Today, the city’s Salamander Conservation Program was recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as one of its 2016 Recovery Champions. It’s a first for a program that has, for two decades, worked to rehab the endangered Barton Springs and Austin blind salamanders. This distinction celebrates the program’s role in putting together and implementing the Barton Springs Salamander Recovery Program, as well as the part it’s played in finding new salamander habitats in surrounding counties. Winners across eight regions all helped in recovery efforts for an endangered or threatened species.

Next spring, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will earn the distinction of being the first Texas airport to have a Norwegian Airlines flight. It’ll start running on March 27, 2018. The airline’s CEO, Bjørn Kjos, expressed his excitement about the new partnership and the opportunities it will bring in the future. “This city makes perfect sense as our first entry into the Lone Star state,” he said. “Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, which perfectly fits Norwegian, being the world’s fastest-growing airline. We see great opportunities with our new route, both in terms of lowering trans-Atlantic fares for Austinites and bringing more tourists and business travelers to the region, which will help support thousands of local jobs.”

Over the next year and a half, Austin B-cycle will work to complete a major expansion. The first of 18 new stations are going up this week at three different locations: Cesar Chavez Street and Congress Avenue; Sterzing Street and Barton Springs Road; and one on Henderson Street between Sixth and Ninth streets. The 35 percent system expansion will put 125 more bikes on the road. B-cycle already boasts 51 stations and 380 bikes citywide and has recorded more than 100,000 trips this year. The Henderson station, sponsored by advertising company GSD&M, will be installed today at 10 a.m. Find a complete list of stations, and more information about riding, on B-cycle’s website.

Beginning in August, the city’s Cultural Arts Division will host a series of workshops called Get Noticed! PR & Marketing for ATX Creatives. It is one of the recommendations in the city’s Music and Creative Ecosystem Omnibus Resolution, which is aimed at finding ways to keep our local creative community intact. This workshop series will bring together public relations and marketing professionals, city staff and the local media to help local artists learn how to promote themselves and their projects. And it’s not just for the lucky few able to attend in person: Video of the events will be archived on the Cultural Arts Division website. The first of the workshops, PR and Marketing for the Arts, begins at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at the Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 Red River St. Learn more about the other two sessions here.

The city is asking for help finding a 1-year-old dog named Parsley, who escaped from a microchipping event in Southeast Austin on July 2. According to a Wednesday press release, the dog was last seen running east on FM 812. Anyone with information about the dog’s whereabouts is encouraged to call 311 immediately. Animal Services will send someone out to pick Parsley up and return her to her home.

Last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors announced that Mayor Steve Adler had become one of the conference’s new trustees. He was elected to the position by his fellow mayors, along with Mesa, Arizona, Mayor John Giles. Conference trustees, along with past presidents and three top officers, serve on the executive committee. Adler wryly noted the lack of news coverage surrounding the occasion in a Fourth of July newsletter. “It’s a pretty big week at City Hall when the Mayor getting elected by his peers to a leadership position at the U.S. Conference of Mayors doesn’t even make the papers,” he wrote.

The Austin Water Utility is putting together the city’s water plan for the next century. That undertaking obviously requires a heap of public input. Do your part on Saturday, July 8, at the Water Forward Summer Series meeting at the Southeast Branch Library, 5803 Nuckols Crossing Road. If you can’t attend the meeting, which begins at 11:30 a.m., visit the utility’s website to find an online survey. Here’s one advantage to showing up in person: There will be water and Popsicles on hand, in addition to kids’ activities.

Next week, Blues on the Green continues on July 12 with Shinyribs and Jackie Venson. You know the drill by now: It starts at 8 p.m., is free to the public and open to our furry friends. The city’s website has the lowdown on street closures and public transportation options. If you can’t make it, never fear. There’s one more date this summer, on Aug. 2.

Yesterday, a group of veterans left Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on a flight to Washington, D.C., on a trip to visit a memorial dedicated to them. The trip was sponsored by a local nonprofit called Honor Flight Austin, which has sponsored three other flights this year alone. This particular group of World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans, on the third Temple “TR” Kennedy Honor Flight, took in the USAF Band Concert and a fireworks show. They’ll return to Austin this evening.

Here at the Austin Monitor we love America as much as all of you. To prove it, we are taking tomorrow off to celebrate the holiday. Happy Independence Day! Be safe, have fun and we’ll see you on Wednesday.

The city of Austin celebrates the Fourth of July by closing its administrative and other municipal buildings tomorrow. That includes Austin Public Library branches, Recycled Reads and the Austin History Center. In addition, museums will close, as well as recreation, senior and cultural centers. Austin Resource Recovery stays on the job, however, and will pick up trash, recycling and yard trimmings as scheduled. Residents can still take advantage of city aquatic facilities, golf courses and tennis courts. Note that the Austin Animal Center will close a little earlier than normal. It’ll open at 11 a.m. as usual, but will close at 5 p.m. The center will go back to regular hours on Wednesday.

Whoever does graphics for the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority had a good time recently Photoshopping bald eagle heads and wings onto the agency’s buses. That is because Capital Metro would like residents to take advantage of its services during the holiday weekend. In order to help people find their way to various fireworks shows, tomorrow the agency is running Saturday-level service, meaning MetroRail runs until midnight and MetroRapid until 12:30 a.m. Find the Trip Planner, a link to download the Capital Metro app and complete schedules on the agency’s website. Amazing graphics included.