ATX PULSE 7/24/24: APD Chief Finalists Meet Public, Media // Musk's X Seeking ATX Office Space // LCRA Begins Flood Operations as Llano Hunkers Down // UT Seeks Suspect for Shots Fired on Campus

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ATX Pulse

Everything YOU NEED TO KNOW about Austin.

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

By Matt Mackowiak

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Today’s Weather: H: 89° / L: 73°. Rain again possible. Latest forecast from Fox 7 Austin’s Zack Shields here. More from KVUE.

TOP NEWS

~ “LCRA begins flood operations, Llano closing streets ahead of anticipated flooding,” KXAN’s Will DuPree – “The possibility of flooding is leading to the City of Llano closing some streets Tuesday afternoon west of the downtown area. Floodgates at nearby dams are also being opened Wednesday morning to release storm runoff.

City leaders posted on Facebook that they’ll shut down West Sandstone Street from Malone to Lauderdale streets starting at 4 p.m. due to anticipated flood waters. Flag Creek, which runs to the Llano River, is in that area, so it appears that’s the concern from the city.

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) said around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday that it planned to open up floodgates at Wirtz and Max Starcke dams early Wednesday. The floodgate at Wirtz will release storm runoff flowing into Lake LBJ from the Llano River and the gates at Starcke will move runoff downstream into Lake Travis, according to the LCRA website.

“Flows will be fast and water levels will be higher than usual downstream of the dams,” LCRA said.

LCRA said early Wednesday one floodgate at Wirtz Dam had been opened. Three floodgates at Max Starcke Dam were also opened to move the runoff downstream into Lake Travis.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flood warning for the Llano River in Llano starting Tuesday evening. It’s anticipating the water there to rise to 14.8 feet late Wednesday morning, which is 12 feet higher than its current levels.” KXAN

~ “Austin groups gear up to draw Major League Baseball to Central Texas,” Community Impact’s Ben Thompson – “Local efforts to attract a Major League Baseball team to the Austin area are underway, boosted most recently by the launch of a new group seeking to build support for a potential professional franchise.

Austin has welcomed pro teams including Major League Soccer's Austin FC in 2021 and the Professional Bull Riders' Austin Gamblers in 2022, and regularly hosts Formula 1 events at Circuit of the Americas. And although Central Texas is home to minor league teams like the Round Rock Express, Texas Stars and Austin Spurs, and the Texas Longhorns at the college level, it's yet to land a team from any of the four major North American sports leagues.

It remains to be seen how MLB would pursue a league expansion—a process that's not likely to start for several more years, if at all. But for now, some locals and public officials are already gearing up for a new team and promoting the region as the best option for a new pro baseball market.

“It is time for Austin to join the big leagues. That is what our effort is about. And we think of the four major sports, we have the best chance to get a baseball team in the near or medium term," Matt Mackowiak, co-founder of the newly-created Austin Baseball Commission who also chairs the Travis County Republican Party, said July 16.

What's happening

MLB hasn't expanded since the late 1990s and the prospect of adding any new teams is uncertain for now. The league didn't respond to a request for comment about future expansion.

But even with no official process underway, Mackowiak and fellow commission co-founder Derrik Fox believe it's time to start planning and community outreach ahead of any official league initiatives.

While it remains an untapped pro sports market, Central Texas didn't have any publicized MLB-related efforts until this summer. The pair said similar, more organized groups in places that may end up competing with Austin for MLB rights like Nashville, Portland, Salt Lake City and Orlando inspired them to act.

The duo said the Austin Baseball Commission will now attempt to build community buy-in, review possible stadium sites, and put together a financial plan that includes a "credible" ownership group.

As of this summer, they're not the only ones eyeing a role for Central Texas in the major leagues. Austin MLB was formed last spring and has been working behind the scenes on a potential major league plan since then.

Its founder Jason Gindele said he doesn't expect to see MLB move to expand for at least five years, if not longer. Until then, Austin MLB is preparing a coalition of former baseball players, business and community leaders, and possible owners to set up a path forward.

"MLB has told us that a strong ownership group, a viable stadium plan and a coalition of key stakeholders will be necessary to secure a franchise. Those are all in progress," he said in an email.

