🌱 Union Demands Raises For School Staff + Cold Front En Route

Welcome back, Austin! Happy Pi Day to all who celebrate. It's Jessica here in your inbox with the most important local news and community updates.

Settle in while we cover:

• A teddy bear picnic in the park for the kiddos? I've got the scoop below!
• Exciting updates on both the UT men's and women's basketball teams.
• Cooler weather is on the way — keep scrolling for this week's forecast.

But first, today's weather:

A blend of sun and clouds. High: 66 Low: 46.

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Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) Education Austin demands raises for all Austin ISD staff members and employees. The union is calling on the district to offer a $12 per hour raise for all classified staff positions (which includes bus drivers and custodians) and a 12 percent base pay increase for all certified employees. (which includes teachers and counselors). Learn more about Education Austin's campaign and AISD's plans here at KUT.

2) Grab your jackets, a cold front is set to swoop in later this week! Weather experts report: "The most recent forecast model runs have the cold front arriving Thursday night. Ahead of the front, scattered showers and storms will be possible — some of which could be strong or severe." Temps are then expected to drop into the upper 50s for St. Patrick's Day. Head over to KVUE to see the full weather forecast.

3) Dell Children's Medical Center and Texas Children's Hospital will bring in new leadership to run their North Austin hospitals. Starting in June, Michael Wiggins will oversee the original Dell Children's campus and its new campus off the 183A toll road at Avery Ranch Boulevard, which will open in April. Russ Williams, newly minted senior vice president for Texas Children’s, will oversee the new hospital in Austin starting in late March. The Austin American-Statesman has more on this story here.

4) A 19-year-old was arrested in connection with the shooting of two Jarrell High students at a North Austin hookah lounge in January. Austin Police Department investigators suspect Christijan Deshaun Stevens of shooting and killing Brayden Bolyard and Jaitron Tatum, and injuring four other people. Learn more at KXAN.

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Today in Austin:

• (Kid-Friendly) Teddy Bear Picnic in the Park at Ramsey Park. (10 a.m.)
• (Free) Women That Rock Day Party Showcase at Cheer Up Charlies. (12 p.m.)
• (Free) Spring Break Boogie (Day Two) featuring OSEES, Die Spitz, Nuclear Daisies, Mugger, Daiistar, and more at Hotel Vegas. (1 p.m.)
• (Kid-Friendly) Puzzles & Pi(e) at Austin Public Library, Old Quarry Branch. (2 p.m.)
• (Free) Lafayette Live! Crawfish Boil And Zydeco Dance Party at C-Boy's Heart & Soul Bar. (5 p.m.)
• (Claymaking Workshop) One-Time Figure Study with A Model at Feats of Clay Pottery. (6 p.m.)
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at The Garden at the 704 (7 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

• 🏀 March Madness in Austin: "The University of Texas women's basketball team will continue their historic season by hosting first and second round games in Moody Center as they earned a No. 4 seed in the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament." Let's show up for our Lady Longhorns! (Texas Women's Basketball via Facebook)
• 🤘 Longhorn News: Longhorns' Interim Head Coach Rodney Terry was named the Men's College Basketball National Coach of the Year! Congrats Coach Terry, we're so proud of you and the boys this season! (CultureMap Austin)
• 🎤 SXSW Recap: "Relationship expert Esther Perel captivates audience at SXSW with wisdom about intimacy and loneliness in our modern world." (Austin American-Statesman via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with another update!

— Jessica Collins

About me: Jessica is happy to call Austin her home for the past 10+ years. She loves the outdoors, arts & cinema, dining, and all of the natural beauty that Central Texas has to offer.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Austin Patch newsletter? Contact me at DowntownAustin@patch.com