Happy Independence Day!

Thursday is the Fourth of July and much of the city – including your Austin Monitor – will be closing shop in recognition of the holiday. Austin Independent School District has taken the week off in observance of the holiday. City administrative offices and other municipal facilities including libraries; Austin Animal Center; recreation, senior and cultural centers will all be closed on Thursday, July 4. Also closed will be a number of downtown roads for the H-E-B Austin Symphony Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks (see a map of street closures). Capital Metro, meanwhile, will run Saturday-level service on Thursday, with MetroRapid service until about 2:30 a.m. And for the holiday, bus rides are free for everyone after 5 p.m. and kids ride free all day long (however, there will be no MetroRail service, due to ongoing construction).