Saturday ·
Viva La Vida parade and festival take over downtown today.
Good morning, Austin. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88 and a low around 62 tonight. No weather alerts are posted for Travis County.
The Briefing
Viva La Vida today, a murder charge in a library death, and $1.2 million
Today. The parade starts at noon on Sixth Street at Neches Street and ends at the festival grounds at Fourth Street and Congress Avenue. The City says downtown road closures start at 5 a.m.
Public safety. Austin Police Department (APD) identifies the victim as Alonzo Mabry, 62. Police say Daniel Vasquez, 30, who was arrested at the scene and first charged with aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, was charged with murder Oct. 14. APD counts it as Austin's 47th homicide of 2026.
Business. The City says Council approved four agreements Oct. 22 through Austin Economic Development's Place-Based Enhancement Program, totaling more than $1.2 million: up to $182,664 over five years for Esther's Follies, up to $84,390 for Escuelita del Alma, up to $82,077 for Royal Blue Grocery, and $864,210 over 10 years for nonprofit office space at Waverly North in North University.
Around town. Austin Energy crews have finished stringing the 155-foot tree: 39 strings of LED bulbs, 81 bulbs each, topped by a 10-foot double star.
What's next: The parade starts at noon on Sixth Street at Neches Street. Tips go to 512-974-TIPS or Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.
Sources: City of Austin, Austin Police Department, City of Austin, City of Austin, City of Austin
City Desk
Money & bills
$1.2 million to help four longtime spots stay put.
The City says Council approved four agreements Oct. 22 through Austin Economic Development's Place-Based Enhancement Program, totaling more than $1.2 million: up to $182,664 over five years for Esther's Follies, up to $84,390 for Escuelita del Alma, up to $82,077 for Royal Blue Grocery, and $864,210 over 10 years for nonprofit office space at Waverly North in North University. City of Austin release, Oct. 22
Also
Up to $182,664 over five years for Esther's Follies. City of Austin release, Oct. 22
Up to $84,390 for Escuelita del Alma. City of Austin release, Oct. 22
Up to $82,077 for Royal Blue Grocery. City of Austin release, Oct. 22
$864,210 over 10 years for nonprofit office space at Waverly North in North University. City of Austin release, Oct. 22
Public safety & courts
Library assault death ruled a homicide; suspect now charged with murder.
Austin police say a man assaulted at the Central Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St., on March 11 died June 12, and the Travis County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide in a report police received Oct. 14. Austin Police Department release, Oct. 23
Also
APD identifies the victim as Alonzo Mabry, 62. Austin Police Department release, Oct. 23
Police say Daniel Vasquez, 30, was arrested at the scene and first charged with aggravated assault with serious bodily injury. Austin Police Department release, Oct. 23
Daniel Vasquez, 30, was charged with murder Oct. 14. Austin Police Department release, Oct. 23
APD counts it as Austin's 47th homicide of 2026. Austin Police Department release, Oct. 23
Tips go to 512-974-TIPS. Austin Police Department release, Oct. 23
Tips go to Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. Austin Police Department release, Oct. 23
Growth & infrastructure
The City says downtown road closures start at 5 a.m. City of Austin release, Oct. 23
If you're driving through and not going, it suggests I-35, Guadalupe or Lavaca for north-south trips. City of Austin release, Oct. 23
It suggests Cesar Chavez, Seventh or Eighth for east-west. City of Austin release, Oct. 23
City Hall & county
Austin signs a five-year partnership with Tampere, Finland.
Mayor Kirk Watson and Tampere Mayor Ilmari Nurminen signed a memorandum of understanding at City Hall covering areas including semiconductors, startups, advanced manufacturing and defense technology; the cities say they'll set yearly goals and track progress. City of Austin release, Oct. 23
Business & street life
Viva La Vida parade and festival take over downtown today.
Mexic-Arte Museum's 43rd annual Viva La Vida Festival and Parade for Día de los Muertos runs noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and it's free. The parade starts at noon on Sixth Street at Neches Street. City of Austin release, Oct. 23
Also
The festival is free. City of Austin release, Oct. 23
The parade ends at the festival grounds at Fourth Street and Congress Avenue. City of Austin release, Oct. 23
The Zilker Holiday Tree is strung for its 60th season.
Austin Energy crews have finished stringing the 155-foot tree: 39 strings of LED bulbs, 81 bulbs each, topped by a 10-foot double star. The City says the lighting is typically the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and Parks and Recreation will post details in November. City of Austin release, Oct. 23
Weather
Mostly sunny today with a high near 88 and an east southeast wind 0 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph, partly cloudy tonight with a low around 62, and mostly cloudy Sunday with a high near 84, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. No alerts are in effect for Travis County. National Weather Service forecast
Sources: National Weather Service forecast, Travis County active-alert snapshot
The Back Page
The parade starts at noon on Sixth Street at Neches Street and ends at the festival grounds at Fourth Street and Congress Avenue.
One Good Thing: The festival is free. City of Austin release, Oct. 23