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Governor Abbott released an Order this week allowing all businesses to expand to a 75% operating capacity starting on Wednesday, October 14. Additionally, counties with COVID-19 related hospitalizations that are less than 15% of hospital capacity (which includes Travis County) can choose to open bars to a 50% capacity starting next Wednesday with several specified guidelines including being seated at tables while eating or drinking, and dance floors remaining closed. There has not been an update as of this note from Travis County whether that will be allowed in our area at this time. We'll post that update on our website as soon as we receive more information. Click here for the details.
Travis County launched a new nonprofit grant program this week. The program is called TCTX Serve, and can provide funding to eligible nonprofit social service agencies affected by COVID-19. The social service nonprofit must be headquartered in Travis County. The maximum $50,000 grant could be applied toward maintaining social services to residents, operational costs, and to protect public health. Applications are open through October 16. Click here for more details.
The number of new reported cases dropped this week, while the number of hospitalizations remained about steady across Central Texas. There are 78 individuals hospitalized in our region with COVID-19, down from 80 reported last week. The number of daily hospitalizations on a seven-day average in our five-county area is sitting at about 13 average daily hospitalizations, up slightly from close to 12 last week. Click here for more details on hospitalizations.
There have now been a total of 30,075 cumulative COVID-19 cases reported in Travis County. That number is up by 499 compared to this same time last week, 672 the week before that, and 692 the week before that one. It's estimated there are 690 active COVID-19 positive cases in the county, which is up slightly from 629 reported last week. For the three zip codes associated with Lakeway (78734, 78738, 78669), there have been 642 cases identified to date, which is up by 21 compared to the same time last week, and up by 45 comparing with the week before that. Click here for more details and to view the tracking tool, which includes an interactive map to see cases by your zip code.
Travis County continues with Stage 3 guidelines, including keeping gatherings to no more than 10 individuals and wearing a face covering in public. Also, please continue to social/physical distance between individuals not in your household, and wash your hand regularly. Thank you for continuing to follow these guidelines during this difficult and unusual time.
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month |
If you've seen our police force out and about this month, you've probably noticed a familiar color - pink. Pink is the color highlighting Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is October each year. It's a month intended to raise awareness about breast cancer and provide education about prevention, screening and treatment. Every year in the U.S., about 250,000 women and men are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 42,000 die from the disease. The survival rate significantly increases with early detection. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) encourages women to get screened for breast cancer. Eligible women can receive free screenings through HHSC's Breast and Cervical Cancer Services (BCCS) program. BCCS helps fund clinics across Texas to provide screenings. In 2019, the program helped more than 24,600 women in Texas, including more than 16,000 women who received breast cancer services. Click here for more information about the program. |
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Early Voting Begins Tuesday |
Early voting begins on Tuesday, October 13 for the November 3 election. Voters will be able to vote early until Friday, October 30. There are several locations throughout the county to vote. The designated spot in the Lakeway area is the Lakeway Activity Center located at 105 Cross Creek. Voting times are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from Noon until 6 p.m. Click here for more details on the early voting locations. For Lakeway residents there will also be a special election on the ballot for the charter amendment propositions. Click here for more details on that information, available in both and English and Spanish version. |
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NEW: Deer Rut Season Begins
October through November is rut season here in our area. That means the deer population can be especially active this time of year. Be careful, especially when you're behind the wheel. They may quickly dart across the street with little notice, so be sure to drive cautiously and keep an extra eye out for deer along the roadways. Additionally, feeding deer in Lakeway is prohibited by city ordinance. Violation of this ordinance is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. Feeding deer not only causes more of them to congregate in residential areas, but much of the feed provided by humans can be detrimental to their health. Click here for more details, including information about deer resistant plants. |
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NEW: Enhanced 9-1-1 Caller Details
There is a new way you can assist 9-1-1 dispatchers in getting the help you need possibly quicker and more efficiently when you call the emergency line. It's part of the Emgency Health Profile Association. The free service allows residents to input detailed emergency contact information, including medical conditions and allergies, which will display to the 9-1-1 operator when you call in. In situations where you're unable to speak, but dial in, that information would be transmitted to the 9-1-1 dispatcher once you make the call to relay to the appropriate services. It's important when seconds count. Residents would need to register first. Click here for more information and to register if you're interested in signing up.
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THIS WEEK IN HISTORY (Oct. 4 - Oct. 10)
- 1582: Gregorian Calendar (used by most of the world) is introduced by Pope Gregory XIII
- 1604: A supernova is observed
- 1824: Mexico adopts new constitution and becomes a federal republic
- 1845: What would later be called the U.S. Naval Academy opens in Annapolis, Maryland
- 1871: Great Chicago Fire erupts burning more than 3 square miles, and killing about 300
- 1873: U.S. Naval Institute is established following a meeting at the U.S. Naval Academy
- 1876: Texas A&M opens as the first public college in Texas
- 1883: First run of the Orient Express
- 1895: First U.S. Open Men's Golf Championship won by Horace Rawlins
- 1921: The World Series is first to be broadcast on the radio
- 1927: The sculpting of Mount Rushmore begins by Gutzon Borglum
- 1947: President Truman makes first televised Oval Office address
- 1957: Sputnik 1 becomes first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth
- 1962: LED (light-emitting diode) is first demonstrated in Syracuse, New York
- 1970: The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is founded
- 1983: New land speed record set at 633 mph by Richard Noble at Black Rock Desert in NV
- 1995: The first planet orbiting another sun, 51Pegasi b, is discovered
- 1996: Fox News Channel begins broadcasting
- 2001: U.S. invasion of Afghanistan begins with air assault and covert ground operations
- 2001: Establishment of Office of Homeland Security by U.S. President George W. Bush
- 2010: Instagram is founded
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