Plus, UT researchers to help with heat preparedness.
 
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Today’s Forecast

98º | Partly cloudy | 3% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:12 a.m. | Sunset 7:41 p.m.
 

✈️ Social efforts taking flight

What we learned from the Austin airport’s first ever Environmental Social Governance report
A plane flying over Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at dusk.
AUS offers direct flights to almost 100 cities worldwide. | Photo via Tim Griffith
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport saw yet another record-breaking month for passenger traffic in August, with more than 2.04 million travelers using the airport facilities, further cementing it as one of the fastest-growing airports in the US.

To learn a little more about how AUS is balancing its social efforts amid all this growth, we took a look at the airport’s first ever Environmental Social Governance report, which was released in July. Here are a few things we learned.

Economic impact

AUS provides more than 74,000 direct and indirect jobs to Central Texas. However, in recent years, the airport has seen a drop in job retention, in part due to cost of living and other competitive job options at businesses like Tesla and Samsung.

Between 2018 and 2021 — the year this report centers on — employee retention dropped by nearly 6% and turnover increased to ~9% in 2020 and 2021.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

ABIA currently has an interim Chief Equity Officer with plans to hire for a permanent position in the next year.

Staff demographics have changed slightly since 2017. The number of non-white employees increased from ~61% to ~66% and the number of male employees hovered around 65%.

An airport on a runway near solar panels at the Austin airport.

AUS generates solar energy onsite to power both the airport and local homes.

|

Photo courtesy Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Sustainability

In addition to becoming the first medium hub-sized airport in North America to achieve 3+ neutrality from the Airport Council International Airport Carbon Accreditation, AUS has several other sustainability initiatives.

According to the report, the airport has several buildings with LEED energy certification, and has improved its recycling rate to 38% compared to 11% in 2015.

Art

The airport participates in the city’s Art in Public Places program, which commissions artists to create work related to Austin’s identity.

In 2021, the airport featured 61 artists, 248 live musical performances, and added two new permanent installations, including the interactive “Interimaginary Departures.”
Asked

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Events
Monday, Sept. 11
  • “Stop Making Sense” Live | Monday, Sept. 11 | 6-8 p.m. | Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave., Austin | $22-$25 | Celebrate the 40th anniversary of this concert film with a screening, followed by a livestreamed Q&A with the original members of Talking Heads.
Tuesday, Sept. 12
  • Post-War to Present Christie’s Residency | Tuesday, Sept. 12-Thursday, Sept. 14 | Times vary | The Loren Hotel, 1211 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | Free | Explore work from artists like Keith Haring and Roy Lichtenstein ahead of Christie’s upcoming auction.
Wednesday, Sept. 13
Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Lake Travis Film Festival | Thursday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 17 | Times vary | Star Hill Ranch and Cineamrk Hill Country Galleria, 15000 Hamilton Pool Rd., Bee Cave | $45-$400 | Spend four days immersed in the best films the region has to offer at this fest featuring screenings of films like “Halfway to Amarillo” and “Road to the Lemon Grove.”
Friday, Sept. 15
  • Iliza: “Hard Feelings Tour” | Friday, Sept. 15 | 7 p.m. | Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $40-$180 | Award-winning “Elder Millennial” comedian and actor Iliza Shlesinger will perform her new tour onstage in Austin.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Today Is
Sports
  • The Texas Longhorns moved up to No. 4 in the AP Top 25 college football poll after a thrilling 34-24 win over Alabama on Saturday. Read a recap of the game. (Austin American-Statesman)
Community
  • Flo, a 100-year-old leaning tree pecan tree at Barton Springs, will be removed due to a diagnosis of brittle cinder fungus. The city will hold a celebration of life ceremony for Flo on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.
Coming Soon
  • A new pickleball club with three courts, cabanas, and food trucks will open in East Austin at 2717 Manor Rd this Friday, Sept. 15. Membership at Other Racquet Social Club will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. (CultureMap Austin)
Featured
  • Cedar Park teen Jessica Jantz was featured on a Times Square jumbotron this past weekend to help promote the annual New York City Buddy Walk, a campaign to raise money and awareness for Down syndrome. Jessica was picked out of 2,400 entries. (KXAN)
Development
  • The $267 million Hill Country Studios will break ground in San Marcos later this year. The state-of-the-art film, TV, and streaming studio is expected to become the largest of its kind in the state. (Austin American-Statesman)
List
  • Magnolia Cafe South was named the most iconic diner in Texas by Reader’s Digest. The beloved local haunt was recognized for its Tex-Mex bites and sizable portions.
Correction
  • In our Thursday, Sept. 7 newsletter, we included an outdated rendering of the newly announced UT Impact Labs headed to North Austin. Find an updated rendering here.
Weather

🔥 Feelin’ the heat

UT research may help Austin address record-breaking heat
The Austin skyline at dusk.
You can take the Austinite out of Austin, but you can’t take the Austin out of the Austinite. | Photo by ATXtoday
Fingers crossed, Austin — help might be on the way.

Last week, Austin’s US Rep. Lloyd Doggett announced UT researchers received federal funding for a three-year study on how to help prepare for record-breaking heat in the Austin area (in case you missed it, this summer was the hottest on record in ATX).

As reported by KVUE, as many as 40 researchers from the university and the City of Austin will participate in the program, which may study subjects including:
City leaders hope this research — which still needs to go through final approval and be signed into law by Mayor Kirk Watson — will inform city decisions during future heatwaves.
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The Wrap
 
London Gibson

Today’s edition by:
London
From the editor
Hi, it’s me, the city editor already dreaming of autumn weather even though it’s still in the 90s outside.

While I’m waiting for chilly days, help me out — where can I get a great, fall-flavored drink around town?
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