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Community Corner

🌱 Abbott Narrowly Leads Against Beto + Cornyn's Approval Rating Down

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

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Jessica Collins, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Good morning, Austin! It's me, Jessica Collins, your host of the Daily. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

Grab your morning coffee and get cozy while we deep dive into:

  • Poll shows Abbott is leading the race against Beto by a narrow 6 points.
  • Sen. John Cornyn's approval rating plummets after the sponsorship of a gun bill.
  • Abbott authorizes the return of undocumented immigrants in Texas to the border.
  • And more ➡️

First, today's weather and allergy report:


☀️ High: 105 Low: 78. Mostly sunny and HOT (again) — stay cool and stay hydrated!
🍃 Grass Pollen: Low. Ragweed: Moderate. Mold: Moderate. Dust & Dander: High.

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Here are the top 4 stories today in Austin:

1) Poll shows Gov. Greg Abbott is leading the race against Beto O'Rourke by a narrow 6 points. According to the latest poll results from Texas Politics Project, 45 percent of Texans surveyed favor Abbott over O'Rourke. 39 percent said they're likely to vote for O'Rourke. 10 percent said they haven't thought about it enough to have an opinion. View the full poll results and full coverage on this update here at KXAN.

2) Sen. John Cornyn's approval rating plummets after the sponsorship of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act through the Senate, a new poll shows. About 50 percent of the poll's participants disapproved of how Cornyn is doing as a U.S. senator, while 24 percent approved, according to the June poll conducted by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. In April 2022, those percentages were 39 percent and 32 percent, respectively.

The landmark bipartisan gun legislation was negotiated by Cornyn in the aftermath of the school shooting in Uvalde that left 19 students and two teachers dead. Cornyn was the lead Republican of a group of 20 senators unveiling the framework for the legislation that, among other things, would attempt to keep guns out of the hands of people deemed dangerous. Read the full story here at The Texas Tribune.

3) Gov. Abbott has issued an executive order authorizing the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to apprehend undocumented immigrants who cross the border between ports of entry and return them to the border. Read the full executive order and more on this story here at FOX 7 Austin.

4) Austin airport passenger traffic exceeds 2 million a month for the first time. The hustle and bustle over at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport continues as passenger traffic growth for May 2022 was up 82 percent compared to May 2021 with 2,021,747 passengers flying during the month — setting a new record for the busiest month ever at the airport. Check out the full trend report here from the City of Austin.

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Today in Austin:

Community Chatter 💬:

  • KUT has more on what the future Austin subway stations could look like: "The most ambitious of Austin's light-rail plans would burrow four miles of tunnel beneath downtown and South Austin to connect six subterranean stations and create the city's first subway system." (KUT Austin via Facebook)
  • "The park on the shore of Lake Travis is well-known as a place where you can go to get some sun – without the tan lines. It's thought to be Texas' only clothing-optional public park. But how did it get that way?" (KUT Austin via Facebook)
  • "Hey dads, want a day of fun in the sun with your little ones! Come join us at Delores Duffie Recreation Center for our Swimming with Dads Event on Saturday, July 23 from 1-4 p.m." (Austin Parks and Recreation Department - Families via Facebook)
  • "Activists say developing on the recharge zone could negatively impact the Edwards Aquifer, and ultimately, the San Marcos River." (KUT Austin via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with your next 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

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