Karen Brooks Harper
Karen is a contributing editor and writer for Austonia.com, where she covers criminal justice and social issues. She is a veteran Texas journalist with more than 20 years in newspapers, TV and digital media. Karen studied journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia and lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, son, and four rescued pets. Twitter: @kbrooksharper
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(Austonia staff)
The University of Texas-Austin continued its march toward a new normal on Friday, as university President Gregory Fenves marked his last day of leadership after five years in office—the final two months of it dominated by sweeping pandemic-era changes on campus.
<p>As he heads to Atlanta to lead Emory University, Fenves passes the torch on Monday to Interim President Jay Hartzell, dean of the McCombs School of Business, who takes the helm just three months before classes start on Aug. 26. </p><p><br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDU3NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMjgwMjE1OX0.37NWyGwBALb8QfnngsZu7Lob8IBsI3K7753O9Q5aIq8/img.jpg?width=980" id="4db6d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1535b7e15a20335e921ec7846d78d076" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Greg Fenves</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Marsha Miller/University of Texas)</small>
</p><p><br/></p><p>Hartzell faces a term marked by new protocols aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 among students, faculty and staff on campus. University officials said that the transition, even in such uncertain times, is expected to be smooth. </p><p>"Even though this is a challenging time for higher education nationally, UT-Austin has prepared well for the transition in leadership to President <em>ad interim</em> Hartzell," Kevin P. Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, told Austonia on Thursday, saying he has "full support" of the university leadership.</p><p>Depending on his own plans and how long it takes university officials to name a permanent replacement, Hartzell will almost certainly also be called upon to play the roles of politician and advocate in the Texas Capitol, just two miles away, when UT faces budget cuts during the Legislature next year.</p><p>But officials say Hartzell's immediate mission is to ensure the campus is ready for its approximately 40,000 students to return to a safe, productive learning environment that is as valuable as it was before the pandemic caused so many changes. </p><p><br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDU5Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODY0ODIzOX0.Z8_UT2gtLOaJwdWh8lA6xElqiHfUJsccKZWAJD6nwpk/img.jpg?width=980" id="e66be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="847079ed10f8f09dffe8a34488131685" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Jay Hartzell</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(University of Texas)</small></p><p><br/></p><p>"Our number-one goal at this time is to ensure that UT institutions are prepared to educate students, serve patients and conduct critical research in environments safe for students, faculty and staff," UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken told Austonia on Thursday. "[Hartzell] has very successfully led one of the largest colleges on campus, and for the last couple of months, he has been involved in all major decisions as the institution navigates the challenges of the pandemic and budget reductions. We need this kind of experienced leadership in the months ahead." </p><p>Neither Fenves nor Hartzell were available to comment this week. </p><p>The news that Fenves was leaving came less than two weeks after the university officially closed to contain the spread of coronavirus. It capped a term marked by success in financial aid and graduation rates, and no headline-grabbing scandals or damaging public infighting.</p><p>His announcement was a surprise to many because Fenves' candidacy at Emory, whose president vacated the role late last year, was not made public until both universities made official announcements on April 7. </p><p>It was not long after Maurie McInnis, then the provost, <a href="https://thedailytexan.com/2020/03/26/executive-vice-president-and-provost-maurie-mcinnis-leaving-ut-austin" target="_blank">said she would leave </a>at the end of the semester to become president of Stony Brook University.</p><p>Even Hartzell expressed surprise at his new role, joking last month that he was hurrying to organize his office so the new dean of McCombs, Lillian Mills, could easily take over when he moves to the tower leadership offices.</p><p>Fenves wasn't specific about his reasons for the move, but given the nature of the two vastly different jobs, Fenves likely heads to higher pay, better decision-making control, more privacy, less meddling by politicians and an overall less-public role at the prominent private research university in Georgia. </p><p>Former UT Chancellor Mark Yudof describes the post as "a great job," but one that is highly accountable to taxpayers, lawmakers, and the media in several ways—particularly as it comes to campus policies and budgeting. </p><p>Testifying before the state Legislature and fighting for funding, for example, is a vital part of the role—one Yudof relished, as a lawyer who spent his career at public institutions. By contrast, the focus of private school leadership tends to more "inward" on education and internal campus issues, he said. </p><p>"It's very different," said Yudof, who served as president of the University of California after UT. "I've never held a high post in a private school, but I did for a time think about whether I should make the move."</p>
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As Texas navigates reopening restaurants and bars safely, al fresco spots provide the perfect place for long-quarantined Austin residents. Some of these favorites are open only on the patio, others are allowing customers to eat to-go orders in the space, and a few are full service—the details are subject to change. This is not an all-inclusive list, but here they are, in no particular order:
1. Perla's
Upscale seafood fare is served under striped umbrellas on the tree-lined porch, with dogs allowed and an unfettered view of South Congress foot traffic.
