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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

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ERCOT prepping for winter electric demand

The grid operator has been closely watched since mass outages in 2021.

News

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's vice-presidential chances

A prolific fundraiser, the border governor is a Trump loyalist.

Politics

Texas kids losing Medicaid insurance in overwhelmed system

Lapsed coverage means kids miss emergency medical care.

Texas' strongest THC gummy hits the market

It's 50% stronger than the strongest legal edibles previously available.

Health

Matthew McConaughey and U.S. surgeon general chat about loneliness

"You have more pressure on you than any generation before," McConaughey told UT students

The U.S. surgeon general met with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin&#x27;s Ambassador of Chill" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/29/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-race-not-running" data-vars-content-id="bc602215-7870-4c27-8d06-c5f1eb5eec07" data-vars-headline="Matthew McConaughey and U.S. surgeon general chat about loneliness" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/29/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-race-not-running" target="_self">Austin&#x27;s Ambassador of Chill</a> on the University of Texas campus Wednesday to talk about loneliness and mental health.What&#x27;s happening: Vivek Murthy is on a nationwide college campus tour <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="to encourage social connection" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/connection/index.html" data-vars-content-id="bc602215-7870-4c27-8d06-c5f1eb5eec07" data-vars-headline="Matthew McConaughey and U.S. surgeon general chat about loneliness" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/connection/index.html" target="_blank">to encourage social connection</a> — with friends, classmates, colleagues and loved ones — as a way to combat an epidemic of loneliness.

Austin loves electrolyte powders, but doctors say they don't work

Doctors say drinking electrolyte supplements instead of plain water is a waste of money.

Business

Electrolyte supplements have become a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shockingly big market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/electrolyte-mix-market-to-reach-30-1-billion-globally-by-2032-at-5-2-cagr-allied-market-research-301850813.html" data-vars-content-id="f858dfd6-9828-44e2-ac7b-d2e2aa70d031" data-vars-headline="Austin loves electrolyte powders, but doctors say they don&#x27;t work" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/electrolyte-mix-market-to-reach-30-1-billion-globally-by-2032-at-5-2-cagr-allied-market-research-301850813.html" target="_blank">shockingly big market</a> in Austin, even though they&#x27;re supported by limited scientific evidence.Why it matters: Although influencers and marketers consider electrolyte powders hydration hacks, doctors say that regularly drinking them instead of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plain water" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/03/america-drinking-water-dehydration-effects" data-vars-content-id="f858dfd6-9828-44e2-ac7b-d2e2aa70d031" data-vars-headline="Austin loves electrolyte powders, but doctors say they don&#x27;t work" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/03/america-drinking-water-dehydration-effects" target="_self">plain water</a> is a waste of money.

Illustration of lightning inside of a water drop.

Austin Women's Health Center at risk of closure

The reproductive health care clinic must raise $75,000 to stay open

The independently-owned Austin Women&#x27;s Health Center could soon close its doors as it struggles to make up for lost abortion revenue.Driving the news: The nearly 50-year-old reproductive health care clinic must raise $75,000 to stay open, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="GoFundMe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gofundme.com/f/protect-reproductive-care-support-awhc" data-vars-content-id="f4877b2d-c5d2-4f1d-bf8d-b55df031dabc" data-vars-headline="Austin Women&#x27;s Health Center at risk of closure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/protect-reproductive-care-support-awhc" target="_blank">GoFundMe</a> created by former clinic director Julie Smith.

Illustration of a line of people waiting at a red cross-shaped door.

Travis County has the highest rate of fentanyl overdoses in Texas

The DEA called fentanyl the "single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered."

Preliminary state data for fentanyl-related deaths show Travis County with Texas&#x27; highest rate so far in 2023: about 5.04 per 100,000 people.<ul><li>In 2022, Travis County also had the state&#x27;s highest rate at 14.45.</li></ul>

Illustration of skull-shaped pills coming out of a prescription bottle.

UT, MD Anderson hospitals to replace Erwin Center

The partnership will create the University of Texas at Austin Medical Center

The University of Texas at Austin will partner with MD Anderson Cancer Center to build two hospital towers at the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Frank Erwin Center, officials announced in a news conference Monday.Driving the news: The $2.5 billion investment will create the University of Texas at Austin Medical Center, with a new hospital operated by MD Anderson and a second tower to hold a specialty university hospital, according to the UT System Board of Regents chairman Kevin Eltife.

Ascension Seton nurses to strike

Nurses unionized last fall over concerns of insufficient staffing.

Unionized nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin will strike Tuesday, a move that will cost them three unpaid days off.Driving the news: Ascension management announced last week that nurses who participated in the one-day strike would not be allowed to return to work for three additional days, blaming it on a contractual obligation to retain temporary staff for four days.

Illustration of hands in medical gloves holding red picket signs, forming a red cross symbol. 

It costs more than $11,000 to give birth in Texas

While giving birth isn't cheap anywhere, there are some states in the U.S. where it's far pricier than others.

The average cost of giving birth in the Lone Star State is below the national average, but could still hand you a big medical bill. Driving the news: While <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="giving birth isn&#x27;t cheap" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/31839327.137/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTMvdGhlLWNvc3RzLW9mLWhhdmluZy1hLWJhYnk_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/613bb99cb4152b573124203fB6fc78141" data-vars-content-id="355b7dd3-4ffa-425d-b546-cfbdf1652766" data-vars-headline="It costs more than $11,000 to give birth in Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/31839327.137/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTMvdGhlLWNvc3RzLW9mLWhhdmluZy1hLWJhYnk_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/613bb99cb4152b573124203fB6fc78141" target="_blank">giving birth isn&#x27;t cheap</a> anywhere, it&#x27;s far pricier in some states than others, according to data provided first to Axios from FAIR Health.