COVID-19 update
Travis County has seen some very noticeable jumps in coronavirus hospitalizations in recent weeks. Today that number has climbed up to 484. Out of the 4,837 cases that are currently active, 151 people are in the ICU right now. Since March 51,956 cases have been confirmed, resulting in 46,569 recoveries.
AISD on-campus
On Wednesday, classes are set to begin once again on-campus. Austin School District Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde says this was a decision she felt had to be made. But it was not easy.
“It weighs very, very heavy on the fact that I know many people are going to be in complete disagreement with the manner in which we are continuing to keep our classrooms open,” says Elizalde.
Varsity sports will continue, but all their activities will be canceled. Elizalde says most families have chosen to remain virtual, but AISD has to offer some in-person classes in order to continue getting state funding.
Teachers not convinced to return
While some Austin teachers are all ready to return to the classroom this week, many others were not convinced. Casis elementary teacher Brandon Batiansila tells KVUE they will only be teaching kids in-person.
“I have 24 in a portable due to construction on our campus. So it will be extremely tight quarters,” Batiansila says.
He was denied work-from-home accommodations so his only option is to come in or quit. The district says it will have plenty of safety measures in place, including plexi glass in each classroom.
Austin ISD teachers will be getting the COVID vaccine. However, AISD’s employees union Education Austin still wants more than that especially as in-person classes are to resume this week. Union President Ken Zarifis says he wants the district to give teachers flexibility.
“The ability to adjust schedules to accommodate those teachers that have been refused accommodations, even though they have issues that are so deep and profound that they deserve an accommodation,” says Zarifis.
Zarifis says the district has yet to contact the union about 127 grievances lodged about teachers denied COVID-19 accommodations.
Leander school district will also resume on campus classes this week. Staff is returning today. Students will be coming back tomorrow. The district says it does feel it can continue to operate while making decisions for individual campuses as needed.
Landlords ask for relief
While renters in Austin and Travis County remain protected from eviction, landlords continue to carry the load as they’re expected to pay the bills each month. Gloria Gene Moore tells KXAN her family owns properties locally, and she does feel some tenants or taking advantage of the eviction moratorium.
“What I would ask right now is that Travis County grant a property tax exemption to landlords like us, who have had no other relief,” says Moore.
Through at least next month, renters who were paying less than $2,500 a month can’t be forced to vacate. That very likely will be extended. Meantime, landlords have dealt with that moratorium for almost a year,
TABC bars as restaurants
As Travis county continues to say bars operating as restaurants are behind the latest spikes in COVID numbers, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission will be considering the future of a bar’s ability to continue operating in that capacity.
“With the restaurants, with the bar owners, with other industry members to see if they support it or don’t support it. Because at the end of the day, what works best for us at the TABC is voluntary compliance,” says Bentley Nettles with the TABC.
There have been more than 26,000 inspections conducted across Texas since the start of the pandemic. Fortunately, only about 200 have actually been flagged for license suspensions.
New Wilco police chief
Williamson County has a new face officially at the helm of the sheriff’s office. Democrat Mike Gleason was sworn in as sheriff over the weekend, taking over for Robert Chody. Gleason says Chody did leave behind a lot of work for him.
“We have a huge backlog of cases because the previous administration just wasn’t working them. Some sexual assaults, some officer-involved issues that we need to look at,” Gleason,
Some investigations have already begun. He also says he’s managed to fully staff the sheriff’s office to begin the new year.
Austin City Council
Austin City Council will officially get to new faces this week. Vanessa Fuentes took over as District 2 council member, and Mackenzie Kelly took over in District 6. Both will be sworn in this week, although because of COVID restrictions, the ceremonies will be much smaller than previous years.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-1-4-21