Address: 1400 S. Congress Ave.
(Charlie L. Harper III)
<p><strong>2.</strong> <strong><a href="https://whislersatx.com/" target="_blank">Whisler's</a></strong></p><p>Serving craft cocktails with names like Riki Tiki Tavi and Lucid Dreams, Whisler's is a favorite on the city's East Side and is currently only open Thursday-Sunday for patio service.</p><p>Address: 1816 E. 6th St. (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WhislersATX/" target="_blank">Whisler's</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDc1Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNTgwMjEwNX0.7OCsAOCHVQ76-Cx57lxPwSL72Op7_8tM35t1KkBO-R0/img.jpg?width=1200&coordinates=0%2C385%2C0%2C282&height=800" id="f8be1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="43a25aef403118f38429ef8827d43f90" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Whisler's)
<p><strong>3. <a href="http://77-degrees.com/austin/" target="_blank">77 Degrees</a></strong></p><p>Exotic cocktails and tasty small plates are only a small part of the draw for this rooftop oasis in the Rock Rose section of the Domain, offering cushy seating, fans with misters and views of the action below.</p><p>Address: 11500 Rock Rose Ave. (Photo: Charlie L. Harper II)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM1OTgyOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTQ4ODQ0M30.NDP3ArrneW9turCZIrrBpz-xMVCyOGAmZLllQ8TxqL4/img.jpg?width=980" id="feb57" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d0ab079ae75dfbfe2d3b83f16dcdf80a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="77 degrees" />(Charlie L. Harper III)
<p><strong>4. <a href="https://ironcactus.com/" target="_blank">Iron Cactus</a></strong></p><p>Serving 100 tequilas in a turn-of-the-century building, this Mexican food restaurant's gorgeous and popular rooftop overlooks on historic Sixth Street.</p><p>Address: 606 Trinity St. (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IronCactusFan/photos/a.427537982488/10157929116262489/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Iron Cactus</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDgzNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNDk2MzAyMX0.h_c-4-EHALrNiuqeF21Aw5fL-ASpP2r_zjDgcLZPbOQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="1d6af" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="448022bbae2d25d83e984cfd10bbdd4d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p><strong>5. <a href="http://www.opacoffeeandwinebar.com/" target="_blank">Opa!</a></strong></p><p>This charming Greek eatery on South Lamar sports a relaxing front courtyard covered in shade trees and drenched in an Austin-hippie-meets-Mediterranean-village vibe.</p><p>Address: 2050 S. Lamar Blvd. (Photo: Charlie L. Harper II)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM1OTc3Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzOTk2NDk3NX0.7ypVMiy7hhD5FZhEcXsfDhwALpy80cxIJofmVHs0wcA/img.jpg?width=980" id="70c4c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bc39832e59a3c8ad004c22ed2c41cadd" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Opa!" />(Charlie L. Harper III)
<p><strong>6. <a href="https://www.lichascantina.com/" target="_blank">Licha's Cantina</a></strong></p><p>A converted house with porch and yard on the city's East Side serves interior Mexican cuisine in a setting that kind of resembles a chilled-out house party in Mexico City.</p><p>Address: 1306 E. 6th S. (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lichascantina/" target="_blank">Licha's Cantina</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDgzNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5NzAwOTM0MX0.LkxWsu-jyldZemRdLaUZOtwZYh2Gmy8ly2BDrnJfzTE/img.jpg?width=980" id="b7694" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d020c393d07143786c562a7f695071f4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p><strong>7. <a href="http://cherrywoodcoffeehouse.com/" target="_blank">Cherrywood Coffeehouse</a></strong></p><p>Beer, wine, coffee and cafe food meet a distinctly local vibe in the laid-back courtyard, a neighborhood favorite just east of I-35.</p><p>Address: 1400 E 38th 1/2 St. (Photo: Charlie L. Harper II)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM1NDg1MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwOTY0OTc5MH0.6pL8GAUY9GamRl6i0eUpzAPkuiYGaSSFGjleOVtD0FQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="f0d06" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="72bad09322c1657ce84fc2f153a8911a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Charlie L. Harper III)
