Houston Methodist West Hospital: 100%. HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center: 100%. Dallas Medical Center: 100% University Medical Center of El Paso: 100%. Methodist Hospital San Antonio: 96%. That’s just a sampling of the latest ICU occupancy numbers at medical facilities statewide, according to reporting by The Texas Tribune . As COVID-19 continues to send hundreds of mostly unvaccinated Texans to the hospital, officials tell us the issue isn't so much a bed shortage but one of staffing. The omicron variant is taking hold statewide as kids are returning to school, district administrators are scrambling to keep students (and those they come in contact with) protected, and parents are trying to navigate potentially conflicting schedules amid growing COVID concerns. As you might expect, much of our newsletter this week is devoted to reporting on the latest in the pandemic fight, including a roundtable with education reporters statewide produced by our own Jill Ament, and another round of questions for our go-to doctor during the course of this pandemic, Dr. Fred Campbell (those segments produced by the Standard's Michael Marks ). Also making news this week: a new Texas law that seeks to level the playing field for renters when it comes to knowing if you're living in a flood plain, and a story from South Texas where a new mural paid for by a certain well-heeled former California resident has prompted some to complain "Don't Austin-ize our Brownsville." And in case you missed our year-end special on Texas music, it's really worth a listen and you'll see a few comments from one of the experts on that program in today's peek behind the scenes. As always, until next Wednesday, we'll see you on the radio.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Ask a doctor: How to tell COVID-19 from cedar fever

Plus advice on which masks are most effective against the omicron variant, and more.

New law: Texas landlords must tell tenants if their property lies in a 100-year flood plain

They also have to tell tenants and prospective renters if the property has sustained flood damage in the past five years.

Texas parents gear up for another round of uncertainty heading into spring semester

With more kids vaccinated and some testing in place, one of the bigger issues schools face is keeping enough staff on hand.

Is this mural the writing on the wall for Brownsville?

A city-commissioned mural – which cost $20,000 and was painted by an out-of-town artist – has set off a debate over SpaceX, gentrification and representation.

Houston could spend millions on controversial gunshot detection technology. Does it work? (Houston Public Media)
Gov. Abbott sues Biden administration over vaccine mandate for service members (Texas Public Radio)
FEMA opening six COVID-19 testing sites in Texas (Texas Newsroom)
Austin Public Library says it stands against book banning and censorship (KUT)

Hey there! I’m Aaron “Fresh” Knight and I’m a social media producer and on-air host for KUTX Austin. (You may have heard me on Texas Standard’s recent “Year in Texas Music” special .) I began hosting radio in 2017 and I became a social media producer for KUTX back in October. I’m born and raised in Austin, TX – there’s something you don’t hear that often anymore. I started by co-hosting KUTX’s Saturday night hip hop show, The Breaks, alongside Confucius Jones. I enjoy working at KUTX. I’m able to help artists in Austin and its surrounding areas be better heard and to be heard by an audience that they otherwise were unknown to. In the last four years, my co-host and I have helped bridge a gap between audiences in Austin. Take for instance music non-profit Black Fret 's yearly ball where they give out grant money to artists. This year, a quarter of those artists were artists that Confucius and I began highlighting and playing on The Breaks. While we are not the sole reason the artists were awarded their grant money, we feel we’ve helped them along the way. I’m always looking for artists to feature and music to play on air. You can reach me at [email protected] and follow me on Instgram or Twitter below.

- Aaron “Fresh” Knight
@fresh_knight

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