🌱 Replacement SNAP Benefits + Ongoing School District Investigation

Happy Friday, neighbors! Good morning to you all. It's Jessica, your host of the Austin Patch newsletter — back in your inbox bright and early with the most important local news and community updates. Get comfortable and grab your morning coffee while we cover:

• Is Austin getting a new amusement park? Keep scrolling for the full scoop.
• Replacement benefits approved for SNAP recipients impacted by the winter storm.
• The Dance Theatre of Harlem is performing this evening – and there's still tickets!

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But first, today's weather:

Turning sunny; breezy, cooler. High: 57 Low: 34.

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Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) After nearly a year of negotiations, the City of Austin and the Austin Police Association reached an agreement on a new four-year contract. The new agreement is said to help with police force recruitment and officer retention, and includes police oversight provisions. The new agreement is still subject to City Council approval. Learn more here at KVUE.

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2) Texas Health and Human Services Commission received federal approval to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to apply for replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed due to Winter Storm Mara. KVUE reports that SNAP recipients can proceed with this request by dialing 2-1-1 and selecting option 2. Recipients in Travis County have until Feb. 28 to request a benefit replacement. KVUE has more on this story here.

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3) The Texas Education Agency (TEA) confirms an investigation into Austin ISD's special education department is ongoing. Advocacy agency Disability Rights Texas filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging that "over 800 Austin ISD students were waiting for delayed initial evaluations and another 1,600 were waiting on delayed three-year evaluations." Disability Rights Texas followed the suit by requesting TEA conduct a special investigation of AISD and appoint a conservator or management team over the district's special education department. KXAN has the full scoop here.

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4) As if racing and concerts weren't enough, Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is adding an on-site amusement park! The amusement park, named "COTALAND," will feature more than two dozen rides, including a tilt coaster and a shuttle coaster that takes riders up 90 degrees with spectacular views over COTA Boulevard. Community Impact has more on this 2023 project here.

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Today in Austin:

• Dance Theatre Of Harlem at Bass Concert Hall. (7:30 p.m.)
• ZACH Theatre & Deaf Austin Theatre Present: Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella at ZACH Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
• Corinne Fisher: Live In Austin at Vulcan Gas Company. (7:30 p.m.)
• Death Cab For Cutie [Night 2] at ACL Live At The Moody Theater. (8 p.m.)

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Community Chatter:

• 🏀 Longhorn basketball news: "Texas officials have more than doubled interim coach Rodney Terry's salary to $1.2 million this season as he leads the No. 5 Longhorns after the midseason firing of former coach Chris Beard." (CBS Austin via Facebook)
• 🎤 New additions to the Moontower Comedy lineup: "Modern 'Saturday Night Live' icon Leslie Jones, 'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On' mollusk mastermind Jenny Slate, 'Full Frontal' host Samantha Bee, Showtime chat show provocateur Ziwe and 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' winner Monét X Change will all take the Paramount Theatre stage as headliners." (The Austin American-Statesman)
• 🌮 Culinary celebration: "Fonda San Miguel hosts a centennial celebration for renowned Mexican cookbook author Diana Kennedy" (CultureMap Austin)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at DowntownAustin@patch.com