<p><strong>8.<a href="https://www.posseeast.com/?fbclid=IwAR3aCODrokJA4JR3gQjw-1tQfpdjvcsp9N6iziz9UGNccP3vO-q-A_MMI10" target="_blank"> Posse East</a></strong></p><p>Drink a beer, grab a burger and watch your favorite sports from a safe distance on the patio in this university-adjacent sports bar, a local favorite for nearly 50 years.</p><p>Address: 2900 Duval St. (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Posse.East/" target="_blank">Posse East</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDc2NC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDU3NjA2Mn0.tskVS1fKKNVD0dMX-uEaWjPypBQqQhHabPSPgMvhmSc/img.png?width=980" id="2f536" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d6fd42c93f6e7bdda368a744db4d687f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Posse East)
<p><strong>9. <a href="https://www.kebabalicious.com/" target="_blank">Kebabalicious</a></strong></p><p>One of Austin's food-truck-turned-restaurant success stories, this little haven on the East Side serves some of the city's most popular Turkish fast food - wraps and falafel shots and local beer.</p><p>Address: 1311 E. 7th St. (Photo: Charlie L. Harper II)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM1OTgwNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzYyNTgzOH0.RA3F8Ys-rFERX9CBEw9DWDG6_-4oWRIgVTDyf21c9gQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="07340" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4be3fa8b16b9d1cd0713a61aa3964f0e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Kebabalicious" />(Charlie L. Harper III)
<p><strong>10.<a href="http://grajmahalaustin.com/" target="_blank"> G'raj Mahal</a></strong></p><p>Another food-truck success story, this Indian food joint has been a staple on Rainey Street for more than a decade and boasts a patio in the shade surrounded by decorative bicycle wheels and great people watching.</p><p>Address: 73 Rainey St. (Photo: Charlie L. Harper II)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM1NDg0OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTY2MjA4NX0.ZqxAC76AtCwU2t5pipSdMmJeIzdS0xj2Wo21YVkqAus/img.jpg?width=980" id="bbaac" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6ebc0307fe17246d5247bb77176cc0d6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Charlie L. Harper III)
<p><strong>11. <a href="http://www.blacksheeplodge.com/" target="_blank">Black Sheep Lodge</a></strong></p><p>Sit on the covered front porch with your buddies and your pups at this South Lamar favorite, with a full bar and menu that includes one of the best Chicago dogs in the city.</p><p>Address: 2108 S. Lamar Blvd. (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackSheepLodge04/photos/a.405805746126230/2096700863703368/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Black Sheep Lodge</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDgwNi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTgzNzgzNH0.4AgoSgeGC-y_t0JLxssjpk6PiNZnOxzrzga8HSLKMHI/img.png?width=1200&coordinates=46%2C0%2C117%2C0&height=800" id="b28fd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="40f64330a4bb346898e9288a925bbbcb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p><strong>12. <a href="https://gueros.com/" target="_blank">Guero's</a></strong></p><p>This iconic South Congress restaurant and beer garden serves interior Mexican fare and boasts a full bar, house-made tortillas and excellent SoCo vibe. Its small front porch and the Oak Garden next door are both open.</p><p>Address: 1412 S. Congress (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gueros/photos/a.381592862287/10158306602187288/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Guero's</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDgwOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjQwNjE0Nn0.DFGWISZgRp9qUr8y1uHo6aLvf74urIffKJ4XILv8aKo/img.jpg?width=980" id="a7adb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a6321c41dc5e4a6aa5c019ab08cfc9f5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p><strong>13. <a href="https://www.culinarydropout.com/locations/austin-tx/" target="_blank">Culinary Dropout</a></strong></p><p>This hip spot on the edge of the Domain's North Side plaza offers a spacious covered patio lined with white leather benches and tables with plenty of room between them, serving food and drinks in a casual but cosmopolitan setting.</p><p>Address: 11721 Rock Rose Ave. (Photo: Charlie L. Harper III)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM1OTg4OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNDEzNzYyOX0.TpV2RRvjNHMZRJiyWYRGHODq0P6ehYkWfTLGH7Pzr2g/img.jpg?width=980" id="08415" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="dd573d44c4ea902b936760b417693ec1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Charlie L. Harper III)
<p><strong>14. <a href="http://speakeasyaustin.com/" target="_blank">Speakeasy</a></strong></p><p>This iconic three-level club downtown sports many cool indoor spots, but it made this list for its stellar rooftop, with cush seating, shade and views of the skyline.</p><p>Address: 412 Congress Ave. D (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/speakeasyaustin/photos/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">Speakeasy</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDc2OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNDM2MzMwNX0.5_6EudtmvmXf7r5fL0d76vx0f2CZNdVDfn2D7DrkPv0/img.jpg?width=980" id="f4fbf" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6bb6187fc083b8b7ba7643e3c53c1a29" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Speakeasy)
