“Without the VATRE passing, we are leaving our fortunes to a governor and a legislature that simply do not support public education.” — Education Austin President Ken Zarafis
Members of the Austin ISD Board are set to meet today and vote on approval of a Voter Tax Rate Election – or VATRE. If the vote passes, it would then head to the ballot this November for Austin voters. Passage would maximize funding for the district and increase teacher pay. With a VATRE, Austin ISD could reduce its budget deficit by $41 million. (KEYE-TV)
More area school districts open their doors to students this week, including Austin ISD.
In Bell County, the Bartlett ISD begin classes today.
Roadway safety is a major concern as students across Central Texas head back to school. (Fox7 Austin)
The Manor ISD is planning future pay raises and is offering all students free meals this school year.
State lawmakers are looking for ideas on crafting private school subsidy legislation, a policy goal that has eluded top Republican leaders. (KXAN-TV)
A South Texas school district received a request to remove 676 books from its libraries. (Texas Tribune)
UT Austin prepares to welcome students back for ‘Mooov-in Day’.
Authorities are searching Lake Travis for a man who jumped off a cliff into the water Saturday and didn’t resurface. (KVUE-TV)
A driver was treated for minor injuries over the weekend after their car hit a pillar near the front entrance of the H-E-B in Kyle. (KVUE-TV)
A group dedicated to awareness of the often-fatal drug fentanyl unveiled one of two new billboards on East Oltorf Street near South Congress. (Fox7 Austin)
The billboards feature 24 images of people who have died from fentanyl poisoning in recent years.
How will Austin’s newly approved budget affect the Downtown Austin Alliance? (KXAN-TV)
The Capitol Complex Project, an effort by the Texas Facilities Commission to modernize the area directly north of the Capitol, is continuing with its next phase.
Four buildings will be constructed at the Capitol Complex in two phases totaling 1.5 million gross square feet.
The Leander Police Department is warning people of a telephone scam. (KEYE-TV)
The San Marcos Police Department is investigating a series of vehicle thefts and burglaries. (KEYE-TV)
Multiple fatalities are being reported after an overnight crash on I-35 in Fort Worth.
The assistant dean at a Texas college is charged with murder after the death of his infant son.
Dangerous heat is expected to build over the area today through Thursday. A heat advisory remains in effect at least through this evening which will likely be extended as temperatures continue to rise. (AccuWeather)
There are several places in Austin where people can stop in and cool off.
When will the intense summer heat finally break? Likely mid-October, according to NOAA. (KXAN-TV)
It’s looking like fall will be warmer than average in Texas, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. (Lonestar Live)
A NOAA forecaster thinks Texas is going to be more vulnerable to hurricanes. (Houston Chronicle)
The Montopolis Pool in southeast Austin has closed for renovations and likely will not reopen until 2026.
Don’t forget to look up in the sky this evening. August’s full moon is a “blue moon” or “supermoon”. A supermoon is a full moon that appears larger and brighter in the sky than a typical full moon. This happens because the moon is at or near its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. (Austin American-Statesman)
Where are the best places in town to view tonight’s “supermoon”? (Austin Monthly)
Pedestrians and cyclists looking to navigate Waller Creek in downtown Austin will be met with an additional detour starting August 26. (Austin American-Statesman)
Protesters in Austin have joined the fight against Nicolas Maduro’s disputed victory in last month’s presidential election in Venezuela.
Alex Chadwell, who worked for Congressman Troy Nehls in Washington and Texas, said he was pushed out of Nehls’ office because of his sexual orientation. (Texas Tribune)
Jurors in Texas are expected to resume deliberations Monday on whether the parents of a Texas student accused of killing 10 people in a 2018 school shooting near Houston should be held financially liable for damages. (Associated Press)
San Antonio authorities are investigating a shooting at an Air Force base in Lackland.
Framber Valdez provided another strong outing Sunday for the surging Houston Astros as they defeated the Chicago White Sox at home, 2-0. (Yahoo! Sports)
Finally some good news out of Arlington. The Texas Rangers avoided a sweep by the Minnesota Twins yesterday thanks to a tenth inning walk-off RBI single by Josh Jung to give them the win, 6-5. (Yahoo! News)
The Boerne Little Leaguers are back in action today at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania taking on Lake Mary out of Florida. (Austin American-Statesman via MSN)
Once Jim Schlossnagle hits the third year of his proposed contract as the Texas Longhorns head baseball coach, he’ll become the highest-paid coach on the diamond in the entire country. (KXAN-TV)
Texas state parks…the first 100 years.
