1. DORIAN THREATENS PUERTO RICO
Forecasters say the tropical storm made a last-minute shift in its path and could reach near-hurricane strength in its approach to the reeling U.S. territory.
2. OXYCONTIN MAKER, FEDS IN SETTLEMENT TALKS
State attorneys general and lawyers representing local governments say they are negotiating with Purdue Pharma, facing billions of dollars in potential liability for its role in the nation’s opioid crisis.
3. HAYS COUNTY INMATES HEAD TO TRAVIS COUNTY
Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez has agreed to take in 50 prisoners from the Hays County Jail.
By unanimous vote, county leaders have settled on a daily rate of $3500 per day from Hays County, or about $70 per inmate. Sheriff’s Department Major Wes Priddy says the 50 inmates do not have any special medical or mental health needs, and shouldn’t require any extra costly treatments.
4. AUSTIN ENERGY WANTS TO RAISE YOUR RATES
If you’re an Austin Energy customer, get ready for a rate hike.
By November, the utility will increase the Power Supply Adjustment, or PSA portion of your bill by 8.5-percent, or an average of $2.10 more per month. The city council will consider that fee increase today during a meeting on the new budget.
5. APD TO GET MORE MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE TRAINING
APD Chief Brian Manley says each police officer will soon see double their current mental health training hours from 40 to 80.
“I think the steps that we are taking as a department, rolling this training out to every officer, will, again, allow us to better interact with, and serve our overall community,” Manley says.
All officers will be equipped with advanced training that currently only about 120 APD officers have. The mass training will start at the beginning of the year, and Manley expects to have all officers up to date in two years.