<p><strong>15. <a href="https://www.joscoffee.com/" target="_blank">Jo's Coffee</a></strong></p><p>A SoCo staple for decades, the window service and covered patio and sunnier street-side seating give a funky summer-camp-cantina feel to one of the city's trendiest urban neighborhoods. Don't forget the photo op with the iconic "I Love You So Much" message painted in red on its green north-facing wall.</p><p>Address: 1300 S. Congress Ave. (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/joscoffee/" target="_blank">Jo's Coffee</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDgxMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5NjgwODU2OX0.86zBOP8zt8YeOyMCW-QUB5X3JcXy8-3sX0tADWqtLgk/img.jpg?width=1200&coordinates=0%2C720%2C0%2C387&height=800" id="56bd9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9aa655dafbd71234ac6d154af77fd47e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p><strong>16. <a href="https://sienaaustin.com/" target="_blank">Siena Ristorante Toscana</a></strong></p><p>If you're dying for a date night and looking for a romantic outdoor space, this dreamy Italian eatery in the hills of Northwest Austin boasts beautiful views and elegant fare on its comfortable patio.</p><p>Address: 6203 N. Capital of Texas Hwy. (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SienaRistoranteToscana/" target="_blank">Siena Ristorante</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDc3MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTY5OTkyMn0.voLXObbCRxQx1h-EW-UQqxCWBsLz7-AO0e3dBp41JSc/img.jpg?width=980" id="2b9e2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3192f9705271895af7b12e9d9df120e4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Siena Ristorante)
<p><strong>17. <a href="https://www.hulahut.com/" target="_blank">Hula Hut</a></strong></p><p>A longtime Lake Austin favorite just west of downtown, the Hula Hut (and its neighbors along the lakefront) beckons with a decidedly summer vibe; the pina coladas and coconut shrimp are a bonus.</p><p>Address: 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. (Photo: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HulaHut/" target="_blank">Hula Hut</a>)</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2MDc3My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMjg1MzMyNX0.Swys1_mGOrZn4sJAWqvjID9258J_j0AOsmbnGUmTCfo/img.jpg?width=980" id="fe397" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d9a099b5e25d7ce4dde9b105950a15d2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Hula Hut)
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(House Rabbit Resource Network)
The highly anticipated vaccine for a deadly virus stalking rabbits across the Lone Star State arrives this week in Central Texas from France, touching off a collective sigh of relief in an increasingly anxious local bunny-owner community.
<p><span></span>"It's awesome. We're super excited," said Lindsay Rader, shelter manager at the House Rabbit Resource Network in Pflugerville, one of the biggest and oldest rabbit rescues in the state.<br/></p><p>The shelter, which typically houses 150-200 bunnies, is a potential hot spot for the highly contagious Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus strain, known as RHDV2.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzMyNTE0Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNzE4MDM1OH0.uxts94iQ3-iRqasUeegVDgvxWBgb3PZfw-QdUcw8e6M/img.jpg?width=980" id="5e065" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c51803110826541b7512d17b663028b4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Baby Shark and Quebec
(House Rabbit Resource Network)
<p>The shelter is, therefore, first in line to vaccinate its current population when the hard-won vaccine—secured through a months-long slashing of state-level red tape by locals—gets here at the end of May. </p><p>Until then, bunnies that come in are quarantined for two weeks before they are allowed into the general population, Rader said. The volunteer staff leave their shoes at the shelter or cover them with booties to keep from bringing home RHDV2. </p><p>"We've already been doing more of that because of COVID-19, so it hasn't been such a big jump for everybody to take on added security," Rader said.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzMyNTE1MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDUwNDg2N30.NdLPkWudSpyURDvFQ8DQDLeqTUt2tnfqnOWvR6U3_QE/img.jpg?width=980" id="b9e16" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="003e5fab62e3eb334da5e5f131973cb1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Abra
