Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How will 183’s new express lanes change your Austin commute?

Also check out Slide in the DMs: A Comedy Show on the Austin Patch calendar

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Saturday January 3rd Patch AM
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Hi there, Austin! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How will 183’s new express lanes change your Austin commute?
  • How Austin’s new AI rules could affect your data and services
  • Why this South Austin Christmas Eve crash still leaves a family searching

Also on today's calendar: Slide in the DMs: A Comedy Show and 7 more events.

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

Today's riddle: I got fired from the M&M factory. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Saturday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 71 and low of 44 degrees.
  • Sunday: Plenty of sun, temps: high: 71, low: 50.
  • Monday: Warm with sun and some clouds, with a high of 74 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Northbound US 183 North express lanes opened Friday. How they'll help traffic. (statesman.com) — Drivers in northwest Austin now have two new northbound tolled express lanes on US 183, offering a faster option between Burnet Road and Texas 45 North. The lanes connect Austin to Cedar Park and will soon tie into MoPac’s express lanes, with variable tolls and changing access patterns that commuters should learn as remaining construction wraps up.
   

2. City of Austin reveals new AI guidelines ensuring ‘human' involvement (kxan.com) — Austin city officials have rolled out new rules for how they’ll use artificial intelligence, requiring human review of AI work and safeguards for privacy and jobs. The guidelines align with Texas’ new statewide AI law and aim to protect residents’ data while still using AI to streamline tasks like contracts and procurement. A public awareness campaign on AI’s benefits and risks is also planned.
   

3. Family of Christmas Eve fatal hit-and-run in Austin still seeks answers (fox7austin.com) — A South Austin family is urging a deeper investigation into the Christmas Eve crash that killed 35-year-old pedestrian Arianna Williams on Slaughter Lane, questioning the driver’s speed and seeking her missing belongings. Austin police say the driver stayed, passed impairment checks, and that crash reconstruction and video review are still underway, while asking anyone with information to contact APD or Crime Stoppers.
   

4. 5 minors from Austin and Pflugerville were injured in shooting at Round Rock party (cbsaustin.com) — Five minors from Austin and Pflugerville were injured in a New Year’s Eve shooting at a private event center in Round Rock, rattling a nearby family neighborhood. Neighbors told CBS Austin they heard multiple gunshots and later found bullets in the street, and some are now calling for increased police patrols while investigators continue gathering information.
   

5. Was America's First Serial Killer A Texan? Solving The 1884 Murders (710keel.com) — Austin once held the grim distinction of being the first U.S. city terrorized by a serial killer, known as the “Midnight Assassin,” who murdered at least eight people between 1884 and 1885. This piece revisits those Austin attacks, explores how they predated Jack the Ripper, and explains why some historians think the killer may have later struck in London.
   

📸 Around Austin

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Austin

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Saturday January 3
  • Full Moon January Celebration: Release & Renewal
    Westlake Chamber of Commerce , 320 S. Capital of Texas Hwy, Building B , Austin
    10:00 am
  • New Years' Wiggle Wormania!
    Wells Branch Community Library , 15001 Wells Port Drive , Austin
    10:30 am
  • Music Bingo!
    Wanderlust Wine Co. Eastside , 702 Shady Lane , Austin
    12:00 pm
  • Adult Progrram - Decorate a Notebook
    Wells Branch Community Library , 15001 Wells Port Drive , Austin
    4:00 pm

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

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Paradies Lagardere - The Paradies Shops, Inc. posted a job opening for Apply Today - Retail Stock Replenisher $21.63/Hour // Austin Bergstrom Airport in Austin. Apply here.
  • ABM Industries posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner - No Experience Required 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 kept throwing out all the W’s.
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