Austin, TX
Austin Freeway Expansion Fight Continues
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) “turned a blind eye to the environmental injustices of the project, failed to explore less disruptive alternatives and glossed over the effects on air and water quality,” alleges a lawsuit filed by a group of activists in Austin opposing the expansion of Interstate 35. As Nathan Bernier reports for KUT, “The legal complaint also zeroes in on TxDOT’s plans for seizing land on the shores of Lady Bird Lake.”
The state has been moving forward with a plan to add four ‘managed lanes’ along eight miles of U.S. 290 East. “Among the big changes, TxDOT will lower the main lanes from downtown to Airport Boulevard. The city of Austin and UT Austin are planning to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to cover the highway trench with large decks called ‘caps’ that might support buildings, effectively concealing the widened interstate beneath a tunnel through the core of the city.” But even if capped, opponents say widening the freeway will induce more traffic and worsen air quality.
“Rethink35 escalated its fight against the expansion by simultaneously filing a civil rights complaint with the Federal Highway Administration,” charging that the project amounts to “knowingly engaging in acts of discrimination.”
Austin, TX
Weather forecast changes Saturday schedule for Texas softball at Bevo Classic
Because of the threat of inclement weather, Texas softball will only play one game Saturday at the Bevo Classic.
The No. 2 Longhorns (7-1) are now scheduled to face Ohio State at 5 p.m. at McCombs Field, officials announced on the Texas social media platforms. The teams had been scheduled to play Ohio State at 2:30 p.m. and Syracuse at 7:30 p.m.
Texas beat Ohio State Friday 14-6 behind two home runs from record-setting catcher Reese Atwood, who became the Longhorns’ all-time leader in home runs in a 11-0 win Thursday over Abilene Christian. The team followed that victory against the Buckeyes with a 14-0 rout over Syracuse in the second game of Friday’s double-header.
The Longhorns, who have won four consecutive games by the eight-run, five-inning mercy rule, will complete the Bevo Classic at noon Sunday against Northern Illinois.
Austin, TX
Austin Firefighters Union Continues Workers Comp Fight Against City
The Austin Firefighters Association continued its public relations battle against the city over a denied workers compensation claim on Friday.
Earlier this week, the union sent out a blistering press release condemning the city for denying the workers compensation claim of Lieutenant Suzanne LaFollette, who is fighting stage-four ovarian cancer that she and the union believe is related to her work as a firefighter.
The union sent out a press release that accused an attorney working for the city of making it clear “he had no interest in the science of [LaFollette]’s cancer claim and the matter was set for an April contested case hearing before an administrative law judge.”
The statement states that LaFollette and the union are “disappointed but not surprised” and thanked Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis for adding her support.
The statement quotes Ellis, who said, “All Austin firefighters and their families deserve nothing less than the city’s full commitment to preserving their health and stability in a time of great need. If the federal government can act on this so can we.”
AFA President David Girouard said, “Austin firefighters are grateful to the citizens and members of the City Council who have reached out to support Suzanne as she fights for her life, and fights the city’s third-party workers compensation attorney.”
He continued, “We find the facts and the science indisputable. I’m confident that with the council’s support and when all the evidence is considered that Lt. LaFollete’s nearly two decades of service to Austin will be ruled the occupational cause of her cancer diagnosis.”
The press release also quoted an attorney for LaFollette who said the case “has met and exceeded the legal standard” required for her cancer to be recognized as a result of her work as an Austin firefighter.
Austin, TX
Road closures to expect ahead of Austin Marathon
AUSTIN, Texas — Roads across the city will begin to close on Feb. 13 for the Austin Marathon, with closures continuing throughout the weekend.
The Austin Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K will begin at 7 a.m. on Sunday.
On Feb. 13, Congress Avenue between 7th and 11th streets and 9th Street between Colorado and Brazos streets will be closed starting at 9 a.m. for packet pick-ups for runners.
Additionally, 8th and 10th streets between Colorado and Brazos streets will close starting at 2 p.m. on Friday.
Starting at 4 a.m. on Saturday, Congress Avenue between Cesar Chavez Street and 11th Street and 2nd Street between Colorado and Brazos streets will close.
On race day, the City of Austin will shut down all roads on the runner’s route no later than 6 a.m.
Key race day closures include South Congress Avenue from Riverside Drive to Ben White Boulevard from 5 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Cesar Chavez from Congress Avenue to MoPac from 5 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 15th Street from Lamar Boulevard to Guadalupe Street from 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and East Dean Keeton Street from Interstate 35 to Manor Road from 6 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
All streets are expected to be reopened by 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
For a complete list of closures, as well as tips for navigation, check out the guide below.
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