(House Rabbit Resource Network)
<p>At least <a href="https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/2020/2020-05-13_RHDV2.pdf" target="_blank">one pet bunny has died of the illness in Lampasas</a>, the closest report to Austin so far.<br></p><p>"We think the virus is moving rapidly towards this area," said veterinarian and rabbit specialist Todd Riggan, owner of White Rock Veterinary Hospital in Pflugerville, who spearheaded the effort to get a vaccine to local domestic bunnies.</p><p><a href="https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_BiosecurityRabbit.pdf" target="_blank">Austin-area bunny owners are being warned: </a>Keep pet bunnies indoors, separate them from other pets in the home, leave shoes at the door when they come inside, and don't gather food for them outside.</p><p>Austin bunny owner Angela Southern, whose lionhead rabbit Winston is 10 years old, is married to a nurse who already takes his shoes off when he comes home from work—so as not to expose his family to COVID-19.<br></p><p>The dual virus precautions feel "overwhelming," she said.</p><p>"Everybody is at risk of something," she said. "But we're on the list for the vaccine so hopefully in the next couple of weeks, he'll get that. And then I won't be so paranoid."</p><p>Although the two are not connected, parallels to the simultaneous battle being waged by the human race against the coronavirus pandemic are not hard to find.<br></p><p>Except with death rate upwards of 70% and "sudden death" listed as a symptom, the bunnies are doing worse.<br></p><p>"It's like Ebola for rabbits," Riggan said.</p><p>RHDV2 can jump from wild rabbits to domestics, but not to other species. </p><p>It is easily transmitted through contact, surfaces, mice, mosquitoes, flies and bird droppings. It can live in an environment for three months and resists typical disinfectants. Symptoms are rare but can include jaundice, bleeding and seizures. </p><p>The vaccination arriving in Texas on May 30 is only allowed for domestic rabbits. </p><p>The current strain appeared in Washington State a year ago. It showed up again in Arizona and New Mexico in March, hitting West Texas in May, according to the <a href="http://www.rabbit.org/" target="_blank">House Rabbit Society</a> information network.</p>
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(Charlie L. Harper III)
Emboldened, perhaps, by reports that Austin police were making fewer traffic stops and feeling safer, possibly, with fewer cars on the road, two local motorists were pulled over this week on separate occasions for driving over 100 mph on MoPac.
<p>Not necessarily headline-grabbing news under normal circumstances.</p><p>But they were part of a wave of targeted traffic stops after the Austin Police Department began accelerating traffic enforcement on May 15, a response to an upswing in fatalities and serious wrecks since the pandemic began. </p><p>The Austin Police Department declined to release statistics showing what they described in a news release as "a significant number" of crashes and fatalities. </p><p>Police said on May 15, the day the initiative started, that there had been 33 fatal crashes in Austin that have killed 35 people since January. In the same time last year, the number was 30. </p><p>That can be a considered a significant jump in the numbers because crisis-related workplace closures, staff layoffs and stay-at-home orders meant that streets and highways were usually empty, with only a small fraction of normal traffic out on the road. </p><p>In other words, less traffic—but more traffic deaths. </p><p>Police said they would be "focusing presence and enforcement on high-speed and high-traffic roadways" through May 31. </p><p>"Officers will concentrate on reducing crashes overall through directed patrols," a police statement this week said. "The increased patrol visibility is intended to dissuade speeding, red-light violations and other dangerous driving behaviors that contribute to unsafe conditions for all road users."</p><p>Prior to May 15, Austin police had been discouraged from enforcing non-hazardous traffic violations to avoid more contact with the public than necessary. </p><p>Asked if the focused patrols would last beyond May 31, police declined to be interviewed for this story but emailed the following quote, attributed to Lt. Jason Disher of the Austin police Highway Enforcement Command.</p><p>"APD is dedicated to traffic safety and will continue to work to reduce crashes through education and enforcement," Disher said.</p>
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Amie Jean graduates from McCombs School of Business on Saturday. (Amie Jean)
When Amie Jean won her election as student body vice president at the University of Texas-Austin last year, the career-driven business school senior saw it as her chance to enjoy campus life for her last few months as a student.
