ATX PULSE 8/6/24: NW Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill Zip Codes See YoY Decline in Home Sales // Musk-Backed School Opening in Bastrop // Austinite Wins $29M Lotto Jackpot // AFA, Kelly Push for Cadet Class, 1 Hour / Week Reduction for Mental Health Boost

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Today’s Weather: H: 100° / L: 77°. Sunny and partly cloudy. Latest forecast from Fox 7 Austin’s Zack Shields here.

TOP NEWS

~ “Most far Northwest Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill ZIP codes see year-over-year decline in home sales,” Community Impact’s Claire Shoop – “All but one ZIP code across the far Northwest Austin, Cedar Park, Leander and Liberty Hill area saw fewer homes sales in June compared to June 2023, according to recently released data from the Austin Board of Realtors and Unlock MLS.

Only ZIP code 78717, which includes the Avery Ranch and Brushy Creek areas, saw an increase in the number of homes sold year over year in June.

Of the ZIP codes that saw declines, 78750 experienced the largest percent decrease, with home sales slowing more than 35% year over year, the data shows.

However, the median price of homes that sold in ZIP code 78750 increased by more than 51% year over year in June, with median prices rising from $540,000 in June 2023 to $816,000 in June 2024, according to the data.

Two other area ZIP codes saw slight increases in median home sales price year over year, while four others saw declines.

Homes in area ZIP codes sold at each of the following price points in June.

The change in the average number of days a home sat on the market in June varied drastically between ZIP codes.

ZIP code 78726 saw the largest year-over-year decline in average days a homes sat on the market. Homes in this ZIP code sold faster than those in any other area ZIP code, with homes staying for sale an average of nine days.

Meanwhile, homes in Liberty Hill's 78642 ZIP code sat on the market for an average of 152 days, or about five months, in June 2024. This is up from an average of 107 days in June 2023.” Community Impact

~ “Elon Musk-backed school ‘Ad Astra’ looking to open in Bastrop this fall,” via Fox 7 Austin – “A new school in Bastrop, backed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is now accepting applications.

The Montessori-style school Ad Astra, which translates to "to the stars" in Latin, is set to open later this year.

The school is located off FM 969 on the site of a former horse ranch. 

The school's website says its mission is to "foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders."

The program is open to all children ages 3-9.

The 2024 school year is tentatively set to begin in September, but it depends on getting a license from Texas Health and Human Services.

Ad Astra will accept 48 students, 18 in the primary age group (3-6 years old) and 30 in the lower elementary age group (6-9 years old).

The school's website says tuition will be subsidized during the 2024-2025 school year. The subsidized tuition will cover the cost of daily snacks, enrichment activities, school materials and registration fees.

"In future years, tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program," the website reads.

In addition to accepting student applications, the school is also looking for teachers.

You can read more here.” Fox 7 Austin

~ “Austin resident plans to retire after winning $29M Lotto Texas jackpot,” via Fox 7 Austin – “An Austin resident is now planning to retire after winning a $29 million prize playing Lotto Texas, lottery officials say.

The resident, who chose to remain anonymous, had a Quick Pick ticket that matched all six numbers during the June 24 Lotto Texas drawing.

The winner purchased the ticket from the Salt Springs Xpress on Salt Springs Drive while on their day off.

The lucky Texan told the Texas Lottery that they had won small prizes in the past, but nothing like this.

They chose the cash option, meaning they will take home $16,643,761.41 before taxes.

The winner said they plan to "retire and enjoy the rest of my life" with the money from the win.” Fox 7 Austin

THE BLOTTER

~ “Hays County deputies search for suspect in child’s shooting death in Buda,” CBS Austin’s Stephanie Becerra and Isabella Bass – “The Hays County Sheriff's Office and the Buda Police Department are actively searching for the suspect who shot and killed a child in Buda Monday night.

Police say they responded to a gunshot call near the 800 block of Shadow Creek Blvd at around 5:20 p.m.

When deputies arrived, they found a juvenile male dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

HCSO quickly issued a shelter-in-place for residents who lived within a 1-mile radius of the Shadow Creek Subdivision for their safety. That order was lifted at around 7 p.m.

Police are actively investigating this incident as a suspicious death.

The suspect remains at large.