The approach

Mackowiak, Fox and Gindele all said factors like Austin's growing population, income levels, diverse economy, recent track record launching a pro team, and longtime experience with international events make it a strong option.

"Very few cities can match those qualifications," Gindele said.

As long as stakeholders in the region figure out what'll likely be a $3 billion-plus plan, Mackowiak said Austin would be the best new market.

"If this is a fair fight—meaning if Austin gets in the game, gets organized, shows community support and pulls an investor group together ... the only conclusion the league can reach is that Austin needs to be one of their two expansion markets," Mackowiak said.

Jeremy Martin, president and CEO of the Austin Chamber, agreed that the city is on much stronger footing than in the `90s when the Phoenix and Tampa Bay metro areas became the latest teams added to MLB's franchise roster.

He noted that Central Texas is "underserved" on the pro sports front and has the financial capacity to sustain a new team, but that Austin will need to cement any stadium and finance plans to eventually meet league expectations.

"[MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred] has made it clear that he wants every existing franchise to have a stable, long-term strong operating agreement with their stadiums, and that has been the key priority to ensure that franchise stability," he said.

He cited COTA, Austin FC's Q2 Stadium and the partnership between the Gamblers and the Moody Center as examples of the kind of local venue arrangements that are "critically important" for team success—especially given MLB's months-long season with more than 80 home games, plus any playoff appearances. And like the private groups working to promote Austin, Martin said the Austin business community would need to have a strong advocacy role to support any future team as it did when Austin FC was pitched.

Kristin Marcum, owner and CEO of the communications firm ECPR Texas, was involved in the outreach efforts planning for the soccer club's arrival through the late 2010s. Based on that experience, she said anyone now angling for MLB's attention should first focus on building up grassroots support citywide, in addition to answering bigger-picture stadium and financing questions.

"One thing the Austin FC team did really well was having conversations in all corners of the community early, early on," she said. "If there’s someone leading this effort or a group of people, that’s the best thing to do, is to have conversations. What would people like to see in an MLB team? How can it be additive to the community?”

Put in perspective

Any new club would face an array of challenges before first pitch.

For one, stakeholders noted that dealing with the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros would be part of the process. Gindele said the two established Texas franchises likely wouldn't give up their presence in Central Texas without compensation, an issue he said would have to be figured out "inside baseball."

"I understand that the Rangers and the Astros are probably not going to want a third Texas team. But there are 30 owners, and 28 of them don’t have teams in Texas," Mackowiak said. "They’re going to be making their decision not on Austin’s proximity to Dallas and Houston but on Austin’s relative value to the league and to the value of their team, and to the value of the next television deal."

The Rangers and Astros didn't respond to requests for comment.

A future team and stadium in the Austin area may also be supported by public funds, something the MLB pushed for in previous expansions.

While Gindele said it'd be too early to lock in any specifics on government collaborations—especially as many local officials could leave office before any expansion is underway—he pointed to Austin FC's stadium deal on city-owned land as a model approach. Mackowiak and Fox also highlighted the importance of getting local government buy-in as team and stadium planning proceeds.

In Austin, Mayor Kirk Watson only said he'd been briefed on the commission's work and anticipated more to come.

"I love professional sports and look forward to seeing how things go," he said in a statement.

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said he's been working on the possibility of bringing MLB north of Austin for years and is excited by the conversations now taking place. He said the county's work with Samsung, Dell and Apple and the presence of attractions like Dell Diamond and Kalahari Resort position it as a competitive option for the league. Baseball had also been one piece of Williamson County's early efforts to draw Samsung to Central Texas.

“I’m an optimist, and I’ve worked on landing billion-dollar companies. And to me this is just another billion-dollar project that we’re working on," Gravell said July 16. "What do I think the possibilities are? Look, if you have passion with the right location and right people, anything’s possible. Williamson County is a place where big things happen, and this is just another big thing that I think is coming our way."

Even if Williamson County isn't the home of a future MLB team, Gravell said he'd still campaign to bring a franchise to Central Texas. For now, he said he's been in touch with the league and that more conversations with the MLB, equity investors and those involved in stadium site selection are on tap.

Marcum also advised any groups seeking to support an MLB team to work regionally outside of Austin as early planning continues.

