Cap Metro savings still dropping

Reserves could be down to $10 million by fall, and services may be cut.

By Ben Wear
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Capital Metro's shrinking savings could be down to $10 million by the end of September, agency officials said Monday, bringing the transit agency's operating reserves to no more than a few days' cushion.

It's a predicament that had Capital Metro's chief talking Monday about what amounts to overdraft protection and board members saying service cuts might be necessary.

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USA holidays: Saddle up and go steer crazy in tremendous Texas

Austin, Texas. A city of water - after all, the mighty Colorado river flows through town. A city of bats - by day millions of them roost under the modern Congress Avenue Bridge before emerging at dusk to go hunting. And a city of green spaces - the largest being Zilker Park, where they hold the annual South by Southwest music and film festival, and where the Rolling Stones once played.

I went to Zilker Park with veteran piano player Pinetop Perkins, who is 94 and witnessed the boogie boom of the Thirties. Astonishingly, Pinetop still plays gigs. I told my brother that he has some way to go to keep up with Pinetop's schedule as he played twice in two days while I was there.

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De Niro Collection opens in Austin

April 27, 2009 THR.com

The Robert De Niro Collection of film-related materials has opened to researchers and the public at the Harry Ransom Center, a humanities research library and museum at the University of Texas at Austin.

Donated by De Niro in 2006, the collection, including more than 1,300 boxes of papers, film, movie props and costumes, documents his professional career from the 1960s through 2005.

Filling more than 300 archival boxes, the paper portion of the collection includes De Niro's heavily annotated scripts and correspondence, makeup and wardrobe photographs, wardrobe continuity books, costume designs and posters and extensive production, publicity and research material.

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Texas APME recognizes excellence in journalism

The Associated Press
April 26, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — The Dallas Morning News was named the Newspaper of The Year and the Austin American-Statesman was named the best online newspaper among the state's largest metropolitan dailies at the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors' annual meeting over the weekend.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times won Newspaper of The Year and the Wichita Falls Times-Record News won best online paper among newspapers with circulations of 30,000 to 124,999. The San Angelo Standard-Times won both top honors among newspapers of 10,000 to 29,999 in circulation. In the small newspaper division, the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel was named Newspaper of The Year and the Plainview Daily Herald was cited as the best online paper.

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South by Southwest Festival Helps Fuel Austin Economy

The South by Southwest festival that starts at the Austin Convention Center generates $110 million, but no single group reaps all of the rewards.

Vanessa Vaughn of Hostel International Austin said she sees enough of it to get her youth hostel over the hump each March which is a great news for the Austin Texas real estate market.

The 10-day festival rakes in $18 million in food and drink, $12 million in hotels and $7 million in transportation.

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Arboles Terrace - Austin Luxury Neighborhoods

Arboles Terrace is a luxury hilltop neighborhood located in the heart of Austin. With median prices at $297k for 1150 square feet, Arboles Terrace has some of the best valued new homes in Austin.
Neighborhood Features:

Downtown skyline views

Town Lake Trail

In Austin ISD

Sponsored by Austin Real Estate Round Rock

Lake Pointe - Austin Luxury Neighborhoods

Lake Pointe is an Austin, TX neighborhood established in 1995 in the hills between Austin and Bee Cave . There are 3 sections in Lake Pointe: Lake Pointe, Vista Pointe and The Pointe, and all homes are built by reputable new home builders in Austin. New homes start at $215k and go to over $1 million.
Neighborhood Features:

Near Lake Austin and Lake Travis

20 to 25 minute drive to downtown

Galleria mall complex

Lake Travis Independent School District

Sponsored by Austin Real Estate Westlake

Bella Strada - Austin Luxury Neighborhoods

Bella Strada is a new, gated community in Lakeway. This community has home prices from $1 million to $2 million and contains some of the most exclusive new homes in Austin.
Neighborhood Features:

Gated Community

Lakefront lots

Private boat docks

Excellent schools

Sponsored by Austin Real Estate Texas

Bryker Woods - Austin Luxury Neighborhoods

Bryker Woods is an older Austin community bordered by Westover on the south, 35th on the north, Shoal Creek on the east and MOPAC Boulevard on the west. It was developed between the 1930s and 1950s, with mostly bungalows and a few larger homes surrounded by large, shady trees. Houses in Bryker Woods are generally priced in the mid $300k to $400k range. Recently, Austin home builders have been renovating and building new homes in the community.
Neighborhood Features:

Seton Medical Center is nearby.

The University of Texas and downtown offices are minutes away.

Numerous parks such as Seider's Springs Park, Bailey Park, and Shoal Creek Park

10 minutes from downtown Austin

Sponsored by Austin Real Estate Westlake