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Community Corner

🌱 Concerns Over City's Emergency Shelters + Christmas Karaoke

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 Jessica, your host of the Austin Daily — here to break down everything that's happening locally.

Settle in while we cover:

  • What happens when you combine karaoke and Mariah's Christmas songs? A darn good time! We've got the scoop.
  • Judge denies immunity to the officer involved in the shooting of Mike Ramos.
  • Austin Pets Alive! needs foster caregivers during the coming deep freeze.

But first, today's weather:

Low clouds. High: 54 Low: 46.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

1) An internal audit conducted by the city showed extremely poor planning surrounding the usage of Austin's emergency shelters. Our emergency shelters exist to support our houseless community when the city is faced with either severe heat or cold temperatures. KUT reports that "the audit found there were four days earlier this year when shelters should have been open during cold weather but weren't. Temperatures had dropped to 30 degrees or lower on those four days." Many city council members and community advocates are demanding answers. Head over to KUT to learn more.

Note: with a cold snap currently en route to Austin, city officials confirmed that emergency shelters are ready to help those who need a warm place to stay this week.

2) A judge denied Austin Police Department officer Christopher Taylor's qualified immunity claim in the civil lawsuit brought against him and the City of Austin following Taylor's fatal shooting of Mike Ramos in 2020. CBS Austin reports that Taylor's lawyer submitted a motion arguing that "Taylor should be shielded from the suit with qualified immunity because he feared for his life." The judge rejected the argument and denied the immunity given to law enforcement officials, stating that "...Ramos posed no immediate danger to others." CBS Austin has more on this case here.

3) Neighbors: with a cold front on the way, Austin Pets Alive! needs our help. If you can, consider fostering or adopting a furry friend this week. The organization could also use warm blankets, heaters or monetary donations to make sure all fur babies at the shelter stay warm, as temperatures drop to the teens. Head to CBS Austin to learn more about how you can help.

4) Eight people were killed in traffic accidents in Austin this past weekend. FOX 7 Austin reports that 2022 has been a "near-record year for traffic fatalities," totaling 110 deadly crashes, and 116 fatalities to date. Neighbors, please remember to pay attention when on the roads and to always drive sober. Learn more here at FOX 7 Austin.

5) Austin Police Department released photos of a suspect's vehicle linked to numerous local bank robberies. Check out the photos here at CBS Austin.

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Today in Austin:


  • (Kid-Friendly) Hot Cocoa Art Camp at The Art Garage. (10 a.m.)
  • 2022 Blue Genie Art Bazaar at Blue Genie Art Bazaar. (10 a.m.)
  • Armadillo Christmas Bazaar at Palmer Events Center. (11 a.m.)
  • Ice Rodeo at The Four Seasons Austin. (4 p.m.)
  • Christmas with Santa at The Pitch. (5 p.m.)
  • Peppermint Parkway at Circuit of the Americas. (6 p.m.)
  • Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas? at Emo's. (7 p.m.)
  • Texas Stars vs. Rockford IceHogs at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. (7 p.m.)
  • DAC Nights Presents: Breaking Bread at Dougherty Arts Center. (7 p.m.)
  • 2023 Austin Trail of Lights at Zilker Park. (7 p.m.)
  • "All I Want For Christmas Is KARAOKE" Mariah Carey Edition Of Pop-Up Karaoke at The Volstead. (10 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 🐶 Local doggo goes on an accidental adventure: "A 12-year-old rat terrier recently found herself on quite the adventure when she ended up in an Austin Recycles garbage truck." (CBS Austin)
  • 🎄 Planning to pop out for a drink on Christmas Day? Eater Austin has a list of bars that will be open. (Eater Austin)
  • 🎸 Local resistance to proposed concert venue: "A California-based developer has plans to bring a concert venue to rural southwest Austin, but not all the people living out there are on board with the plans." (CBS Austin)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday. See you all tomorrow morning 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

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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