"Maybe don’t even look at this as Austin’s team, but is there a way to say this is Central Texas’s team and can we work alongside all of the communities up and down the I-35 corridor," she said.

The outlook

Another key piece of any future MLB expansion effort would be longtime Texas baseball fixture Reid Ryan.

Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Fame member Nolan Ryan, is the CEO of Ryan Sanders Baseball that owns and operates the Express and is involved in operating the minor league San Antonio Missions. He's been involved in the baseball business for years and currently serves on the MLB's player development board overseeing the minor leagues.

Despite the anticipation building in Austin and elsewhere over MLB's future plans, he said he believes any hopes for a new team may not match today's league realities. And even if MLB does look to add teams, he said several other issues would likely take priority before expansion kicks off.

“Once that process is communicated to the baseball community and to the world, then I think that’s when people can get serious about putting plans together as to what that would look like for a group to actually be able to come in and do that," he said.

If Major League Baseball seeks to expand, Gindele also said Austin MLB is readying for an extended process.

"Cities vying for a team have to be in this for the long haul—think of it as a 162-game season and not just a weekend series," he said. "Not only is there uncertainty about whether expansion will take place, but there is no definitive timeline for that potential window of opportunity. On top of that, the selection process could take up to two years, and a team likely wouldn’t start play until 2-4 years after that."

With control of the territorial rights for Austin's market, Ryan noted that his baseball partnership would be involved in any future discussions over a Central Texas major league team. For now, he said ongoing work with the local baseball community—supporting RBI Austin's move to a new home near Colony Park, overseeing the Express, and planning for a new stadium in San Antonio—remain top of mind.

"We’d definitely want to be a part of anything that came to Central or South Texas. But until we believe that’s a reality, we really want to focus on the here and now which is continuing to make sure that we have one of the best facilities in Triple-A baseball. And when the time comes, we’ll be ready," Ryan said.” Community Impact

THE BLOTTER

~ “18 wheeler rollover sparks fire in 4-vehicle crash on I-35 in Austin, injuring two,” via CBS Austin – “A major traffic accident involving an overturned 18-wheeler and three other vehicles snarled traffic on I-35 in south Austin on Tuesday, briefly igniting a fire and injuring two people.

The crash occurred around 12:18 p.m. near Slaughter Lane in the 8700 block of South I-35, according to the Austin Fire Department. One vehicle caught fire, but firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.

Austin-Travis County EMS reported that one adult was transported to St. David's South Austin Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. A second patient was evaluated and treated at the scene but refused transport to the hospital.

The accident affected both sides of the interstate. Officials warned drivers to expect significant delays in the area.

Further details were not immediately available.” CBS Austin

~ “Woman arrested for arson at Austin psychiatric hospital,” via CBS Austin – “A 44-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with first-degree felony arson for allegedly starting a fire at Ascension Seton Shoal Creek Medical Center in central Austin, causing over $50,000 in damage and injuring a staff member.

The Austin Fire Department responded to a call about a fire at the psychiatric hospital at approximately 5:44 a.m. on Sunday, July 21. Firefighters arrived at 5:52 a.m. to find that the blaze had already been extinguished inside a patient room.

According to AFD arson investigators, a witness reported seeing the suspect, identified as Carmel Esther Norris, setting a bed and pillow on fire using a lighter she had smuggled into the facility. After being read her Miranda rights, Norris confessed to starting the fire during an interview with investigators.

The incident resulted in one employee suffering from smoke inhalation. The fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damages to the facility and an additional $1,000 in damages to property inside the room.

Norris was arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail. She is facing a charge of arson, a first-degree felony. He bond is set at $50,000.” CBS Austin

~ “Shots fired on campus: UTPD asking public for help identifying suspect,” via Fox 7 Austin – “The University of Texas at Austin Police Department is asking the public for help identifying a suspect who reportedly fired shots on UT campus.

On July 13, UTPD responded to reports of possible gunshots near Moody Center at 2001 Robert Dedman Drive.

UTPD officers, alongside Austin Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, immediately searched the area but were unable to locate a suspect. 

No injuries were reported, and no additional shots were reported after the initial incident. 

Investigating detectives obtained video footage of the suspect.

