🌱 Patch AM: Austin mourns influential educator and civil rights leader Exalton Delco Jr.

Hello again Austin! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Austin mourns influential educator and civil rights leader Exalton Delco Jr.
• How Austin residents can now mediate complaints with police for free
• Why a beloved Congress Avenue bar may soon face the wrecking ball

Also on today's calendar: Pasta + Wine: Intero x Cape Bottle Room and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one elevator say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Intervals of clouds and sun, with a high of 63 and low of 45 degrees.
• Tuesday: Some sun with a stray shower, temps: high: 63, low: 44.
• Wednesday: Breezy with plenty of sun, with a high of 70 and low of 42 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Exalton Delco Jr., Huston-Tillotson leader and civil rights pioneer, dies at 96 (statesman.com) — Austin is remembering longtime Huston-Tillotson leader and civil rights pioneer Dr. Exalton Delco Jr., who died Dec. 3 at 96 after decades shaping local higher education and civic life. From Huston-Tillotson and Austin Community College to Leadership Austin and Holy Cross Catholic Church, he mentored generations while breaking racial barriers at UT and supporting his trailblazing wife, former Austin school board member and state Rep. Wilhelmina Delco.
   

2. Austin Police Oversight launches no-cost conflict resolution service (kxan.com) — Austin’s Office of Police Oversight has launched a free online Complaint Mediation Program to help residents and officers resolve disputes through confidential, professionally mediated conversations. Working with the Dispute Resolution Center and Austin Police Department, the program aims to complete mediations within 45 days and strengthen trust between community members and police through collaborative problem-solving.
   

3. Shiner's Saloon, historic Austin building at risk of demolition (mysanantonio.com) — A longtime downtown Austin fixture, Shiner’s Saloon at 422 Congress Ave, is facing possible demolition after the city’s Historic Landmark Commission recommended approving a teardown permit for the 1940 building. The bar’s owner urged commissioners to consider its role in Austin’s cultural fabric, highlighting nearly two decades of memories and historic design touches woven into the space.
   

4. Those green parrots in Austin? Here's how they got here. (statesman.com) — If you’ve wondered about those loud green parrots around Austin, this piece traces how monk parakeets and our ever-present grackles became part of the city’s landscape. Drawing on decades of Statesman archives, it explains their origins, local releases, and how changing Texas environments helped these adaptable birds thrive in Austin’s neighborhoods and around Lady Bird Lake.
   

5. Austin, TX – Injury Crash on W US 290 Hwy (localaccidentreports.com) — Emergency crews responded early Sunday to an injury crash on the 8300 block of W US 290 in Austin’s West Oak Hill area, temporarily disrupting westbound traffic. Austin-Travis County EMS and fire personnel treated multiple people at the scene before transporting some to nearby hospitals, while officials continue investigating what caused the collision.
   

📸 Around Austin

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Austin

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday January 16

• Robyn Hitchcock
  04 Center, 2701 S Lamar Blvd, Austin
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday January 14

• Pasta + Wine: Intero x Cape Bottle Room
  Cape Bottle Room , 500 San Marcos St , Austin
  6:30 pm

Thursday January 15

• Bonsai Workshop at Hold Out Brewing
  Hold Out Brewing , 1208 W 4th St , Austin
  7:00 pm

Friday January 16

• Donate Blood, Enter to Win Private Dinner at Franklin BBQ During National and Austin Blood Donor Mon
  We Are Blood , 4300 N Lamar Blvd , Austin
  8:00 am
• Emo Night with Mixtape Time Machine at Haute Spot
  Haute Spot , 1501 E New Hope Dr , Cedar Park
  6:00 pm
• The Belle Sounds with Future Clouds and Radar
  Regal Rooms , 1204 Regal Row , Austin
  7:00 pm
• Resound Presents: Shiner & Schatzi w/ Bursting at 29th Street Ballroom on 1/16
  29th Street Ballroom , 2906 Fruth St , Austin
  7:00 pm
• Planets and Pasos
  The Long Center for the Performing Arts , 701 W Riverside Dr , Austin
  8:00 pm

Saturday January 17

• Bonsai Workshop at Fast Friends Beer Company
  Fast Friends Beer Company , 7313 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd , Austin
  12:00 pm
• Join us for Our Journal Personalization Day!
  Letterpress PLAY , 2002 S Congress Ave , Austin
  12:00 pm
• The Runarounds
  Emo's Austin , 2015 E Riverside Dr , Austin
  6:00 pm

Sunday January 18

• Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
  Long center , 701 W Riverside Dr , Austin
  7:30 pm

📣 Austin Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Officers have responded to the 4600 block of Teri Rd for a SWAT callout. Officer Townsend is on scene and will give a media briefing in the parking... (X: Austin_Police)
• Join the Downtown Austin Alliance, Austin Police Department officials, and downtown stakeholders for a virtual monthly forum to discuss downtown... (X: downtownatx)

• Whataburger posted a job opening for Restaurant Porter - Unit 809 in Austin. Apply here.
• Remington posted a job opening for Front Desk Agent - Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown 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: I think I’m coming down with something!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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