<p>Then campus life went away, shut down by the pandemic. But even more alarming was what disappeared with it: The long list of career prospects she had been lining up with years of hard work, networking and resume building. </p><p>The irony hasn't escaped Jean, 22, who graduates from the McCombs School of Business on Saturday in a virtual commencement ceremony for the University of Texas.</p><p>But she's trying to maintain a positive outlook about the uncertain future.</p><p>"If we all don't know, then at least I'm not alone," she said with a laugh.</p><p>Economists mince no words about what college graduates face: The economic crash that followed the shutdown left behind an economy at its weakest since the Great Depression, with a national unemployment rate of 14.7% and a Texas unemployment rate at 12.8%, the state's worst on record, according to U.S. labor statistics released Friday.</p><p>"The job prospects are dismal at the moment," said Michael Sadler, senior finance lecturer and economist at McCombs, adding that the few openings are not in entry-level fields. "Many of my students at UT have had job offers revoked or deferred, and those that were going to internships have seen those canceled."</p><p>Experts also predict that students graduating in a recession are also likely to make less money in the long term.</p><p>"Exactly when you graduate, and the existing economic conditions at the time, has permanent effects on earnings over the lifetime of an individual," Sadler said. </p><p>Charlotte Gorman, 26, who is getting her master's degree Saturday from UT's LBJ School of Public Affairs, hopes that working for the government will insulate her from the pay issues and job insecurity.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzMxMDg1Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjYyODIwMn0.oyEZ2wRBxHL5R29b0Pbuz3vx30OsTOD5ZhrogL__Tx0/img.jpg?width=980" id="cb9f7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="50c42b4dad8c7f9859c493ba899ca198" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Charlotte Gorman is graduating from the LBJ School. (Charlotte Gorman)</small></p><p><br/></p><p>She snapped up a one-year fellowship in Washington D.C. in March when she realized that job opportunities were drying up. They have told her it will happen, she said, though the start date has been delayed.</p><p>"I don't know what things will look like a year from now," she said, "but I will at least have a year of experience under my belt rather than being fresh out of school."</p><p>At placement company Express Employment Systems in Austin, owner and recruiter Mark Wagner has heard from more student job seekers since the shutdown. He's also seen fewer companies hiring talent with no job openings—a common corporate strategy to keep good people away from competitors.</p><p>It's a practice he said likely won't come back soon, maybe not until a vaccine is found. </p><p>The rebound can't come soon enough for Shelby Evans, who gets her master's degree in public affairs on Saturday.</p><p>Calls and informational interviews with prospective employers dried up in March, she said. Now, she is watching her sizeable student loan balance gathering interest while she job hunts.</p><p>"I am sure things will get back to normal, and it's just a matter of when," Evans said. "But 'when' really matters when you have a bunch of debt." </p>
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(Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock)
Property crimes were up in April over last year, but violent crimes were down, as Austin residents settled deeper into quarantine mode during the first full month the city was shut down to avoid spread of the coronavirus, according to a new report from Austin Police Chief Brian Manley.
<p>The April numbers, released this week in the Chief's Monthly Crime Report, count the number of times police were called for crimes ranging from homicide to gambling. </p><p>They appear to tell the story of a city hunkering down and staying off the streets—with fewer crimes like pick-pocketing and shoplifting, fewer violent incidents, and more property crimes that are easier done with no one around.</p><p>There's also an overall 38% drop, compared with April 2019, in crimes typically encountered by patrols or neighborhood watch groups: weapons violations, drug charges, prostitution, gambling and other violations known as "crimes against society."</p><p>"It all has to do with people not being outside," said Austin police Det. Ken Casaday, president of the Austin Police Association. "They're locked up and scared to go outside. I think the more you see people going out and feeling comfortable leaving the house, the more crime you'll see."</p><p>When the lockdown began in mid-March, police saw an uptick in violence, which they attributed to tensions boiling over in the early days of the pandemic.</p><p>In April, violent crime dropped, dipping some 13% below last year's rate.<br/></p> <p>Casaday said those changes could be attributed to regular statistical swings, less reporting and fewer opportunities.</p><p>The sharpest decline in violence, both from March to April and over last year's numbers, came in simple assaults, which commonly occur during bar fights and muggings—no deadly weapons and no major injuries. </p><p>But with no bars open and fewer people roaming the streets, these types of attacks were down from 933 in March to 791 in April. The numbers are similar when compared with April 2019. </p><p>Casaday said the lack of nightlife activity is a clear contributor to that drop, likely short lived.</p><p>"Once you start seeing the bars open up, I think you'll see more of that," he said. </p><p>Property crimes like robberies, arsons, burglaries, auto thefts and car break-ins saw significant increases from the same month and time span as last year. </p><p>Manley said a large chunk of those are typically perpetrated by teenagers, who now have no school or activities to occupy their time. </p><p>"With the kids not being in school and a lot of the parents working, it's a good mix for property crime," he said. </p><p>Asked whether economic desperation is a factor, Manley said he hasn't seen that yet. </p><p>"But the longer this goes on, and the more people that become homeless or without a paycheck, I would expect those types of things to increase," he said. </p>
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David Osborne (Monterey County Sheriff's Department)
Welcome to Austonia, a new, locally owned news company reporting on news, business, and politics in Austin. Like what you see? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our latest stories in your inbox.
