Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What a new 911 report means for Austin’s emergency call center

Coming up: The Triangle Food and Artisan Market on the Austin Patch calendar

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Wednesday September 23rd Patch AM
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Good morning Austin! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What a new 911 report means for Austin's emergency call center
  • See which films just won big at Austin's Fantastic Fest
  • How an Austin rescue group is reshaping pet care in Hays County

Also on today's calendar: The Triangle Food and Artisan Market and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Is there anybody completely useless? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 99 and low of 73 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Thursday: Partly sunny and hot, temps: high: 97, low: 73.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 99 and low of 72 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Consultant recommends Austin keep 911 call taking within police department (kvue.com) — Austin leaders just heard a consultant's report urging the city to keep 911 call taking within the Austin Police Department, rather than moving it to a new office the council already funded. The study praises Austin's performance but recommends civilian leadership, better quality assurance, and technology upgrades, while residents and advocates continue debating how mental health calls should be handled.
   

2. Terror-ific! Fantastic Fest Announces its 2026 Award-Winning Films and Pitches (nofilmschool.com) — Fantastic Fest has just wrapped at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar in Austin, with organizers announcing this year's award-winning genre films and the top project from its growing pitch competition. The roundup highlights standout directors, audience favorites, and the winning horror pitch, Father Figure, giving Austin film fans a snapshot of projects that could soon hit wider release.
   

3. PAWS Shelter, Austin Pets Alive! merge to expand animal lifesaving in Hays County (kxan.com) — Austin-based Austin Pets Alive! is merging with PAWS Shelter of Central Texas to create Hays County Pets Alive!, aiming to boost lifesaving capacity for animals in nearby Hays County. Operations in Dripping Springs will expand, and reopening the Kyle campus is a priority, with Austin Pets Alive! providing administrative, medical, and operational support from the city.
   

4. ICE Officer Involved in Austin Shooting Was Not Wearing Body Camera (news-usa.today) — An ICE officer who shot a Venezuelan man in Austin on September 22 was not wearing his assigned body camera, despite the agency's new nationwide rollout. As ICE touts full field deployment by month's end, lawmakers and advocates question whether footage will ever be released publicly, and the Austin incident is intensifying scrutiny of federal immigration tactics and accountability in Texas and beyond.
   

5. ICE shooting of Venezuelan man in Austin prompts investigation (qazinform.com) — An ICE shooting of a Venezuelan man in Austin is now under federal investigation, with Homeland Security leading and the FBI assisting. Travis County prosecutors and Austin police are pushing to be full partners, while Mayor Kirk Watson says residents deserve clear answers. The injured man remains in federal custody facing deportation as new surveillance footage and legal claims emerge.
   

📸 Around Austin

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Austin

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

📣 Austin Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Austin PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Young Professional Network Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with a Night of Networking —LaGuardia Media PR Presswire Read on Patch
  • Hello!
    My dog has been missing since this morning and I'm unable to find her. Her name is frijol and we're in the deer run dr area ! Cross streets close by… (Nextdoor Indian Hills)
  • Help Us Solve a Mystery!
    For the past three weeks, a "trash fairy" has been visiting our house. Sometimes they park in our driveway, sometimes out front, and then they look… (Nextdoor Bouldin Creek)
  • Disabledperson, Inc posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate at Walmart in Austin, Texas in Austin. Apply here.
  • ABM Industries, Inc. posted a job opening for Parking Garage Porter in Austin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Austin here.

Ok Austin! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: No because they can always be used as a bad example! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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