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Community Corner

🌶️ Hot Sauce Fest This Weekend + Queen Elizabeth's Visit To ATX 👑

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)

Happy Friday, Austin! We did it, we made it to the end of the week! It's Jessica here in your inbox to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

Get comfortable and grab your morning java while we dive into:

  • A trip down Memory Lane: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's visit to Austin.
  • State Trooper suspended pending the outcome of a traffic stop investigation.
  • The Austin Hot Sauce Festival is bringing the heat for its 25th annual event this weekend.
  • Live music, art exhibitions, fashion tips, and much more ➡️

First, today's weather and allergy report:

☀️ High: 94 Low: 72. Mostly sunny.
🍃 Grass Pollen: moderate (⬇️). Ragweed: low. Mold: high. Dust & Dander: extremely high.

Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) A trip down Memory Lane: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent 21 and a half hours in Austin during a two-week U.S. tour in the early '90s. As we mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth, KVUE dug into the archives to resurface photos and videos of the British Royalty visiting our beautiful city back in 1991.

Queen Elizabeth was the first British monarch to visit the Lone Star State! Head to KXAN to take a look at the archived videos.

2) A Texas State Trooper has been suspended pending the outcome of a traffic stop investigation. In Austin on Aug. 28, Trooper Zachary Maini pulled over driver Clateachia Stewart and accused her of evading because she did not immediately pull over.

Video footage recorded by the woman shows Maini telling the driver that she is under arrest, then tasing her after she asks why. The woman tells KXAN she was driving on a highway and waited to take an exit to ensure she and the trooper were safe. DPS has suspended the trooper pending the outcome of an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General. KXAN has more on this story here.

3) The Austin Police Oversight Act has met the threshold to claim a spot on the May 2023 ballot. The Austin City Clerk has officially validated more than 20,000 of the 33,000 signatures gathered by local political action group, Equity Action, submitted in support of the Austin Police Oversight Act (APOA). The Austin City Council has 10 days to meet once council members are notified of the valid initiative position. They then can make two choices, which include voting on the proposal or putting it on the May 2023 ballot for Austin voters to decide.

KVUE reports that if this act is passed, it would create a local law governing the City of Austin's Office of Police Oversight and Community Police Review Commission, removing them from contract negotiations with the police union. Equity Action believes the act would "strengthen external civilian oversight of APD and attempt to improve transparency." KVUE has more on this story here.

4) Muy Caliente! The Austin Hot Sauce Festival is bringing the heat for its 25th annual event this weekend. Gird your tastebuds and find all the event info and how you can attend here at The Austin Chronicle.

5) Calling all treasure hunters and antiquarians — the late John Aielli's home will be open for an estate sale this month. Tours of John Aielli's home take place Saturday, Sept. 17 and will be $10 per person. There will be an estate sale starting the following Saturday, Sept. 24. Head to the Austin Chronicle to learn more and can't wait to see you there!

Today in Austin:

  • Liquid I.V.'s "Hydrate 'n' Play" Experience at Republic Square. (11 a.m.)
  • Denver Williams at The VORTEX. (6 p.m.)
  • Andy Baraghani Cookbook Signing & Happy Hour at Hotel Magdalena. (6 p.m.)
  • Space Ghost with Sober and Ian Orth at Parish. (7 p.m.)
  • Kalu + The Electric Joint with Sisi at Carpenter Hotel. (7 p.m.)
  • "Beyond" Rama Tiru Opening Reception (Art Exhibition) at Link & Pin. (7 p.m.)
  • Community Cinema Presents: "The Bad Guys" at Community First! Village. (7 p.m.)
  • Gimme Gimme Disco at Empire Garage. (7:30 p.m.)
  • Jenny & The Mexicats at Parish. (7:30 p.m.)

Community Chatter 💬 :

  • 🛍️ Glamor on gamedays! Loreal Sarkisian, 'First Lady of Texas Football,' shares game-day fashion tips. (FOX 7 Austin)
  • 🍲 Dinner parties, farmer's markets, beer, wine — and more! Austin Chronicle has curated a list of upcoming food and drink events that you won't want to miss. (Austin Chronicle)
  • 🎨 New art alert: 60-foot mural going up downtown! The painting, expected to be completed by today, features native Texas wildflowers in pops of blue, purple, and orange. (Downtown Austin Alliance via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with 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

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