free daily morning email...
...and afternoon text update
×
Media
Featured
austonia newsletter
Get connected with our daily update
Most viewed
(Statesman)
After 32 years at the Austin American-Statesman, Executive Editor John Bridges is retiring, the newspaper announced Friday. He will be succeeded by ProPublica's Manny Garcia.
"It's an honor to be given the opportunity to lead the Austin American-Statesman as it turns 150 years old," Garcia told the Statesman. "I'm being handed the keys to a wonderful franchise, with a terrific team and I can't wait for us to begin this journey together."
Garcia led ProPublica's Austin-based investigative partnership with the Texas Tribune. In taking the new role, he will also serve at the organization's vice president.
The transition will take place next month, with Bridges officially leaving the organization in March.
Popular
(Mike Mareen/Adobe)
The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce has been awarded the Business Facilities 2020 Deal of the Year Gold Award for bringing the Tesla Gigafactory plant to the Travis County area.
<p>According to the chamber's website, Business Facilities is a national publication that has been the leading location source for corporate site selectors and economic development professionals for more than 50 years. It awards a gold, silver and bronze place every year, judging deals made across the country. It also lists honorable mentions. </p><p>While there were other major deals announced in 2020, such as the <a href="https://austonia.com/tech-companies-in-austin" target="_blank">Oracle headquarters also moving to Austin</a>, it was ultimately the Tesla deal that won the Chamber of Commerce the award.</p><p>In July 2020, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk announced Giga Texas would build a <a href="https://austonia.com/technology/tesla-coming-to-austin" target="_blank">$1.1 billion assembly plant</a> in Southeast Travis County after working through an incentive deal and deciding between Tulsa, Oklahoma. The electric automotive company will produce its Model Y, Cybertruck and semi tractor-trailer at the factory. </p><p>The move is expected to bring thousands of jobs to the Austin area, with many already listed on its website.</p><p>"The plant that will build Tesla's first entry into the truck market was one of the most coveted projects of the year," wrote Business Facilities Editor in Chief Jack Rogers in the award's announcement. "The Cybertruck assembly plant vaults Austin into the top tier of automotive manufacturing hubs."</p><p>Honorable mentions by Business Facilities also went to two other Texas deals: Pflugerville for its Amazon distribution center and Irving-Las Colinas for Microsoft. </p>
From Your Site Articles
- Work underway on Tesla's Austin Gigafactory site - austonia ›
- Tesla files plans to build batteries at Austin Gigafactory - austonia ›
- Elon Musk seeks to fast-track $1.1 billion Tesla factory in Austin ... ›
- Elon Musk announces Austin Gigafactory will open in 2021 - austonia ›
- Tesla files site plan for Austin Gigafactory - austonia ›
Keep Reading
Show less
(Emma Freer/Austonia)
My first day of work at Austonia was on Monday, March 9. By the end of that week, local officials had canceled SXSW and our small team was headed home to work remotely.
It was from our virtual newsroom—spread out across our respective kitchen counters, living room couches and home offices—that we launched a daily newsletter and, in early April, our website.
