Naked City

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (l) interacts with an overflow crowd at a Town Hall meeting about Iraq last Saturday morning. At the forum, held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church and sponsored by the Gray Panthers, Doggett blasted the Bush administration's drive for war and said that it had failed to make a justifiable case for invading Iraq. See "War Drums." (Photo By Alan Pogue)

The first annual Austin City Limits Music Festival drew thousands to Zilker Park Saturday for acres of sunburn and dozens of bands.

Two indictments for embezzlement were handed down over the East Austin Vision Village housing project scandal, after the project leader pled guilty to felony negligence (see Vision Villains?).

Still figuring out what to do about the Austin arts funding crisis, the City Council heard reports from both its auditors and its arts consultants (see Austin's Creative Clash).

Gov. Rick Perry, state officials, and customers are scrambling in the aftermath of the Farmers Insurance Company's decision to end all homeowners' policies in Texas as of Nov. 11.

Tony Sanchez blamed Gov. Rick Perry for the insurance crisis and the governor's campaign released documents purporting to confirm malfeasance at Sanchez's failed Tesoro Savings and Loan.

President George W. Bush continues to press congressional leaders for an unequivocal resolution authorizing unilateral war against Iraq and to disdain any attempt by the United Nations to pursue effective arms inspections. A rally against the war will be held at Republic Square Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2pm, followed at 2:30 by a march to the Federal Building (www.austinagainstwar.org).

The stock market continued to plunge (except for a "technical" rally on Tuesday) in response to weaker than expected consumer spending -- hopes for a holiday surge in the fourth quarter are threatened by a shipping-lines lockout of longshoremen at all 29 major West Coast ports.

Austin Public Library branches are once again open every day. Be advised, though, that overdue fines have gone up.