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Community Corner

🌱 200+ Paddleboarders To Descend On Lake + Silent Book Club + More

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Austin.

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Jessica Collins, Neighbor
(Patch Media)

Happy Monday, Austin! It's me, Jessica Collins, your host of the Daily, here with the latest news and updates.

Get comfortable and grab your morning java while we dive into:

  • Community advocates urge Austin Energy to revisit its rate increase proposal.
  • Plans for the long-awaited development of the former Home Depot at St. Johns get refined.
  • 200+ paddleboarders will tackle a 21-mile course off Lake Austin today.
  • Live music, art exhibitions, fashion tips, and much more ➡️

First, today's weather and allergy report:

☀️ High: 94 Low: 70. Mostly sunny.
🍃 Grass Pollen: high (⬆️). Ragweed: low. Mold: low (⬇️). Dust & Dander: extremely high.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

1) Community advocates urge Austin Energy to revisit its rate increase proposal. Back in April, Austin Energy announced it's need to cover a growing gap between its revenues and its cost of providing service. KXAN reports that the company proposed restructuring its base rate, which would raise the fixed monthly charges for customers from $10 to $25 before they even flicked on a light switch!

After months of back-and-forth over the proposal, an Impartial Hearing Examiner released its final recommendations on Friday — marking the latest update in the case over rates. Head to KXAN to learn more about the proposed recommendations.

2) Plans for the long-awaited development of the former Home Depot at St. Johns get refined.The Economic Development Department has entered the next phase of development of the 19-acre site at St. Johns and I-35 (known as the "St. John's Site). The city is gathering community input through a series of events, a survey, and forming a committee to oversee the process.

Have ideas for how you think the city should utilize this space? Community members: this is your opportunity to get involved and make your voice heard! Head to the Austin Chronicle to learn more.

3) 200+ paddleboarders will tackle a 21-mile course off Lake Austin today. As part of TYLER'S Dam That Cancer, a fundraising event to raise money for free mental health therapy for Central Texans affected by cancer, over 200 paddleboarders will head to Lake Austin to tackle a 10-hour, 21-mile trek from Mansfield Dam to Tom Miller Dam.

Collectively, TYLER'S Dam That Cancer has already raised more than $5 million for free counseling resources for cancer patients and their loved ones. Absolutely incredible – I love how our community shows up for a good cause!

4) The Austin Fire Department paid tribute to 9/11 first responders during the 22nd annual stair climb. Austin firefighters gathered at the Pleasant Valley Drill Tower on Sunday morning for the 22nd annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. CBS reports that the firefighters make a number of trips up and down the tower until they climb roughly the height of the World Trade Center.

Each year, the climb is done in complete silence to honor the firefighters who risked and ultimately lost their lives on 9/11. CBS Austin has more on this event.

Today in Austin:

  • Virtual Cardio and Strength hosted by Stronger Austin. (7 a.m.)
  • Chair Yoga hosted by Stronger Austin. (8:30 a.m.)
  • Zumba hosted by Stronger Austin. (5 p.m.)
  • Mixxed Fit hosted by Stronger Austin. (6 p.m.)
  • Silent Book Club Austin at Kinda Tropical. (6:30 p.m.)
  • Creative Community at Austin Ridge Bible Church Bee Cave. (7 p.m.)
  • Blue Monday with Soul Man Sam Plus Lindsay Beaver & Brad Stivers at Antone's. (7 p.m.)
  • Motown Mondays with The Matchmaker Band at Far Out Lounge. (7 p.m.)

Community Chatter 💬 :

  • 📈 New record: The Texas-Alabama game had more streaming viewers than any regular season college football or NFL game in Fox Sports history!! Holy cow! (Austin American-Statesman via Facebook)
  • 📚 Sunday hours are BACK at select Austin Public Library locations! Starting this week, at six select locations, the library will be open from 12 - 5 p.m. (Austin Public Library via Facebook)
  • 🎸 Two Austin lawyers help with Nirvana album cover case. The cover of Nirvana's "Nevermind" has been the subject of a long-running legal saga. A pair of Austin lawyers defended the Austin photographer who took the image. (Austin Business Journal via Facebook)
  • 🤘 Hook 'Em Horns: Texas Women's Golf officially kicks off their 2022-2023 season. (Texas Women's Golf via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Jessica Collins

About me: Jessica is happy to call Austin her home for the past 10+ years. She loves the outdoors, arts & cinema, dining, and all of the natural beauty that Central Texas has to offer.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Austin Daily? Contact me at DowntownAustin@patch.com

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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