Missed any of our articles from last week? Take a look at what you might have missed from Community Impact’s coverage areas in Austin from June 19-23.

1. Austin city leaders share tips to stay safe, preserve energy during excessive heat warning

Austin city leaders held a press conference on June 21 to provide information on the city’s ongoing response to the excessive heat warning.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory on June 13 and upgraded to an excessive heat warning on June 15. Since then, Central Texas has experienced temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The heat advisory is expected to last for the next seven days, and the rest of this summer is forecast to have above normal temperatures for the region, NWS Meteorologist Bob Fogarty said.



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2. Austin Habitat for Humanity seeking homebuyers in 'missing middle'

Austin Habitat for Humanity is looking for qualified homebuyers for several of their current and upcoming projects.

“This is the first time in a really long time where our pipeline is essentially empty of qualified applicants,” according to Angel Leverett, Austin Habitat for Humanity director of marketing and communications.


Most of the nonprofit’s projects fall around the 60%-80% median family income range, Leverett said.

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3. Austin continues camp clean outs as excessive heat continues

Seventy-five people and 30 pets living in a Gaines Creek Greenbelt homeless encampment near the Violet Crown Trail were moved into shelter June 20 through Austin's Housing-focused Encampment


HEAL clears encampments that pose a high public safety risk, such as those near major roads and waterways.

The Gaines Creek Greenbelt encampment was removed due to safety concerns amid record-high temperatures, increased wildfire risks and its proximity to a sensitive endangered migratory songbird habitat, according to a news release.

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4. Celebrate Independence Day with these events in and around Austin


Events are popping up throughout Central Texas to commemorate the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified July 4, 1776. Here are details to some of those events to celebrate.

The Austin Symphony will host a July Fourth celebration at Lady Bird Lake. They will perform a concert of patriotic music, ending with a fireworks show over the lake. The event is free, but residents can choose to purchase the VIP experience if they wish to have more amenities.

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5. Hundreds of nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center to strike June 27


Hundreds of nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center will go on strike June 27, the National Nurses United union, which represents 900 registered nurses at the hospital, announced June 15 in a news release. The nurses strike will be the largest in Texas history and the first at Ascension Seton Medical Center, according to the NNU.

Nurses always provide notice 10 days in advance before announcing a strike so the hospital system can make a plan for patient care, according to the NNU. Ascension Seton Medical Center representatives said the hospital has a contingency plan in place to ensure patient care won’t be disrupted during the strike.

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