This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

🌱 The Rats Have Arrived + First Monkeypox Related Death + Events

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

Jessica Collins's profile picture
Jessica Collins, Neighbor
|
(Patch Media)

Happy Hump Day, friends! It's me, Jessica Collins, your host of the Daily, here with your fresh copy of the Austin Daily, filled with all the local news you need to know right now.

Grab your coffee and settle in while we cover:

  • Texas oil and gas regulators approved new rules that will fine gas companies for failing to properly prepare for extreme weather.
  • Texas confirms the first U.S. death of a person with monkeypox.
  • The rats have arrived in Central Texas (uh oh!!)
  • Two-stepping lessons, live music, and much more ➡️

First, today's weather and allergy report:

🌧️ High: 91 Low: 75. A shower and a thunderstorm.
🍃 Grass Pollen: low. Ragweed: moderate. Mold: moderate. Dust & Dander: extremely high.

Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) Texas oil and gas regulators approved new rules on Tuesday that will require natural gas companies be fined up to $1 million for failing to properly prepare for extreme weather. After the brutal winter storm in 2021, Texas regulators have officially approved new mandates for oil and gas companies. KVUE reports that the rules will require oil and gas companies to be able to continue operating during a weather emergency, but they do not specify the standards the agency's inspectors will use to measure readiness.

They also require companies to submit annual reports to the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the state's massive oil and gas sector, outlining what they have done to ensure their facilities won't fail during weather emergencies. KVUE has more on this story here.

2) A "severely immunocompromised" patient with monkeypox has died in Texas — marking the state's first death related to the ongoing health crisis. State health officials report that an adult in Harris County, who had been diagnosed with monkeypox, has died. According to health officials, the patient was severely immunocompromised.

FOX 7 Austin reports that although this person was a presumptive positive for monkeypox, it is still unknown whether the person's death was due to or related to monkeypox, so the official cause of death is still unknown. Check out the full story here at FOX 7 Austin.

3) UH OH: the pandemic, the wave of new construction, and the drought have all led to an invasion of RATS in Central Texas — ICK! Local exterminators and pest experts believe the rodents have had their habitats disrupted, forcing them into both old and new homes, apartments, and any place else they can find to eat and breed.

KVUE reports that like much like the rest of us, the COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact on Austin's rats. When restaurants closed or had less activity, that limited the rats' food sources. So, they found new ones. KVUE has more on this story here.

4) Austin is one step closer to opening a taxpayer-funded trauma recovery center — the first of its kind in Texas! The City of Austin has agreed to put $1 million worth of funding towards a new trauma recovery center in Austin. This center is for victims of violent crime to ensure they have access to a range of services to help with their recovery without involving the criminal justice system. Learn more about this development here at CBS Austin.

5) Go horns go!! The UT Tower will be lit in burnt orange with the number '1' this Friday to commemorate Texas Rowing's 2022 NCAA Championship! Per tradition, the University recognizes UT sports programs who win a national team championship with a burnt orange lighting of the campus landmark with the number '1' appearing on the building's four sides. On Friday, the University will commemorate the team capturing the 2022 national championship, the program's second consecutive title.

Fans are encouraged to arrive in front of the Littlefield Fountain on 21st Street from 8-8:30 p.m. to watch the team take group photos. Learn more here at Texas Sports.

Today in Austin:

  • Live Music with Trevor Helt at Wanderlust Wine Co Downtown. (5:30 p.m.)
  • LANY with Surfaces featuring Annika Bennett at Germania Insurance Amphitheater. (6 p.m.)
  • Peter Hook & The Light at Mohawk. (6:30 p.m.)
  • Kid Cudi with Don Toliver, 070 Shake, Strick at Moody Center. (7 p.m.)
  • Holy Wire with TC Superstar & Pelvis Wrestley at Parish. (7 p.m.)
  • Flasher at Empire Control Room. (7 p.m.)
  • "The Inheritance," Pt 1 at ZACH Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
  • Double Or Nothing Two-Step Lessons at Donn's Depot. (7:30 p.m.)

Community Chatter 💬 :

  • 🤘 Beach Volleyball Added as UT's 21st Intercollegiate Sport! Go Longhorns go! (Texas Longhorns via Facebook)
  • 🎉 Texas French Bread is on the road to recovery! "Queer Eye" star Bobby Berk and Yelp's $100,000 Make It Happen Day fund are helping with the restaurant's reopening. (Austin.com via Facebook)
  • 🕊️ A public memorial for the late John Aielli on Sept. 8. Austin public radio stations KUT and KUTX will host a memorial for John Aielli on Sept. 8 at the Paramount from 6 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. (Austin 360 via Facebook)
  • 🌿 Looking to learn more about the power of aromatherapy? A local wellness educator is hosting a free aromatherapy event at Dougherty Arts Center on Aug. 31, from 7-9 p.m. You'll concoct your own custom essential oil blend and design your own aromatherapy pendant. (Austin Parks & Rec via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Events:

You're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow for your next 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?

More from Austin