Author, historian and film consultant Dr. Cynthia E. Orozco will be giving a virtual talk about the “early colonial history of the Austin area, the arrival of Mexicans to the area, the establishment of barrios, and the political, economic, and social status of this community.” Orozco, the author of No Mexicans, Women or Dogs Allowed: The Rise of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement and Agent of Change: Adela Sloss-Vento, Mexican American Civil Rights Activist and Texas Feminist, teaches at Eastern New Mexico University in Ruidoso. Her talk is in conjunction with the MexicArte’s exhibition, Chicano/a Art, Movimiento y Más en Austen, Tejas 1960s to 1980s, which focuses on Chicano and Chicana artists in Austin during the Chicano civil rights movement. Tuesday, July 12, noon-1 p.m., Facebook Live.

A statewide initiative called Texas Utility Help aims to help eligible homeowners and renters pay their utility bills. Texans whose household income is at or below 150 percent of federal poverty income guidelines and who meet other eligibility requirements may submit an application. If they qualify, they can “receive assistance for their total past due amounts for electricity, natural gas and propane plus up to $2,400 in prospective payments. For water and wastewater assistance, qualified applicants can pay off their total past due payments and up to $600 in prospective payments. All payments are issued directly to the utility company on behalf of the applicant,” according to a news release. Bobby Wilkinson, executive director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which administers the program, hopes the new initiative will “make it easier for even more Texans to access and benefit from utility assistance programs. The new program uses a streamlined online application process, so any eligible Texas household can apply for both energy and water bill assistance in a single form.” Find out more at TexasUtilityHelp.com.

Another month, another record broken at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. In May 2022, reports AUS, passenger traffic was up 82.68 percent compared to May 2021 “with 2,021,747 passengers flying during the month, setting a new record for busiest month ever at the airport.” That’s a lot of people and a lot of airplanes. The graph tells the story pretty vividly: Air travel is back and it’s here to stay. 

Austin ISD is hosting four community conversations to discuss and solicit input on its 2022 bond proposal for making district-wide improvements to modernize its campuses. The entire community is invited to learn more about the proposal and share feedback on the initial bond package before it is finalized. Community members and district families are welcome to attend “any or all” of the sessions:

• Tuesday July 12, 6pm (virtual only)
• Thursday, July 14, 6pm (virtual only)
• Saturday, July 16, two in-person sessions: 10 a.m.-noon, Dobie Middle School, 1200 E. Rundberg Lane, and 1:30-3:30 p.m., Travis Early College High School, 1211 E. Oltorf St.

After the bond package has been voted on by the board of trustees there will be additional public meetings in August and September.

This Sunday, the Bullock Texas State History Museum is throwing a party – a birthday party to celebrate the legacy of its namesake Bob Bullock. Free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., family-friendly activities, a photo booth with costumes, and free sweet treats are just some of the temptations in store. Visitors can also try the museum’s new Star Cafe, which offers breakfast, lunch and snacks. As Bullock Museum Director Margaret Koch said in a release, Bob Bullock “dreamed the museum would be the place where people of all ages would engage with our dynamic history while growing in their understanding of what makes us who we are, often noting that to know where we are going we have to know where we’ve been. On the anniversary of his birth, we welcome everyone to come out, explore, and have some fun.” Sunday, July 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave.

Starting with the beginning of the pandemic, Austin Community College District has distributed more than $58 million in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds, or HEERF, to more than 16,420 students, according to a press release from ACC. The money has gone to help students who struggle to pay for college. Brittany Ligon, an ACC student and recipient, said, “As a single parent, working full time and going to school, it’s helped me stay afloat as I navigate life. Everyone deserves to be able to further their education whether it be for a better career or just for your personal goals. But not everyone can afford it. These opportunities help me keep food on the table and work toward my educational and career goals.” ACC’s debt forgiveness program has also played a critical role in removing the financial barriers to higher education, by clearing small debts for more than 8,100 students who “previously owed $1,000 or less for things such as books and course fees – and their balance was wiped to $0, clearing the way for them to register for more classes.” Dr. Melissa Curtis, associate vice chancellor of recruitment, said that the college wants “to make sure those in our community can continue to not only survive but thrive here.”

Severe drought with no relief in sight has led the Lower Colorado River Authority to cut off water to agricultural customers. Currently, the entire Hill Country watershed is in extreme drought. LCRA controls the flow of water through the lower Colorado River basin, and the interruption means that no Highland Lakes water will be available to agricultural customers in Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda counties. It is the first time water has been cut off since the implementation of the 2020 Water Management Plan, which “requires LCRA to cut off water from the Highland Lakes to interruptible customers during conditions such as the current drought so water supplies will continue to be available to cities, businesses and industries,” according to an LCRA press release. “This is how the Water Management Plan was designed to work,” John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president, said in a statement to the press. “It allows LCRA to react quickly to changing conditions.” Though there is still plenty of drinking water on hand, it’s been more than 18 months since Buchanan and Travis lakes were last full, and their water supply is expected to continue to decline throughout the summer.

