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Community Corner

🌱 CapMetro Granted $65M + Arson Suspected At South Austin Church

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)

Top o' the morning, everybody! It's Jessica back with your fresh copy of the Austin Patch newsletter and the most important local news and community updates.

Grab your morning coffee and get cozy while we cover:

  • CapMetro gets a large injection of federal funds.
  • Butler Pitch and Putt debuts a new food menu — and it sounds DELISH!
  • Arson suspected at a church in south Austin.

But first, today's weather:

Variably cloudy and very warm. High: 82 Low: 65.

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Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) Firefighters and Austin EMS pulled a woman's body from a vehicle that crashed into Lake Austin yesterday morning. The Statesman reported: "Austin Fire said they received the call at 3:45 a.m. from someone who knew the victim and had been with her and reported that she drove off a boat ramp." After the woman's body was rescued, first responders immediately performed CPR but she was pronounced dead on the scene. The Austin American-Statesman has more on this story here.

2) Capital Metro secured $65 million in federal funding to help pay for new high-frequency bus lines. The new Pleasant Valley and Expo Center electric bus lines will cost roughly $100 million, with Austin taxpayers covering the rest of the bill. KUT reported that "a little over a third of the money — almost $36 million — is coming from a real estate tax approved by voters in 2020 as part of the multibillion-dollar Project Connect transit expansion." Both lines are set to be up and running in 2025. More here at KUT.

3) Austin firefighters are investigating alleged arson at a historic Black church in south Austin. Firefighters responded to a call around midnight on Monday night and arrived to find the Goodwill Baptist Church ablaze. The Statesmen reported: "The church, on Newton Street in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood, is among the last remaining vestiges of a community populated by freed Black slaves after the Civil War and into the 1950s." Officials believe the fire was set deliberately and are offering a cash reward for any tip that leads to an arrest. The Austin American-Statesman has more on this story here.

4) Texas Women's Basketball Head Coach Vic Schaefer was named Big 12 Coach of the Year! Schaefer is the third coach in University of Texas' program history to win the conference coach of the year. Go Longhorns, go! Head to KXAN for the full scoop.

Today in Austin:

  • Learning Circle - Queering Identities: Sexuality and Gender Identity at Austin Public Library, Central Branch. (2:30 p.m.)
  • (Kid-Friendly) Pajama Storytime at Austin Public Library, Yarborough Branch. (6 p.m.)
  • Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack (Night 2) at ACL Live at The Moody Theater. (7 p.m.)
  • Austin Indie Music Presents: SXWhatever featuring. Molly Ringworm, Lord Friday The 13th, Favor, Florish at Hotel Vegas. (8 p.m.)
  • The Band Of Heathens, Caroline Hale at C-Boys Heart & Soul Bar. (10 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 🍻 Amazon is building out a town for SXSW: Amazon Prime will set up a fictional city called "Prime, Texas" complete with themed bars, food and pies at Hotel San Jose. Also on hand will be a "gas station market for the new limited series, Swarm, created by Janine Nabers and Donald Glover, with snacks at the Austin Hotel Motel." (Eater Austin)
  • 🚲 Public art bike tour: "Downtown Austin Alliance's second bike tour highlighting the importance of public art in public spaces is only one week away. Hear from the artists themselves on March 11. Sign up now!" (Downtown Austin Alliance via Facebook)
  • ⛳️ A tee-rific menu upgrade: "Austin's historic golf course Butler Pitch and Putt has upped its culinary game with Gimme Burger and Little Ola's Biscuits, curated by James Beard Award finalist Michael Fojtasek." (Tribeza)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday. I'll see you soon!

— 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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