🌱 Austin Teachers' Shorter Workdays + Bob Dylan Comes To Austin

Gabriela Couvillion
Updated ·5 min read

Good morning, people of Austin! It's me again, Gabriela Couvillion, your host of the Austin Daily.

First, today's weather:

Warmer with some sun. High: 63 Low: 42.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

  1. Austin ISD (AISD) is considering shortening teachers' workdays starting this spring "in an effort to alleviate some of the "challenges teachers are facing" during the COVID-19 pandemic. "In a newsletter sent out to AISD families" on Thursday, Jan. 20, "the district gave options for early-release Fridays" and stated, "our teachers have had a hard year and we’re working on ways we can provide additional support during this challenging time." Education Austin president Ken Zarifis said, "It's just so overwhelming, and people have left during the year in ways that I've never seen people leaving." He added, "They're just so many different pressures. It's just been too much. And so, we have a shortage. There's not enough people to fill this position." For more details, please visit: (KVUE.com)

  2. After more than 3 years since "Apple announced its intents to build a $1 billion office campus in northwest Austin," the new construction is coming together and according to an Austin Business Journal (ABJ) report, "the first phase of the project is nearly complete. However, although Apple officials said in April 2021 that they "expected to move employees into the space sometime in 2022," the timeline is now unclear as Apple "announced to indefinitely delay its return to office." According to ABJ, "the $1 billion campus' construction is supposed to take place in five phases" and expects "to bring nearly 5,000 jobs to Austin in engineering, research and development, operations, finance, sales and customer support." For more details and updates on the project, visit: (KVUE.com)

  3. Austin's Hopdoddy Burger Bar recently acquired Bryan-based Grub Burger Bar to form a new company known as HiBar Hospitality Group, but the "terms of the deal were not disclosed." Hopdoddy CEO Jeff Chandler will lead the company, and Grub founder and CEO Jimmy Loup will be on the board of directors. "The new company will operate 50 locations that combine Hopdoddy’s 32 restaurants in five states with Grub’s 18 locations in four states." The restaurants will continue to feature "upscale burgers built around beef and other proteins" with "creative toppings and in-house baked buns." They will also offer "fried chicken sandwiches and a vegan option made with Beyond meat" with sides such as "fries and queso." They also have full bars that include "craft beer, wine, cocktails, and boozy shakes." For more information, read CultureMap's full report and visit: (KVUE.com)

  4. On Wednesday, March 16, legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will play at Bass Concert Hall on the University of Texas campus. The date of his performance occurs "right in the middle of Austin's South by Southwest (SXSW) from March 11-20, but it is not known if he will be performing or speaking at SXSW. However, he is off the day before and the day after the Austin show. Charlie Sexton, Austin musician/producer and longtime Dylan guitarist, "played guitar on Dylan's 2020's album 'Rough and Rowdy Ways.'" However, he will not be playing in his band for the upcoming show in March. Tickets for the event range from $59.50-$129.50 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 28 via texasperformingarts.org. (austin360)

From our sponsor:

Last week, we told you about our new favorite non-alcoholic go-to — the refreshingly bitter drinks from our partners at Betera. They’re chef-created from natural botanicals, lightly effervescent and worthy of life beyond “Dry January.” We mentioned that their Ginger-Orange was excellent; we’ve since tried Elderflower-Lime and loved it as well — light and floral with the perfect amount of zing. We're converts.

Enough of you took Betera up on their 15 percent discount on first orders for Patch Daily readers that they’ve extended the offer for another week. Use PATCH15 at checkout. Highly recommended — try Betera here.

Today in Austin:

  • Cover to Cover: A Look at the Asiatic Fleet Exhibit at National Museum of the Pacific War. (9 a.m.)

  • Donate Blood and Get a Free Small Sub from Thundercloud at We Are Blood. (9 a.m.)

  • “Unsilenced” Movie Screening in Austin at Cinemark 20 and XD. (2:10 p.m.)

  • Virtual Cardio and Strength Free Online Class by Stronger Austin. (5 p.m.)

  • Breath Work and Sound Healing Workshop at 3r Eye Meditation Lounge and Elixir Bar. (7 p.m.)

  • Hostile Comedy Big Laugh Comedy Show at The Ballroom @ Spider House. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • The Austin Police Department's thoughts and prayers are with our fellow law enforcement agencies and their families." (Facebook)

  • "During the spring semester, the Austin Independent School District will excuse student absences related to pandemic concerns. Families do not need to worry about their student’s attendance being impacted because they have to stay at home due to COVID-19." (Facebook)

  • "Ataraxia by Kel Brown will be on display at the Austin Central Public Library's main gallery through April 16." (Facebook)

  • "January is National Mentoring Month! Austin ISD is #AISDProud to offer programs that connect students with positive role models. Apply at www.austinisd.org/mentoring." (Facebook)

  • "Behind the scenes at the Alexander! Check it out at the Architecture and Planning Library, University of Texas at Austin page at: https://sites.utexas.edu/sarah..." (Facebook)

  • "Tarlton Law Library, University of Texas School of Law, currently provides access to the West Academic Study Aids Collection. The collection provides unlimited digital access to hundreds of trusted study aids covering virtually every law school course. Check it out at: http://ow.ly/VzUu50HBxh7." (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Events:

Loving the Austin Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another update!

— Gabriela Couvillion

About me: I'm an active mom of two grown sons and lifelong San Antonio resident. I received a BA in Spanish from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and in my free time I immerse myself in creative writing. Thanks for reading Patch, and feel free to reach out if you have any news and happenings you think may appeal to our readers!

This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch