On Thursday, the Austin City Council approved $104 million for columns to support three large decks and two pedestrian bridges over sections of Interstate 35 near downtown. The vote was 8-2, with one abstention, and specifically allocated funds for these support structures.
The plan approved Thursday includes three cap-style covers over I-35: one stretching from Cesar Chavez to Fourth streets, another from Fourth to Seventh streets, and a third from 11th to 12th streets. It also funds two 300-foot pedestrian bridges, referred to as “stitches,” located near 41st Street along the Red Line train path.
“What we ultimately approved is a significant investment and opportunity in not only bridging east and west, but creating meaningful spaces for people to come and enjoy.” — Austin City Council member Ryan Alter
The two ‘no’ votes came from Council Members Marc Duchen and Krista Laine. Council Member Mike Siegel abstained. All cited concerns with the cost of the project.
“The city of Austin is holding all of the financial risk of cost overruns when we all know they are coming. It’s wild.” — Council member Krista Laine
City Council approved on consent several new agreements and amendments concerning operations at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport:
Other actions taken by Council yesterday:
A complete list of actions taken by City Council yesterday can be found here.
Meanwhile, The City of Austin approved a $4.5 million settlement with Sam Kirsch, who was injured during the 2020 racial justice protests. Kirsch, who was protesting police brutality, was shot in the eye with a beanbag round by an officer.
Severe storms swept through Central Texas last night, unleashing baseball-sized hail that caused extensive damage across several counties.
Austin firefighters responded to a house fire overnight apparently caused by a lightning strike.
Williamson County health officials say a Leander child is the county’s first measles case for 2025.
“The child is currently recovering at home under isolation. WCCHD is actively working with local school officials and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to conduct a thorough investigation and notify any individuals who may have been exposed. The individual was contagious from May 15 and may be through May 24, 2025. During this time, there is potential for exposure to others in the community.” — Williamson County and Cities Health District
Hays County reported its first confirmed measles case earlier this week.
Later today, state health officials will provide updated numbers on the Texas outbreak, now over 700 cases, that began in Gaines County.
The Austin Police Department’s Lake Patrol Unit will enforce the city ordinance prohibiting personal watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards, and similar devices on Lake Austin during this Memorial Day weekend.
APD also says they’ll have an increased presence downtown through the holiday weekend.
The Cedar Park Police Department says a bat found at the Motel 6 at 800 Arrow Point Drive has tested positive for rabies.
Austin police are seeking help in identifying and locating a suspect wanted for alleged indecent exposure incidents.
A shooting on I-35 back in April has the APD still searching for two suspects in the case.
Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick has filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The suit challenges new rules that would grant Paxton expanded access to case records, specifically requiring prosecutors in Texas’s 13 most populous counties to submit detailed reports of entire case files to the Attorney General’s office.
District attorneys from Travis, El Paso, Harris, Dallas, and Bexar counties are also looking to block Paxton from enforcing the rule. (CBS Austin)
Lake Travis ISD has selected a new superintendent.
Lime is launching a new electric vehicle in Austin today. The LimeGlider is designed to enhance ride-sharing accessibility.
This smaller, seated e-bike with footrests (instead of pedals) is part of a global rollout to nearly a dozen cities and is expected to be on Austin streets starting today. Lime plans to deploy up to 500 LimeGliders across the city in the coming weeks. (CBS Austin)
Data released earlier this week revealed that Austin’s park systems aren’t as good as they once were.
Austin ranked 54th on a list of 100 parks systems in the United States, falling ten spots from last year’s list. The rankings are compiled using five factors: acreage, access, investment, amenities, and equity. (KXAN-TV)
Trader Joe’s continues to expand its presence in the Austin area, with its fourth location set to open in Bee Cave. A fifth store appears to be planned for Cedar Park. (Austin Business Journal)
Meanwhile, another grocery chain is expanding in the ATX.
Sprouts Farmers Market is planning a new 25,000-square-foot store in Leander, a rapidly growing Austin suburb. According to TDLR permits registered on Wednesday, the $5.8 million project is slated to begin construction in February 2026 and aims for completion by March 2027. (My San Antonio)
WEATHER
Forecasts suggest that this year’s hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1, could see an above-average number of named storms. (Austin American-Statesman)
Names assigned to hurricanes for 2025:
That fireball people saw over Texas this month was a spy satellite falling back to Earth. (90.5 KUT)
Texas’s 2025 legislative session is coming down to the finish line. (90.5 KUT)
Late on Thursday night, the Texas Senate advanced a heavily-amended version of House Bill 2 to a third reading, adding $8.5 billion in public school funding over the next two years.
Texas senators approved House Bill 1393 on Thursday, which adopts permanent daylight saving time, doing away with the current practice of changing the clocks by an hour every spring and autumn. (Texas Tribune)
Texas House lawmakers approved legislation prohibiting the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the purchase of sweetened soft drinks. (Texas Scorecard)
Big shakeups at the top of Texas’ major universities, and major legislative changes on the way to boot.
‘Unprecedented cuts’ to SNAP benefits would impact low-income Texans who need it most. (Texas Standard)
The winner of the February 17 Lotto Texas jackpot, valued at $83.5 million, has filed a lawsuit in Travis County to compel the Lottery Commission to disburse the prize. While the winning ticket, purchased through a courier company, has been deemed valid, the commission is withholding payment due to an ongoing Texas Rangers investigation into the use of courier services in Texas. (Austin American-Statesman)
The Department of Justice is investigating a proposed Muslim housing development in North Texas known as EPIC City for potential religious discrimination. (NPR)
Authorities in Texas City captured an escaped inmate Thursday.
Research conducted by WordUnscrambler.pro analyzed Google search data from Jan. 1, 2025, to May 19, 2025, and revealed the most misspelled words searched for in Texas and the rest of the United States. Answer: “protect”. (KXAN-TV)
Actor Tom Cruise surprised fans in Dallas yesterday at a screening of his latest movie.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASEBALL: In its Southeastern Conference Tournament debut, the second-ranked University of Texas baseball team fell to No. 21 Tennessee, 7-5, in 12 innings Thursday afternoon at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
Next, the Longhorns turn their attention to the 2025 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament selection show, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday on ESPN2. (Texas Longhorns)
MLB: Jose Altuve homered twice and drove in a season-high four runs and Jeremy Peña tripled for his 500th career hit to help the Houston Astros to a 9-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Texas Rangers lost a pitcher’s duel in New York yesterday.
Both teams are back in action tonight.
NHL PLAYOFFS: Game 2 tonight in the Western Conference Finals in Dallas with the Stars holding a 1-0 lead in the series. (Yahoo! Sports)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Texas Longhorns have reportedly chosen to keep its kickoff against Ohio State at 11 a.m. in their season-opening game. The Buckeyes wanted the time moved.
As stewards of Cowden Ranch in Palo Pinto County, Tim and Lou Edwards work to conserve the surrounding environment while simultaneously offering unique hunting opportunities for upcoming youth.
