It's Past Time for Vaccine Mandates in Schools
Kids waiting in line for their temperature to be takenPexels. Austin, TX moves back to Stage 5. The NY Times breaking headline reports more than 300,000 Coronavirus cases confirmed in the US. In Chicago, schools have shut down because teachers refuse to return to in-person work in the classroom.
Read full storyAdopt Don't Ask, Don't Tell to Keep the Peace During the Holidays
Holiday talk is cheap, but it can cost relationships.Nicole Michalou on Pexels. This year you're looking to keep the peace, because, in November of 2020, one poll says: only 2 in 5 Americans opted to gather over the holidays. When making the decision, people asked themselves one question: “We’re going to look back at what happened during this holiday season and ask ourselves, ‘Were we part of the solution or were we part of the problem?’”
Read full storyLeaders Condemn Anti-Semitic Messages in Liberal Austin
Austin, TX--A study by Smart Asset names Austin one of the best liberal cities in the country. Specifically, the number 1 city in the state and the number 2 city in the country to live, if you're liberal. An interesting placeholder in an otherwise blue state--at least for a little while.
Read full storyAuthorities Seek Suspect: Timothy George Simpkins in Arlington High School Shooting
Timothy George Simpkins Courtesy of TwitterTwitter. In Arlington, TX every student's, teacher's, and parent's nightmare came true. A school shooting happened early in the day on Wednesday, October 6th. No one expects guns to be brought to school, much less be the solution to a dispute between students, but that's precisely what happened at Timberview High School. There's an active shooting in your hometown are words no one wants to hear.
Read full storyHow Do You Weigh-in for: Mask On, Mask Off, Mask On in Austin and Greater Texas?
Mask on or mask off?Photo by Paul Siewert Unsplash. Austin, TX--On occasion one gets to live a charmed life, as in the movies. But, the ability to live the charmed life of whether or not to wear a mask is infuriating to Texas residents who want the choice not wear a mask. Others think it's ridiculous to chance health and safety over a tiny piece of fabric.
Read full storyLegendary Lafayette Jeff Teacher Goes Viral with Push-Up Challenge, Changes Lives
Often we think about high school and wonder where's a certain person and what they're doing now. It's so easy to check on peers with social media that traveling back home for a class reunion isn't necessary. You can get most of your needs met on Zoom-like interactions, but face-to-face interactions provide an extra element of connection. If you could add teachers among the attendees of your reunion, who would it be? For me, it would be my English teacher, Chuck Herber.
Read full storyI Was Robbed of Saying Goodbye to My Mother Before She Died
Mom died early this year, and I didn’t get to say goodbye. Even though I made every effort to talk with her before she passed, I could not do so through no fault of my own. My Uncle, who I once loved and respected, used stature and position to stop me from having a conversation with her in her last moments.
Read full storyAustin Parents, Teachers Demand Mask Mandates and Safety for New School Year
Safety first, but not this year in Texas.Photo by Anastasiya Gepp from Pexels. Austin, TX: Can kids be safe as they prepare to go back to school? In a word, the answer is no. There's the Delta variant to worry about and rumblings of the next variant after that to be equally as difficult.
Read full storyIs Simone Biles a National Embarrassment or Mental Health Champion?
Simone Bileswikipedia/commons/wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EUA. Houston, TX: When Simone Biles returns home to Houston some think a party should be held in her honor. Others, not so much. One Texas Attorney General says she's an embarrassment. Biles grew up in Spring, Texas, just a short drive from Houston. She has 25 world medals, 19 of those are gold. She's a true athlete, and she knows her limits. Biles has her own training facility near Houston and uses her abilities to help others. Elite athletes are moving to Texas to train with Biles.
Read full storyVoting Rights Activists March 27 Miles to Austin Capitol
Protestors march 27 miles in AustinUnsplash.com/@claybanks. Austin, TX: Wednesday morning voting activists gathered in Georgetown to march 27 miles to the capitol in Austin. Their goal: to stop voter suppression.
Read full storyCedar Park Teen 'Paid $10 for Death' Fentanyl Use on the Rise
Fentanyl use on the rise in AustinShutterstock/Sherry Yates Young. Austin, TX: Becky Stewart had a fun-filled family day planned with her son Cameron. They were going to drive around Zilker Park in Austin and maybe visit a food truck on Sixth street, but when she called Cameron back to confirm the plans he didn't answer. She felt something wasn't right:
Read full storySlapbox in Austin Delivers 600 Degrees Piping Hot Pizza
Slapbox, AustinPhoto by author. Austin, TX- On a recent weekday afternoon, my family was looking for a unique out-of-the-way location where we could relax and not be rushed. We ended up at Slapbox. There are two locations, and we enjoyed the Parmer location: 9900 W Parmer Ln Ste B-100, Austin. This location is open from 11 am - 9 pm daily.
