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Community Corner

🌱 Austin Energy Rate Increase + New Professional Sports Team

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

Jessica Collins's profile picture
Jessica Collins, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Good morning, friends! I'm here bright and early with your Thursday edition of the Austin Patch newsletter. As usual, it has the most important local news and community updates prepared just for YOU.

Settle in while we cover:

  • A local utility company raised its rates.
  • It's officially Women's History Month! Keep scrolling to learn how the Austin Public Library is celebrating this evening.
  • Austin landed its SECOND professional sports team — we've got the scoop!
  • Severe weather is on the way later this evening.

But first, today's weather:

A strong afternoon t-storm. High: 80 Low: 50.

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Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) All residential customers of Austin Energy will see an increase in their rates starting this month. After months of negotiation in 2022, Austin Energy and Austin City Council finalized a deal to raise the utility company's rates. KUT reports that customers can "expect to see an increase on what the utility [company] charges for electricity as well as an increase in Austin Energy's flat-rate customer charge from $10 to $13." Learn more here at KUT.

2) Key leadership changes are afoot for Austin: Rey Arellano, one of Austin's assistant city managers, will be retiring. Jacqueline Yaft, executive director of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), also confirmed her resignation. KVUE has more on leadership changes here.

3) Severe weather with strong winds is coming to town today and potentially tomorrow. KXAN weather officials report: "The Pacific cold front enters the Hill Country during the early- to mid-afternoon with numerous showers and thunderstorms ahead of it. The front reaches I-35 between 5 and 7 p.m. with the thunderstorms intensifying in a more unstable air mass." Austin Energy is preparing crews to respond, as trees are still damaged from Winter Storm Mara. Check out the full weather forecast here and stay safe, neighbors!!

4) Austin is the fastest-growing city for millionaires, with more than 30,000 of them living here as of December 2022! CNBC reports that Austin experienced "a millionaire growth rate of 102% from 2012 to 2022." WOW. Check out the full report here.

Today in Austin:

  • KMFA Midday Concert Series Presents: The Verona Quartet at Draylen Mason Music Studio. (12 p.m.)
  • (Kid-Friendly) Lego Lab at Austin Public Library, Pleasant Hill Branch. (4 p.m.)
  • (Free) Women's History Month Movie Screening: Selena at Austin Public Library, Old Quarry Branch. (5:45 p.m.)
  • ABBA Mania at ACL Live at at The Moody Theater. (6:30 p.m.)
  • Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Austin Eastciders, Barton Springs. (7 p.m.)
  • Stories on the Lawn: "Independence" at The Neill-Cochran House Museum. (7:30 p.m)
  • Austin Shakespeare Presents: Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing at Rollins Studio Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
  • ZACH Theatre & Deaf Austin Theatre Presents: Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella at ZACH Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 💨 A new team is coming to town: "Brandon Phillips and Jade Cargill have announced the formation of the Texas Smoke, Austin's second professional sports team and the fourth franchise in Women's Professional Fastpitch." (KXAN)
  • 🐎 Rodeo Austin events start this weekend: "The fun kicks off Friday, March 3, with the Cowboy Breakfast and Saturday, March 4 with the BBQ Austin cook off event."(KVUE)
  • 🤝 Amplify Austin Day is here! Today is the perfect time to join your community in celebrating "Amplify Austin Day" and supporting the critical missions of hundreds of Central Texas nonprofits. I Live Here, I Give Here has more information: https://www.amplifyatx.org/.

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Featured events:

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with 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 Patch newsletter? 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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