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Community Corner

🌱 Tree Recycling + New Water Director + Cirque Holiday Event

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)

Hi, everyone! Good morning, it's Jessica, your host of the Daily, back with the most important local news and community updates — hot off the press.

Settle in while we cover:

  • A "deadly shooting" is being investigated in South Austin.
  • Not sure how to safely dispose of your Christmas tree? We've got the scoop.
  • Breathtaking cirque artists and performers are taking over ACL Live this evening – and tickets are still available!

But first, today's weather:

Warmer with clouds and sun. High: 67 Low: 61.

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Here are the top stories in Austin today:

1) Southwest Airlines continues to cancel flights at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. As of yesterday afternoon, 100 arriving flights and 70 departing flights were canceled — leaving many customers to scramble for alternative travel plans. The Statesman reports: "Other major airlines suffered cancellations rates of between none and 2% Tuesday, the AP reported. The cancellation rate at Southwest Airlines was 62%, according to FlightAware, after the airline canceled more than 70% of its flights Monday." Learn more about this story here.

2) Austin police are investigating a homicide in South Austin. A man was shot near the 8500 block of Kansas River Drive. EMS tried life-saving measures, but he died on the scene. A suspect was taken into custody and is being questioned. FOX 7 Austin has more on this story here.

3) Five Austin Independent School District campuses froze transfers from outside their attendance areas for the 2023-24 school year. Community Impact reports: "The freeze applies to five schools, including Barton Hills Elementary, Gullet Elementary, Marshall Middle School, Lamar Middle School and McCallum High School. However, Barton Hills will not be frozen at kindergarten, and Gullett will not be frozen at Pre-K or kindergarten." Community Impact has more on the transfer process for students within the attendance area and more here.

4) Austin Water has a new director. Shay Ralls Roalson was appointed to the position and is the first woman to serve in the role. Roalson has 29 years of experience working with water utilities on the planning, design and construction of complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects. KXAN has more on this news.

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Today in Austin:

  • Ice Rink at The Long Center. (10 a.m.)
  • Ice Rodeo at the Four Seasons Hotel. (4 p.m.)
  • CREATE! Snow-Make (Fun and Festive Winter Crafts) at Austin Public Library, University Hills Branch. (4 p.m.)
  • A Magical Cirque Christmas at ACL Live at The Moody Theater. (6 p.m.)
  • Peppermint Parkway at Circuit of the Americas. (6 p.m.)
  • Bob Schneider And The Moonlight Trio at Pershing Hall. (7 p.m.)
  • Longhorn Women's Basketball vs. Texas A&M Commerce at Moody Center. (7 p.m.)
  • All Queer Spectrum Series Presents: I Wanna Dance With Somebody Screening & Sing-Along at Galaxy Theatres Austin. (7 p.m.)
  • The Year In Review Show: Comedians Recap And Roast 2022 at Cap City Comedy Club. (8 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 🎄 Christmas tree recycling: "City of Austin curbside customers can recycle their Christmas and holiday trees by leaving them at the curb on their regular collection day. All other Austinites can drop off trees at Zilker Park to be recycled on December 31 and January 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m." (City of Austin)
  • 🎊 Austin's best New Year's Eve shindigs: "It's almost time to bid adieu to 2022! With the start of 2023 just around the corner, we've compiled a list of the best and brightest celebrations happening around town." (Tribeza)
  • 🥘 New restaurant plans: "A team with a history of revamping a divey neighborhood bar into a nationally recognized darling is opening Murray's tavern in old Gourmands space." (Austin American Statesman via Twitter)

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

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