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Community Corner

🌱 Jury Acquits Former APD Officer + School District Safety Audits 🏫

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)

Hello, and good morning, neighbors! It's a chilly Wednesday morning, and I must say – I'm not upset about it. Autumn has officially arrived in our beautiful city. It's Jessica here with your latest copy of the Austin Daily, full of all the community news you need to know right now.

Settle in while we dive into:

  • Local jury acquits a former APD officer accused of misconduct.
  • Safety audits have started across Central Texas school districts.
  • Officials unveil plans for a new water conservation and efficiency program.
  • District 3 City Council forum, pet adoption event, and local competition for Tesla? Keep scrolling for more ⬇️

But first, today's weather:

❄️ Cold in the morning; sunny. High: 74 Low: 49.

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Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) A Travis County jury acquits a former APD officer accused of misconduct. After deliberating from 7-11 p.m., the jury found former officer Nathaniel Stallings not guilty of two misdemeanor charges from his role in an arrest in 2017. The case was the first in which prosecutors brought someone in law enforcement to trial under District Attorney José Garza. Head to subscription/The Statesman to read a full recap of the trial.

2) The Texas School Safety Center has officially started conducting safety audits across Central Texas school districts. Back in June, Gov. Greg Abbott instructed TxSSC to conduct "unannounced, random intruder" audits of Texas public schools. KVUE reports: "A spokesperson for Round Rock ISD said four of its campuses have been inspected so far. Three of the campuses had no findings and one campus was found to have an exterior door open. This year, the district is requiring all staff members to undergo more training, which includes door requirements. Hays CISD and Lake Travis ISD each had two campuses inspected so far. All of them passed. Georgetown ISD had one campus inspected, and it passed. Hutto ISD said none of its campuses have been inspected yet." KVUE has more on this story here.

3) City officials unveil plans for a new water conservation and efficiency program. The city is evaluating how and where to store massive amounts of water to pull from during droughts. By early next century, Austin's underground water storage project is expected to hold enough water to fill Lake Austin 11 times over. The first phase of Austin's Aquifer Storage and Recovery project is slated to cost $24 million. The price tag once the project is fully built out is estimated to be $367 million. The city is leaving open the possibility of rate increases to pay for it. Head to KUT to learn more about Austin's Aquifer Storage and Recovery project.

4) On Oct. 18, the six District 3 City Council candidates participated in a forum to discuss their stances on top local issues. Current District 3 council member Sabino Pio Renteria is not running again, so this is an open seat. Head to KUT to watch a recording of the event.

5) The electric vehicle market is getting heated here in Austin! EV maker Rivian is officially expanding into the North Austin area with its new 24,000-square-foot service center that will also double as a place for its Central Texas customers to pick up their new rides. Subscription/The Statesman has the full scoop here.

Today in Austin:

  • (Kid-Friendly) All Ages Storytime at the Austin Public Library, Central Branch. (10 a.m.)
  • Bicycling with Butterflies: Meet Author Sara Dykman (A Roots & Wings Festival Event) at Zilker Botanical Garden. (11 a.m.)
  • (Kid-Friendly) Lego Lab at the Austin Public Library, Twin Oaks Branch. (3:15 p.m.)
  • Austin Pets Alive! Adoption Event at Lucille. (6 p.m.)
  • Emmylou Harris and The Red Dirt at The Paramount Theatre. (7 p.m.)
  • Man Man at Parish. (7 p.m.)
  • Butler Opera Center: Scenes from Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Falstaff, and more at McCullough Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
  • Coki (of Digital Mystikz) at Empire Control Room. (7:30 p.m.)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! See you all tomorrow morning 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

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

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