Headlines

• At press time Wednesday, Capital Metro bus drivers were poised to go on strike if their union votes to reject StarTran's final contract offer. Meanwhile, Cap Metro officials rushed to assure the public that service would continue on major routes, although at a reduced level. Check www.capmetro.org for updates. Coincidentally, new routes are expected to go into effect Sunday; see "Bus-Stop Shuffle," for details.

• Another effort to shift representation on City Council from an at-large election system to single-member districts goes down the tubes. See "City Hall Hustle."

• City Council meets today (Thursday), with a charter revision, a proposed new biomass energy plant (see "Biomass: A Question of Wood, Not Could"), and the Oak Hill future land-use map under consideration, as well as another budget hearing or two.

• Mayor Will Wynn spent the week polishing Austin's enviro credentials and attending a UT/A&M meeting on plug-in hybrids and transportation Aug. 19, followed by a U.S. Conference of Mayors energy discussion with the Barack Obama and John McCain camps in New York the next day.

• Speculation is rampant as to a Barack Obama vice presidential pick, with many prognosticators pinning Sen. Joe Biden – but whither Hillary? The Democratic National Convention begins Monday, Aug. 25.

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Quote of the Week

"Reggae power. The rhythm flows through us, and we just let it out on the track."
– 100-meter gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser, tipping her hat to Bob Marley when asked to explain the success of Jamaican sprinters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics