Honor Flight Takes 60 Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to Washington DC

On Friday, April 26, 2019, Honor Flight Austin departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, transporting 60 veterans to Washington D.C.

AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday, April 26, 2019, Honor Flight Austin departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Washington D.C., transporting 60 veterans from the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan to the nation’s capital to visit and experience the memorials built in their honor. This is Honor Flight Austin’s 58th overall flight, and the second flight of 2019.

The veterans arrived in the ticketing area at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) at 9 a.m. The veterans, guardians, and staff assembled for a procession to Gate 21 around 10:30 a.m. The TSA Honor Guard and Austin Police Department Bag Pipes led the procession.

Honor Flight Austin departed Austin-Bergstrom at 11:45 a.m., and are scheduled to return to Austin Saturday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m.

Join Honor Flight Austin for a welcome home greeting at about 5:30 p.m. on April 27 upstairs in west ticketing.

Southwest Airlines operates the flight. The Hilton Austin Airport is a corporate sponsor of Honor Flight Austin. Lunch and refreshments are provided to veterans courtesy of ThunderCloud Subs. Trips on Honor Flight are made possible at no cost to the veterans through donations. The April 26 flight is sponsored by 22KILL, a non-profit organization committed to researching and understanding the issues connected with suicide.

Honor Flight Austin is a non-profit organization created to honor veterans by transporting them to visit and reflect at their war memorials. Honor Flight Austin serves veterans residing within Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Gillespie, Gonzales, Hays, Lee, Llano, Milam, Travis and Williamson Counties. To support Honor Flight Austin or to learn more about the organization go to www.honorflightaustin.org.

The airport of choice for Central Texas is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). New nonstop international flights include Calgary, Canada (YYC) on WestJet www.westjet.com; Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) on Lufthansa www.lufthansa.com; London Gatwick, United Kingdom (LGW) on Norwegian Air, www.norwegian.com/us; and Mexico City, Mexico (MEX) on AeroMexico, www.aeromexico.com. Austin also welcomes new carrier Spirit Airlines,  www.spirit.com.  Find all nonstop routes with the free interactive flight guide on www.abia.org. Connect with us on Twitter @AUStinAirport, Facebook, www.facebook.com/abia and on Instagram @AUSairport.

CITY-SUPPORTED ALDRICH 51 DEVELOPMENT RECEIVES A NATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING AWARD

The Aldrich 51 mixed-income apartment community located in Mueller in east-central Austin, has received the 2019 Multifamily Excellence Award from the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies.  The award honors innovative housing initiatives that serve as models for community growth and which are financially viable in providing housing for single-parent households, low-wage workers, seniors, and people exiting homelessness.

Opening in 2018, Aldrich 51 provides housing to households earning between 30 to 60 percent of the area’s median income in 85 percent of its 240 units. Public transportation is available within two blocks, and more than 50 commercial and retail establishments–many of which employ residents of the complex–are within walking distance.

Aldrich 51 was built through a public-private partnership between the City of Austin, DMA Development Company, and Catellus to create affordable housing for working families that is near jobs, transportation, and public services.  Financing for the project combined private mortgage funding, $10 million in state low-income housing tax credits, $4 million in City of Austin affordable housing bonds, and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant dollars.

“The award for Aldrich 51 recognizes what is possible when committed Austinites work together for the public good,” said Rosie Truelove, director of the City of Austin’s Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department.  “It also demonstrates the City of Austin’s commitment to providing economic opportunities and resources to help meet Austin’s needs for affordability, accessibility, and diversity in our neighborhoods.”

BARC TO HOLD KITTEN CARE 101 CLASSES

HOUSTON, Texas – Kitten season is here!  BARC – the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center – is partnering with Friends For Life Animal Shelter to provide kitten care classes to educate the public on a variety of kitten related topics, including what to do if you find a stray kitten and how to better each kittens’ chances of survival.

“Springtime is definitely kitten time at BARC,” said Jennifer Barrera Wandrey, BARC outreach manager. “People assume kittens found alone have been abandoned so they bring them to the shelter, but most of the time the mother is nearby and will return.”

There will be two opportunities to participate in Kitten Care 101 Classes. The classes will provide information and training on various cat related topics including what to do if you find a kitten. Both classes are open to the public and can sign up by emailing barcfoster@houstontx.gov.

Sunday, April 28 • 1:00-2:00pm                 
Friends For Life Animal Shelter
107 E 22nd Street
Houston, TX 77008

Sunday, May 19 • 10:00-11:00am
BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions Center
2700 Evella Street
Houston, TX 77026

Each year, well-meaning Houstonians come across seemingly abandoned kittens and rush them to shelters. Unfortunately, these good intentions may significantly decrease the kitten’s chances of survival. Kittens’ immune systems are fragile, and their care is often labor-intensive, making them the most vulnerable inhabitants of a shelter. It is best to leave kittens alone and watch for the mother cat to return within 3 to 4 hours. Residents should only bring kittens to the shelter if the kittens or their mother are sick, injured, or in immediate danger.

The simplest, but most powerful thing, Houstonians can do to help pets throughout the community is to foster, volunteer, donate and adopt. If you are unable to permanently adopt a pet but would like to help animals in need, BARC encourages you to consider becoming a volunteer or a foster pet parent. By getting animals into foster homes, shelters have more space for additional animals as they enter the shelter system across Houston.

About BARC
BARC, the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, takes in more than 25,000 animals annually regardless of behavior, breed, or medical condition.  BARC works each day to improve the health and safety of Houstonians and their pets by pioneering programs such as low cost and no cost spay/neuter services, mobile adoptions, transfer/rescue partnerships, and community outreach.  Through these programs and with support from community partners, BARC’s live release rate has improved from single-digits in 2009 to an 84.7% in 2018.
Visit www.houstonbarc.com or www.houstonbarcfoundation.org for more information.

About Friends For Life
At Friends For Life, every animal matters. Founded in 2002, Friends For Life introduced the no-kill shelter model to Houston – saving animals regardless of their breed, age or condition. Friends For Life helps Houstonians care for their pets – with direct programs like a free pet food bank, spay/neuters and behavior training. Friends For Live works toward a vision of a community where all animals have a safe home, and where pet owners have the resources to care for the animals they love.
Learn more at www.friends4life.org

City of Austin Small Business Program Celebrates National Small Business Week

Five days of free training and events programmed for local business owners, entrepreneurs and creative industries, May 6 – 10

The City of Austin’s Small Business Program, within the Economic Development Department, will celebrate National Small Business Week with five days filled with free business training events to help Austin’s small businesses, May 6-10. Attendees will receive expert instruction covering industry insights, marketing, legal, and business planning. Designated annually by the U.S. Small Business Administration, National Small Business Week highlights critical contributions made by America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The Austin City Council will recognize the entrepreneur-dedicated week with a City proclamation at

Great Harvest Bread Company Remodels Facility

Great Harvest Bread Business Owners and others cutting a red ribbon with large scissors to celebrate their re-opening

The City of Austin’s Small Business Program, within the Economic Development Department, recently celebrated its most recent Family Business Loan recipient, the Great Harvest Bread Company, for their small business remodel completion and grand re-opening at 3201 Bee Caves Road.

Upon hearing the original Great Harvest Bread Company owners were retiring after 25 years in business, long-time customers and friends of the establishment, Juan Maldonado and Gisela Hernandez-Mendoza, decided to buy the small business and continue its legacy of serving great food within the community.

Wanting to reestablish the bakery, Juan and Gisela applied for an $82,000 Family Business Program loan to acquire the establishment, remodel the interior, and create a more versatile space.

“The City is proud to play its part in the expansion and overall success of a local business,” said Interim Economic Development Director, Rebecca Giello. “Helping entrepreneurs secure capital allows them to continue to play a vital role in Austin’s economy and overall effort to create more jobs.”

Great Harvest Bread Company is committed to creating 3 full-time jobs to help grow Austin’s employment base over the next 5 years.

Great Harvest Business Owners speaking to an audience inside their business with racks of bread in the background

The Family Business Loan Program is a public-private loan pool between the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that provides low-interest loans, utilizing no city funds.

The Family Business Loan Program's mission is to enhance the overall quality of life for Austin residents. The program requires borrowers to create one job for every $35,000 borrowed, and 51% of individuals hired must be deemed low to moderate income as defined by federal levels.

For more information on the Family Business Loan Program, call 512-978-2502 to speak with a Loan Program Advisor.

$10-dollar adoption special at Dallas Animal Services

Dallas, Texas - Dallas Animal Services is hosting a $10 adoption special Friday, April 26 through Sunday, May 5. The “Heroes Adopt!” adoption special will help cats and dogs in need find loving homes and allow Dallas citizens to find a new pet for an affordable price. Pets can be adopted at DAS’ main shelter, located at 1818 N Westmoreland Rd., Dallas TX 75212 and the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center, located at 16821 Coit Rd., Dallas TX 75248.

Secretary Whitley Announces Settlement In Litigation On Voter Registration List Maintenance Activity

Plaintiffs agree to dismiss all claims against the Texas Secretary of State

AUSTIN, TX – Today, the parties to LULAC v. Whitley (and consolidated cases) agreed to a settlement in the litigation regarding the Texas Secretary of State's voter registration list maintenance activity announced on January 25, 2019 to identify and remove non-U.S. citizens registered to vote in Texas. All parties agreed to a mutually acceptable process by which the Texas Secretary of State's office can continue to conduct voter registration list maintenance required under both state and federal law while eliminating the impact of any list maintenance on eligible Texas voters. The plaintiffs agreed to dismiss all of their claims and the Texas Secretary of State's office agreed to issue a new advisory notifying Texas counties on the revised process for identifying and removing non-U.S. citizens from the state's voter rolls.

Secretary Whitley issued the following statement regarding the settlement agreement:

"I want to thank the Texas Legislature, county election officials from across the state, and the parties in this litigation for working with our office to develop a sustainable non-citizen list maintenance process. From the beginning, this process was designed to be collaborative, and today's agreement reflects a constructive collaboration among all stakeholders. It is of paramount importance that Texas voters can have confidence in the integrity, accuracy, and efficiency of the electoral system in which they participate. Today's agreement accomplishes our office's goal of maintaining an accurate list of qualified registered voters while eliminating the impact of any list maintenance activity on naturalized U.S. citizens. I will continue to work with all stakeholders in the election community to ensure this process is conducted in a manner that holds my office accountable and protects the voting rights of eligible Texans."

As part of the settlement, the parties agreed to a revised list maintenance process for the Texas Secretary of State's office to utilize in matching Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) data regarding potential non-U.S. citizens with Texas' voter registration database. The parties agreed that, going forward, the Texas Secretary of State's office will send to county voter registrars only the matching records of individuals who registered to vote before identifying themselves as non-U.S. citizens to DPS when applying for a driver license or personal identification card. This will ensure that naturalized U.S. citizens who lawfully registered to vote are not impacted by this voter registration list maintenance process.