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Community Corner

🌱 Military Hero Graduates From UT + St. Francis School Head Retiring

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

Gabriela Cantu Couvillion's profile picture
Gabriela Cantu Couvillion, Neighbor
(Patch Media)

Hello all. I'm here with your fresh copy of the Austin Daily, filled with all the community information you need to know right now.

First, today's weather:

An afternoon thunderstorm. High: 87 Low: 69.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

  1. On Saturday, May 21, Qusay Hussein "who survived the 2006 bombing in Iraq when he was 17" graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. Unfortunately, he "lost his vision and his nose" during the attack but when "the U.S. military connected him with Doctors Without Borders," they "brought him to the U.S." where "he underwent 58 reconstructive surgeries" and became a student at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Hussein, who receive a Master's degree and plans to get a PhD., "served as commencement speaker for the Steve Hicks School of Social Work." He said, "I know most of you and your ability to achieve, so I know our ideal tenacity, compassion, kindness will light the world around us and justice and love will prevail." For a 2018 story featuring Hussein visit: (KVUE.com)
  2. During this past weekend's thunderstorms, "about 4,000 Austin Energy customers were affected" Sunday morning "with outages across the city." An Austin energy spokesperson reported that while there wasn't "a direct cause for the outages across the city," crews worked "to repair the outages as fast as possible." For most up to date information on outages and repairs, check Austin Energy's outage map, sign up on Austin Energy's text outage alerts website, and report any outages to 512-322-9100. (KXAN.com)
  3. After 36 years as head of Austin's St. Francis School, 78-year-old Barbara Porter who founded the school in 1985, plans to retire on June 30. Growing up in North England, she "taught in private schools around the U.S., then teamed up with engaged Austin parents to create an inclusive, nondenominational place of learning that is academically rigorous, but not culturally inflexible, for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade." Former professor, Douglas Laycock, said, "In the beginning, it was only the sheer genius and charisma and leadership of Barbara Porter that held St. Francis together." He added, "She inspired everyone else, parents and teachers, to do amazing things as they built a school together." (Subscription: Austin American-Statesman)
  4. Austin City Council received a recent memo from Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon regarding "a staging area where first responders can stage personnel and/or equipment." The area "was created in the 600 block of Neches Street" at "Downtown Austin's Sixth Street entertainment district. The memo also "states that Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) is also working on getting new equipment to help provide patient care quickly." For more information visit: (KVUE.com)
  5. The week may have just started, but it's not too early to start planning for the weekend! Every Sunday, from 4-10 p.m., the Alamo Drafthouse located at 1120 S. Lamar Blvd. hosts "an evening full of board games, drinks, food, and fun at The Highball!" For more visit: (365 Things Austin)

Today in Austin:

From my notebook:

  • "Congratulations to all University of Texas at Austin graduates! You earned this! Hook Em!" (Facebook)
  • "Want to rhyme but don't have much time? Try a limerick! Enter your witty words in this contest hosted by our partners to pay tribute to the people, places, sights, and sounds of this great city and state by immortalizing them in verse! Learn more and submit your limerick at austintexas.gov/department/o-henry-museum for a chance to win a Texas-Themed prize package! Submissions accepted May 22-June 4. Limericks should relate to Austin or Texas, and all submissions must be family friendly. Public voting runs June 5-11, and winners will be announced June 12." (Facebook)
  • "A neighbor from Valley View Acres has been missing their cat named Stash since May 14. He has a gray flea collar and is very friendly. If you find him, please contact the neighbor through the Nextdoor site." (Nextdoor)
  • "A neighbor from Spicewood at Balcones Village lost their out-of-town relatives' black lab dog from Spring Lake Drive. His name is Bo and he's very friendly, but the number on the tag is from out-of-town. If you find him, please call 512-762-4810 instead." (Nextdoor)
  • "A 78-year-old neighbor from Austin City Park and his brother-in-law, Stanley McLaughlin, have been looking for one or more young men who want to make some spending money ($15/hour) after school and/or on weekends. Stanley needs help in his pecan orchard, getting his irrigation system working now, and later with harvest in the fall. The neighbor needs help with yard work around the house and maybe with some other projects. If interested, please call the neighbor at 512-346-3387 or Stanley at 512-627-9598." (Nextdoor)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Gabriela Couvillion

About me: I'm an active mom of two grown sons and lifelong San Antonio resident. I received a BA in Spanish from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and in my free time I immerse myself in creative writing. Thanks for reading Patch, and feel free to reach out if you have any news and happenings you think may appeal to our readers!

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Austin Daily? Contact me at DowntownAustin@patch.com

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