Memorial Day weekend in Central Texas is a time for remembering and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
It’s also a time for remembering devastating flooding that occurred here in 1981 and again in 2015.
“Today, we honor those who lost their lives during the destructive floods that hit our community a decade ago and recognize the brave emergency personnel who responded to one of the most devastating weather events in Austin’s history. This anniversary reminds us how resilient our community is as well as the importance of continuing to improve our flood response infrastructure.” — Austin Mayor Kirk Watson
Photos: Austin American-Statesman and KUT 90.5
In 1981, during Memorial Day weekend, a devastating flood ravaged Austin. Heavy rain caused Shoal Creek to overflow. The creek and stretches of streets turned into rivers. Thirteen people died.
Several people were treated by medics after a crash in South Austin Saturday evening.
The crash reportedly was caused by a vehicle going the wrong way with no lights on, causing the SUV to roll over.
Fire and EMS crews were busy early this morning.
The Austin City Council on Thursday approved a $104 million investment to initiate the “Cap and Stitch” project over Interstate 35, aiming to reconnect downtown Austin with East Austin. This funding will be used to construct foundational support structures—such as columns and beams—that could eventually support parks, plazas, and community spaces atop the highway.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson took to social media Saturday to talk about their decision.
Austin Parks and Recreation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday for the new Colony Park Pool in East Austin.
The Zilker Eagle Mini-Train is temporarily not in operation after a car damaged the train’s tracks in Zilker Park yesterday.
In other news out of Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool has announced new operating hours beginning June 1.
Many of the pool’s regular swimmers are not happy with the changes.
Visitors to the park have been parking on the grass to access the pool.
The Zilker Loop is now in operation. Avoid the parking hassle and take the free shuttle. (KXAN-TV)
Protesters filled the State Capitol rotunda yesterday ahead of a vote on Senate Bill 8 that would require ICE cooperation from Texas sheriffs. (KVUE-TV)
The Austin Police Department has stepped up patrols around Austin’s mosques after three places of worship were vandalized earlier this week.
Austin police unveiled a new monument in Liberty Hill for Officer Tony Martin, who died almost three years ago in a traffic accident while returning home from work.
A new report gives the Austin metro area a No. 1 ranking for innovation. The ranking follows another report that shows Austin’s tech scene losing steam. (Austin Business Journal)
WEATHER
Texas drought monitor…
Nearly four million Texans are traveling by car this Memorial Day weekend.
Effective September, all public school classrooms in Texas could be mandated to display the Ten Commandments. This requirement, part of Senate Bill 10, recently passed a crucial vote in the Texas legislature. The move is aligned with a broader effort in Texas and other states to increase the presence of religion in schools, despite a federal court having ruled that a similar Louisiana law violated the constitutional separation of church and state. (Texas Tribune)
The June 2 deadline for the 89th Legislative session is looming. Lawmakers are working through the weekend to push through several bills.
Congressional Republicans, including all from Texas, passed what President Trump has called the “big, beautiful bill.”
Texans in Congress react…
Sixty individuals recently admitted guilt to unlawfully entering a National Defense Area along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. (My Texas Daily)
The mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde: three years later.
SPORTS
MLS: Austin FC drew 1-1 with Minnesota United FC on Saturday night at Allianz Field. Defender Žan Kolmanič, who has been with Austin since the start of the team’s inaugural season, scored his first career goal for the Verde & Black. (Austin FC)
Up next on the schedule:
MLB: Christian Walker and Jeremy Peña had two hits apiece and the Houston Astros scored two runs in the first inning on errors by Seattle and held on for a 2-1 win over the Mariners on Saturday. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Texas Rangers, meanwhile, continue to fall further below the .500 mark after another loss to the lowly Chicago White Sox. (Yahoo! Sports)
Today’s schedule:
NHL PLAYOFFS: With the Western Conference Finals tied at one game apiece, the Dallas Stars face the Oilers in Edmonton this afternoon for an important Game 3.
Texas Longhorns athletic director Chris del Conte said in an interview that he has identified a new challenge for the university: competing with the city of Austin for entertainment dollars. (Houston Chronicle)
Keeping with the top story of today’s post…today marks the tenth anniversary of the 2015 floods in Central Texas.
The town of Wimberly in Hays County was especially hard it.
