Austin’s Top News – June 26, 2020

Austin's Top News from News Radio KLBJ

Mayor Adler blames Abbot’s reopening plan for COVID rise

Mayor Steve Adler is pinning the blame on the local rise in COVID-19 cases on Governor Greg Abbott and the state’s reopening plan. Adler says Abbots intentions were misguided.

“Because he wanted to protect what he felt was a liberty interest that an individual had. I can’t explain that,” says Adler.

Adler says he left the mask mandates up to local businesses because that’s the only way the governor’s order allows him to have any say in the matter. Adler has not mentioned the possible transmission that occurred during the weeks of protests.

COVID-19 update

Speaking of Travis County’s numbers, the new cases are climbing higher. More than 5,000 people have now recovered out of 7,097 cases confirmed since March. Hospitalizations are still a concern as 293 coronavirus patients are in hospital beds as of this morning.

Despite Williamson County seeing a more than 50% increase in new COVID cases this week, the number of people in the hospital has remained fairly low. Only 25 are in the hospital as of today. 32 have died, but no new deaths have been reported in several days. 891 cases were active as of now, and 757 people have recovered. 

Second shutdown might me imminent 

Once again, Travis County imposes a strict limit on gatherings. County Judge Sam Biscoe signed an order preventing outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people. As for those smaller groups, they can be no more than 10 people in size. That will remain in effect until July 10 unless that order is extended beyond that time. 

Austin City Council member Greg Casar thinks businesses may soon need to shut back down to slow the spread of coronavirus. He tells CBS Austin the city is prepared to ignore the governor’s authority and fight him in court if he retaliates.

“If the governor’s not gonna require masks, if the governor’s not gonna close bars and amusement parks, he should at least give us the authority to protect our own people,” says Casar.

He’s fully prepared to call for a full citywide shutdown once again.

Local economy continues to struggle

The Austin/Round Rock metro has lost more than 122,000 jobs in just the last month. Economist Dr. Ray Perryman says if all goes well in the reopening effort and progress continues for the rest of the year, the area could see a net loss of only 64,000 jobs. However, if the local economic reopening stalls things will get worse.

“Clearly that would probably take off at least another 10-20% away from the economy. If we have to stall or go backwards,” says Perryman.

He says the retail, food, service and hospitality industries will suffer the most job losses and only see partial recovery next year. 

APH begins contact tracing after teenagers throw a massive party

Austin Public Health has begun contact tracing on a case involving hundreds of teenagers who may have been exposed to coronavirus at a party last weekend in Lakeway. About 300 teenagers reportedly showed up, some of whom have tested positive for COVID. Austin Public Health is encouraging anyone who was at that party to get tested as soon as possible. 

The state’s largest police union is issuing a threat of a lawsuit over protective gear

“Someone will be hurt, and we will be suing,” says Charley Wilkison. He is the Executive Director of the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas. Speaking with FOX 7, Wilkinson says there’s a way to prevent that lawsuit by giving cops more protective gear and reauthorizing the use of certain crowd control devices. They were done away with by the City Council and APD Chief Brian Manley.

“Not well thought out. Not the way to run a city. Not the way to run a police department,” says Wilkinson.

Meanwhile, the Austin Police Association says it has recently been in talks with Chief Brian Manley about purchasing new equipment. The police association is very hopeful that that will eventually get done. 

Austin’s population is projected to climb

Soon, the city projects that Austin will move up to 10th most populous city in the nation. According to the city’s own Imagine Austin newsletter. Currently Austin trails San Jose, California, but that city is seeing a large exodus of residents. Imagine Austin predicts the local population will climb up into that 10th spot by early next year. 

This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:

https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-6-26-20

 

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