The suspect is described as:

The suspect is described as:
- White or Hispanic male
- 20 to 30 years of age
- 5'7" to 5'9" in height
- Medium build

He was last seen wearing:
- Black Miami Heat hat with red brim
- Gray Reebok hoodie with logo
- Dark denim pants
- White Nike shoes with black Nike swoosh
- Black backpack

Anyone with information on this case can contact UTPD Detectives at [email protected].

You can also call Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS (8477) or visit their website at http://www.austincrimestoppers.org to submit a tip. 

All information is anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.” Fox 7 Austin

CITY HALL

~ “Austin police chief finalists meet with the public, media for the first time,” KVUE’s Adam Bennett – “The two finalists vying to become the next permanent chief of the Austin Police Department (APD) were in town on Tuesday to attend a meet-and-greet with community members.

City Manager T.C. Broadnax named Lisa Davis, assistant police chief at the Cincinnati Police Department, and Jeffrey B. Norman, police chief at the Milwaukee Police Department, as the two finalists on July 19.

One of them will replace APD Interim Chief Robin Henderson, who has served in that role since September 2023. Henderson chose not to apply for the permanent role and will retire instead.

Davis and Norman both spoke to the media on Tuesday at City Hall during their first appearance since being named finalists. Both candidates addressed what their first 100 days on the job would look like.

“The first thing I have to do is start building trust,” Davis said. “That’s done by listening, being on the ground. I’m not someone that sits in an office.”

“I am committed to being out in the community, being out there and showing the way to the rest of the department and also the rest of our community, in regards to what we need to do more of,” Norman said.

KVUE has heard from many Austinites frustrated at APD for not showing up after certain crimes – something department officials blame on short staffing. Both finalists shared their thoughts on the issue and ideas to fix it.

“I think it’s just about where people are located, how they’re dispatched and what those calls for service are and prioritizing,” Davis said.

“I will have to look into what is those opportunities, get up to speed on what is the particular expectations,” Norman said. “Each community has a different way of dealing with what response and having a level of tolerance.”

KVUE also asked the finalists if there were any successful practices in their current cities that they think could work in Austin.

“Putting cars in [high crime] locations for 10 to 16 minutes of officers either sitting there or out walking,” Davis said. “That gets the biggest deterrence, hours of deterrence in those locations, versus sitting there for hours on end.”

“The only interchangeable strategies I can think of is engaging,” Norman said. “No two communities are the same. No two problems are the same, but with the tools that we have, can be the same in regards to that something that may have worked could be of use. Or maybe you have to dig a little deeper and figure out something else.”

The finalists’ news conferences covered many more topics, including a new union contract, improving training in the police academy and working with the district attorney.” KVUE

~ “Audit cites lack of progress on homelessness strategies issued five-plus years ago,” Austin Monitor’s Chad Swiatcki – “A new report from the Office of the City Auditor has found the city is still working toward accomplishing five recommendations to address homelessness that were suggested at least five years ago.

The report, which was issued earlier this month, is the latest follow-up on the results of four analyses from 2017 to 2019 that produced 10 recommendations in total on how the city gathers data and allocates resources to address homelessness. Four of the recommendations had been completed or were no longer valid as of a 2021 assessment, leaving six still in progress as the focus of the new report.

Audit staff found the city has successfully implemented the recommendation to work with Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) to improve data collection.

Specifically, the city was directed to get better, timely estimates of the local unhoused population, and determine the needs of that population.

In recent years, the city and ECHO have shifted to using Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data, which relies on coordinated assessments, while relying less on point-in-time count data to assess the state of the local unhoused population.

Still underway is another recommendation issued in a 2018 audit, related to providing adequate housing for people transitioning out of homelessness. The new audit found that as of May 2024, the city had 237 permanent supportive housing units in operation, with another 188 slated to become available by the end of this year.

Adding in three new developments created with housing partners, the total supply of permanent supportive housing is expected to reach 1,345 units by December.

Still, the report notes, “the City does not have a clear goal to measure efforts against to know if the Housing Department’s strategies to develop housing are meeting the current need of those transitioning out of homelessness.”

