Austin’s Business-Cycle Index grew by 7.4{2a63e07d84fe12ceff3a79b3b7d16ceb8565bd2470b26c53e2419132d99be4c6} according to the Dallas Federal Reserve’s Christopher Slijke. He says the Metro is experiencing some broad growth.
Slijke explains the index took into account Austin’s Labor and job markets. As well as wages, real estate and population.
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Governor Abbott will be flanked by members of the Texas legislature, superintendents and teachers as he signs the school finance overhaul legislation into law today.
The plan includes at least a $4-thousand dollar bump in pay for veteran teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses with a chance for additional bonuses. House Bill 3 also adds $4.5-billion dollars into public school classrooms and creates $5-billion dollars in property tax relief.
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The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has approved a corridor study that will look at connecting South Austin to the airport with high-capacity mass transit.
It’s called the “Bergstrom Spur” and would span six miles running from east-to-west. The study will take about nine months to complete and cost $280,000.
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Amid months of protests by LGBT activists, the Austin School District will be putting $10,000 worth of revenue it has generated from renting its Performing Arts Center to the Celebration Church toward the Austin gay pride parade.
Activists have protested since last year, claiming the district should not rent to a church that opposes gay marriage. The money will be used for security and transportation.
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Another longtime Austin restaurant is closing its doors. Mike Hutchinson, owner of Hut’s Hamburgers on 6th Street, is shutting down the location.
Hutchinson says he feels it’s “just time for us to move on,” but has given no other reason for the closing.
The Hut’s location in the airport will remain open. The first Hut’s opened on Congress Avenue about 80 years ago.
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