Headlines

• Happy Earth Day today, Thursday, April 22, the 40th annual celebration of all things environmental. Go hug a tree. Then read "Austin's Political Ecosystem," and "The First Earth Day, 1970."

• The city of Austin has fired Fleet Services Tire Program Manager Bill Janousek over a scandal involving tires from city vehicles illegally disposed of in Southeast Austin. See "City Tire Manager Fired."

• What? Another election? Early voting starts Monday (April 26) and runs through May 4 for the AISD and Austin Community College board races, with winners determined in the May 8 election. See early voting sites and Chronicle endorsements.

• In a briefing Wednesday, City Council learned increasing property taxes to the rollback rate still leaves a projected $11.4 million budget shortfall in 2010-2011. For more, see the Daily Hustle, April 21, at austinchronicle.com/tdh. Also see "City Hall Hustle," for more council news.

• Vice President Joe Biden has named Austin one of 25 communities to receive federal cash through the Retrofit Ramp-Up program. The city of Austin's retrofit program will get $10 million toward developing new financing options for more efficient water and renewable energy systems.

• University of Texas alumni angered over the Cactus Cafe closure want to hit UT where it hurts – in the pocketbook. Friends of Cactus Cafe has organized the Close Your Checkbook campaign and is urging members to suspend donations unless UT keeps the live music venue open.

• So much for Capitol view corridors: Massive repairs to the state Capitol began this week, and construction begins May 1 on a scaffolding rig that will completely cover the dome until the end of the year. The House chamber also will be closed to the public until November to allow for the removal of lead paint.

• Soccer to the rescue. The Austin Aztex will play the Haitian national team to raise funds for Haiti's earthquake recovery efforts. Things get rolling at 7:30pm Wednesday, April 28, at House Park, 1301 Shoal Creek Blvd. See www.austinaztex.com.

• Newsweek's latest issue includes a breathless report about the possibility of Gov. Rick Perry running for president in 2012. Still, the latest polls for November's gubernatorial race put him at 48% to Dem challenger Bill White's 44%; campaign wisdom holds that any incumbent below 50% is in trouble.

Quote of the Week

"I'm not the best cop, but I'm a good cop."

– former Austin Police Internal Affairs Detective Chris Dunn, challenging his firing for his role in investigating the police shooting of Nathaniel Sanders II. See "Fired Officer's Hearing Concludes."