The remaining four incomplete recommendations were from the same 2019 audit titled “Outcomes of City Efforts.” It said the assistant city manager overseeing homelessness efforts should:

• review how the city measures the long-term success of homelessness assistance efforts

• include accountability measures in all contracts related to homelessness assistance

• work with city departments to enhance the capacity of existing homelessness prevention programs and develop new programs to prevent homelessness

• work with stakeholders to design and implement changes to improve coordination and collaboration among all entities providing case management services in Austin.

Related to measuring the success of homelessness programs, the Homeless Strategy Office has contracted with SNAP Consulting to develop a strategic plan including long-term goals. That plan is expected to align with the city’s upcoming new budget.

On the five accountability measures suggested for inclusion in all contracts involving homelessness services, the audit reviewed five sample contracts and found only one met all the needed criteria, with the others lacking most oversight measures.

Programs related to preventing homelessness were found to be in the very early stages of activity, with some managed by the Homeless Strategy Office and others under the control of the Housing Department. Those programs are in operation while HSO is working to more clearly define the city’s prevention efforts, with the audit calling for those definitions to serve as the basis to assess and improve existing programs while creating new ones.

On the call to improve case management services among all providers, the audit found there has been some progress in collaboration with ECHO and its network of shelters and related vendors. Surveys of relevant case managers found there’s a “lack of meaningful participation from all case management entities.”

Additionally, case managers noted a “lack of resources for entities to coordinate and collaborate with each other.”

As a solution, the report suggested establishing systemwide standards for all case management entities and increased resources to help them interact more effectively.” Austin Monitor

~ “Parks board recommends beefing up funding for city parks maintenance,” Austin Monitor’s Amy Smith – “With increasing challenges in maintaining grounds within Austin’s busy parks system, the Parks and Recreation Board voted Monday to recommend that City Council allocate an additional $2.62 million to the Parks and Recreation Department budget for the new fiscal year.

Of that amount, the board requested that $2.24 million be allocated toward parks maintenance, including $1.5 million in ongoing funding and $740,000 in one-time funding to support 16 full-time employee positions. The board also asked that $385,000 of the recommended total go to the Homeless Encampment Response Team, with $375,000 designated as ongoing funding and $10,000 in one-time funding for four year-round full-time employee positions, operations and supplies.

Parks and Recreation Board Chair Pedro Villalobos said he brought the resolution after attending his District 2 budget town hall and hearing concerns about parks maintenance.

“This is when I decided that … I should probably do something about it since I have the ability to do something about it,” he said.

Acknowledging the public testimony from residents concerning various budget needs for parks, including the need for more full-time lifeguards and additional pay for bilingual lifeguards, he said his resolution is only a start toward a long-range goal.

“This is just the bare minimum that we can ask for in order for us to adequately maintain our parks,” he said. “I think that all of us would like to see that our parks and parks facilities be well maintained, whether it’s making sure that trash cans are getting emptied out and that litter is being picked up or, additionally, making sure that we’re adequately funding the Homeless Encampment Response Team.”

The response team is a cross-departmental group that monitors encampments for health and safety risks and manages cleanups of the camping areas.

Even with the additional full-time positions – assuming Council adopts the recommended maintenance funding into the new budget – the parks department would still lag behind national best practices for the number of parks maintenance employees recommended by the National Recreation and Park Association, which Villalobos said would be closer to 90 full-time positions.

City Council will hold its first work session on the budget today, followed by a public hearing starting at 3 p.m. at City Hall. Council Member Ryan Alter indicated on the City Council Message Board he would like parks maintenance to be added to today’s discussions.” Austin Monitor

BUSINESS NEWS

~ “Elon Musk’s X actively searching for Austin office space, sources say” Austin Business Journal’s Cody Baird – “After announcing plans to relocate its headquarters from San Francisco to Austin, Elon Musk's X is now trying to lock down office space in the Texas capital.

Multiple sources unconnected to the social media platform's office search have said that Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (NYSE: JLL) and Jake Ragusa, an executive vice president at the firm, are helping it in the search. JLL is already working with X, formerly known as Twitter, to market its office space on San Francisco’s Market and Tenth streets, a JLL spokesperson confirmed.

However, the spokesperson declined to comment on whether JLL and Ragusa were helping X find an Austin office. Ragusa did not respond to a request for comment.

