1. ‘WE ARE GOING TO START TALKING VERY SERIOUSLY’
President Donald Trump says serious negotiations with China will begin after the U.S. received two “very good calls” from Beijing.
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2. BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE TO AMAZON BLAZES DRAWS IRE
The far-right populist leader initially dismissed the hundreds of blazes and then questioned whether activist groups might have started the fires in an effort to damage the credibility of his government, which has called for looser environmental regulations in the world’s largest rainforest to spur development.
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3. COLTS NAME NEW QUARTERBACK AFTER LUCK’S SURPRISE RETIREMENT
General manager Chris Ballard taps Jacoby Brissett who has starting experience and served as understudy to both Andrew Luck and Tom Brady, after New England drafted him in the third round in 2016.
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4. NEW MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS FOR ROUND ROCK ISD
The Round Rock school district has opened up new mental health centers for students, which will allow them to meet with licensed mental health professionals free of charge.
Both Cedar Ridge and Round Rock High Schools offer the mental health centers. Parents and guardians will have to give their consent before any services can be rendered.
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5. ACTIVISTS: SPEND BIG TO ADDRESS EAST AUSTIN GENTRIFICATION
Today, a group of community activists will call on the Austin City Council to include $18-million in the next year’s budget to battle against gentrification and displacement.
The proposal calls for $10-million just to preserve low-income units in East Austin. $3-million would help “very low-income” people stay in their neighborhood. $2-million would help preserve small businesses.
