Austin, TX

APA! signs agreement to build on property, expand to others

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2023

APA! signs agreement to build on property

The City and Austin Pets Alive! have signed an agreement allowing APA! to rebuild on its current property and expand to other properties.

AUSTIN, Texas – The City and Austin Pets Alive! have signed an agreement allowing APA! to rebuild on its current property and expand to other properties.

“What we do is we serve to help the animals that fall through the cracks,” said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, president & CEO of the nonprofit organization.

But they are also dealing with cracks in the concrete.

“This place needs to come down,” said Dr. Jefferson.

Austin Pets Alive! has been at the 70-year-old Town Lake property since 2011, but before that, it served as the City’s animal shelter before the Austin Animal Center moved to the Levander Loop location.

In 2017, Austin City Council authorized the negotiation of a 25-year agreement with renewal options that would allow APA! to upgrade and build on the current property.

Fast-forward to August 24, and an agreement was signed.

“The reason it’s taken six years to get to the point where we’re actually signing the agreement is that the property has some really big obstacles associated with it. Right now, the current buildings are built under power lines and over water mains because the buildings are older than the City’s infrastructure,” said Dr. Jefferson. “The power lines are the biggest problem, and we just never were able to reach an agreement with the City of Austin on what to do with them. And our building is so old and falling down that we really needed to just move on.”

Through partnering with the Austin Animal Center, APA! has been able to help Austin maintain its title as the largest no-kill city in the country.

Last month alone, APA! took in 30 dogs from AAC as part of a pilot boarding agreement due to a distemper outbreak and overcrowding.

“We take in about 12% of their total population every year just naturally,” said Dr. Jefferson. “And then when there are big issues, we work together to try to find a solution.”

Going forward, APA! will demolish and rebuild on the current property while pursuing other properties.

“Austin Pets Alive! is looking at other locations for the bulk of our services, and then what we are really excited about being able to do here is to rebuild an adoption center and a foster service center and really make it very public friendly,” said Dr. Jefferson. “Since we know we can no longer keep doing everything that we do here, it’s really important that we are successful in being able to fundraise for multiple properties and for rebuilding here. It is a lot to juggle, and we’re really going to lean on the community for support.”

Dr. Jefferson said they are currently looking for private, individual donors who are interested in making large donations toward expansion efforts. Interested donors can reach out to APA!’s philanthropy department.

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Austin, TX

Texas Longhorns LB Anthony Hill Jr. Named Semifinalist for Major Award

Published

2 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Texas Longhorns LB Anthony Hill Jr. Named Semifinalist for Major Award

AUSTIN — Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is officially being recognized as one of the best at his position in college football.

Hill Jr. was announced as a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award Monday, joining a group of 14 other players. The Butkus Award is given annually to the best linebacker in college football.

Former Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford was also a semifinalist for the award last season.

Here’s the full list of semifinalists:

Jihaab Campbell, Alabama

Deontae Lawson, Alabama

Shaun Dolac, Buffalo

Barrett Carter, Clemson

Jalon Walker, Georgia

Aiden Fisher, Indiana

Jay Higgins, Iowa

Chandler Martin, Memphis

Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss

Sean Brown, N.C. State

Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

Carson Schwesinger, UCLA

Shae Suiaunoa, Wyoming

This season, Hill Jr. has posted 28 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and one interception.

He was recently added to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the best defensive player in college football.

After the loss to Georgia, Hill Jr. said that the Longhorns are staying confident. They bounced back with a win over Vanderbilt before heading into the bye week.

“Nobody wants to lose but we’re gonna look at the film, we’re gonna get better,” Hill Jr. “Our heads are up. We’re not gonna just be sad and look all disappointed. We’re happy and we’re gonna get better and look at the film. We needed this, I feel like we need some adversity and it’s gonna be good to see how we bounce back next week.”

No. 5 Texas and Florida will kick off from Austin on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on ABC.

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Other Texas Longhorns News:

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MORE: Carolina Panthers Debut Could Be on Horizon For Texas Ex Jonathon Brooks

MORE: Steve Sarkisian ‘Really Proud’ of Texas Longhorns TE Gunnar Helm

MORE: ‘Very Mature:’ Texas WR DeAndre Moore Jr. Continues to Fill Jordan Whittington Role

MORE: Texas Longhorns Rise in AP Top 25 Poll

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Austin, TX

Vote and vibe: Where to toast (or mope) at 2024 election night watch parties in Austin

Published

10 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Vote and vibe: Where to toast (or mope) at 2024 election night watch parties in Austin

Whether you’re ready for a celebration, dreading the results or eager for the election cycle to be over, it’s best not to spend election night 2024 alone. Several Austin venues will host watch parties with food, friends and foes as you get ready for the results Tuesday.

Hold hands and cross fingers at Hotel Vegas and Volstead’s watch party

Need a strong pregame for the results? The adjacent East Austin bars are teaming up to host a joint watch party with themed cocktails served all night.

Guests can watch the results roll in on big screens on the patio. There will also be televised analysis inside Volstead Lounge. Enjoy live DJs, election night games and tacos from El Borracho Tacos starting at 5 p.m.

The party is free to attend. Guests can RSVP on Facebook.

Down some patriotic shots at Star Bar’s Texas-style watch party

The West Austin bar will host a free election night watch party, Texas-style. Customers can catch election updates from open to close and snag limited-edition Quinn-Arch buttons ($3) and hats ($20) touting University of Texas quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Election results will be shown on TVs across the bar.

Enjoy some blue and red jello shots as well as pizza from VIA 313.

The party will start at 4 p.m. and run until close at 2 a.m. No ticket or RSVP is needed for the event. More information is at starbartexas.com.

Ride the emotional roller coaster at Cheer Up Charlie’s election night carnival

Cheer Up’s is bringing the Election Day feel to the Red River Cultural District. The election night extravaganza will include drag and stand-up comedy shows, tarot and astrology readings, and a petting zoo for voters needing some animal comfort.

Want to dance it out? There will be live DJs. Voters can also eat their feelings. A bake sale will be happening, alongside a sock and blanket drive for the unhoused.

The party will run from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets start at $19 and can be purchased online.

Watch the results at Travis County Republicans’ election night party

Voters are invited to swing by and catch the election results with fellow Republicans in Travis County. National news as well as the county clerk’s website will be monitored for key races. Candidates and local leaders are also expected to deliver remarks. There will also be surprise guests throughout the evening.

The event will run from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Guests must register online to get the address for the event. Security officers will check photo IDs for entrance.

Join the Travis County Democratic Party at the Driskill

Democrats from across the county will watch the election results unfold at the historic Driskill hotel. Attendees will get a chance to rub elbows with some elected officials and candidates. Who better to share the suspense with than the folks on the ballot?

The watch party will happen from 7 to 11 p.m.

Interested in attending? You can register for the event online.

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Austin, TX

Texas high school football 2024: Central Texas week 10 rankings

Published

18 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Texas high school football 2024: Central Texas week 10 rankings

AUSTIN, Texas – The tenth week of the 2024 Texas high school football season is in the books.

Check out our rankings for the tenth week of the season, which featured matchups like Bowie vs Austin High, Taylor vs LBJ, Cedar Park vs Leander, Lake Belton vs Georgetown , and the FOX 7 Game of the Week, Bastrop vs Pflugerville .

View the highlights and scores for Week 10 here.