Your trusted source for local Austin, TX news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
Austin's "Stay Black and Live" festival begins today as part of Juneteenth celebrations, featuring cookouts, dance parties, and discussions at the Carver Museum. The event honors the significance of Juneteenth, which marks the announcement of freedom to the last enslaved people in the U.S. on June 19, 1865.
Austin's Meanwhile Brewing Company and St. Elmo Brewing Company both won national beer awards, with Meanwhile taking home gold for its hazy pale ale, Take Me to the River. This recognition comes as breweries face declining sales and seek to maintain their status as community hubs. Meanwhile will host a launch party for its Darlin' Lager on Friday at 6 p.m.
Tesla registrations surged 21% in Texas during Q1 2025, despite a national decline in deliveries. The rise reflects continued loyalty in Musk's home state amid political tensions and a recent backlash against the CEO's actions.
Volunteers are working to restore the Delwood baseball complex in Austin after storms caused significant damage, leaving only three of five fields playable. The Delwood board seeks to raise $50,000 for repairs, emphasizing the complex's importance to local youth baseball.
Central Texas braces for a week of rain and potential thunderstorms as a stalled frontal system settles over the region. Forecasters warn of damaging winds or hail from early Monday storms, particularly in northern counties. Residents should prepare for significant rainfall totals, possibly reaching 4 to 6 inches in isolated areas.
A plume of Saharan dust has reached Central Texas, impacting air quality and visibility across Austin. Officials advise those with respiratory issues to remain indoors as the dust combines with smoke from wildfires, worsening health risks. Despite the negative effects, the dust also plays a role in soil nourishment and hurricane prevention.
Austin will launch the final year of its pilot program on Monday to combat toxic blue-green algae in Lady Bird Lake. The program, which costs $300,000 annually, aims to lower phosphorus levels that fuel algae growth, following a troubling history of toxic blooms since 2019.
Zilker Brewing, located in Austin, Texas, reports a 5-7% increase in sales and production over the past two years, despite a general decline in the craft beer industry. The brewery's focus on high-quality products and community engagement has helped it thrive where many others have struggled.
Texas hosts about 8% of international students in the U.S., ranking third behind California and New York. The Trump administration's actions, including halting student visa interviews and revoking visas for Chinese students, raise concerns about the future of these students amid political tensions. The University of Texas, with a significant international student population, faces uncertainty as federal policies shift.
Multifamily housing permits in Austin have fallen below pandemic levels, with developers receiving an average of 64.5 permits per 10,000 people from April 2024 to March 2025. This decline, attributed to high borrowing costs and flattening rents, risks reigniting rent inflation in the city. Mayor Kirk Watson plans to address this issue by proposing a resolution to discuss incentives for building affordable housing.