1. DORIAN HEADS FOR BAHAMAS, FLORIDA
The Category 1 hurricane does limited damage in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, though forecasters warn the storm is gaining strength as it moves over open water.
2. DEMOCRATIC DEBATE FIELD NARROWS
Ten Democrats – including front-runner Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders – have qualified for September’s televised debate.
3. WHAT HAS SEEN A ‘DRAMATIC RESURGENCE’
The World Health Organization sees a rise of measles in Europe this year, in part fueled by vaccine refusals.
4. HOMELESS CAMPING AROUND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
UT police chief David Carter’s call for a ban on homeless camping around the campus may not have much of an impact.
The school is in council member Kathie Tovo’s district, but she tells KVUE even though she understands his concerns, she’s not convinced there’s really a problem.
“At this point, I have no reason to suspect that there have been any changes since ths ordinances have changed,” Tovo says.
She says the safety and dignity of the homeless living around the UT campus should also be respected.
5. ACTIVISTS WANT MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONDERS, NOT COPS
Both the Pubic Safety Commission and the Human Rights Commission have endorsed a proposal to spend $1.75-million on ten new mental health responders not affiliated with the police department. Mandy Blott with the Austin Justice Coalition says police officers can be scary to people in the throes of a mental health crisis.
“We must face the fact that dealing mental health crises is a specialty that requires a level of training the police department could never come close to matching,” Blott says.
She says police are often too quick to draw their weapons and shoot instead of addressing the mental health aspect. Both commissions have sent their recommendations to the city council.
