As part of the city’s emergency warning system, the Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) has an Accessible Hazard Alert System designed to reach community members that have limited literacy or are deaf, hard of hearing or blind. Emergency messages are issued as a video with voice, text and American Sign Language to video-capable devices and Braille readers. Anyone who might be served by this technology is encouraged to register at the AHAS website or by texting AHAS to (737) 241-3710. “HSEM is committed to providing equitable access of emergency information. When we engage with disability advocacy groups, we learn how to better serve members of our community who are sometimes left out of the conversation,” Ken Snipes, director of HSEM, said in a statement to the press. “Our goal is to make sure organizations in the disability advocacy space have access to us and can see themselves represented in emergency plans.”

Queer artists focused on live performance are invited to apply for a residency offering the time, space, freedom and financial support to concentrate on the development of their own work for one month at the multidisciplinary arts org Warehouse9 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Museum of Human Achievement (MoHA) and the Unlisted Projects residency program have partnered with Warehouse9 for an international residency exchange – with one artist from Texas going to Denmark and one artist from Denmark coming to Austin. This residency is designed to support artistic development and facilitate cultural exchange, and forge long-term connections between artists, organizations and the greater communities of Texas and Denmark, with a special commitment to the intersection of LGBTQIA+ issues and environmental sustainability practices. Artists will have the opportunity to present at Roskilde Festival, a nonprofit music, art, and activism festival in Denmark that supports humanitarian, cultural and nonprofit youth projects around the world. This opportunity is open to artists living in the Greater Austin area, 21+ years old, showing a strong professional working history. A variety of disciplines are accepted, including (but not limited to) visual arts, media/new genre, performance, architecture, film/video, interdisciplinary arts, sound art and music composition, and choreography. For more details on the open call, the timeline and the residency itself, visit MoHA’s website.

Nearly the entire month of March – today through Sunday, March 31 – is expected to be a busy time at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport as visitors come to town for South by Southwest, spring break and other spring events. Passenger volume will hit 30,000+ on multiple days this month, with the busiest days for departing travelers expected to be today, Friday, Sunday and Monday. People going through general Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening should arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours before departure for international flights. If you’re checking luggage or returning a rental car, arrive even earlier. TSA PreCheck and Clear users can expect a quicker security procedure. Leave prohibited items, like firearms and liquids exceeding 3.4 oz., at home because those will cause delays. While you’re waiting, there’s time to catch the airport’s music lineup, featuring 50 different live music performances March 11-18. For the schedule of ABIA’s eight music stages, see the Live Music in the Air at AUS program web page. “Our staff has been working hard to prepare the airport for an increase of travelers and will continue to work hard throughout this busy travel period,” said Ghizlane Badawi, the airport’s interim CEO. “We do ask that passengers plan to arrive early, refer to our travel tips, and show kindness to others along their journey.” Extra Department of Aviation staff will be throughout the terminal on busy days to assist travelers. Passengers needing assistance at any point in their journey at AUS are encouraged to call the Airport Operations Center at (512) 530-2242 or to ask any Department of Aviation staff member for assistance.

• 6:30-7:30 p.m. – hands-on, family-friendly activities
• 7:30-8 p.m. – eclipse presentation and Q&A
• 8-9 p.m. – night sky viewing with a telescope

Austin Parks Foundation has plans for this year’s In the Park series, which kicks off today with a storytime at Springwood Park. Next week, Movies in the Park returns on March 14 with Elemental at Circle C Ranch Metro Park. The programming, which runs through December, is free and open to all. APF has teamed up with Creative Action for Playdates in the Park, offering family-friendly arts and entertainment, and with Rocket Cinema for free, outdoor movies that feature vendors and BYO picnic vibes. The Playdates in the Park schedule can be found here. The Movies in the Park schedule and information can also be found online. “For over 31 years, APF has been connecting people and parks by improving Austin’s public parks, trails and green spaces through volunteerism, innovative programming, advocacy and financial support,” Colin Wallis, CEO of Austin Parks Foundation, said in a statement to the press. “An important piece of our programming is to get people out in their neighborhood parks having fun, whether that is through movie screenings, story times or dance parties.” The full schedule of this year’s events can be found at austinparks.org.

Brush Square was one of four designated public squares in the 1839 original plat of Austin, was developed into a park in 1913 and is home today to three relocated historic buildings: the O. Henry Museum, Central Fire Station #1 and the Susanna Dickinson Museum. And as of Feb. 29, the location at 409 E. Fifth St. is one of six Texas parks honored as a Lone Star Legacy Park by the Texas Recreation and Park Society at the association’s annual conference in Galveston. A Lone Star Legacy Park is a park that holds special prominence in the local community and the state of Texas. To be considered, the park must have endured the test of time and become iconic to those who have visited, played and rested on its grounds. Nominated parks must be a minimum of 50 years old and meet criteria related to historic, architectural and natural significance. “Brush Square is one of the oldest green spaces in the city, and its location in the heart of downtown Austin next to the convention center makes it a special place for both residents and visitors,” said Kimberly McNeeley, Austin Parks and Recreation Department director. Other Texas parks recognized in 2024 include Carver Park in Cleburne, Huntsville State Park, Martin Luther King (MLK) Park in San Antonio, Menard Park in Galveston and White Rock Lake in Dallas. Other Austin parks to previously receive the Lone Star Legacy designation include Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park, Pease District Park, Zilker Metropolitan Park, Rosewood Neighborhood Park, Eastwoods Neighborhood Park, Givens District Park and Pan Am Neighborhood Park.

