🌱 Attend SXSW 2023...For Free? + Self-Driving Vehicle Safety Concerns

Good morning, everyone! I'm back in your inbox bright and early morning with everything you need to know that's happening these days in town.

Settle in with your cup o' joe while we cover:

• A new taco spot in South Austin is the talk of town — keep scrolling for the scoop!
• Ever wanted to attend South by Southwest for free? Now is your chance. I've got the details below.
• Our Lady Longhorn Basketball team will be battling it out against Kansas University this evening. Snag your tickets while you can.

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But first, today's weather:

Fog in the a.m.; mostly sunny. High: 78 Low: 61.

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Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) The U.S. Supreme Court has reversed the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruling that upheld the conviction and death sentence of Austin death row inmate Areli Escobar. Escobar was sentenced to death in 2011 for murdering a teenager at an Austin apartment complex, but prosecutors now agree his conviction relied heavily on faulty DNA testing by the discredited and now shuttered Travis County crime lab. The U.S. Supreme Court has told the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to take another look at the problematic evidence due to what the District Attorney's office shared. Check out a deep dive into this case and what the future holds here at The Statesman.

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2) Austinites with healthcare coverage from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas could lose in-network access to Ascension hospitals at the end of this month. KUT reports that Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ascension Hospitals are renegotiating rates for healthcare costs paid by the insurer, but Ascension feels Blue Cross' proposal is too low, and Blue Cross believes Ascension is asking for too much. If a deal is not reached ahead of the Jan. 31 deadline, services for roughly 66,000 Blue Cross customers at 60 different medical facilities will be considered "out of network" and patients will be forced to pay out of pocket. City of Austin and University of Texas employees carry Blue Cross coverage, so this deal could and would impact many in the area. KUT has more on this story here.

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3) Interested in working behind the scenes at South by Southwest 2023? Now is your chance! KVUE reports: "Any person that decides to volunteer for the event for a minimum of 24 hours during the month will receive the opportunity to attend either SXSW or SXSW EDU. Those that volunteer for under 24 hours will be able to join the Event Support Crew and experience the event during their shift." If you're interested in learning more, South by Southwest will be hosting two volunteer calls at the Austin Convention Center on Jan. 15 from noon - 4 p.m., and Jan. 17 from 5-8 p.m. Learn more about the different volunteer opportunities here at KVUE.

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4) Local cyclists are concerned after a self-driving car was recorded veering into a bike lane. We've seen the "Cruise" autonomous cars cruising up and down the streets of Central Austin, but a local cyclist captured a video of an operator-less vehicle driving in the bike lane, and in one instance, driving down the middle of the road. Robert Foster, the community member who captured the video, says: "This is a 4,000-pound vehicle that they're testing on the city streets. There's still enough error that I'd be very disappointed if someone I was teaching to drive was driving that way. Cruise put out a statement declaring that the car "wouldn't have gone into the bike lane if there was a cyclist there." FOX 7 Austin has more on this story and the video footage here.

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Today in Austin:

• Teen Writer's Lab at Austin Public Library, Central Branch. (5:30 p.m.)
• Strength & Stretch Workout Class by Stronger Austin at virtual. (6 p.m.)
• Celebrating the Life of Martin Luther King Jr. at Austin Public Library, Milwood Branch. (6 p.m.)
• Zumba Class by Stronger Austin at virtual. (6 p.m.)
• Texas Women's Basketball vs. Kansas at Moody Center. (7 p.m.)
• Red Young & His Hot Horns at Antone's. (8 p.m.)
• Resound Presents: Sean Bonnette (AJJ), Tim Kasher (Cursive, The Good Life) with Special Guest Veronic at The Ballroom at Spiderhouse. (7 p.m.)
• Neil Hamburger with Major Entertainer at The Creek and The Cave. (7:30 p.m.)
• Cold Brew Comedy at Native Hostel. (8 p.m.)
• Black Books, Deep Sleep, Tombus at Hotel Vegas. (9 p.m.)

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Community Chatter:

• 🌮 New tacos in town: "If you drove down South Lamar last weekend, you might have noticed a line outside what used to be Austin's Pizza. The reason? Tacos." (Austin American-Statesman via Facebook)
• 🕹️ A Crestview staple is closing: "The quirky arcade and milkshake shop that both kids and adults alike hung out at is officially closing its doors." Violet Crown Clubhouse will be closing on Jan. 15. (KVUE via Facebook)
• 🎨 New mural in East Austin: " On Monday afternoon, a group of Austin artists unveiled a new mural in East Austin of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. The mural is located at 1204 E. Cesar Chavez St., near the corner of Waller Street." (KVUE)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday off right. See you all tomorrow for another 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