This month the Wild Neighbors Speaker Series attempts to shed some light on an animal usually associated with the darkness: Texas salamanders. Biologist Ruben Tovar is a Ph.D. candidate at UT Austin who has worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center researching Texas blind salamanders, San Marcos salamanders and Barton Springs salamanders, to name a few. He knows just about everything there is to know about these secretive, nocturnal amphibians. In a webinar that promises to be lively and surprising, Tovar will discuss the diversity and evolution of the cave salamanders of Central Texas. Friday, Sept. 30, noon-1 p.m. Register here.

In a unanimous vote, City Council has approved a resolution asking the city to reach out to city vendors to raise awareness about human trafficking and provide resources to victims. The resolution, which was sponsored by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, homes in on nonprofits and vendors working with those experiencing homelessness, as they are a particularly  vulnerable population. “I authored this resolution after an experience on a ride-out with a sergeant where we went into an encampment, and I met a woman who was in distress. I spoke with the sergeant about her situation, and he let me know that she was being sex trafficked in the camp. At that point, it broke my heart because it occurred to me that she couldn’t be the only person experiencing homelessness in this type of situation. Our city needs to do more to help these people get lifted out of their situation,” Kelly explained in a statement to the press. That press release notes that research at UT Austin has found that there are an estimated 313,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas.

Last month, the city of Austin asked for input on the proposed expansion of Interstate 35 through downtown at an event focused on the cap-and-stitch program that seeks to mitigate the impact of expanding the highway through connections across the road. Those who were not able to attend last month’s event now have another chance to weigh in with Our Future 35. Take a survey, which will be open at least until Sept. 19.

Senior citizens who are retired but seeking to return to the workforce, or who have a job but want to try something different, may want to attend the city’s upcoming job fair focused on opportunities for the senior community. About three dozen employers will participate in the job fair, from public to private employers and resource organizations. According to the news release, “Employers will be looking to hire individuals at all levels in professional, technical service, medical, retail and construction positions.” Thursday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Workforce Solutions North, 9001 N. Interstate 35, Ste. 110.

Looking forward to a very long day with numerous controversial items, including parkland dedication fees, license plate readers and police oversight, Mayor Steve Adler said Tuesday that he would allocate just one minute per speaker at today’s meeting. According to the city clerk’s office, a total of 178 people have signed up to tell Council their thoughts on various agenda items. However, it won’t be an all-nighter; several Council members expressed a desire to go home by 10 p.m. So, the Thursday meeting will simply be in recess until Friday. As City Attorney Anne Morgan explained it, Council would need seven votes to pass the Austin Police Oversight Act or an election to consider that ordinance on a single reading. If there are merely six votes for either option, Council will have to take that vote on three different days. That is why Council is scheduled to meet on Saturday as well as Monday. Of course, any Council member could change his or her vote to avoid extra meetings.

You may have read about the city’s plan to sprinkle resilience hubs throughout Austin, to help the community prepare “for a range of threats including flooding, drought, extreme heat and wildfires, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations,” says a news release. Six pilot hubs will be activated later this year to form part of the citywide network of hubs offering resources to support community members “before, during and after a disaster.” Besides food, water and shelter, the hubs will offer bathrooms, cellphone charging and space to meet with others. Laura Patiño, the city’s resilience officer, explained, “As climate change brings more frequent severe weather and other disasters, there is a need for accessible community spaces, supply distribution centers, backup power and water, and safe temporary shelters. Working with Austin Independent School District, Travis County, the Community Advisory Committee, and the Community Task Force, we continue to make progress towards the creation of this vital support network.” Read more about the Resilience Hub Network here.

The Economic Development Department has launched a grant program that “promotes tourism through historic preservation and inclusive projects about Austin’s history.” The Heritage Preservation Grants are “reimbursable two-year historic preservation funding grants for capital, planning, educational, or marketing projects.” As EDD Director Sylnovia Holt-Rabb explained in a news release, “Preserving Austin’s history and heritage allows us to tell countless untold stories that encompass our city’s unique identity and allure for tourists. The Heritage Preservation Grant provides critical funding to ensure Austin’s irreplaceable historic sites can be enjoyed for generations to come.” For-profit, government and nonprofit entities may apply until Oct. 17. Review the full eligibility requirements, grant guidelines and application details online.

The city is moving forward with plans to improve Nuckols Crossing Road. The southeast road is considered substandard, which means it is less than 24 feet in width or lacks curb, gutter, drainage, bicycle or sidewalk infrastructure. The project, according to an email from the Transportation Department, “focuses on two sections: from Bluff Springs Road to Salt Springs Drive north of Ringsby Road and from the roundabout at Todd Lane/South Pleasant Valley to South Pleasant Valley Road.” To get feedback from the community on how to prioritize improvements, the city will host a meeting at Widen Elementary School, at 5605 Nuckols Crossing Road, this Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Due to a software system conversion, the Austin Municipal Court will be closed from today (Tuesday) at 3 p.m. until reopening on Monday, Sept. 19, at 7 a.m. According to a press release from the city, the current court portal will be closed until Sept. 19 as well, which means that case information and online payments will not be accessible. In addition, the Downtown Austin Community Court will suspend its services from 2 p.m. today, resuming operations on Monday, Sept. 19, at 8 a.m. Court payments, arraignments at DACC, and scheduled and walk-in magistration will not be available during that time; however, all due dates until Sept. 18 will be extended to Sept. 19 for both Downtown and Municipal Court cases.

Keep Austin Beautiful is inviting volunteers to pitch in and help clean up Lady Bird Lake. More than 100 volunteers conduct cleanups at over 10 locations along the shoreline and on the water via water crafts, and you may choose your location on the registration page. Each location has a volunteer leader who will provide instructions, safety guidelines and cleanup supplies. All ages are welcome. Saturday, Oct. 22, 9-11 a.m. Register here.

With more than $500,000 in grants in hand, Workforce Solutions Capital Area is looking to expand apprenticeship programs in the area. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Workforce Solutions will be holding an event to let the public know about apprenticeship grant opportunities aimed at helping Travis County residents earn more through job training and certification. The opportunities have been funded through a mix of private and public grants, with enrollment for technology and health care apprenticeships currently underway. (Manufacturing apprenticeships are slated to open in January 2023.) Those wanting to learn more about the apprenticeships can attend Tuesday’s event or apply online. “We are grateful for the ongoing support from our community, which allows us to offer these apprenticeship programs and provide much-needed opportunities to grow our region’s manufacturing, technology and health care industries,” Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, said in a statement to the press. “Programs like these allow for the development of a highly skilled workforce, provide residents with the tools they need to get hired for high-paying jobs, and support employers with a diverse and talented applicant pool from which to recruit.”

A virtual alphabet soup of agencies and departments will be participating in the city’s pilot emergency preparedness fair, Get Ready Central Texas, a family-friendly event designed to help residents prepare in the event of a natural disaster or emergency. Attendees “will learn about the city’s Basic Emergency Operations Plan, and other plans in place which are activated during an emergency or disaster,” as well as “how government, non-governmental organizations, neighborhoods, and individual families can work together during a disaster.” Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Juan Ortiz said, “When a disaster strikes, we are all responsible for helping each other. Individuals, organizations, and government have a part to play in the safety of our community. We want to give everyone the information and basic resources to be prepared during an emergency and feel confident that they will be able to safely make it through the event.” Tuesday, Sept. 20, 3-7 p.m., Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road.