For the second year in a row, the Lower Colorado River Authority has determined that no Highland Lakes water will be made available for most LCRA agricultural customers in Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda counties. No lake water will be available for customers in the Gulf Coast, Lakeside and Pierce Ranch agricultural operations this year based on the ongoing drought and amount of water in lakes Buchanan and Travis on March 1. Under the state-approved Water Management Plan that guides LCRA, the current water supply constitutes an “extraordinary drought” with the two reservoirs currently at about 42 percent of capacity. “This is a reflection of the serious drought we’re in,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of water, in a statement to the press. “Texas has gotten some significant rain over the last few months, but it hasn’t been in the right areas to benefit Lake Buchanan or Lake Travis. The Water Management Plan requires us to take this step to help ensure we can continue to meet the water needs of cities and industries throughout the region.” The water authority serves both firm and interruptible water customers. Firm customers are municipalities, water districts and other customers that can purchase water no matter the drought conditions. Interruptible customers, like the ones cut off on March 2, are agricultural customers in the lower basin. More information about LCRA’s drought response can be found here.

Mayor Kirk Watson has said that he’s confident a new city manager can be identified next month, despite an extended application period. There are 39 applicants for the position, with City Council set to review the candidates on Tuesday, March 5, with interviews and a town hall slated to take place in April. As a part of the recruitment process, the city’s chosen search firm, Mosaic Public Partners, also conducted a community stakeholder survey. That survey found that board and commission members identified housing affordability and homelessness as top areas of priority for the new manager, with 16.7 percent of respondents also asking that the new manager have no affiliation with current leadership. The community at large identified top issues to be homelessness; crime, public safety and civic disorder; transportation and traffic; and housing affordability. City employee responses were more split, saying the most significant challenges the new hire will face are homelessness, housing affordability, managing growth, employee morale and rebuilding trust, and City Council and politics. More complete results of the survey can be read here.

The Charter Review Commission will hold another community town hall to discuss proposed changes to the city’s guiding document. The hybrid meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. March 7 in the boards and commissions room, with registration for virtual speakers online through 4 p.m. on March 6. In-person speakers can register until the meeting is convened. The commission is tasked with identifying changes to the City Charter that will then have to be put on the ballot by City Council and, ultimately, approved or denied by voters. A draft of those proposed changes can be found here. The commission is scheduled to provide recommendations to City Council by the end of this month.

This whisper has been changed to correct the speaker registration information.

The city has waived just over $87,000 in fees and expenses for the organizers of the Blues on the Green concert series in Zilker Park. Included in the documents for Thursday’s City Council meeting was a fiscal note breaking down the more than two dozen line items associated with the series, which is organized each summer by Austin City Limits Radio. In January, the station announced that rising costs necessitated the cancellation of this year’s event, which regularly draws more than 10,000 people to hear predominantly local acts. City Council opted to find ways to support the series financially to prevent its end and also pledged to explore ways to support more live music and cultural events across the city. The largest expense on the fiscal note was $40,736 for police overtime costs to provide security at the free events, with a park rental fee of $20,430 as the next-largest cost. ACL Radio announced late last month that the city’s assistance and increased sponsorship from H-E-B allowed it to continue Blues on the Green this summer.

Huston-Tillotson University has created a new online skills platform intended to enhance career readiness by promoting “soft skills” such as time management, adaptability and work ethic, conflict resolution and entry-level leadership. Known as HT Certified, the video-based courses were designed for maximum flexibility and are available as eight lessons of eight minutes or less. The university launched the program this past year for students in its I.D.E.A.L. Summer Academy, with digital certificates available for students to post on their LinkedIn profile when they complete one or more courses. “This soft skills platform is a great asset to the university’s career readiness plan,” said Tina Reed, director of the Quality Enhancement Plan. “We are using HT Certified in the classroom, in our HT student organization programs and in our work-study program. We are also using it as our professional development certification program for our faculty, staff and alumni.”

Rethink35, a group that is promoting alternatives to the upcoming expansion of Interstate 35 through Downtown Austin, has refiled its suit against the project with additional opponents signing on. The suit now has the support of all three declared mayoral candidates – Kathie Tovo, Carmen Llanes Pulido and Doug Greco. (Though current mayor Kirk Watson is assumed to be running for reelection, he has yet to make it official.) In addition, the suit has the support of Austin Justice Coaltion, PODER, LULAC #22425, AURA and the Save Our Springs Alliance, among other groups. The civil rights complaint highlights the racial segregation solidified by the highway’s construction and alleges that its expansion reinforces those divides. “I-35 has divided Austin, and displaced and harmed people of color since it was built. TxDOT efforts to expand I-35 will worsen that division, displacement and harm. We will not sit idly by and just let this happen,” Chris Harris of the Austin Justice Coalition said in a statement to the press. The complaint and full list of signatories can be read in its entirety here.