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Community Corner

🌱 Google Austin Workers Striking + Journey & ToTo In Town

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

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Jessica Collins, Neighbor
(Patch Media)

Good morning, Austin! I hope you all started your morning off on the right note. It's Jessica here with the latest download of local news and community updates.

Settle in while we dive into:

  • Did you know Journey and ToTo are in town this evening? There's still tickets, too!
  • Google workers in Austin are striking – keep scrolling for the scoop.
  • Amazon plans to debut new technology at the Q2 Stadium.
  • More arrests made after this past weekend's street racing incidents.

But first, today's weather:

Warm with a t-storm or two. High: 86 Low: 58.

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Here are the top stories in Austin today:

1) Austin ISD School Board says community input is critical in its search for the next superintendent. Before the hiring process begins, the school board and the recruiting firm will send out a survey this weekend and hosting a series of community meetings in March. KUT reports that after the data is collected from the survey and community meetings, the recruiting firm plans to present the results to the school board in late March. KUT has more on the school district's process here.

2) Austin Police made a total of seven arrests following the illegal "street takeovers" that took place in Central Austin this past weekend. Law enforcement officials reported that one APD officer was injured and several police cars were damaged following the incidents. The Austin American-Statesman has continued coverage of this investigation here.

3) Dozens of Google contractors held a union-busting rally at the company's Downtown Austin office yesterday. The workers are protesting in support of the nearly 58 YouTube Music employees that have reportedly been on an "Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike since Feb. 3 – the first-ever strike in Google's history". Head over to KVUE for the full scoop.

4) A man was found dead in Lady Bird Lake with a gunshot wound to the head in December. Austin Police has arrested and charged Joel Santiago Gonzalez-Paron with this murder. KXAN has more on this story here.

Today in Austin:

  • (Free) Family Archiving 101 at Austin Public Library, Twin Oaks Branch. (10 a.m.)
  • (Kid-Friendly) Music & Movement at Austin Public Library, Pleasant Hill Branch. (11 a.m.)
  • Parade of Flesh x Resound Presents: Show Me the Body: World War Tour with Jesus Piece, Scowl, Zulu, and more at Mohawk. (5 p.m.)
  • Inner Wave - Jukebox Tour with Jordana and Junior Mesa at Empire Garage. (6:30 p.m.)
  • aGLIFF Presents: Chrissy Judy at Galaxy Theatres Austin. (7 p.m.)
  • Freedom Tour 2023: Journey with Special Guests ToTo at Moody Center. (7:30 p.m.)
  • ZACH Theatre & Deaf Austin Theatre Presents: Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella at ZACH Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
  • Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at The Highball, Alamo Drafthouse. (8 p.m.)
  • National Margarita Day featuring Sol Y Motion, The Tiarras, Carito at Hotel Vegas. (9 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 🤘 Fresh Longhorns merch! "Introducing the Texas Baseball YETI collection 🤩 Available all season long at UFCU Disch-Falk Field! #HookEm" (Texas Longhorns via Facebook)
  • 🐣 Miracle baby born in Austin: "Dell Children's Medical Center is making miracles happen. Monday, a baby girl who was born weighing just over a pound headed home to her family after surgery for an incredibly rare heart disorder called transposition of the great arteries." (CBS Austin via Facebook)
  • ✈️ New route from the Austin airport: "The affordable Allegiant airlines announced a new summer seasonal non-stop flight option out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Omaha." (Austin American-Statesman via Facebook)
  • 🏟 Amazon's cashless tech headed to Q2 Stadium: "Austin FC has collaborated with Amazon.com to equip the ATX Market with Amazon's "Just Walk Out" technology. When fans are at the stadium and use their credit card at the ATX Market, they don't need to worry about paying at an actual cash register." (KVUE via Facebook)

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That's it for today! See you all tomorrow 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 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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