HCSO says there is no threat to the public.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Hays County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies will remain on scene for the time being.” CBS Austin

~ “AFD responding to fire with reported tank explosion in N Austin,” CBS Austin’s Isabella Bass – “The Austin Fire Department responded to a structure fire in North Austin, the incident occurred just after 3 p.m. Monday afternoon in the 2900 block of Silverleaf Dr.

Callers reported an explosion of a propane tank in the backyard with the fire spreading to the home.

The fire was reportedly knocked down at 3:26 p.m., it was contained to the back deck. No injuries were reported, and no residents were displaced.

Crews are clearing the scene.” CBS Austin

BUSINESS NEWS

~ “6 Austin-area hospitals earn a 5-star rating,” Austin American-Statesman’s Nicole Villalpando – “The Olympics have gold medals. The federal government's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gives hospitals five stars.

The agency considers death rates, patient experience, safety, readmissions, and timely and effective care when calculating the quarterly star ratings. And its latest rankings are out.

Here's how Austin-area hospitals did as reported on the centers' website, medicare.gov:

Five stars

Ascension Seton Northwest Medical Center

Ascension Seton Hays Medical Center

Ascension Seton Williamson Medical Center

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Marble Falls

St. David's Medical Center

St. David's South Austin Medical Center

Four stars

Ascension Seton Medical Center

St. David's North Austin Medical Center

St. David's Round Rock Medical Center

Cedar Park Regional Medical Center

Three stars

Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Round Rock

Two stars

Christus Santa Rosa Hospital San Marcos

One star

No local hospitals

Not all hospitals had enough information available to be given a star ranking. Those include Baylor Scott & White hospitals in Pflugerville, Lakeway, Buda and Austin, and Ascension Seton Southwest in Austin, Ascension Seton Bastrop and Ascension Seton Edgar B. Davis in Luling, and Ascension Seton Highland Lakes in Burnet.” AAS ($)

CITY HALL

~ “‘Need your help’: Austin leaders look to help firefighters amid mental health crisis,” Austin American-Statesman’s Skye Seipp – “City leaders are calling for changes to address the mental health struggles of Austin firefighters.

This comes after a firefighter died this year by suicide, and other firefighters have killed themselves in recent years, Austin Fire Association President Bob Nicks said at a press conference at City Hall on Monday. Nicks was joined by Austin City Council Members Ryan Alter, Mackenzie Kelly and Alison Alter, who said they plan to support firefighters by proposing measures aimed to help provide relief to the department.

"We need your help," Nicks said. "Your worst day may only happen once in your life. But for firefighters, these experiences are terrible, horrific events. And they see them every day, sometimes several times a day."

Nationally, firefighters have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide than the general population, according to a 2022 study commissioned by the philanthropic Ruderman Family Foundation.

In addition to thoughts of suicide, firefighters generally have higher levels of PTSD associated with constantly responding to highly stressful and intense calls day after day, Nicks said.

A study published in 2016 by the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that more than 20% of firefighters and paramedics will have PTSD at some point in their careers, compared with 6.8% of the general population. They also regularly develop sleep disorders, which typically exacerbate people's mental health conditions, Nicks said.

Sleep deprivation is increasing because firefighters are seeing their workload increase, Nicks said. When Nicks started 37 years ago, he said, a busy day would consist of a station going on five to six calls, but now busy stations will see about 20 calls per shift.

"Let us honor the memory of our fallen firefighter by taking meaningful action to ensure that no other firefighter feels alone in their struggle," Kelly said. "Our firefighters deserve our unwavering support, not only in their professional duties but in their professional and personal lives."

As the City Council works through passing next year's budget, Alison Alter said she would propose budget items aimed at easing the burden of firefighters. One would give firefighters up to 10 weeks of paid parental leave, an increase from the current six weeks, which was introduced in 2022. Another directs the city manager to study the benefits of reducing firefighters' workload and overtime usage.

Currently, Austin firefighters have 53-hour workweeks, although a stipulation of the union and the city's contract from last year reduced the workweek to 52 hours. Even so, Nicks said firefighters regularly have to work overtime to ensure every unit is fully staffed.

