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Top Morning Stories 11/16/11: AISD Charter Proposal Mtg, Post Office Could Be Named After Soldier

AISD East Austin Facilities Meeting Tonight

The Austin Independent School District is holding a community meeting tonight to continue discussion on its button Facilities Master Plan. Tonight's meeting will focus on college readiness for schools in East Austin. AISD is considering in-district charter programs for some East Austin campuses.

The meeting is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Martin Middle School. KUT News recently interviewed the CEO of IDEA Public Schools, which is in talks with district officials to run the in-district charter programs. You can listen to that interview here.

Resolution Passed to Name Post Office After Fallen Soldier

Cedar Park is one step closer to having a post office named after a local soldier killed in Iraq. The U.S. House has unanimously passed a resolution to rename the post office in honor of 23 year-old Army Spc. Matthew Troy Morris. He was killed in Balad, Iraq in 2008. Congressman John Carter posted these words from Spc. Morris' mother in a press release on his website:

Mrs. Lisa Morris, mother of SPC Morris, said “Our family is honored that Matthew is being recognized for his service by this legislation. He was an amazing son, a dedicated soldier, and a great representative of the United States. He is missed but not forgotten by those who have known and loved him.”

The resolution now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Leffingwell to Formally Announce Re-Election Plans

Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell is scheduled to formally announce his 2012 re-election campaign today. The mayor is making the announcement this afternoon at Becker Elementary, where he attended school. Leffingwell took office in June 2009 after one term as a city council member. His term expires next June.

F1 Track Construction Halted

Austin's planned U.S. Formula One Grand Prix race is facing an uncertain future. A dispute between race promoters and race track owners has halted construction on the course that was being built in southeast Travis County.

Full Throttle Productions has the 10-year deal to stage the international race here in Central Texas, but it hasn't transferred that contract to the owners of the Circuit of the Americas race course. Find more of KUT's reporting on this latest F1 development here.