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🌱 Patch AM: Can you help APD identify these downtown Rolex theft suspects?

Be sure to catch Arboretum Food and Artisan Market on the Austin Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 17th 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:

  • Can you help APD identify these downtown Rolex theft suspects?
  • Could a lawsuit derail Austin’s massive new convention center project?
  • How will Austin’s $735 million grid upgrade change your next outage?

Also on today's calendar: Arboretum Food and Artisan Market and 8 more events.

Find out what's happening in Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Austin? Post it to Austin photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 66 and low of 59 degrees.
  • Thursday: Mostly sunny and warmer, temps: high: 77, low: 44.
  • Friday: Sunny and cooler, with a high of 64 and low of 49 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Austin Police searching for suspects accused of stealing Rolex (kxan.com) — Austin police are asking for help identifying two women suspected of stealing a man’s Rolex and phone on Oct. 18 in the 200 block of Lavaca Street, then allegedly transferring thousands of dollars from his device. Detectives released detailed descriptions and photos, and tips to Capital Area Crime Stoppers could earn a reward of up to $1,000.
   

2. Austin PAC sues city, claiming unlawful rejection of convention center petition (kvue.com) — A local PAC is suing the City of Austin over how officials rejected its petition to put the $1.6 billion-plus downtown convention center rebuild on the May ballot. Austin United PAC argues long-term costs could reach $5.6 billion and says voters deserve a say, while the city defends its long-standing petition review process and will argue its case in court.
   

3. Austin Energy launches $735 million plan to boost power reliability (cbsaustin.com) — Austin Energy is rolling out a 10-year, $735 million resiliency plan to harden the electric grid and cut outages across Austin, including more inspections, new underground cables, and smarter fault-detection technology. Prompted by severe storms and wildfire risks, the upgrades will ramp up through 2027 and beyond, with city leaders saying the goal is simply to keep your lights on when conditions get tough.
   

4. Austin Convention Center "on time and on budget" for late 2028 opening (cbsaustin.com) — Austin’s $1.6 billion Convention Center expansion is officially on time, on budget, and slightly ahead of schedule for a late-2028 opening, with full use expected by spring festival season 2029. In the meantime, downtown hotels face revenue drops while smaller venues like the Palmer Events Center and major hotels work to capture midweek meetings, SXSW demand, and future convention bookings.
   

5. Austin approves $150K filming incentive for Apple TV series 'Brothers' (fox7austin.com) — Austin City Council has approved a $150,000 incentive to bring the Apple TV comedy series “Brothers,” starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, to film in the city. The deal is the first under Austin’s updated Creative Content Incentive Program and is structured to boost local wages, small businesses, and minority- and women-owned vendors. Officials expect millions in local spending and hundreds of production jobs.
   

📸 Around Austin

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Austin

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📣 Austin Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Wednesday December 17
  • RRHS Band Performs Holiday Music
    Cactus Ranch El Round Rock, TX 78681
    7:00 am
  • 2nd-grade Literacy Session
    Wells Branch Elementary , 14650 Merrilltown Dr , Austin
    9:00 am
  • Circle Time
    Wells Branch Community Library , 15001 Wells Port Dr , Austin
    10:30 am
  • 50% Off Wines Wanderlust Wine Co!
    Wanderlust Wine Co. Downtown , 612 N Interstate Hwy 35 , Austin
    3:00 pm

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

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Austin PatchAM possible:

  • K&M Steam Cleaning — (512) 836-8900
    Carpet Cleaning in Austin, Texas
  • The Steam Team — (512) 451-8326
    Austin’s trusted experts in water, fire and mold restoration

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • PSG Global Solutions posted a job opening for Housekeeping Guest Room Attendant in Austin. Apply here.
  • Oracle posted a job opening for Delivery Manager (Individual Contributor) - NetSuite ACS (Products Team) 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 don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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