(If you have additional information about this story please get in touch with us at editor@austonia.com.)
A California judge is set to decide in June whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring an Austin financial advisor to trial on sexual assault charges after an ill-fated luxury golf trip last year.
<p>The legal troubles of David Walter Osborne began in early May 2019 during a stay with two friends the Monterey Sheriff's Department described as "high-profile" at Pebble Beach Resorts, which hosted the U.S. Open a month later. </p><p>Monterey County authorities say Osborne, whose financial advisory firm describes its clients as "families, entrepreneurs, and sports professionals," and his friends flew on a private jet and shared rooms at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, where accommodations start at close to $1,000 and top $7,000 per night.</p>
<p>Monterey County prosecutors believe that on or around May 7, 2019, Osborne sexually assaulted a woman at his hotel in an incident that prompted four felony charges.</p><p><span></span>The charges are false imprisonment by violence, attempted forcible rape, assault with intent to commit a felony, and sexual penetration by a foreign object. All are felonies, punishable by three to eight years in prison, respectively.<br/></p><p>Osborne was jailed in Austin on May 21, 2019 after Monterey County Sheriff's deputies flew to Texas to arrest him at his downtown Austin office. He posted bail the next day. He was 48 at the time.</p><p>Authorities won't identify the two golf pals, who they'll only describe as "high profile," and prosecutors have declined to say if they—or a second woman initially described as a victim but later dropped from the complaint—will be called as witnesses. </p><p>Neither prosecutors nor police will discuss details of the case. It is unclear whether the two women referred to in the initial report flew in with Osborne or if he met them while in California.</p><p>Osborne is the only suspect in the case, said Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Lana Nassoura, and he is set to appear for a preliminary hearing on June 4 in Monterey County Superior Court. </p><p>"We believe the charges are baseless and should be dismissed outright," said San Francisco attorney Lyn Agre, who is representing him in California. "He has pleaded not guilty and will defend himself in court to the fullest extent of the law." </p><p>The case stalled when California closed its courts in response to pandemic concerns, but jury trials and hearings in Monterey County are set to resume June 1 with social distancing restrictions, court officials said. </p><p>If the hearing, which has been postponed twice, goes on as scheduled, a judge will determine if prosecutors have enough evidence to move on to a trial.</p><p>Prosecutors and sheriff's officials in Monterey County declined to release more details about the accusations, saying that information is not considered public in open cases in California. </p><p>The initial police report said Osborne had attacked two women, but after further analysis of the case, prosecutors believed only one of them was the victim of a crime, Nassoura said. She declined to elaborate, citing case confidentiality. </p><p>Asked whether the second woman would be treated as a witness, Nassoura said that had not yet been decided. </p><p>She declined to say whether the two friends who accompanied Osborne on the trip and stayed with him at the lodge would be treated as witnesses. </p><p>"Since that's fact specific, I can't answer that question," she said in an email to Austonia. </p><p>Osborne is the only person being charged in connection with the incident, she said.</p><p>Nassoura said she believes Osborne is waiting out the case in Texas, but he is required to return to California for the preliminary hearing, she said. She declined to discuss any more specifics about the case.</p><p>Osborne is not currently registered as an active broker or investment advisor, according to FINRA, the nonprofit watchdog arm of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A FINRA representative said that, according to their records, he was no longer registered as of July 2019.</p><p>His wealth management firm, Osborne Advisors, has offices in Dallas and Austin but Osborne, listed as the company president and its sole principal, is on a leave of absence, according to an employee who answered the phone at his Austin office on Monday.</p><p><strong>The charges</strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI5MDAyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMDA0MzEyN30.sktSex_AukYSA2h9wi2h4V37tL69mjtCekdxf1WXkcA/img.jpg?width=980" id="a7408" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7ccb2168fe3a638ec0e6ba651f78d759" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">David Osborne (Austin Police Department)</small></p><p><br/></p><p>Because police reports and arrest affidavits on active court cases are not considered public record in California, few details have been released about the allegations or the evidence. Formal charges were filed on May 17, 2019.