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Community Corner

🌱 Battle Over The South Terminal Continues + SNAP Benefits Extended

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, friends! It's officially Wednesday in Austin and I'm back in your inbox bright and early with the most important local news and community updates. Settle in with a warm beverage while we dive into:

  • Who doesn't love a good movie at the drive-in? Find out what's showing this evening at Blue Starlite.
  • Spencer Cronk addresses the city's response to Winter Storm Mara.
  • Genuine Joe Coffee House settles on a new location – keep scrolling for the scoop.
  • The city's spat over the South Terminal at the airport continues.

But first, today's weather:

Rain and a thunderstorm. High: 58 Low: 39.

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Here are the top stories in Austin today:

1) The City of Austin must pay $90 million to the operator of the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, after receiving a court-appointed special commissioner's property valuation determination amid an eminent domain dispute. The decided amount is reportedly 46 times larger than what the city originally offered the holding company, Lonestar Airport Holdings. LoneStar signed a 30-year minimum lease on the Austin airport's South Terminal and is now fighting the city's plan to take over the site and tear it down. KUT has a full download on this story here.

2) Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk apologized for "shortcomings" in the city's response to last week's ice storm. Cronk said that city staffers would analyze every step of this event and make changes that will ensure preparedness, better communication and more help for residents, moving forward. Check out the full story here at The Austin American-Statesman.

3) Texas extended emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through February 2023. Community Impact reports that Congress recently passed legislation designating February as the last month emergency food assistance would be provided. A press release from the governor's office says roughly 1.6 million households will receive at least $95 each in emergency aid. Community Impact has more on this story here.

4) University of Texas at Austin student government leaders are planning to hold a referendum at the end of the month to gauge student opinion on the university's divisive school song, "The Eyes of Texas." Many University of Texas students, faculty members and staff members are vocal about their discomfort with the song's historical connections to minstrel shows. The Texas Tribune has more on this story here.

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Today in Austin:

  • (Kid-Friendly) Music & Movement at Austin Public Library, Pleasant Hill Branch. (11 a.m.)
  • Kids Create: Valentine's Day Cards at Austin Public Library, Ruiz Branch. (4 p.m.)
  • Nagavalli In-Store Performance & Album Signing at Waterloo Records. (5 p.m.)
  • "The Princess Bride": Valentines at The Drive-In at Blue Starlite Downtown. (6:45 p.m.)
  • Texas Women's Basketball vs. Texas Tech at Moody Center. (7 p.m.)
  • Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Slackers Brewing Co. (7 p.m.)
  • Electric Jazz Night with Jeff Lofton Electric Thang, Small Talk at Sahara Lounge. (7 p.m.)
  • ZACH Theatre & Deaf Austin Theatre Presents: Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella at ZACH Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 🏀 $10K for 10K is back for Longhorns Women's Basketball: "Vic Schaefer pledges $10,000 for 10,000 fans to show up for regular season home finale at Moody Center on Feb. 27 vs. Baylor! 🤘" (Texas Women's Basketball via Facebook)
  • 🎥 Film industry news: "After a quiet 2022 onscreen for Austin's major movie star, this week brought two major bits of Matthew McConaughey casting news. Matthew McConaughey is voicing Elvis and might star in a 'Yellowstone' spinoff." (Austin360 via Facebook)
  • ☕️ When bad news turns into good news: "Genuine Joe Coffee House, which has served as a de facto community center for almost two decades, is closing, but finding new life at a nearby church." (Austin American-Statesman via Facebook)

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That's it for today! I'll see you around.

— 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

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