The University of Texas has plans to make the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin a hub for the area’s already thriving semiconductor industry, in addition to existing city plans to steer life sciences businesses to that region. The Austin Business Journal reports that UT President Jay Hartzell wants the university to be more closely involved in talks for major business expansions and relocations often handled by Opportunity Austin and other local leaders. With UT routinely named as one of the major labor force development resources for the area – along with Austin Community College – Hartzell said the university should play a much larger role in discussions on the needs of new and emerging businesses in the area. In addition to the Pickle campus, UT also wants to see the former Sematech campus on Montopolis Drive used to support semiconductor fabrication.

The city of Austin has reported closing four encampments throughout the city and “welcomed 63 unhoused residents to the Northbridge and Southbridge shelters as part of the Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) Initiative.” Neighbors along the Barton Creek Greenbelt in particular had been clamoring for weeks for the city to clean up that encampment that they believed might lead to wildfires threatening their homes. Residents of encampments along Williamson Creek East, the Indian Grass Prairie and North Walnut Creek were also offered access to shelter and connections to housing resources. Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said in a news release, “Transitioning from encampments into shelter signifies a significant step towards stability, support, and access to resources and care. The cleanup of four encampments reflects our commitment to ensuring a safer community.” Departments working closely with the HEAL intervention included the Parks and Recreation Department and the Austin Police Department, as well as the Austin Area Urban League. The city noted, “City Council approved the HEAL Initiative in February 2021. The HEAL Initiative is one element of the City’s broader effort to address homelessness and return public spaces to their intended uses. Since HEAL began in June of 2021, over 835 individuals have moved from high-risk encampments to the City’s Northbridge and Southbridge shelters.”

The monthly sales tax report from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar showed major cities throughout the state generally getting a little less in sales tax revenues this month, with an overall dip of 0.3 percent. Austin’s revenues were down just 0.05 percent compared to the same payment last year, but were up about 3 percent for the year so far. The news from Round Rock looked considerably different. The comptroller reported that the Austin suburb collected 20.3 percent less money during the month than a year earlier. But Round Rock is still 1.17 percent ahead of last year overall. Kevin Lyons, a spokesperson for the comptroller’s office, explained that one large company decided to pay their taxes early last year, contributing to the impression that Round Rock collected nearly $3 million more last July than this year. However, if the payments had been spread out over several months as they were this year, they would show very little change, he said. Statewide, cities showed a 0.3 percent drop from July of last year, but were up 1.9 percent overall. Transit systems were down 0.9 percent and counties saw a 1 percent drop for the month but each had collected about 1.5 percent more in sales taxes for the year so far, according to Hegar’s report.

This whisper has been corrected. One Round Rock company paid early last year, not three.

The Trail Conservancy has scheduled a ribbon-cutting and community celebration for the grand opening of the Rainey Street Trailhead, part of the Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. The $1.1 million project connects the trail to Rainey Street and includes seating areas, a stage, natural tunnels and mazes, and other amenities to serve visitors to the area. The ribbon-cutting will take place at 8 a.m. Friday, with appearances by Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council Member Zo Qadri. The community celebration will take place 9-11 a.m. Saturday and will include family-friendly games, music by Bidi Bidi Banda and appearances by assorted University of Texas football players, with UrbanSpace donating 10 percent of all food sales to cover maintenance costs for the area.

Travis County officials and Steiner Ranch denizens will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate a new way to get out of the community. “Steiner Ranch Area Evacuation Route B” will provide an additional means of egress at the intersection of Prairie Clover Path and Flat Top Ranch Road in the event an evacuation is required. “By building this second evacuation route, we are improving the safety of Steiner Ranch and Montview residents in the case of fires or other disasters. This is part of how we make our community more resilient in the face of growing climate disasters. I’m grateful for the work of our Travis County staff, area residents, ESD 6, and many other partners,” Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea said in a statement to the press. Today’s ribbon-cutting will take place at 10 a.m. at the intersection and will feature comments from Shea, community members and representatives from the county’s Transportation and Natural Resources Department and Emergency Services District 6.

Anyone using the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail over the next few months should be aware of a series of detours near Waller Creek that will allow for the construction of new bridges, a deck and an overlook. The first detour will be in place on Monday, July 22, and last (roughly) through the end of August and will shunt trail users to a trail just east of the current bridge over Waller Creek. In addition, the city warns that construction traffic may be crossing the trail periodically, stopping trail traffic at times between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Here’s a map!

VOCAL-TX has joined a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Texas against Travis County for its failure to provide legal counsel during magistration. The group, which describes itself as “a grassroots organization dedicated to building power among low-income people impacted by homelessness, the drug war, mass incarceration, and HIV/AIDS,” notes that the process often results in judges requiring people before them to pay for release from jail, and those who cannot afford that are faced with loss of family, employment and housing while waiting for trial. “The lawsuit complements the advocacy of the coalition fighting for in-person Council At First Appearance (CAFA) in Travis County. Led by efforts at Grassroots Leadership, Austin Sanctuary Network and Austin Area Urban League, the coalition is advocating for in-person legal counsel during initial court appearances and fair bond practices to alleviate unjust incarceration pressures,” a press release from the group explains.

As promised, traffic and crossing signals have been installed at Interstate 35 and Fourth Street, making the Lance Armstrong Bikeway and popular pedestrian crossing much safer than its previous, longtime incarnation that required a scramble across the frontage road. A press release from the city notes that the crossing, which is also part of the Red Line Trail, was activated mid-June, and now pedestrians and cyclists can cross by pressing buttons on either side of Fourth Street to activate the signals. More info about the city’s bike routes can be found on this interactive bike map.

Austin Community College’s Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a new Affordability Scholarship program designed to help enrolled students finish their degrees. The scholarship, which applies to students who completed a credit course in spring 2024, will cover the final 15 credit hours for students who have completed 45 hours toward a degree at ACC. The move is part of a larger plan to make education free for everyone. It is expected to cost $12.75 million and will be funded through existing reserves. “Our student leaders had the courage to come to us and share what their lives are really like. They’re experiencing things like food and housing insecurity more than ever,” ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart said in a statement to the press. “I’m so proud of this Board, our students, and this college for listening and putting our students and their needs first. With this program, we’re one more step closer to making tuition free for everyone.”  ACC is also working to expand its Student Emergency Fund to $500,000 in order to support students that need help due to unforeseen circumstances.

Austin’s Human Resources Department is recommending expanding the city’s child care assistance program to match a pilot program launched this year. A memo from human resources director Susan Sinz explains that a survey found that 84 percent of city employees cited cost as a factor in finding child care. A study, launched by a City Council resolution, recommends that the city expand eligibility requirements for its child care assistance program and contribute up to 5,000 for care-related costs, financed through the Employee Benefit Fund.

Applications for the 2024 Austin Youth Poet Laureate program are now open to Austin-area residents ages 13 to 18 who care about artistic excellence and social activism. The program aims to identify and uplift young writers and leaders, and the Austin youth poet laureate and finalists will have numerous opportunities and platforms to share their voice, leadership and love of the city. The deadline to apply is Sept. 1, and the Library Foundation is offering a series of free online and in-person workshops to help young poets develop their applications. Applications and more information can be found at austinlibrary.org. The program is a partnership between the Library Foundation, the Austin Public Library and the National Youth Poet Laureate Program led by Urban Word.