1. IMPEACHMENT WITNESS SAYS KEY WORD OMITTED FROM TRANSCRIPT
Alexander Vindman, an Army colonel with the National Security Council, tells lawmakers that he was unsuccessful in getting “Burisma” – a reference to the company linked to the Bidens – restored the White House’s rough transcript of Trump’s call to Ukraine’s leader.
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2. CALIFORNIANS STRUGGLE WITH WINDS, FIRES, BLACKOUTS
The state’s largest utility begins its third round of power cuts in a week aimed at preventing its electrical equipment from being fouled by wind-whipped branches or toppling and sparking wildfires.
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3. SCHOOLKIDS GET MIXED REPORT CARD
America’s eighth graders are falling behind in math and reading, while fourth graders are doing slightly better in reading.
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4. STATE OF TEXAS TO ADDRESS AUSTIN HOMELESS CAMPS
By direction of Governor Greg Abbott TxDOT will clean up homeless encampments under state bridges starting Monday. TxDOT put up cleaning notices Monday, and even left behind bags for important document storage. As for the rest, depending on what it is, it could be trashed.
“If we come across personal belongings that are not obviously trash and debris, we will store those items for 30 days and the person who owns that item can contact us in order to be reunited with their item,” says TxDOT spokesperson Diann Hodges.
Hodges also says this is no different from a clean up the city will do, and if homeless come back after they perform the cleaning, TxDOT can’t stop them.
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5. AUSTIN TRANSIT OVERHAUL TO COST BILLIONS
That’s according to figures released this week from Capital Metro which show that in order to reach its goal of a complete overhaul within 20 years, the price tag could be as high as $9.8-billion.
Of that, much of the cost would come from two new light rail lines — one running north-south and the other connecting the airport to downtown.
It’s worth noting that the last two times voters were asked to decide on light rail, the proposals failed — the most expensive of which was in 2000 when a $970-million line was proposed.
Capital Metro will make a formal presentation today to both the city council and board of directors.