<p>Since then our team has covered the pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, our newest corporate citizen (Tesla) and celebrity resident (Joe Rogan), homelessness, two elections, the mayor's trip to Cabo San Lucas, Project Connect and the administration of the first COVID-19 vaccines. </p><p>To end the year, we've compiled a list of 10 important stories we published this year. Here's to more to come in 2021!</p>
1. 'Somehow life feels richer than ever' for some Austin families finding new at-home routines (April 16)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzA0MDc2Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMjA1NDIwOH0.Bz9ylIIh264kNEttOtPps-mFSFI0OQBXdEuXp8UVa18/img.jpg?width=980" id="95c06" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c0e00d953fb459ea637b1ce4d861f18a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Hoke)
<p>Karen Brooks Harper spoke to local families early on in the pandemic to learn about how they were coping—and discovered that many were bonding during all the time spent at home together. "I don't want this crisis to go on forever, but I desperately want our future as a family to look more like this," one mom said. </p>2. Two days of protest: demonstrators shut down I-35, Austin police respond with tear gas as police killings mobilize residents (June 1)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MjQyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzY1MzI1Mn0.8yiXhdxWWN0GWs7_QGVfcx_RcwFBWmfbcLrW_qnfhBA/img.jpg?width=980" id="92523" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9f87f7be0f8a844c2ee866f3e8965c9c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Austonia staff)
<p>In late May, Austin residents took to the streets to protest the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Mike Ramos in Southeast Austin. Protests continued through the summer and ultimately led to the Austin City Council voting to cut the police department's budget—to the chagrin of many state lawmakers. </p>3. Elon Musk seeks fast-track approval of $1.1 billion Tesla plant (June 23)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQxMDYwNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MTU2NTg4NX0.Yyo6GrEul9fsU4TOPsTSfMg-k_M-BYs7B4dPzjelRTY/img.jpg?width=980" id="4363a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="db61ae0bdd5ae9d68d3e779154c7f8e3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="tesla freemont calfornia factory" />(Felix Mizioznikov/Shutterstock)<p>Editorial advisor Rich Oppel and myself teamed up to write about one of the biggest economic development projects seen in Austin this generation: the forthcoming Tesla Gigafactory, which is under construction in Southeast Travis County after a marathon process to secure property tax abatements and environmental permits. </p>4. Meet the two names from Austin behind the transformation of the new Joe Rogan podcast studio (Sept. 10)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzkxMTcwMi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1Nzc0OTU3NX0.lIHFEJjqDmr0u476tRotIOhL-Kd5emDPwZfoKX3J7qc/img.png?width=980" id="0608f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c8fcaf6c9f257b45d46df71a75f9e128" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Joe Rogan/Instagram)
<p>Senior Producer Sonia Garcia profiled two local business owners entrusted by mixed martial arts enthusiast and comedian Joe Rogan to construct his new podcast studio, where he has since interviewed fellow Austinites Matthew McConaughey and Alex Jones. The recent transplant moved to the Texas capital from Los Angeles in July, bringing his $100 million podcast with him. </p>5. The Austonia guide to Proposition A, the ballot issue that could green-light Project Connect (Oct. 14)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ2MzYzOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2OTE2Mzg5M30.9ut3GWV4jDgYv6tnKiP8d7kR_zuOeMlk2UDo1mihHJs/img.jpg?width=980" id="c92cd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f84b93dc51a6efedb60afc518d42a524" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Emma Freer/Austonia staff)
<p>On Nov. 3, Austin voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition A, which raised the city's property tax rate to help pay for Project Connect. The $7.1 billion transit overhaul plan is already being implemented, but it faced vocal opposition. This guide dives into how much Project Connect will raise property owners' tax bills and how it will address concerns about displacement.</p>6. Austonia named one of four nationwide finalists for Best New Publisher (Oct. 14)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU2MjY0Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTEzNTEwN30.sZ4jx0S69ISYCWtPdNyB9GI_tbCSWTHmtx8jE29Fyjk/img.jpg?width=980" id="193f7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9f8c12a8a37004ea9211a27e3469d3d8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Bradley Wilson) <p>Publisher Mark Dewey was thrilled to announce that the Local Independent Online News Publishers association had chosen Austonia as a finalist for its national best emerging publisher award. "Recognition like this from our peer group motivates us to work even harder on our mission of connecting you to our ever-changing city," he wrote to readers.