Georgetown Promotes Water Conservation with Artistic Rain Barrels

byMariela Villela

GEORGETOWN, Texas – The second annual South Main Arts Festival on Oct. 12 meshed art and water together to raise awareness on water conservation. The City of Georgetown’s Water Conservation Team asked local artists to submit proposals for participation in its Painted Rain Barrel Project. The city’s regulatory and conservation manager, Tiffany Diaz, said the […]

Moody College of Communication Receives High International Ranking

byManny Ramirez

AUSTIN, Texas — The 2022 QS World University Rankings placed the Moody College of Communication second in the nation and fourth in the world for communication and media studies programs. More than 4,700 undergraduate and graduate students currently work toward one of the many degrees the college offers. Interim dean Rachel Davis Mersey joined Moody […]

All Black Made Pop-Up Provides Alternative Selling Opportunity for Vendors

byKatrina L. Spencer

About 20 canopy tents lined a parking lot adjacent to Black Pearl Books on Saturday afternoon. Underneath each was a business owner displaying their wares: body oil, customized cups, paintings, lemonade, hair bonnets, apparel, candles, jewelry and more. While the sun beat down, 94 degrees and counting, the entrepreneurs offered smiles to shoppers at All […]

Little Amal: A 12-Foot-Tall Puppet Visits Austin with a Larger-Than-Life Message

byIsabella McGovern

Children’s faces lit up as they looked up to the 12-foot puppet made of cane and carbon fiber with long brown hair made of Tyvek tied with a red string. Phones were raised in the air to capture the sight as “Little Amal” visited Austin for the first time to call attention to the plight of refugees around the world. 
“She’s made larger than life so that people also can look up to refugees,” said a programming associate for The Walk Productions.

Reporting Texas TV – Oct. 19, 2023

byReporting Texas TV Staff

Journalism students from Moody College at the University of Texas produced their first newscast of the fall semester on Oct. 19, 2023. Student journalists reported this week on Preservation Austin’s efforts to recognize and reward local legacy businesses, the Austin Animal Shelter’s activities for Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, a showcase for vendors who produce […]

Texas Football Reshapes Its Focus During Bye Week

byJason Kinander

AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas football team’s unbeaten season ended Oct. 7 when the Longhorns lost to rival University of Oklahoma, 34-30.  The loss complicates Texas’ race for both the Big 12 Conference Championship and the College Football Playoff National Championship. The Longhorns traded first place with OU in the conference standings following […]

Austin Animal Center Offers Cost-Free Adoptions for Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

byMelanie Faz

AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin Animal Center (AAC) partnered with Adopt A Pet to waive adoption fees for the month of October to boost dog adoptions.  AAC kicked off Adopt a Shelter Dog Month month with a partnership with the online platform Adopt a Pet. The initiative encourages the public to adopt large dogs and […]

Legacy Austin Businesses Shine in October Celebration

byRonan Benford

AUSTIN, Texas – Preservation Austin celebrated 13 longstanding Austin businesses during its first Legacy Business Month. The businesses range from skateparks to libraries, and include local staples Peter Pan Mini-Golf and the Green & White Grocery. All the establishments met the Preservation Austin criteria of being locally owned, open at least 20 years, and having […]

Students Share Art at the Cactus Café

byLeeza Meyer

AUSTIN, Texas – The UT Creative Arts and Theater Committee hosted its student art “Gala-ry” on Oct. 11 at the university’s Cactus Café. Students displayed their work and talked about art with visitors. The gallery featured more than thirty multimedia pieces from students of a variety majors. Some guests dressed in 1920s attire. Faculty, students […]

Sustainable Vendor Showcase Teaches UT Students Healthy Habits

byEdly Termilien

AUSTIN, Texas – UT Housing and Dining hosted a sustainable vendor showcase on Oct. 12 at the Texas Union patio to educate students about sustainable food brands. Mr. Greens, Teatulia and Lonestar Farm’s Local Salad were among the 13 vendors that participated in the event. Students gained insight on eco-friendly practices by visiting the booths. […]