X also did not respond to requests for comment. Serial entrepreneur Musk on July 16 announced the X headquarters would relocate to Austin, joining his other companies — Tesla Inc., The Boring Co., Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and Neuralink Corp. — in Texas. All of Musk’s companies tend to operate under a veil of secrecy. Tesla, for example, has a reputation for being tight-lipped — even disbanding its media relations department in 2020.

It's unclear how much space the social media company is looking to occupy, but it appears it's aiming for at least 100,000 square feet, according to multiple sources. With more than 3 million square feet of vacant office space and a 25.2% vacancy rate throughout the Austin metro, according to JLL, plenty of space is available for X to consider.

A 100,000-square-foot office could hold more than 600 employees, according to standard calculations of tech employees consuming about 150 square feet each.

It remains unclear where exactly X might plant its headquarters or how many of its employees might come along with it. It's also unclear how many employees X currently has. In 2023, the New York Times reported that the company had eliminated 80% of its 7,500 employees, which would have left it with about 1,500. The social-media platform has seven open positions listed in Austin, although some of those job postings indicate the workers could operate remotely or from other X offices.” ABJ ($)

~ “Tower on West Sixth Street nears completion” Austin Business Journal’s Cody Baird – “Another West Sixth Street tower is approaching the finish line.

ATX Tower, formerly known as 321 West, will open in the fourth quarter this year after topping out in May, according to an announcement. The 58-story tower will add hundreds of apartments and a big chunk of office space to downtown, much like Sixth and Guadalupe, which opened earlier this year and is located across the street from it.

ATX Tower is being co-developed by Ryan Companies US Inc. and Tishman Speyer Properties LP, the latter of which came on board in 2021.

In total, ATX Tower, located at 321 W. Sixth St., is 425,000 square feet. Floors two through 11 are dedicated to parking. Floors 14 through 19 consist of more than 100,000 square feet of office space, while floors 22 through 54 are a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom luxury apartments.

Amenities include a sky lounge and terrace, fitness center, pool and coworking spaces.

The office space will be coming online at a time when downtown and the metro as a whole are experiencing a glut of vacant office space. According to commercial real estate firm CBRE, total vacancy rates in the metro hit 23.7% in the second quarter, while downtown clocked in at 25.6%.

Austin-based RPM Living is handling residential leasing, and CBRE is handling leasing for the office portion of the tower. Tishman Speyer declined to disclose if any tenants have pre-leased space in the tower.

Ryan has had a presence in Austin since 2012, with notable projects that include Oracle Corp.’s 560,000-square-foot campus, the 251,000-square-foot Permitting and Development Center for the city of Austin at the redeveloped Highland Mall, plus the 32-floor tower that's home to the Thompson Hotel and Sienna at the Thompson apartments.

While ATX Tower is Tishman’s first ground-up project in Austin, the firm acquired the Foundry office building in 2021 and sold it to Beacon Capital Partners in 2022 after leasing up the property to 96%.” ABJ ($)

~ “Ascension Health hit with $2 million defamation judgment,” Austin Chronicle’s Lina Fisher – “Ascension’s court troubles continue. Last Wednesday, July 16, 3rd Court of Appeals Judge Karin Crump ruled that the Resource Group, a subsidiary of Ascension Health, defamed medical device vendor representative Kimberly Goodman.

Goodman often worked within Ascension Seton and Dell Children’s Hospital, and the jury found that during 2020 and 2021, the Resource Group “published false, harmful statements about her about things she never did, and wrongly banned her from all Ascension facilities nationwide as a result, causing her significant damages,” Goodman’s lawyers wrote in a press release last week. All statements made by the Resource Group were found to be false in a 10-2 decision – they’ll have to pay Goodman $2,038,000 in damages, plus an extra $151,422 in interest.

“This judgment sends a message: treat people with respect, and independently investigate accusations or face significant consequences,” said employment attorney Austin Kaplan of Kaplan Law in a press release. “People are wrongfully accused at work and few take action, but here one brave person stood up to falsehoods – and the jury stood with her.”

The saga began on June 10, 2021, when Goodman received notice from the Resource Group that she would be permanently banned from all Ascension facilities nationwide due to alleged “unprofessional behavior.”

In court documents, the Resource Group claimed that in October of 2020 Goodman was in an operating room at Seton hospital without good reason, and said she “exhibited unprofessional behavior” toward a staff member who felt “in immediate danger.”