</p>7. Photo essay: A look inside Austin's homeless camps amid COVID, cleanups (Nov. 11)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwNjU0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODI4MjM5N30.3K4RQ_OvX41EkinAWptBCqBOrQte3fn5GgdU6EIsKcE/img.jpg?width=980" id="adefa" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3bb749a0789de85ac084bd54f493a9e8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Photo essay: A look inside Austin's homeless camps amid COVID, cleanups(Jordan Vonderhaar)<p>Photojournalist Jordan Vonderhaar visited homeless camps around Austin to document how residents were dealing with the pandemic—and ongoing cleanups orchestrated by local and state agencies. Last year, Austin City Council voted to overturn the city's camping ban. Advocates applauded the move as an important step toward decriminalizing homelessness. But many residents, business owners and state leaders opposed the decision, which they argued would threaten public health and safety.</p>8. Austin health official concerned about bars "masquerading as restaurants" to stay open amid COVID surge (Nov. 20)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc5ODAyNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NDkyMzg5NX0.8iJOK0XTazt_kbUo6A2IS5K8wi1j_yjK-gWAxVqmyVA/img.jpg?width=980" id="13f6d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b2f87fbb5de4d757b91d01ddcd52c26e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Laura Figi/Austonia)<p>Reporters Laura Figi and Waylon Cunningham wrote about a state loophole that allows bars to reclassify as restaurants in jurisdictions, such as Travis County, that have not allowed bars to reopen. Dr. Mark Escott, the local public health authority, raised concerns about this policy last month, citing the rising number of COVID cases and hospitalizations, and has continued to advise residents not to attend such establishments. But bar owners and employees say they must remain open—or close permanently. </p>9. What Adler's Mexico vacation means for his chances in the Biden administration—and post-COVID political career (Dec. 3)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg2MjI4Mi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTY3NjE0MH0.qMkCx8AlksiUGgX_lglTQOw_PqKyvABpHX340w-TBeg/img.png?width=980" id="21bfe" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="05cef10311ae5ac5aa617deb81d97fab" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Earlier this month, news broke that Austin Mayor Steve Adler had hosted a small, outdoor wedding for his daughter in early November and then traveled via private jet to a family timeshare in Cabo San Lucas—while publicly asking Austinites to stay home. I spoke with political experts about what this scandal might mean for his career, especially if he runs for higher office.</p>10. Good times have faded at the TarryTown Shopping Center, the once-thriving neighborhood hub where animal rights activist Jeanne Daniels has pushed out local favorites (Dec. 22)
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDk4NTg5My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MzU2NjcwM30.XJ6XCP4blQRYqf5ydurmI7uHlWGDBtzexqFMMLAeDUQ/img.png?width=980" id="a372a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="343b0f9ff0d248e375851974857e4824" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Blair Newberry)
<p>Writer Bryan Rolli took a deep dive into the once buzzing TarryTown Shopping Center that now stands desolate. Since inheriting the shopping center in 1999, Jeanne Crusemann Daniels has enforced strict rules that have resulted in the elimination of businesses that used or sold animal products. Long-time Austinites and former business owners remember what the shopping center was once like. </p>From Your Site Articles
- Elon Musk announces Austin Gigafactory will open in 2021 - austonia ›
- Austin murder total hits 10-year high in 2020 - austonia ›
- Austin named most popular city for newcomers in 2020 ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott receives 'safe and easy' COVID-19 vaccine, joining other state and Austin officials
22 December 2020
(Office of the Texas Governor)
As new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across the state, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott received the first dose of the COVID vaccine on Tuesday at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin.
"I want to show my fellow Texans that it's safe and easy to get a vaccine," he said before getting his shot. "And also remembering that I will never ask my fellow Texans to do something I wouldn't do myself."
