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Community Corner

🌱 Gun Safety Protest At Capitol + Semiannual Shopping Event Kicks Off

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, neighbors! I hope you're having a fabulous and relaxing weekend. It's Jessica, your host of the Austin Daily, here to impart the latest updates within our community.

Get comfortable and settle in with your morning coffee while we cover:

  • The community rallied at the Capitol to demand an age increase for AR-15 sales.
  • Good news: Austin-Travis County EMS welcomes new graduating class.
  • The University of Texas is on it's way to becoming the richest school in the nation.
  • Le Garage Sale kicks off, bull riding continues at Moody Center, live music, and much more ➡️

First, today's weather and allergy report:

⛅ High: 98 Low: 76. Sunny to partly cloudy.
🍃 Grass Pollen: low. Ragweed: moderate. Mold: moderate. Dust & Dander: extremely high.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

1) Uvalde families and local activists rally at the Capitol to demand an age increase for AR-15 sales. The community gathered at the Capitol on Saturday morning to demand that Gov. Greg Abbott call a special session of the Legislature to raise the legal age to buy an assault-style rifle.

"You have to be 21 to buy a case of beer. But an 18 year old bought a gun to kill kids. That does not make sense," Kaitlyn Gonzales, a student in Robb Elementary School the day of the shooting, reported to KXAN. Learn more about Saturday's protest here at KXAN.

2) The University of Texas is on it's way to becoming the richest school in the nation. University of Texas' endowment could overtake Harvard's in the near future. UT oversees 2.1 million acres (almost the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined) down in the Permian Basin. The university makes about $6 million a day off of this oil rich land. WOW! KUT has more on this story here.

3) Congrats, cadets!! Austin-Travis County EMS welcomes new graduating class. In total, 14 cadets will be sworn in during the graduation ceremony. ATCEMS has been up against a 23 percent staffing shortage, so the additional head count will serve as a big win for the community. KLBJ has more on this story here.

4) 1 dead after a vehicle strikes a pedestrian on the upper deck of I-35. KVUE reports that one person is dead and two others are injured after a crash involving a pedestrian on Interstate 35 early Saturday morning. According to local officials, the incident happened at 2100 N. I-35 upper deck southbound around 1 a.m.

Reports show that one adult was pronounced dead on the scene. Two other adults were taken to Dell Seton Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. KVUE has more on this tragic accident here.

5) University of Texas psychology department steps in to help improve morale among Travis County firefighters. Being a firefighter is not an easy job! Being a firefighter while the Travis County Fire Rescue faces record-high staffing shortages is even worse. Travis County Fire Rescue Chief, Ken Bailey, recognized that his crews were working long shifts away from home and their families, and that morale was plummeting. That's when Chief Bailey reached out to the Psychology Research Lab at the University of Texas at Austin. The psychology department implemented methods to increase trust amongst the crews and improve communication, and crew members agree things are on the up-and-up! Check out the full story here at KVUE.

Today in Austin:

  • Le Garage Sale at Palmer Events Center. (9:30 a.m.)
  • PBR Team Series: Austin Gambler Days, Day 3 at Moody Center. (12:15 p.m.)
  • "The Inheritance", Pt 1 at ZACH Theatre. (2:30 p.m.)
  • Conscious Breathwork & Sound Healing at Sanctuary Yoga. (4 p.m.)
  • Live Music with the WineDown at Wanderlust Wine Co Downtown. (5:30 p.m.)
  • Live Music with The Discount Pills at Wanderlust Wine Co Downtown. (8 p.m.)
  • Solid Comedy With Deric Poston and Ehsan Ahmad at Vulcan Gas Company. (8 p.m.)

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You're all caught up 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 Daily? Contact me at DowntownAustin@patch.com

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