Taxi drivers circle City Hall Tuesday in protest of potential rule changes by Yellow Cab, which drivers say would force them to become part-time cabbies. They aired their concerns before the Urban Transportation Commission although the issue was not on the UTC agenda. (Caption has been changed to correct original print and online version, which erroneously stated the commission was considering the proposed changes.) Credit: Photo by John Anderson

› No City Council meeting this week, but the draft Nov. 21 agenda (work session Nov. 19) features plenty of postponed zoning cases, a very special committee, and – don’t be shocked – a $2.4 million contract for Tasers.

› Speaking of hot air, Formula One returns to the Circuit of the Americas track this weekend, where it will be greeted by thousands of enthusiastic turbo-heads and followed by weeks of civic soul-searching over the future of Austin weirdness. May we suggest a hot toddy?

› This Friday, Project Connect staff will recommend their preferred light rail route for the next city rail initiative, expected to go on the ballot next year. No hint how they’ll bridge the Guadalupe vs. Mueller divide. See “Project Connect.”

› The Independent Citizens Redistricting Com­mission moved closer to a final City Council 10-district map, with a final public input meeting scheduled for tonight, Thursday, Nov. 14, and then a couple of ICRC sessions for any final adjustments. See “Redistricting.”

› The state of Texas on Tuesday afternoon filed with the U.S. Supreme Court its response to an appeal filed by abortion providers seeking to have a hospital-admitting-privileges portion of HB 2 ruled unconstitutional. The state argues there’s no proof the provision harms women seeking access to abortion. For details on the case, see “HB 2.”

› The LCRA Board will hold a special called meeting on Nov. 19 to consider emergency drought relief measures staff is recommending for 2014.

› Austin Police on Sunday night were involved in a shooting incident with Gene Vela, who officials say pointed a gun at officers from the window of his UT campus-area apartment. Vela was injured and is now in the Travis County Jail.

› In the wake of the Nov. 5 elections, a fresh lawsuit has been filed against Texas’ voter ID law. A group of African-American and Hispanic residents are suing Secretary of State John Steen and DPS director Steve McCraw, alleging they were “impermissibly burdened” by the rules.

› Texas carried out its 15th execution this year Tuesday night, with the lethal injection of Jamie McCoskey. As part of his final statement, McCoskey apologized to his victim’s parents, and asked that executioners get the injection right. “Better not be no mix-up here,” he reportedly said. “I don’t want to stay.” One final execution is on the calendar for 2013; six are already scheduled for the first four months of 2014.

› Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, has gotten serious about her 2014 run for governor. Not only did she officially file her paperwork on Nov. 9, but two days earlier she announced that she will be releasing her autobiography through Penguin Random House next fall.

› The world’s oldest living World War II veteran, East Austin resident Richard Overton, was in D.C. on Monday where he and his contemporaries were praised by President Barack Obama during his Veteran’s Day speech.

This article appears in November 15 • 2013.

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