<p>Abbott cited recent polls that found <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/13/coronavirus-vaccine-texas/" target="_blank">fewer than half of Texans</a> plan to receive the COVID vaccine and recent advice from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield, who asked elected officials to get vaccinated on camera to encourage their constituents to follow suit, for his decision to be vaccinated publicly. </p><p>After receiving his shot, Abbott reported he "didn't feel a thing." </p><p>The governor was joined by Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt.</p><p>"This will eventually be what puts the pandemic behind us," he said of the COVID vaccines in use. </p><p>The state of Texas distributed 224,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine last week and is on track to distribute an additional 620,400 doses—mostly from Moderna—this week. Both vaccines require two doses, administered about three weeks apart. </p><p>Abbott said Texas will distribute more than one million vaccines by the end of the month, focusing on priority populations such as frontline healthcare workers, EMS first responders and nursing home residents. He previously said the state would administer 1.4 million doses by the new year. </p><p>"In January and February, the number of vaccines will just continue to increase," he said. "There will come a time when there will be availability for everyone to have a vaccine." </p><p>Now that Abbott has received the first dose himself, he joins other local and state officials who have opted to receive the COVID vaccine.</p><p>Dr. Amy Young, chief clinical officer for UT Health Austin and vice dean of professional practice at Dell Medical School, was one of the first 100 people to be vaccinated in Austin last Tuesday. Dr. Clay Johnston, dean of the medical school, tweeted a photo of his colleague receiving her shot, adding: "I haven't felt so much joy since before the pandemic."</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="12c3b06ba1a4e606f6df3109b3ff9c16" id="69aca"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1338881914808184841"><div style="margin:1em 0">I haven't felt so much joy since before the pandemic, watching the frontline receive such an amazingly effective va… https://t.co/T7iQr5eddp</div> — Clay Johnston (@Clay Johnston)<a href="https://twitter.com/ClayDellMed/statuses/1338881914808184841">1608049298.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine and co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, received his vaccine in Houston on the same day.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c1e7ec5d7be8db400975fc1acec188f0" id="6e224"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1339059987692326912"><div style="margin:1em 0">1/4: An honor to be vaccinated against #COVID19 tonight @TexasChildrens @bcmhouston, dose 1/2 of the Pfizer Bio… https://t.co/6mKzyKN4Rl</div> — Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD)<a href="https://twitter.com/PeterHotez/statuses/1339059987692326912">1608091754.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Dr. Diana Fite, president of the Texas Medical Association and an emergency room physician in Houston, got vaccinated on Wednesday.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ba84963ace85416e34de7be6491aabdb" id="a4e4d"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1339687154042200068"><div style="margin:1em 0">Grateful to be one of the thousands of Texas health care workers getting the #COVID19 vaccine this week. Here I am… https://t.co/qBDiol0ayg</div> — Diana L. Fite, MD (@Diana L. Fite, MD)<a href="https://twitter.com/TMA_Pres/statuses/1339687154042200068">1608241282.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott received the first dose of the COVID vaccine on Saturday as part of the distribution event for first responders. He also serves as the medical director of the Austin-Travis County EMS system.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cd9debb3e10185f9eab07bf9940d9514" id="173c4"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1340440216096681992"><div style="margin:1em 0">I was excited to join some of our @ATCEMS Paramedics and @austinfiredept EMTs today @DellMedSchool @uthealthaustin… https://t.co/KzrkEsmris</div> — Dr. Mark E. Escott (@Dr. Mark E. Escott)<a href="https://twitter.com/MeaEscott/statuses/1340440216096681992">1608420826.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Dr. Guadalupe Zamora, who serves on the Central Health board of managers, received his vaccine on Sunday.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="28899cbf4c7c208960f59e0b58c9d16a" id="1cb64"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1340807154618535936"><div style="margin:1em 0">“I’m getting vaccinated because we need to return to normal. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect… https://t.co/6EOTepgawp</div> — Central Health (@Central Health)<a href="https://twitter.com/CentralHealthTX/statuses/1340807154618535936">1608508311.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Former Texas Governor and U.S. President George W. Bush has also volunteered to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/politics/obama-vaccine/index.html" target="_blank">receive the vaccine on camera</a>, once they have been administered to priority populations.<br/></p>
From Your Site Articles
- Everything we know about COVID-19 in Austin right now - austonia ›
- Texas experts weigh in on Biden's COVID response - austonia ›
- UT professor played role in Pfizer and Moderna's COVID vaccines ... ›
- Abbott confirms incoming COVID-19 vaccines by the end of the year ... ›
- Care facilities, firefighters and police receive vaccines - austonia ›
- Inequities in healthcare for Latino and Black communities becomes paramount as vaccines seem out of reach - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
