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Community Corner

🌱 New Fentanyl Initiative + Local Startup Lands NASA Contract 🌕

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, everyone! It's Jessica, your host of the Austin Daily — back in your inbox bright and early with everything you need to know that's happening in town these days. I hope you've had your coffee, as we have a lot to cover today!

  • Travis County is rolling out a new initiative to curb fentanyl overdoses.
  • The new State Hospital is set to be ready next year – what's at stake for incoming patients?
  • Matthew McConaughey is back in the classroom next semester at UT.
  • Not one, but two holiday film screenings this evening!
  • A local startup is headed to the moon after securing a contract with NASA.

But first, today's weather:

Cooler; breezy in the morning. High: 58 Low: 37.

Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) A person of interest was arrested in connection with a missing Domain resident. Justin Haden was reported missing in early November. After a private investigator found blood in Haden's apartment and police reviewed the security footage at his apartment complex, he is now presumed to be dead. The arrested person of interest, Gavin Mcloud Roberts, is reportedly being charged with "tampering with a corpse and fabrication of physical evidence, as well as one additional charge that has not been disclosed." KVUE has more on this developing story here.

2) As fentanyl overdoses continue to rise across Central Texas, Travis County is rolling out a new initiative to tackle the crisis head-on. Travis County will be providing 13 bars/nightclubs in the Austin area with Narcan, a "nasal spray used to reverse the effects of opioids." KUT reports: "Travis County Judge Andy Brown says a state law prohibits the county from directly giving bars funding to buy Narcan, so the county found a loophole. The county will give a nonprofit, such as Integral Care, the drug, and that organization will then partner with businesses to distribute it." Head over to KUT to learn more about this initiative.

3) The new state-of-the-art Austin State Hospital is on track to be ready next year. Back in 2019, state lawmakers approved $165 million for the expansion of the Austin State Hospital. KVUE reports: "The new building will be 375,000 square feet with 240 rooms, giving each patient their own room and bathroom." While many are excited about the prospect of the sorely needed increase in mental health services and beds, some are not, including Krish Gundu of the Texas Jail Project, who is "skeptical that this new facility will be beneficial in helping people break the jail-to-mental health facility cycle and thinks the hundreds of millions of dollars in funding should have been allocated differently, such as creating more housing opportunities." KXAN has more on this story here.

4) Did you know Matthew, excuse me, Professor Matthew McConaughey is returning to a University of Texas classroom near you next semester? McConaughey's class, "Script to Screen: Commercials" will be available to Radio-Television-Film students and Advertising students during the Spring 2023 semester. Head over to KXAN to learn more.

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Today in Austin:

  • 2022 Blue Genie Art Bazaar at Blue Genie Art Bazaar. (10 a.m.)
  • (Kid-Friendly) Music & Movement at Austin Public Library, Pleasant Hill Branch. (11 a.m.)
  • Ice Rodeo at The Four Seasons Austin. (4 p.m.)
  • Tweens Create at Austin Public Library, St. John Branch. (4 p.m.)
  • DARE with The Unit, Juice Box, Disowned, and Bosh at Mohawk. (7 p.m.)
  • It's a Wonderful Life at The Paramount Theatre. (6:30 p.m.)
  • All Queer Spectrum Series Presents: Petit Mal at The Galaxy Theatre. (7 p.m.)
  • A Christmas Carol at The Topfer at ZACH Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 🏀 Basketball for a good cause: "We're excited to announce on 12/6 Texas Men's Basketball will play in the #JimmyVClassic supporting our game-changing cancer research at Dell Medical School - UT Austin. Tune in to ESPN at 7 p.m. ET to watch the Longhorns..." (The University of Texas at Austin via Facebook)
  • 🌕 Austin-based startup Icon Technology is headed to the moon: "Days after a fire raged at its South Austin headquarters, Icon has announced a $57 million NASA contract to "support planned exploration of the moon and beyond," according to a Nov. 29 announcement." (Austin Business Journal via Facebook)
  • 🚘 Traffic troubles: "Interstate 35, specifically from US Highway 290 North to Ben White Boulevard, was ranked the third most congested roadway in Texas, according to a study from Texas A&M University." (CBS Austin via Facebook)

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Alrighty, 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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