</p><p>The following Tuesday, May 21, Osborne was booked into the Travis County Jail at 2:39 p.m. He posted bond in lieu of $100,000 bail and was released at 4:24 p.m. the next day.</p><p>The Monterey County Sheriff's Office posted the news about his arrest <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/photos/a.1419920161557359/2342372799312086/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">on its Facebook page</a> and thanked Austin police for their help. </p><p>Austin police declined to immediately release documents related to the arrest, claiming they fall under public records laws in California.</p><p>Osborne was arraigned on the charges in Monterey County and entered a plea of not guilty on June 28. </p><p>That same day, the judge approved a restraining order banning him from any contact with the victim. </p><p>On Dec. 12, a judge postponed a preliminary hearing over the objections of prosecutors. It was reset for March 19, 2020. </p><p>At that point, proceedings became tangled in pandemic-related shutdowns and the hearing was moved to June 4. </p><p><strong>The firm</strong></p><p>Osborne Advisors say on their website that they manage some $200 million in assets for their clients. </p><p>The firm operated in Dallas for 10 years before expanding into Austin in 2012, specializing in managing money for former professional athletes, according to a<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20121205005433/en/Osborne-Advisors-Expands-Austin-Office-New-Service" target="_blank"> news release</a> published on Business Wire.</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI4OTkwMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjg4MTUwNn0.xi5445Vg-3NNdQzFBJSl9tVrWkeZadgmtILP6kkAYCU/img.jpg?width=980" id="189b5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="255a1a5f2ac40b7bad0dcef6bd14c68b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="pebble beach lodge" />
The Lodge at Pebble Beach (forcdan/Adobe)
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Welcome to Austonia, a new, locally owned news company reporting on news, business, and politics in Austin. Like what you see? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our latest stories in your inbox.
Austin marketing adviser and cyclist Kimberly Jarboe never leaves the house without a bottle of hand sanitizer clipped to her belt loop.
Still, weeks of sheltering in place have worn her down.
<p>And so, like many others aching for some sliver of their pre-pandemic lives, Jarboe has found little ways to let the world back in—while still wearing a mask, sanitizing her hands, playing it safe.</p><p>"I do have a very close circle of friends that I've been spending time with and acting fairly normal around," said Jarboe, who used to ride bikes with groups of hundreds of cyclists.</p><p>As the pandemic drags on and state leaders relax shutdown orders, even some of the most ardent social distancers in Austin are finding themselves adjusting their own boundaries. </p><p>Social media abounds with locals getting together but staying distant: Hair appointments, kayaks on Lady Bird Lake, multi-family picnics under separate trees, sparse backyard gatherings, and cautious date nights at restaurants with masked servers.</p><p>"We always ate out a lot and have missed going into restaurants for the full dining experience," said Jeannette Larson, who has restaurant reservations Wednesday for the first time since the shutdown. "I've been impressed by their safety measures, so we are going for it."</p><p>"Semi-socially distant" is how local attorney Lenore Shefman describes her occasional visits "with folks I trust."</p><p>"We still practice safety like washing hands, and nobody is coughing or sneezing, and we stay outside," Shefman said. </p><p>Austin politicians and health officials worry that some locals will take it too far.</p><p>"There's more disease in the community now than there has ever been," said Dr. Mark Escott, Austin-Travis County interim health authority. "That should be a warning sign to folks that the time for caution is not over." </p><p>The safety message still resonates with those who are finding what they say are reasonably safe loopholes.</p><p>Tara Hall, a content strategist who has been isolating alone, agreed to a getaway this weekend with a longtime travel companion taking the same precautions.<br/><br/>The two chose a secluded, vacant AirBnB to make contact tracing easier if either of them winds up exposed. </p><p>"I'm nervous but willing to take this mental break with one person I trust," she said. "It feels like I've had a two-and-a-half-month-week, in a way, and this will be my weekend. I can't wait to feel clear-headed after this trip, even if it's short-lived." </p><p>Jarboe and the others say they are simply coping with the reality that their old lives may not return for a long time.</p><p>"Previous to this, my world was pretty much all friends and bike rides," she said. "Having small 'safe' gatherings and bike rides with a handful of my closest friends helps me stay sane and gives me a small taste of what normal life used to be."</p>
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