The 2022 Roots & Wings Festival – the annual citywide celebration of all things trees and pollinators – is winging its way toward Austin at high velocity. The actual event, a fusion of Arbor Day and Monarch Appreciation Day, will take place Oct. 22-Nov. 5. Area nonprofits and other organizations that would like to host a community event celebrating trees, pollinators or nature have until Aug. 5 to apply. When brainstorming your proposal, keep in mind that festival organizers have expressed the “hope that this year’s fifth annual Roots & Wings Festival allows every Austinite to connect more deeply to our city, our natural spaces and to each other.” Find out more about event criteria and how to apply here.

Austin got some much-needed rain this week, but conditions remain worryingly dry leading into a holiday weekend that centers around setting things on fire. Travis County Judge Andy Brown, Travis County Fire Marshal Tony Callaway and the fire chiefs of Travis County’s Emergency Services Districts are warning residents that the risk of wildfire is high. Though they are bringing in extra staff to deal with fires that may result from firework celebrations, they are also urging caution. “Our Emergency Services Districts are doing everything they can to prepare for the holiday weekend, but they need the community’s help,” Brown said in a statement to the press. “I urge everyone to be mindful when celebrating with fireworks this holiday. All it takes is one small spark to start a wildfire that can quickly get out of control.” Callaway acknowledged the voluntary limitation of firework sales by local retailers, but urged everyone else to do their part as well. “If you are going to use fireworks, it is imperative that you follow the safety tips from my office. Folks need to remember that they can and will be held responsible for damages resulting from the use of fireworks,” he said. The Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office also offered a list of recommendations:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Sparklers burn as hot as a welding torch and are NOT for little kids to use. Give children glow sticks to play with and leave the sparklers to the adults.
• Never lean over the fireworks when lighting them.
• Don’t pick up fireworks that have not completely gone off; they may still explode.
• Throwing fireworks at each other is a bad idea. Don’t do it.
• Light fireworks one at a time.
• After fireworks complete burning, spray them with water or put them in a bucket of water. Do NOT put them in the trash.

Editor’s Note: Andy Brown is on the board of the Capital of Texas Media Foundation, the parent nonprofit of the Austin Monitor.

Fourth of July arrives conveniently on a Monday this year, giving city facilities and many others – including the Austin Monitor – a three-day weekend. Most city administrative offices and municipal facilities will be closed on Monday, July 4. Among the closures are recreation centers and senior centers and most museums and cultural centers. Austin Public Library branches, Austin Central Library, the Austin History Center and the Austin Animal Center will be closed Monday. Austin Public Health’s testing and vaccine sites will be closed on Saturday, July 2. There are no changes to Austin Resource Recovery trash, recycling and compost collections, but ARR administrative offices will be closed Monday. City golf courses, parks, tennis centers and Zilker Botanical Garden will be open as usual on Monday. Some swimming pools may be operating on modified schedules – check here for more info. Find details about Parks and Recreation closures here. See you Tuesday!

Get ready, because there’s a lot happening this weekend, and if you’re planning on celebrating we recommend you plan out your route in advance to avoid traffic snarls. There’s big stuff happening both downtown and in Northwest Austin on Monday, July 4. The annual free shindig at Auditorium Shores starts at 8 p.m. with the Austin Symphony Orchestra concert, followed by the fireworks show. There will be no parking in the neighborhoods surrounding Auditorium Shores and the Long Center – none, zip, zilch – and sections of Barton Springs Road, South First Street and Riverside Drive will be closed. This map depicts the closures. Capital Metro is offering free rides after 5 p.m. to this event; use the trip planner to find the best way to get there on public transit or MetroBike. You can walk or bike directly to the concert site or you can rent a scooter: The southwest corner of Riverside Drive and South First Street will be available to drop off scooters and other dockless devices. For those driving cars, the city recommends parking north of Lady Bird Lake in the downtown area and walking to the event, and here’s some info about downtown parking garages. Then there’s Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July picnic and fireworks. The all-day affair will be at Q2 Stadium, with doors opening at 11 a.m. and music starting at noon. Capital Metro will also take you here for free, but not until after 5 p.m. MetroRail will be operating on a special schedule serving Q2 Stadium: Trains from each direction will stop at Kramer Station and not run the entire length of the MetroRail line, with no direct service from Leander to downtown. Here’s more info about parking at the event, if you decide to brave it.