Ryan Alter is proposing a resolution to have an additional cadet class this year to increase the number of firefighters, which in turn can reduce firefighters' overtime usage and give them more of a chance to rest and spend time with family. To move from 53-hour to 52-hour workweeks, the Fire Department needs to add about 25 to 30 firefighters.

Nicks said the Austin Fire Department has about 1,100 firefighters with a nearly 6% vacancy rate.

Nicks said having a better work-life balance is crucial to combat the stresses that come with being a firefighter. This is part of the reason he's trying to push the department to move to a new schedule that would give firefighters 72 hours off after a shift rather than the current 48 hours.” AAS ($)

SPORTS

~ TEXAS FOOTBALL: Golden: “Why it’s OK for Texas football fans to think about a 2024 national championship,” via Austin American-Statesman — “Steve Sarkisian doesn’t have a lot of use for preseason polls, but you can’t blame fans for being excited about this growing hype machine surrounding Texas football. It’s about the work at this point. Getting ready for the season is of the utmost importance. The rest will take care of itself.

Texas opened up at No. 4 in the first US LBM Coaches Poll that was released Monday, behind top-ranked Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Oregon.

Preseason hype aside, the Texas head coach only concerns himself with what’s going on at the facility, but for those who can’t help but be geeked about this first year in the SEC and being mentioned with championship bluebloods like Georgia, don’t hold back. Enjoy the arts.

After all, this is the time of the year where "hope" is the best four-letter word on the planet. There isn’t a fan base in America where at least one follower hasn’t asked, “Why not us this year?”

Let them ask. For many of them, this is as good as it gets.

As for the Longhorns, the hope is their biggest moments will come in that inaugural 12-team playoff, though there are some massive regular-season contests to get through, including a nasty Oklahoma-Georgia double in October and the renewal of the Texas A&M rivalry on Thanksgiving weekend.

Texas will have its first practice in full pads Tuesday and will hold its first scrimmage on Saturday.

“There are two traits you have to have as a player in our program,” Sarksian told reporters Monday. "'A’ is availability. If you’re not available, it’s hard to learn what you’re capable of. Two is reliability. Reliability is about trust and trust over time. Trust equals time plus consistency. And that’s what I want to see from our guys.”

August is the time when unprovens who may have gotten some notice in the spring can make a realistic run at the depth chart. It’s also the crucial period when newcomers and veterans can create that all-important chemistry with the opener against Colorado State coming up on Aug. 31. There’s lot of football to be played — more important, practiced — before those bright lights come on. 

The dog days of summer are upon the local football team. This is really where championships are won and lost.” AAS ($)

AUSTIN CULTURE

~ NIGHTLIFE: “Mic Drop: Popular Austin Karaoke bar, Ego’s, announces it is closing on SoCo,” Austin American-Statesman’s Beck Andrew Salgado — “Another Austin staple looks like it could be at the end of the road on South Congress as an Instagram post from Karaoke bar Ego’s explained the club may be forced to close in the near future. However, unlike other businesses that have been forced off Austin's most popular street, Ego's already says it plans to be back.

The post cited maintenance disputes with the landlord that owns the property, located at 510 S. Congress Avenue, as the reason why the beloved bar could be on the rocks.

"Right now we're taking it day by day while we wait to see if the landlord is willing to fix all of the pipes that keep collapsing, but it's not looking good since they plan on demoing the building at some point anyway and we're the only business left in that building," the post said.

In the post, Ego’s said if they are forced to close, they will do so this Sunday, August 11. In the event that the closure does happen, the company said that they are planning a “last big hurrah” that will be announced via Instagram. 

Not all hope is lost, as the post from Ego's said that its owner is adamant that the bar will return after renovations to the building are completed, but there is currently no timeline for when that will happen.

Ego's opened in Austin in 1979 and hit all the right notes as a weird Austin atmospheric bar that quickly gained status as a fan favorite in the city.” AAS ($)

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

~ LIVE MUSIC: Two Ton Tuesday: Two Tons of Steel. Gruene Hall (Gruene, TX). Doors at 7:30pm. Sow at 8:30pm. Tix: $12 at the door. Info here.

COOL JOB ALERT

~SENIOR DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: Altria (Austin, TX). Salary: $164,700.00 - $288,150.00 / annually. Info / apply here.