Good morning and happy Sunday! Looking for relief from the heat may be the most popular activity in Central Texas today. Fall officially began early Friday morning, but today's weather will be a continuation of the summertime heat.
Fire Danger High Today
Potential record high temperatures and strong winds have first responders on alert for high fire danger this afternoon. Afternoon highs are expected to top 100 degrees again. Add southwesterly winds between 10 and 20 miles per hour, and the conditions will be very similar to Labor Day weekend. That's when several brush fires started, including the major fire in Bastrop County.
Crews in Hays County say a 20-acre wildfire just outside the San Marcos City Limits was about 50 percent contained. The blaze broke out late Saturday afternoon on Post Road. It prompted a massive response from local authorities, bring several Hays County fire crews, helicopters from Austin and San Antonio and a KC-10 air tanker to bear on the fire.
Perry Loses Florida Straw Poll
Texas Governor Rick Perry finished second in a Florida straw poll that many observers were watching very closely. Perry hosted a large breakfast for over 3,000 delegates, then left to campaign in Michigan before the Presidency Five poll was held. Former pizza executive Herman Cain cruised to victory, with 37 percent of the over 2,600 votes cast. The Texas governor finished second with 15 percent.
Texas Tribune Festival Concludes Today
The Texas Tribune, our political reporting partner, will wrap up its two-day meeting of the minds today. The Texas Tribune Festival brought together politicians, policy makers, scholars and journalists to discuss issues relating to race and immigration, energy, education and health care. Tribune Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith said they were expecting over 1,500 people to take part in their first festival. KUT is one of the Festival's sponsors.
