headlines

The brief: Tuesday, May 12

  • The governor ordered three state agencies to come up with a plan to test all nursing home residents and staff in Texas for COVID-19—no timeline was included, KXAN notes.
  • APD Chief Brian Manley spent 40 minutes yesterday answering questions about an earlier report on racial profiling, CBS Austin reports, just before announcing that the man killed by police last month was unarmed.
  • The early voting period for the runoff elections postponed until July 14 has been doubled, KUT says, though runoff elections usually only have a week anyway.
  • The person hit by a plane and killed at ABIA has been identified as a 22-year-old named Junin Ko, according to KXAN.
  • Clothing line Supreme announced a product line featuring the work of Daniel Johnston, the Texas artist who created the "Hi, How Are You" frog mural, among other works, writes Texas Monthly—Johnston died last year.
2020 election

Austonia's 2020 voter guide: dates to know, where to vote and races to watch

(Charlie Harper III)

The Nov. 3 election promises high turnout.

The upcoming Nov. 3 election is set to be a historic one—in Austin and around the country.

The Travis County Clerk's office expects as many as 100,000 voters will apply for a mail-in ballot by the Oct. 23 deadline, and it has already received nearly double the number of applications it did for the 2016 general election.

"It is most definitely COVID," County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir told Austonia earlier this month. "People are afraid to come inside."

Ahead of Election Day, we've rounded up key dates to remember, a guide to voting by mail and some background on the major races at the local, state and federal levels.

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business closures

12 iconic Austin businesses that have closed due to COVID-19 (and 5 that are still open)

(Facebook)

Threadgill's owner Eddie Wilson announced in April that he was selling the restaurant, beer joint and music venue, closing the curtain on one of Austin's most iconic businesses.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the United States, many esteemed local businesses have been forced to shut their doors permanently. Austin is no exception, and over the last six months, some of the city's most beloved local establishments have had to say goodbye. This non-comprehensive list includes some of Austin's most iconic businesses that have closed for good due to COVID-19. May they live in the hearts and minds of Austinites forever.

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javier ambler

Williamson County sheriff indicted, arrested on evidence tampering charge in Javier Ambler case

(Williamson County)

Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody was indicted and arrested on a felony charge for destroying video evidence related to the Javier Ambler case.

This story has been updated to include information from two press conferences on Monday afternoon.

Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody has been indicted and arrested on a felony charge for destroying video evidence related to the death of Javier Ambler, a Black man who died in custody last year, according to local reports.

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music industry

Musicians rally at City Hall for COVID-19 relief

(Joe Lanane)

Kevin Russell of Austin band Shinyribs speaks Monday morning outside of Austin City Hall in a rally to support Austin music industry workers. City Council will consider COVID-19 relief measures this week.

Editor's Note 1:45 p.m.: This story has been updated from the previously published preview to the rally to tell what happened at the rally.

Austin music industry members and supporters rallied Monday morning in front of City Hall to remind elected officials of their essential role in the "Live Music Capital of the World."

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influencers

Austin’s own Nick Foles returns to spotlight in come-from-behind NFL win

(Matt Smith/Shutterstock)

Austinite and former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles returns the field for another win with the Chicago Bears.

Quarterback Nick Foles, an Austin native who attended Westlake High School, is making waves again in a relief role for an NFL team.

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covid-19

743 UT Austin students have already tested positive for COVID-19

(The University of Texas at Austin COVID-19 Modeling Consortium)

A new report by the COVID-19 Modeling Consortium at the University of Texas at Austin projects how transmission among students could amplify spread in the Austin metro.

The reopening of the University of Texas at Austin could amplify community transmission of COVID-19 in the Austin area, according to a new report published by the COVID-19 Modeling Consortium.

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2020 election

Project Connect proposes two light rail lines. Will Austin voters approve them?

(Emma Freer)

This November, Austin voters will decide whether to approve Proposition A, which would increase the city's property tax rate to fund and maintain Project Connect.

Austin voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to back Proposition A, which would increase the city's property tax rate to fund and maintain a $7.1 billion, 15-year overhaul of the city's transit system.

If approved, Project Connect will expand Austin's rapid bus system and add two new light rail lines, which will be served by a multi-block underground downtown tunnel.

Here is a closer look at the light rail component of the plan:

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