News from August 2021
Austin office market rebounds to pre-COVID status
By Bree Gonzales | Aug 18, 2021
Austin has had 42 properties exchanged in 2021 — approximately almost 80% of the number of deals completed last year.
McCaul refers to crisis in Afghanistan as 'a stain' on Biden's presidency
By Cara Clark | Aug 18, 2021
Texas Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, who leads Republicans on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, posted a scathing tweet on President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
'It's really good to know your history': Texas panel cites errors, dangers of critical race theory
By T.H. Lawrence | Aug 16, 2021
Critical race theory has doubters who think its view on race relations in the United States are both unfounded and dangerous.
Former UT Regent Wallace Hall to match Crime Stopper reward for arrest of missing state lawmakers
By Austin Journal Reports | Aug 16, 2021
Former University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall intends to match the reward offered by the Texas Government Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of State Representatives who are missing from the House Chamber.
Poll reveals Texas manufactured housing industry builds confidence for the rest of the year
By Bree Gonzales | Aug 15, 2021
A Texas manufactured housing survey reveals the industry’s positive outlook on the second half of the year.
Op-ed: ERCOT’s Roadmap to a California-style electricity market
By Bill Peacock | Aug 14, 2021
In the aftermath of February’s Great Texas Blackout, there has been much consternation and confusion.
Crime Stopper Organization offers $2,500 reward for whereabouts of missing Democratic lawmakers
By Austin Journal Reports | Aug 13, 2021
The Texas-based office of Government Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of lawmakers who have fled the state House chamber.
Home schooling, already on rise in Texas, increased during COVID-19 pandemic due to 'concerns of health, safety and curriculum'
By T.H. Lawrence | Aug 13, 2021
Home-schooling has been on the rise in Texas since the final years of the 20th Century and received an additional boost with the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused families to reconsider their educational choices.
Texas secures top rank in state-by-state oil production study
By Austin Journal Reports | Aug 13, 2021
Texas produced 1.78 billion barrels of oil last year, a total that accounts for 43% of America’s domestic petroleum output, according to a new study by Visual Capitalist, an online publisher of data on global markets, technology and energy.
Austin implements policies to bring back families of color, reverse historical 'displacement caused by the city and other government entities'
By Andy Nghiem | Aug 13, 2021
The City of Austin is trying to bring black and brown families back to the East Austin area in an effort to slow gentrification in the region.
State ponders overhaul of the electric grid, hopes to 'reallocate payments to most reliable source of power'
By Art Benavidez | Aug 13, 2021
The February winter storm that exposed weaknesses in the state’s electrical grid, leaving much of the state’s residents to deal with subzero temperatures without electricity, could soon be overhauled.
'It's the right time': Westlake football coach to retire after 2021 season
By Trina Thomas | Aug 13, 2021
Westlake Head Football Coach Todd Dodge announced his retirement, stating that the 2021 football season will be his last at the Texas high school and that "It's the right time."
'History repeats itself': UT alum Crouser wins gold, breaks record in shot put
By Art Benavidez | Aug 13, 2021
A University of Texas alumni athlete had a stellar week at the Tokyo Olympics as he garnered a medal and broke a record in the process.
Hotel staff, guests can 'make a tremendous difference' in the fight against human trafficking
By T.H. Lawrence | Aug 11, 2021
New Texas law requires hotels and motels to train employees to look for signs
New law equips Texas hotels to help 'eliminate human trafficking’
By Rachel Lorenz | Aug 11, 2021
Training has begun in preparation for a new Texas law aimed at increasing awareness and prevention of human trafficking.
REE Automotive will open its U.S. headquarters and first integration center in Austin as it prepares for production in 2023
By Press Release | Aug 11, 2021
REE Automotive LTD [NASDAQ: “REE”], a leader in e-Mobility, today announced that it will open its U.S. headquarters in Austin, Texas to address the growing U.S. market demand for mission-specific EVs from delivery and logistics companies, Mobility-as-a-Service and new technology players
New poll shows more than 80% Americans 'worried' about China's influence
By Christina Heath | Aug 6, 2021
A new poll by the Convention of States Action, with The Trafalgar Group in partnership, shows in surveys done July 12 and July 13 of over 1,000 likely 2022 election voters, that 81% of Americans are concerned about the influence of China in the U.S.
Austin has third highest average lot size among largest U.S. cities, study finds
By Austin Journal Reports | Aug 6, 2021
The average residential lot in Austin is 8,629 square feet, the third largest property size among the 20 largest cities in the nation, according to a new analysis based on U.S. Census Bureau data.
Texas, Connecticut's voting laws share common ground despite one being called an 'assault on democracy'
By Karla Florez | Aug 5, 2021
Texas has fallen under scrutiny after being accused of practicing voter suppression, but similar voting laws in Connecticut indicate the commonality in state guidelines across the country.
Op-ed: Emergency policies have to come to an end
By Charles Blain, president of the Urban Reform Institute | Aug 5, 2021
The adage “never let a good crisis go to waste” is one that has been embraced by officials in Texas and across the country over the last 18 months.