This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

🌱 Events + MLK Closures + TX Tribune Evan Smith + Ashes Found

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

Gabriela Cantu Couvillion's profile picture
Gabriela Cantu Couvillion, Neighbor
|
(Patch Media)

Hey, people of Austin! Gabriela Couvillion here with today's copy of the Austin Daily.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and mild. High: 76 Low: 44.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

  1. The weekend is coming up and if you're looking for things to do, there are several events coming up this weekend in the Austin area! For a roundup of local events and for more information, check out the events calendar at: (Austin Patch)
  2. In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, many offices and facilities in Austin will be closed on Monday, Jan. 17. For questions and information, call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 and you can also "submit service requests from the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app." For a list of city office and facility closures with details, please visit: (AustinTexas.gov)
  3. Evan Smith, "revered Austin journalist" with The Texas Tribune, "will be stepping down as CEO" at the end of this year. He said, "Like so many during the crazy two years of the pandemic, I feel my battery slowly draining — in my favorite film analogy, the boulder is catching up to Indiana Jones — so I've encouraged our board to begin the process of identifying my successor." However, he agreed to stay until the end of 2023 as senior adviser to his replacement and concluded by saying, "You're not getting rid of me that easily." For more information, visit: (CultureMap Austin)
  4. An Austin woman recently found more than good sales at a local Goodwill store. When Jessa Randall picked up a small "vase-like item" at the Scofield Crossing location, she noticed a "plug at the bottom" which she removed and there was "a bag of ashes tucked inside." Unfortunately, there was no "identifying information on the small urn, but Randall is now "looking for answers and closure for the potential family missing this memorial piece," especially after losing a family member last year who was also cremated. The managers at the store clarified that they "do not track personal or contact information for donors," but hopefully soon the urn will "be reunited with its loved ones" once again. For more details, visit:(KXAN.com)

From our sponsor:

Today's Austin Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Austin!

Today in Austin:

  • Virtual Zumba via online. (8 a.m.)
  • Career Conversations: Sarah Corley, Digital Marketer at Sprout Social. (Noon)
  • Jo James and Cari Hutson with Aaron Stephens at the 04 Center. (7 p.m.)
  • D-Smoke War and Wonders Tour at The Parish. (7 p.m.)
  • Shamarr Allen at Empire Control Room and Garage. (8 p.m.)
  • Street Talk Comedy and Friends at The Ballroom @ Spider House. (10:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • "It's official! Welcome home Madisen Skinner with Texas Volleyball! Hook Em!" (Facebook)
  • Per KUT Austin, "'Many are leaving the profession. Some are taking a break and plan to come back. Some are leaving entirely because they feel they just can't do it anymore,' said Cindy Zolnierek, CEO of the Texas Nurses Association." (Facebook)
  • "Wonderful in white! Luci Baines Johnson sits for a photo by White House photographer Robert Knudsen at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum." (Facebook)
  • Per KUT Austin, "starting Monday, businesses in Travis County and the City of Austin will have to post a sign that indicates whether employees and customers need to wear a mask, show a negative COVID-19 test or be vaccinated against the virus." (Facebook)
  • "Are you... a retiree? A college student? An at-home parent/guardian? Looking for a career pivot? A person interested in equity and education? Literacy First is hiring early literacy tutors for the 2022-2023 school year. Learn more and apply today at https://literacyfirst.org/become-a-tutor/." (Facebook)
  • "You can still make it to our January Small Wonders Puppet Show at Pease Parks Conservancy! It was rained out earlier this month and we have rescheduled it for Jan. 22! Learn more & register here: https://peasepark.org/.../1/8/smallwonders-janrescheduled." (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Events:

Loving the Austin Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. I'll see you soon!

— Gabriela Couvillion

About me: I'm an active mom of two grown sons and lifelong San Antonio resident. I received a BA in Spanish from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and in my free time I immerse myself in creative writing. Thanks for reading Patch, and feel free to reach out if you have any news and happenings you think may appeal to our readers!

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

More from Austin