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Community Corner

🌱 It's Election Day 🗳️ + Chris Rock In Town + Total Lunar Eclipse 🌕

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 and neighbors! I hope everyone got plenty of rest and is ready for the full day ahead. It's Jessica, in your inbox per usual to get you up to speed on the most important local news and community updates.

Settle in while we cover:

  • Everything you need to know about Election Day.
  • Are zoning ordinances contributing to the housing crisis? We've got the scoop.
  • Looking to escape election night jitters and have a laugh? Chris Rock is in town tonight!
  • A total lunar eclipse is happening — keep scrolling for more deets.

But first, today's weather:

A shower; fog in the morning. High: 84 Low: 67.

🏡 Attention, real estate pros in Austin! We're now offering an exclusive sponsorship opportunity for an agent interested in attracting local clients and standing apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

1) Happy Election Day, neighbors! If you're planning to vote today, be sure to check out the Travis County Clerk's website, where you can not only find your nearest polling location but also review its estimated wait time. Need a ride? CapMetro is waiving fares on all rides and services today to help our community get to the polls.

If you voted early and are looking for the best outlet for unbiased election coverage — I suggest the Texas Tribune. The Tribune reports: "Our Election Day coverage begins bright and early as the polls open at 7 a.m. We'll have reporters in Austin, El Paso, McAllen, Brownsville, Laredo, Lubbock, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth and Lufkin tracking whether voting is going smoothly and highlighting any major problems at the polls." Deep breaths, neighbors! I promise we'll all get through this election with our sanity intact.

2) Community members are concerned that strict zoning ordinances are contributing to the lack of housing in Austin. KVUE reports: "Some tri-plexes and four-plexes that were grandfathered into the SF-3 ordinance are being demolished and replaced with single-family homes or duplexes." Residents are concerned that this removal of multi-dwelling units (duplexes, tri-plexes, four-plexes) ultimately compromises housing density in our neighborhoods. Head over to KVUE for a deep dive into this story.

3) Austin Police located and arrested a man they say intentionally hit a woman with his vehicle. The suspect, 25-year-old Pete Dionicio Beltran, was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly attacking a woman in a road rage incident last Friday. The affidavit states that the woman was not hurt. FOX 7 Austin has the full story.

4) It's no secret that the number of traffic fatalities continues to skyrocket in the Austin area. In fact, I frequently have to make the judgment call of whether or not to include each of those incidents here in the Austin Daily. TxDOT wants to put a stop to deaths on Texas roadways. Community Impact reports: "Since Nov. 7, 2000, at least one person has died every day in automobile crashes across Texas. That is 22 years of daily deaths, with over 79,000 lives lost." Last month, TxDot officially launched its #EndTheStreakTX campaign "which was created to raise awareness about traffic deaths and the dangerous practices that can lead to crashes." Head over to Community Impact to learn how TxDot is planning to curtail this issue.

Today in Austin:

  • Election Day at various locations. (7 a.m.)
  • (Kid-Friendly) Outdoor Toddler Storytime at Austin Public Library, Pleasant Hill Branch. (10 a.m.)
  • Chess Night at LoLo Wine Bar. (5 p.m.)
  • Chris Rock's Ego Death World Tour at Moody Center. (6:30 p.m.)
  • (Kid-Friendly) Science Under the Stars: Library Edition at Austin Public Library, Howson Branch. (7 p.m.)
  • Beabadoobee: Beatopia North America '22 at Emo's. (7 p.m.)
  • Jen Hatmaker: All the Dish Tour at Riverbend Centre for the Arts. (7 p.m.)
  • Foil Arms and Hog at The Paramount Theatre. (7 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 🏈 Longhorn Football: "Primetime in Austin, TX 🤘 Texas vs TCU 📅 Saturday, Nov. 12 | 6:30 PM CT 📍 DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium 📺 ABC" (Texas Football via Facebook)
  • 💔 Austin loses a legend: "Guero's Taco Bar founder Rob Lippincott, who helped transform South Congress, has died." (Austin American-Statesman via Facebook)
  • 🌕 November Blood Moon: The last total lunar eclipse until 2025 will turn the moon blood-red tonight. Don't forget to look up and take it in — we won't see another total lunar eclipse for another three years! (CBS Austin via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you 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 Daily? Contact me at DowntownAustin@patch.com

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