Lifesaving Mix at ACL: Thousands of Overdose Reversal Drug Doses, Education and Music Come Together for First Time

byAnissa Sanchez

From a booth on the east side of Zilker Park, a husband and wife from Ohio exceeded their dreams of helping to save lives by distributing 6,000 doses of overdose-reversing drugs.
“We thought we were gonna do a couple of festivals in the Midwest; that’s all we hoped for,” William Perry said of his lifesaving operation called This Must Be the Place. “This year, we went coast to coast and now we’re here in Austin.”
Their booth at Austin City Limits Music Festival the past two weekends served as a beacon of information on preventing fatal overdoses of fentanyl and other opioids with the nasal spray naloxone.
Perry said they found a receptive crowd in Austin. 
“We were prepared to talk people into taking it and talk people into why they should have it, and obviously that was not the case,” Perry said. “All you have to do is sit and listen to us explain the signs and symptoms and how to administer the medication. It takes people two and a half minutes or so and now they’re equipped to go save a life.”

Austin Joins Cities Around the World in March Against Human Trafficking

byMichelle Lavergne

More than 500 marchers called for the end of human trafficking at the Texas State Capitol during this year’s Walk for Freedom rally Saturday.

UT Surplus Store Repurposes Items While Diverting Waste From Landfills

byMelanie Faz

AUSTIN, Texas – An off-campus warehouse filled with trinkets and treasures offers the Austin community the opportunity to buy University of Texas assets. The Surplus REuse Store is nestled in north Austin at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, and is open to the public on Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m.- 12 […]

COVID-19 Continues to Take a Toll on Food Industry

byNicola Iannelli

AUSTIN, Texas — A chef for several sororities in West Campus encountered a challenge shortly after beginning his job a few months ago. Chef Tyler Henderson had an issue with food stocking, recipes, and menus due to the lasting effects the pandemic had on the food industry. The pandemic affected the food production process from […]

Austin’s Second Annual Coffee Festival Provides Variety of Diverse Blends

byMeg Gross

AUSTIN, Texas – Coffee lovers attended Austin’s second annual coffee festival at Fair Market on East Fifth St. on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Two dozen vendors participated, including Austin coffee shop staples Merit Coffee Co. and Medici Roasting. Local roasters source their beans from around the world, offering alternatives to corporate coffee brands. “We […]

Can’t Eclipse the Fun: How Central Texans Experienced a Rare Celestial Show

byAnissa Sanchez, Katrina L. Spencer and Michelle Lavergne

After a summer spent trying to get away from the sun, Central Texans couldn’t take their eyes off of it Saturday — safely, of course.
Through protective glasses, they watched a solar eclipse in which the moon covered 93 percent of the sun just before noon.
Reporting Texas reporters documented how some Austinites celebrated and experienced Saturday’s heavenly event.

Hailstorm Leaves Significant Damage in Williamson and Travis Counties

byMatthew Collier

ROUND ROCK, Texas – A large hailstorm damaged many homes and vehicles in Georgetown, Round Rock and Austin on Sept. 24. The hailstorm began in northwestern Williamson County and increased in severity as it moved southeast through Georgetown and into Round Rock, where homeowners dealt with extensive property damage. Round Rock homeowner Onur, who asked […]

Peter Pan Aims for Historic Landmark Status Amid Property Ownership Change

byJanelle Tanguma

AUSTIN, Texas – The owners of a 75-year-old miniature golf course hope a historic landmark status designation will save them from closure. Margaret Dismukes Massad’s family has owned Peter Pan Mini-Golf since it opened in 1948. Her father, Glenn Dismukes, was one of the original founders along with his brothers and was the artist of […]

Students Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with an Orisha Dance Workshop

byMiranda Cazares

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin hosted an Afro-Cuban Orisha dance workshop at the Recreational Sports Center, on Sept. 29. The event was one of several activities associated with Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 that recognizes the significant contributions of Hispanic/Latinx Americans. The Orisha workshop represented […]

Small Businesses Face Challenges of Rising Costs of Rent

byLauren Feldott

WESTLAKE, Texas – Austin continues to grow with the addition of large companies like Google and Tesla, and as a result, new residents create more competition for existing small businesses. For some older, local businesses, this means trouble with rising rent. Some successful ones, however, have something in common: community. Perriberri, a clothing boutique, has been […]