Read full storyThe Mask Battle is On as Austin Moves Back to Stage 4 Asking Everyone to Put Their Mask Back On
Everyone in Austin is asked to mask.Photo by unsplash.com/@visuals. Austin, TX: Breaking news Friday in Austin. The town takes a step back to Stage 4 COVID risk levels, making the request clear for everyone, regardless of your vaccine status: Please put your mask back on.
Read full storyAustin Mayor and Governor Battle Over Whether to Wear Masks in School
Should kids wear masks in Austin schools?Photo by unsplash.com/@kellysikkema. Austin, TX- Whether you should wear a mask is a hotly debated topic among adults, but Governor Greg Abbot wants to put the personal responsibility on school-age kids as a choice option. Despite a sharp increase in COVID cases, Abbott says he will not order students to wear masks.
Read full storyAustin Group Teaches You How to Drive Offcamber
Live life a little Offcamber.Royalty-free image, used with permission of Offcamber, Austin. Austin, TX- About an hour from Austin, and just three miles East of Llano is a driving school to help four-wheel- and all-wheel-drive vehicle owners become confident and competent offroad drivers. Perhaps you were born to live life offcamber, or just want the thrill of an adventure. Bring your truck, Jeep, Hummer, SUV, get behind the wheel and get Offcamber, at 4111 TX-29E, Llano, TX 78643.
Read full storyBezos' Space Dreams Take Van Horn, TX From a Speck on the Map to the Place Where Dreams Come True
Bezos Space dreams reignite the childhood dreams in all of usWikimedia Commons: Jeff Bezos Unveils Blue Origin Lunar Lander.jpg. Austin, TX-Almost directly due west of Austin, is a speck of a town you've never heard of, Van Horn, Texas is about seven hours from Austin by car. No one will blame for not knowing about a small town with an estimated population of 2,000. City-data says the town is 52% male / 48% female, has a median household income of about $38,000, and a poverty rate of 30% after the effects of Covid.
Read full storyCan You Help Identify the Suspect of This Austin Shooting?
Handgun crime is on the rise in AustinPhoto by cottonbro from Pexels. Austin, Texas-The Travis County Sherriff's Office needs your help identifying a suspected shooter in a deadly incident that occurred at Dessau Mini Mart located at 12915 Dessau Road around 9:07 p.m.
Read full storyWill Runaway House Democrats Board Jets on Standby to Get Back to Work in Austin?
Austin democrats run off to WashingtonPhoto by Alejandro Barba on Unsplash. Austin, TX- House democrats left their seats vacant in Austin and ran away in the middle of a Special Legislative Session called by Governor Greg Abbott, breaking quorum so they don't have to vote on the issue of voting rights. They don't have the votes to stop the bill from passing so they run away instead.
Read full storySmell Salt Lick's Pits from a Mile Away in Round Rock
The Salt Lick, Round Rock near AustinPhoto by author. Austin, TX--The smoke from the pits lingers in the air over Round Rock. It has an aroma that smothers meat like sweat on a summer day. The humor is on the t-shirts with the same saying: "You can smell our pits from a mile away." Just north of Austin is Salt Lick in Round Rock. Trip Advisor rates Salt Lick #5 of #265 restaurants in town. Most reviews are excellent to very good. Go north on 1-35, jaunt off at 620 to Palm Valley, and right next to the Dell Diamond you'll find Salt Lick: 3350 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665. Perhaps grab some barbeque before a baseball game, and you'll not be disappointed.
Read full storyDon't Miss Summer School to Catapult Your Writing Skills
Summer school is in session in your hometown.Photo by Katerina Holmes from Pexels. Austin, TX--Zoom makes everything local. If you're a writer, you're constantly growing your skills and looking for ways to stay relevant in the ways you craft your words and reach your audience. Continuing education is part of continued growth. As life resumes normalcy, you have a unique opportunity to participate in events that used to cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to attend in person. After working from home for a year and a half or more, you're less likely to plop down big bucks for conferences when you can attend via Zoom.
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