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Community Corner

🌱 ATX COVID-19 Level Drops + Longhorn QB Announced + Local Events

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)

Good morning, friends! It's me, Jessica Collins, your host of the Austin Daily. I'm back with the most important local news and updates.

Kick your feet up with your cup o' joe while we dive into:

  • Austin's COVID-19 community risk level has dropped to 'low'.
  • A teenager was killed in a shooting off of Menchaca Road.
  • Travis County is hiring poll workers for the upcoming election.
  • Free concert in the park, the best burgers in Austin, and much more ➡️

First, today's weather and allergy report:

☀️ High: 95 Low: 79. A stray afternoon thunderstorm.
🍃 Grass Pollen: low. Ragweed: moderate. Mold: moderate. Dust & Dander: extremely high.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

1) Good news 🎉 : For the first time in two months Austin's COVID-19 community risk level has dropped to 'low'. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Austin Public Health, Travis and Williamson counties have dropped to a "low" spread level.

According to KUT, the CDC uses a metric called COVID-19 Community Levels to help people understand how the disease is spreading in their county. The three levels — low, medium, and high — are based on data like case numbers and hospitalizations. Each level brings with it a different set of precaution recommendations. Learn more about how you can continue to take precautions against COVID-19 here at KUT.

2) A teenager was killed in a shooting off of Menchaca Road. A teenager was shot in the 11900 block of Menchaca Road and later died at the hospital on Friday night. Travis County Sherriff's office is looking for multiple suspects seen running away, then leaving the scene in a dark sedan.

Anyone with any information on the case is asked to call the TCSO tip line at 512-854-1444 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 512-472-TIPS. KVUE has more on this developing story here.

3) Looking to become more civically engaged in our community? Travis County is hiring poll workers for the upcoming election. Becoming a poll worker is one of the best ways to keep our democracy strong and trusted! KXAN has more on how you can become involved here.

4) Amber alert: 17-year-old Michigan girl missing from North Austin hotel. FOX 7 Austin reports that a 17-year-old Michigan girl on vacation with her father and brother in North Austin is missing. Destiny Wallag was last seen leaving the Spring Hill Suites on Stonelake Boulevard on Friday, August 19 around 5:45 a.m. According to her mother, she told her father she was going to work out at the hotel's gym, but instead left the hotel on foot with a fishing rod.

Anyone with information on Destiny's whereabouts is asked to call Austin Police Department. FOX 7 Austin has more on this story here.

Today in Austin:

  • Sunday Funkday at Vista Brewing. (11:00 a.m.)
  • Summer Classic Film Series: "The Sound Of Music" at Paramount Theater. (12:30 p.m.)
  • "The Inheritance", Pt 1 at ZACH Theatre. (2:30 p.m.)
  • Drag For All! at Parish. (5:30 p.m.)
  • Kevin Gates at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park. (6 p.m.)
  • Hartman Foundation Concerts In The Park: Wind Quintet at The Long Center. (7:30 p.m.)
  • "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at Dougherty Arts Center. (8 p.m.)

Community Chatter 💬 :

  • 🤘 Longhorn football season is right around the corner and we've got big news! Quinn Ewers will be starting quarterback for the Longhorns. (Longhorn Network via Facebook)
  • Local criminal justice reform activist and community leader, Lewis Conway Jr, has passed away. The community is grateful for Lewis' leadership and service. (FOX 7 Austin via Facebook)
  • It's burger o'clock 🍔 – Eater Austin has ranked the most iconic burgers in town. (Eater Austin via Facebook)
  • 🎥 A local film festival you won't want to miss: On Saturday, August 27, Future Front Texas will be screening 11 shorts from indie directors across Texas, including But Humble Sinners and Moondogs. (!!!) Be sure to take a peek at the lineup and grab tickets! (Future Front Texas via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Sunday off right! I'll see you back in your inbox bright and early tomorrow morning with your next update. Have a great day!

— 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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