Stories by Jerry Quijano, KUT
Alternate care site opens in Austin as area hospitals reach capacity
The Covid-19 alternate care site at the Austin Convention Center is now open as the county’s interim health authority warned overwhelming the area’s hospital system is “inevitable” at this point. “Patients will be referred here directly from hospitals; this is…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Jan 13, 2021
Health officials say vaccinations could begin in Austin next week once FDA gives approval
Austin Public Health’s interim authority said he’s “extremely impressed with the efficacy and safety” of the Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine’s overall efficacy is 94.6 percent, Dr. Mark Escott said during a news conference Wednesday, and for people…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Dec 10, 2020
Austin area moves to Stage 4 Covid-19 risk guidelines
Lee esta historia en español. Austin is now under Stage 4 coronavirus risk guidelines, interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott announced Thursday, following an increase in hospitalizations and cases. Under these guidelines, the public is urged to avoid…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Nov 20, 2020
Austin's top doctor warns November Covid surge could be worse and last longer than the first
There is a 100 percent probability that the coronavirus epidemic is growing in the Austin metro area, according to modeling from the University of Texas Modeling Consortium. As other areas across Texas – most notably El Paso – experience new…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Oct 28, 2020
Travis County judge won't let bars reopen at 50 percent capacity
Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe said he’s not going to allow bars to reopen at 50 percent capacity Wednesday, citing a memo from the county’s top doctor saying Covid-19 “continues to be a threat.” “In the past ten days, Travis…
Austin • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Oct 15, 2020
Austin Public Health official says governor relaxed capacity rules too soon
Lee esta historia en español. Austin Public Health’s interim health authority says he would have rather waited a few more weeks before easing capacity restrictions for businesses in the area. On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that many businesses, including…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Sep 21, 2020
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Austin-area Covid-19 hospitalizations hit one-day record, seven-day average now tops 20
A record of 30 new Covid-19 hospital admissions was reported in the Austin area Sunday evening. The seven-day moving average of new admissions increased to 20.6. Austin Public Health has been warning that the average – which has been rising…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Jun 15, 2020
Tower Girl, UT's resident falcon, has laid eggs again. Will one hatch this year?
Tower Girl, the peregrine falcon who has made the UT tower home for a few years, has laid three eggs in her nest as of Sunday. This is the fifth time the falcon has laid eggs in the tower, but…
Environment • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Mar 10, 2020
As contract negotiations drag, Cap Metro bus drivers symbolically protest
Some Capital Metro bus drivers wore black makeup or a black sticker under their eyes Wednesday in a symbolic “Black Eye” protest of drawn-out labor negotiations between their union and a Capital Metro contractor. Capital Metro awarded a $1.4 billion…
Transit • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Feb 20, 2020
Austin Public Library is checking out whether to stop charging for overdue materials
The Austin Library Commission is looking into eliminating overdue fees for all materials in the city’s public library system. The Austin Public Library stopped charging fees on overdue materials checked out for kids in 2018. Now the commission has created…
Austin • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Jan 29, 2020
Got guns or ammo you don't want anymore? Austin police will take them, 'No questions asked'
Residents with unwanted firearms and ammunition can turn them over to the Austin Police Department on Tuesday at the first of a series of no-questions-asked gun surrender programs. The point of the program is to prevent weapons from ending up…
Police • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Jan 28, 2020
Proposed partnership with ECHO would convert more motels to temporarily house Austin's homeless
ECHO, the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, says the addition of 200-300 short-term motel units would substantially impact the community of Austinites living without shelter. In a memo sent Tuesday to the mayor and City Council, city staff said they agree.…
