Currently in Austin — September 21, 2023: Upper 90s return

The weather, currently.

Don’t unpack your fall sweaters, or even your long-sleeved shirts, as temperatures make a sweltering comeback this week with temps soaring into the upper 90s. Thursday morning will be the best time for outdoor activities, before the sun pierces the lingering clouds and cranks up the day’s high to 98 with heat index values as high as 105. Stay hydrated and seek shade if outdoors, where a 5- to 10-mph south wind may provide a little respite. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 77 and a south wind around 10 mph.

-Anne Hebert

What you need to know, currently.

On Wednesday, President Biden announced the creation of the American Climate Corps — a bucket-list item for youth climate organizers for years.

CNN has more on the backstory, but suffice it to say that a climate corps was originally a Bernie Sanders pledge when he was running for president. It was then part of the Build Back Better plan during the initial Covid response, but got cut — and then it was also part of Joe Manchin’s Inflation Reduction Act — and got cut.

Now it’s a reality, by executive order. So this is a big deal.

Here’s the options for training with the American Climate Corps, according to the brand-new White House signup form:

• Deploy low-cost, reliable, clean energy

• Implement energy-efficient solutions to help families save money on their energy bills

• Rebuild coastal wetlands to protect coastal communities from storm surges and flooding

• Manage forests to prevent catastrophic wildfires

• Protect America’s public lands and waters for future generations

• Enhance agricultural systems to protect natural resources and conserve water during droughts

• Advance environmental justice to ensure all Americans live in healthy, thriving communities

— Eric Holthaus

What you can do, currently.

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One of my favorite organizations, Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, serves as a hub of mutual aid efforts focused on climate action in emergencies — like hurricane season. Find mutual aid network near you and join, or donate to support existing networks: