A less expensive and more limited version of the I-35 cap and stitch project, involving just two of the six proposed park decks, gained traction as Austin Mayor Kirk Watson endorsed it before a key City Council vote.
The council has spent months debating the “Cap and Stitch Program,” a $1.4 billion initiative originally designed to place six park-topped “caps” over parts of I-35 in central Austin and two “stitches” (bridges with bike and pedestrian paths).
Facing a worsening financial outlook and the likely loss of a $105 million federal grant, city leaders have collectively agreed to drop the two “stitches” from the “Cap and Stitch Program.”
This leaves the 11-member council to decide by month’s end how many “caps” to proceed with, with a vote slated for Thursday. This urgency stems from the Texas Department of Transportation’s need for a final cap count to incorporate support columns into its I-35 expansion design plans, for which the city is responsible for funding. (Austin American-Statesman)
A Kyle resident has tested positive for measles. This is also the first positive measles case confirmed in Hays County.
The Texas Department of Health Services released the latest update on confirmed cases of measles in the state.
Hays County officials spoke on the confirmed case Tuesday.
The Hays County Health Department is monitoring potential exposure in schools, though the timing coincides with summer break.
Diseases are spreading. The CDC isn’t warning the public like it was months ago. (KACU 89.5)
In El Paso, measles is infecting more adults than children. (Texas Tribune)
The Austin Police Department has released body camera video, 911 call audio and new details after an officer shot and killed a man in South Austin on Saturday.
The Austin Police Department is looking at new ways to promote de-escalation following two officer-involved shootings in the past 12 days.
Governor Greg Abbott honored law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty during a speech at the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Service in Austin on Tuesday.
More than 180 suspects sat behind bars in Travis County for longer than 90 days last year without being indicted, an investigation by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV found. Under state law, prosecutors are given 90 days to indict felony suspects or they must be released on bail.
An analysis found that in 2024, 181 defendants with 263 cases were held in the Travis County jail for 90+ days, awaiting an indictment, before ultimately being released. (Austin American-Statesman)
During a traffic stop Monday, authorities in Kyle arrested a woman wanted in Guadalupe County on other charges.
Police in Mustang Ridge arrested a suspect involved in an incident three weeks ago that injured two police officers.
More than a year after his arrest, prominent Austin businessman Bryan Hardeman still doesn’t have a trial date for his arson and burglary charges, even though his cases are slowly progressing. (Austin Business Journal)
The Austin Fire Department thought they had a semi on fire to deal with Tuesday, but it turned out to be a false alarm.
The AFD announced the reopening of Station 8 at 8989 Research Blvd.
A West Austin affordable housing program is under fire. Critics say it could displace over 200 residents from an existing complex, despite the program’s goal of creating affordable housing in new developments. Residents of Acacia Cliffs are now urging the city council to reject the property owner’s proposal. (KUT 90.5)
Multiple people are facing charges after at least a dozen people were found concealed in hollowed-out hay bales in Fayette County.
Austin City Council has proclaimed this week as EMS Week.
Since Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, the federal government has terminated or paused 67 research projects at the University of Texas, resulting in over $47 million in lost funding. This information was obtained by the Austin American-Statesman through the Texas Public Information Act.
Research funding cuts are impacting projects focused on COVID-19, anti-bias training in math, susceptibility to fake news, technology access for marginalized communities, mental health training, climate change, and the health of spouses in same- and different-sex marriages. (Austin American-Statesman)
A new $10,000 sign-on bonus is being offered for educators who join Taylor ISD middle schools with three or more years of experience for the 2025-26 school year. (KVUE-TV)
Elon Musk stated that Tesla’s robotaxis are expected to be operating in Austin next month. He shared this update during a Tuesday interview with CNBC at Tesla’s Austin headquarters.
Is Austin’s tech scene losing momentum? (Austin Business Journal)
WEATHER
AUSTIN, TEXAS
From Thursday afternoon to Thursday night, thunderstorms are forecast to erupt from portions of central and southern Texas to southern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas.
As the dog days set in, an Austin vet warns the heat could be harmful to pets. (KUT 90.5)
A reminder from Travis County officials…
A Texas death row inmate, 49-year-old Matthew Johnson, was executed Tuesday evening. He was convicted of murdering a Garland gas station attendant exactly 13 years ago, on May 20, 2012.
San Antonio may soon surpass Philadelphia as nation’s 6th largest city, according to the U.S. Census.
A $300 million Southeast Texas project to fuel Gulf Coast ships gets the go-ahead.
Houston-based Pilot LNG and Seapath announced Monday that they have received final authorizations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard and are now fully permitted for construction of Galveston LNG Bunker Port, the first marine bunker in the Gulf Coast serving ships with an alternative fuel option. (Houston Chronicle)
Some students in the Houston area were sent home Tuesday due to excessive heat and lack of air conditioning in schools.
Additional search warrants were executed last week in connection with the state attorney general’s office investigation into a possible vote-harvesting scheme in Frio County.
The Texas House is set to vote today on a bill to clarify the state’s near-total abortion ban. The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously last month, is anticipated to receive bipartisan support despite some existing concerns from both sides. (Texas Tribune)
The Texas House committee version of SB 3 would restrict most sales of consumable hemp products with THC, compared to the Senate version, which would ban them outright.
Last week, a Texas House panel approved a bill that revises how industrial energy consumers coordinate with the state’s electric grid manager and providers. The modified bill now advances to the full chamber for a vote. (Texas Tribune)
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz spoke briefly on the race between his fellow Republicans. Texas AG Ken Paxton is taking on U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for his seat.
Democratic state representative Vikki Goodwin from Austin is entering the race for Texas lieutenant governor.
With a holiday weekend coming up soon, TxDOT is stepping up its Click it or Ticket enforcement program.
SPORTS
MLS: Austin FC faces an in-state rival in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 this evening. The VERDE & Black will host Houston Dynamo FC at 8:00 p.m. CT at Q2 Stadium. (Austin FC)
MLB: Both the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers lost Tuesday.
The Astros resume play this afternoon while the Rangers play tonight.
NHL: The Dallas Stars begin play tonight in the NHL Western Conference Finals as they face the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 in Dallas. (Yahoo! Sports)
George Wendt, the actor known for playing Norm in the Boston-based sitcom “Cheers”, died Tuesday at 76.
Two years ago at the 2024 ATX TV Festival, Wendt was in Austin for a “Cheers” reunion.