On April 8, 2021, during an investigation of that incident, they alleged that Goodman again made unprofessional comments about another staff member. Together, these incidents “violated Ascension's Vendor Access Policy” and allegedly justified Goodman’s permanent ban. The lawsuit documents estimate that Goodman lost a total of $64,000 in wages due to the ban, and is projected to lose $424,000 in earning capacity in the future due to reputational damages.

This is just the latest in a long string of troubles for Ascension – in the last few years, the health care giant has seen a New York Times exposé on its understaffing crisis, a tense union battle with its nurses at Ascension Seton, and breakdowns in its partnerships with Blue Cross Blue Shield and its Travis County’s hospital district, Central Health.

Kaplan Law’s Matthew Caponi said in the press release, “While this result can’t undo the disruption to her life and career, it does vindicate her and is a crucial step toward repairing her reputation and putting this incident behind her.”” Austin Chronicle

OTHER NEWS

~ “Kendra Scott to bring flagship Yellow Rose store to Austin on South Congress this fall,” Austin American-Statesman’s Beck Andrew Salgado — “An Austin original is coming to the city’s most popular retail street this fall. Kendra Scott announced a new offering from the brand will be opening on South Congress. Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott is a retail experience that aims to reinforce the brand's most popular products like personalized jewelry, chain stitching and work from local artisan residencies.

The new storefront will open in the former space of Mi Casa, an art gallery and mercado that was known for its Talavera pottery and bedazzled steer skulls. According to a news release, the brand wants to honor Mi Casa’s heritage as an Austin shopping destination for 30 years. The release said Kendra Scott has taken great thought and detail into preserving Mi Casa’s legacy.

“Bringing the first brick-and-mortar Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott store to South Congress, where I opened my very first Kendra Scott store in 2008, is incredibly exciting. Austin has been our home for over 20 years, and I'm honored to continue showcasing our Texas roots on this ever-growing South Congress footprint,” Kendra Scott said in the news release.

Representatives from the company have said that additional details about what Yellow Rose will look like will be provided closer to the flagship’s Fall 2024 opening. So far, the location is billed to be “an immersive experience that will bring the essence of Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott to life in the heart of its hometown.”

What is Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott?

Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott is the latest extension of the Kendra Scott brand. The idea for the new space stems from Kendra Scott's Texas family ranch and the “connection, tranquility, and adventure it brings.” The brand is hoping to bring a modern approach to jewelry, apparel, and home goods that celebrates the rich ranch culture of the American Southwest at a time when the aesthetic is booming.

The store takes its name from the infamous golden-hued roses of the Lone Star State, as well as the joyful style that the Kendra Scott brand is known for.” AAS ($)

SPORTS

~ TEXAS FOOTBALL:  “Alabama players share positive reviews on ex-teammate, new Texas receive Isaiah Bond,” Austin American-Statesman’s Danny Davis — “One of the cover boys for EA Sports College Football 25, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers recently played the video game for the first time. It didn't take long for him to score during a promotional showdown against former NFL star Chad Ochocinco.

With the real Quinn Ewers behind a controller, the virtual Quinn Ewers threw a deep pass that was hauled in for a touchdown. The recipient of that first virtual score? Isaiah Bond.

Bond, a transfer wide receiver from Alabama, has a chance to be Texas' top target this season. When asked at SEC media days what Bond brings to the UT offense, Ewers replied that "obviously he's capable of making big plays like we saw last year. ... He's fast. He's got good route running. I can tell that it means a lot to him and he wants to go far with this football thing, so it's always good to have guys that want to succeed and want to play at a high level on your team."

Even though he's a newcomer, UT fans should already have some familiarity with Bond. He hauled in a 34-yard catch for Alabama when Texas visited Tuscaloosa last September. This spring he turned three receptions into 98 yards and a touchdown in the Orange-White spring game.

What Alabama players had to say about Bond

But for a better scouting report on Bond, why not ask his former teammates? After all, Alabama players joined Texas' at the Omni Dallas last Wednesday at media days.

"Bond, he's a great player, man. Very, very fast, very elusive, very explosive," Crimson Tide defensive back Malachi Moore said. "When he was with us, he was a very dynamic player, so I pretty much think they're gonna get the same thing over there."

