Looking Back:
City and Politics: Summer temperatures rise as the state’s power grid faces growing challenges from aging power plants, the strain of integrating renewable energy and the increasing demands of AI systems. President Joe Biden was met with protest on July 29 while delivering a keynote address at the LBJ Presidential Library, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.
Crime/Public Safety and Campus: In July, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that bans homeless encampments nationwide potentially giving national backing to local ordinances criminalizing homelessness. Austin City Council unanimously named Lisa Davis as the new police chief.
Campus, SG and UT Systems: In July, the U.S. National Science Foundation selected UT’s Texas Advanced Computing Center to lead national research projects as the Leadership-Class Computing Facility, investing $457 million.
Looking Forward:
City and Politics: City Manager T.C. Broadnax proposed a historic budget for 2024-2025, increasing funding for the Austin Police Department, but leaving emergency medical services still needing more support. As Central Texas faces escalating temperatures and a fragile power grid, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed rules aimed to protect workers from extreme heat.
Crime/Public Safety and Campus: Amidst Austin Police Department staff shortages, the Downtown Austin Alliance’s downtown safety team, dedicated to addressing lower-class misdemeanors downtown, is set to expand in October.
Campus, SG and UT Systems: This fall, the University will utilize Unizin, a member-based learning analytics system, to enhance Canvas data access. The University will increase recruitment efforts in rural communities joining one other Texas university in a national network dedicated to educational attainment in rural areas nationwide.
