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Around Texas
1. Are tolls in Texas worth the time saved?
Toll roads are designed to provide faster and more reliable travel, particularly during peak hours. Managed lanes use variable pricing to maintain traffic flow, while traditional toll roads often offer fewer delays because of the absence of traffic signals and cash toll booths.
But as the commute comparison shows, the time saved may be relatively small compared to the cost.
2. Texas restaurant leaders endorse ‘Dignity Act’ to address immigration workforce shortages
While Austin and other Texas cities are consistently named among the best places for food in the country, restaurants reported they are struggling to find people to prepare it.
“About 30% of the industry are immigrant immigrant workers, and even more of those are business owners that are immigrant workers, and so those things are really impacting our local industry, which we know is a huge driver of both our tourism and our economic drivers here in Austin,” Kara Hanaoka, executive director of Good Work Austin, told Spectrum News.
Hanaoka said the challenge is driven in part by the Trump administration’s hardline immigration crackdown.
3. Austin City Council members ask to begin process of renaming Cesar Chavez Street
Some members of the Austin City Council are calling on the city manager to develop a plan for renaming Cesar Chavez Street after allegations of sexual abuse came out against the late labor leader earlier this year.
According to a memo on Friday to City Manager T.C. Broadnax, José Velásquez, Vanessa Fuentes, José “Chito” Vela and Zohaib “Zo” Qadri requested Broadnax develop a community outreach plan to gather input and assess the cost to the city, residents and businesses on renaming the street.
Around The Nation
1. Trump warns Iran ‘could be taken out in one night’ if no deal by Tuesday
2. Artemis II breaks record for being furthest humans from Earth
3. Savannah Guthrie returns to ‘Today’ anchor desk for first time since mother’s disappearance
Deep in the Heart of Texas
A beaver swims in Napa Creek on July 19, 2023, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Austin Wildlife Rescue nurses baby beaver back to health
Austin Wildlife Rescue made a “dam” rare discovery late last week when they rescued a lost baby beaver.
Officers with Austin Animal Services found the baby beaver, called a kit, walking alone on a sidewalk. The officers did not say where in Austin this occurred. Austin Animal Services then took the kit to Austin Wildlife Rescue after failing to find a mother, siblings or other beavers.