Over his two years at Alabama, Bond compiled 65 receptions and 888 yards. He led the Crimson Tide with his 48 receptions in 2023.

He caught five touchdown passes at Alabama and averaged 36.4 yards over those scores. The most notable of Bond's touchdowns was a 31-yard snag of a Jalen Milroe pass on a fourth-and-goal attempt in the waning seconds of a 27-24 win over rival Auburn in November. With its season saved by that catch, Alabama went on to win the SEC championship and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.

"Great receiver. What a great player, very explosive, detail-oriented. He's a team guy," said Milroe, who was the quarterback for four of Bond's touchdown catches. "To see him go was tough, but I'm very excited for him because he has another opportunity to play somewhere else and so I'm super excited for him and his future.”

Sarkisian: 'We are going to play more receivers'

Ranked fourth on 247Sports' list of the players who entered the transfer portal this offseason, Bond joins a Texas offense that's looking to replace 80% of its receptions, 84.5% of its receiving yards and 88% of its touchdown catches from last season. Texas also added transfer receivers Matthew Golden from Houston and Oregon State's Silas Bolden to the mix this offseason and Johntay Cook II, DeAndre Moore Jr. and Ryan Niblett are ascending second-year players. St. Louis product Ryan Wingo is primed to break out as a freshman.

"We are going to play more receivers," UT coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledged during his press conference in Dallas. Over his first three seasons, the Longhorns have not relied on a heavy rotation of pass catchers. Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell and Jordan Whittington got the bulk of the receiver reps last season before Kansas City, Indianapolis and the Los Angeles Rams drafted them this spring.

"To think I've got seven quality players there," Sarkisian said. "Now, is it going to be a seven-man rotation? That will bear itself out, but I do think we'll play more players than we have in the past. This group is very talented and by far and away our deepest receiver corps that we've had in four years."

Texas is coming off a season in which it ranked 17th nationally in passing offense. Led by a 464-yard game against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game, the Longhorns averaged 289.1 passing yards over its 14 contests.” AAS ($)

~ TEXAS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:  “Aaliyah Chavez, No. 1 basketball recruit in 2025, lists Texas among top six schools,” Austin American-Statesman’s Caleb Yum — “Texas women's basketball recently landed the No. 4 recruit from the Class of 2025, but the Longhorns now have a chance to do one better.

Lubbock Monterey guard Aaliyah Chavez — the nation's No. 1 recruit for 2025 — listed Texas as one of her final list of top choices on Tuesday along with Texas Tech, LSU, UCLA, Oklahoma and South Carolina.

The 5-foot-9 point guard hails is the nation's top-rated player by 247Sports' composite rankings. The first thing that stands out about her from highlights is her smooth jump shot that looks comfortable from 3-point range. Using that weapon, she scored 30 points to help her team win the 2024 Nike Nationals championship.

It'll be quite the battle for Chavez's services over the next couple of months. Texas has cemented itself as one of the strongest programs in the nation with its tournament results, recruiting and status as the top dog in the Big 12. However, that status will be tested as it enters an SEC with loads of talent and pedigree.

Dawn Staley and South Carolina are defending national champions known for fostering a winning environment, while the flamboyant Kim Mulkey led LSU to its first NCAA title the year before that. Schaefer has had Texas in the NCAA Tournament since he's been hired, but the Longhorns have been stopped in the Elite Eight three out of the last four years.

Despite Oklahoma and UCLA being on an upward trajectory, neither program has made it past the Sweet 16 in the past 10 years.

Texas will have a geographical advantage over most schools except for Chavez's hometown Red Raiders. Texas Tech, though, has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2013.” AAS ($)

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

~ LIVE MUSIC: Roger Creager (birthday show with special guests AJ Vallejo and Terry McBride). Gruene Hall (Gruene, TX). Doors 7pm, Show 8pm. $20 at the door. More info here.

~ FILM: Slacker (special screening). 7pm. AFS Cinema (6406 N. I-35 Ste. 3100). More info here.

COOL JOB ALERT

~POLICY ANALYST III (BUDGET, ARTICLE V): Office of the Governor, Austin, TX. Pay range: $7,500-8,750/month. More info / apply here.