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

Community Corner

🌱 Toxic Algae At Barking Springs + Demand Grows for Monkeypox Vaccine

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)

Hi, fellow Austinites! It's Sunday and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in town.

Settle in while we deep dive into:

  • City officials confirm harmful algae at "Barking Springs".
  • Demand growing for the monkeypox vaccine in Texas.
  • Staff shortages result in long EMS response times in Austin.
  • And much more ➡️

First, today's weather and allergy report:

☀️ High: 103 Low: 77. Mostly sunny and hot. Stay hydrated and stay cool, my friends!
🍃 Grass Pollen: low. Ragweed: low ( ⬇️ ). Mold: moderate ( ⬇️ ). Dust & Dander: extremely high.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

1) City officials confirm harmful algae at "Barking Springs". The City of Austin confirmed the presence of toxic algae in "Barking Springs" after a sample was taken in the area where a dog died within an hour of swimming there last week.

Protect yourselves & your dogs by avoiding water where algae is present. The City also detected toxins in algae samples in Lady Bird Lake, including Red Bud Isle, Auditorium Shores, and Edward Rendon Sr. Metro Park, and at Emma Long Metropolitan Park on Lake Austin. KXAN has more on this story here.

2) Demand growing for monkeypox vaccine in Texas. As monkeypox spreads across the state of Texas, public health officials are reserving vaccines for people who have been exposed to a confirmed case. This has led the demand for the monkeypox vaccine to outweigh the current supply. The Texas Tribune has more on this developing story here.

3) Staff shortages result in long EMS response times in Austin. High call volume, staff shortages, high response times, and low availability have local officials concerned. Selena Xie, President Austin EMS Association, says ATCEMS has 530 medics on staff, but they need 664 to run properly.

"We have been shouting from the rooftops that we need more people, and we are starting to see the consequences of not having enough people," said Xie. FOX 7 Austin has more on this story here.

4) APD is investigating a homicide in southeast Austin. Police responded to a family disturbance call near the 4800 block of Turnstone Drive in South Austin on Friday night. Officers stated the victim died at the scene. This marks Austin's 42nd homicide of the year. Head over to KVUE for the full story.

Today in Austin:

  • Kitten Yoga hosted by Austin Pets Alive! at Inner Diva. (10 a.m.)
  • Custom Sounds And Tint Texas Heat Wave Custom Truck, Car Show And Tattoo Expo at Travis County Expo Center (10 a.m.)
  • The Paramount Summer Classic Film Series Presents: "An Affair to Remember" at The Paramount Theatre. (1 p.m.)
  • The Paramount Summer Classic Film Series Presents: "Mississippi Masala" at The Paramount Theatre. (4:15 p.m.)
  • "The Sound of Music" at ZACH Theatre. (Doors at 7:30 p.m.)

Community Chatter 💬:

  • North Loop Favorite Restaurant Sala & Betty Is Closing (tear!). The restaurant will be open through July 30. (Eater Austin via Facebook)
  • The scooter policy on Congress Avenue is changing! Check out this update from the City of Austin Transportation Department for more information. (Downtown Austin Alliance via Facebook)
  • American Airlines adds 2 new nonstop flights from Austin– woot, woot!! (CultureMap Austin via Facebook)
  • "If Samsung follows through with its massive expansion plans in Central Texas, it would be transformative for the region's status as a global tech hub and provide a huge boost to the region's economy, analysts said." (Austin American-Statesman via Facebook)
  • "Add another name to the list of food service businesses where employees are trying to unionize: Tiff's Treats." (Austin Business Journal via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Events:

Announcements:

You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow 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?

More from Austin