Some government agencies, universities and museums in Texas continue to hold the remains of Indigenous people, despite a 1990 federal law that requires they work to return them to tribes.

Why it matters: Native American artifacts and gravesites were looted for many decades, ProPublica reported in a recent, detailed investigation.

By the numbers: The University of Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, which has the largest cache of unrepatriated Native American remains in Texas, reported still having the remains of at least 1,900 Indigenous persons that have not been made available for return to tribes.

• The remains of 341 Native Americans, or 15% of the university's collection, have been made available for return to tribes, according to ProPublica.
• The university "has worked diligently and within legal requirements," to respond to requests, officials said in a September statement.

Yes, but: The Miakan-Garza Band, a Coahuiltecan tribe local to Central Texas that is not federally recognized, recently renewed their push to get the lab to return three sets of remains found in Hays County.

• University officials initially denied the request in 2020 over what they considered to be a lack of evidence linking the remains to the tribe.
• UT later sought a recommendation from a review committee formed under the 1990 law, but the case has been put on hold as the university considers an alternative plan to build a massive archeological cemetery for "culturally unidentifiable" remains.

What they're saying: "That spirit has been in agony, waiting," Maria Rocha, an elder of the Miakan-Garza Band, said during a September prayer. "UT is saying that spirit can wait three or four more years, 10 more years in agony. So I'm saying to myself, if their parent or grandparent was in agony, would they just postpone it for a few more years? No, no."

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Austin officials want to hear from former lifeguards whose summer stints were career stepping stones.

The big picture: A new lifeguard survey is part of a strategy to stave off another potential summer lifeguard crisis.

Flashback: Some Austin public pools opened later than normal last summer — or were shuttered altogether — because of a lifeguard shortage.

By the numbers: Austin's Parks and Recreation Department aims to open all operational public pools this summer but cannot reach that goal unless the city can train and hire over 700 lifeguards.

• Lifeguard training and hiring starts at age 15 and there is no age limit.
• The city oversees 34 pools, including Barton Springs.

What they're asking: The new recruitment strategy aims to fold in stories from those who have sat in the elevated thrones.

• Sample survey questions: "Did the training, skills and experience that you got as a lifeguard help you with your career path?"
• "What did you like about being a lifeguard?"

Last year, we asked readers about their own memories lifeguarding.

• Catie H. wrote us to say lifeguarding taught her "how to manage in a crisis situation."

Between the lines: Austin recently raised its minimum wage to $20 per hour to keep up with the cost of living.

• Lifeguards now get free training and a free uniform and can qualify for a $400 lifeguard training stipend.
• Lifeguards also get a free CapMetro pass.

The bottom line: Yes, it's January, but it's never too early to get ahead of a potential summer calamity.

🏠 An Old West Austin property owner's request to build a garage apartment for a caretaker has drawn neighborhood opposition. (Austin Monitor)

🏗 A pair of residential towers, planned for 338 feet and 425 feet, at the Domain could set a new record for height in the area. (Austin Towers)

💧 Weak morale and understaffing contributed to four Austin Water failures in five years, an audit commissioned by the city found. (Austin Chronicle)

🚓 Police are searching for suspects who stole $30,000 worth of rebar from a San Marcos construction site. (CBS Austin)

🎭 Be part of an Austin tradition during the 28th season of FronteraFest at Hyde Park Theatre. Tickets start around $20 and shows run through Feb. 18.

🛍️ Shop the sale racks of Austin's independent boutiques and local labels during Le Garage Sale on Saturday and Sunday at the Palmer Events Center. Buy admission tickets in advance to skip the line.

🧧 Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit — the Lunar New Year begins Sunday — at events throughout Austin this weekend:

• Browse handmade goods from two dozen vendors of Asian descent at the Lunar New Year festival in East Austin, enjoy a lion and dragon dance performance, and more from 11am-4pm Sunday at The Paper + Craft Pantry.
• Come dressed in red at The Vortex and Butterfly Bar's "Year of the Water Rabbit" event with fortune cookies, oranges and music from 5pm Sunday to midnight.

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💼 See who’s hiring around the city.

1. Senior Principal Consumer Insights Partner at Whole Foods Market.
2. Compensation Analyst at Samsung.
3. Director, Strategy at Legend Labs.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

In his more than 50 years working in the Austin restaurant business, Harry Ng owned and managed downtown's Sam Wah Cafe, one of the first Chinese restaurants in Austin, and then Lim Ting Restaurant on South Congress, near Ben White Boulevard, where he hosted Chinese New Year dinners.

• Born in China in 1916, he came to the U.S. as a child and was educated in Austin public schools — his father ran a restaurant here.
• Ng died in 2008.