Headlines

• No City Council this week, aside from the special-called meeting at the Water Treatment Plant No. 4 construction site Wednesday. When council convenes Thursday, Aug. 18, it should receive an estimate of what it would cost to temporarily suspend construction of the controversial plant.

• Also on tap Aug. 18: previously postponed council action addressing expanded parking hours Downtown, although dueling resolutions make that outcome uncertain. One item from Laura Morri­son and Kathie Tovo postpones implementation until next year, while another from Mike Martinez and Lee Leffingwell is expected to propose only charging for evening parking on weekends.

• While council members punted on parking at their last regular meeting, they finally resolved long-debated changes to the city's tax abatement program for historically zoned properties. Council voted unanimously to implement a $2,500 cap on tax abatements for newly zoned properties. Also, per the terms of settling a lawsuit brought against the program, the city will require applicants to describe in writing their need for the abatement.

• This month's triple-digit temperatures have resulted in triple-digit water line repairs. The city of Austin's water utility reports that last week there were more than 100 water repairs, compared to a normal 40 to 50. For more on the weather weirdness, see "Heat Wave Renews Call for Renewable Energy."

• Is the inaugural Austin Formula One race really shifting dates? F1 Management CEO Bernie Eccle­stone has circulated a provisional calendar moving the 2012 U.S. Grand Prix from June 17 to Nov. 18, but there is still some opposition from teams. Meanwhile, Mayor Lee Leffingwell issued a press release Wednesday praising the proposed November date.

• Show your math: Under the recently released state school accountability ratings, eight AISD campuses were classified as "academically unacceptable," but the district as a whole was classified "academically acceptable." While the federal analysis under the No Child Left Behind Act, released Aug. 4, shows all the campuses are fine, the district did not make "adequate yearly progress."

• On Aug. 9, West Texas jurors sentenced polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs – leader of a Mormon breakaway sect – to the maximum life term in prison for two counts of sexual assault related to his relationships with under­age girls to whom he is "spiritually" married. See more on Jeffs' trial at austinchronicle.com/newsdesk.

• An estimated 100,000 people braved the Houston heat on Aug. 6 – not for Gov. Rick Perry's prayer rally/campaign event, but rather for a citywide back-to-school event, where free school supplies, immunizations, and meals were provided. Perry's event drew less than a third of that crowd. See "Prayer Rally Rick."

• Perry continues to dance around whether he will actually run for the Republican nomination for president, saying that he will make an announcement about his intentions on Saturday. Still confused about who this guy is? Stick your head in the Perry Trap, our new page highlighting his career from "Boll weevil" to "Gov. Goodhair." Visit austinchronicle.com/perry for the real story.