• The cargo-pants arsonist just became a Longhorn, as investigators of the Governor’s Mansion fire released video showing one or two people at the site, at least one wearing a gimme cap with a Longhorn logo. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Safety issued a scathing internal report on mansion security. Read all about it in “Report Details DPS Failures in Fire Case.”

• The next City Council meeting is Aug. 7, as the balancing act represented by the proposed city budget simmers at City Hall. See our first print edition of “City Hall Hustle.”

• Last week’s council meeting featured the latest plans for an Austin streetcar, as consultants presented a road map for building the project in increments over several years. See “Developing Stories.”

• Larry Davis is scheduled to die today (Thursday, July 31), becoming the fourth Texas inmate executed in 2008. Six executions are scheduled for August. See “Those Who Are About to Die.”

• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid today (Thursday, July 31) said it would file a complaint against Capital Metro over proposed fare increases. Joined by House the Homeless and three Austinites, the organization will file the complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency, as Capital Metro didn’t perform an environmental assessment study before announcing the increase.

This article appears in August 1 • 2008.

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