One person drowned and another was rescued over the weekend after emergency crews in Austin responded to reports of two swimmers in distress near the Pennybacker Bridge.
The Austin Fire Department (AFD) reported via social media that one swimmer was rescued and received treatment Saturday evening, while the search continued for the second individual.
On Sunday around 11 a.m., a recovery team located and retrieved the body of the missing swimmer.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased.
Local officials continue to stress safety on local waterways, especially after recent floods left debris.
Sunday afternoon, these two recreational boaters flipped their boat on Lady Bird Lake downtown and struggled to regain control.
At least 38 bodies have been found in or around Lady Bird Lake since 2022, with the yearly breakdown showing four deaths in 2022, five in 2023, five in 2024, and two in 2025.
It’s worth noting that these figures represent deaths found in the lake, which may include drownings as well as other causes of death. The Austin Police Department has maintained that most of these deaths have been ruled accidental drownings, with only one case ruled as murder among the total 38 deaths since 2022.
Recent severe flooding in the Austin area, particularly over the July 4th weekend, significantly impacted local waterways. Lake Travis has risen over 38 feet to 90.6% full, and Lake Buchanan has risen over 17 feet to 95% capacity, with flood operations at Highland Lakes dams having concluded.
Lake Access for Boaters and Swimmers: Lake Travis fully reopened for all recreational use as of July 24. While specific bans on other Austin waterways like Lady Bird Lake, Barton Creek, Bull Creek, and parts of Lake Austin were in place earlier, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) still advises caution on all Highland Lakes, including Lake Travis.
Dangers After Rising Water Levels: Several hazards persist in the waterways following the floods:
- Debris: Significant flood debris remains both on the surface and submerged, necessitating caution for boaters, especially at night.
- Elevated Bacteria Levels: Bacteria levels are high, and swimmers should avoid areas that are cloudy, smelly, or stagnant. Additionally, potentially toxic algae have been observed in Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin. It is advised not to enter water if it’s warm, stagnant, or has visible algae, or within three days of rainfall.
- Mosquitoes: The increased standing water has led to a rise in mosquito populations, elevating the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses.
- Strong Currents and Depth Changes: The water flows can be sudden and strong, and some areas of Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are significantly deeper. Boaters should also be aware that some docks may be further from shore and lack lights.
19-year-old Keyshawn Dixon is due in court today for a hearing. He faces two murder charges and 13 aggravated assault charges for the Round Rock Juneteenth festival shooting that resulted in two women killed and 14 others injured.
A Travis County judge sentenced a former Austin ISD executive in connection with a district theft investigation. (KXAN-TV)
Samsung’s Taylor factory will produce Tesla’s new AI6 chip as part of a $16.5 billion supply deal, signaling a significant long-term collaboration between the two tech giants through 2033.
A planned 78-acre resort project is now facing uncertainty after Leander‘s planning and zoning commission votes to deny its construction.
Leander Springs LLC
1,600 apartments, a hotel and convention center, one million square feet of retail space and a four-acre tropical lagoon were planned. (Austin Business Journal)
JetBlue announced that it will fly twice daily between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport beginning November 20. (Austin Business Journal)
The greater Austin metro area has more than 3.4 million square feet of retail space being built, making it the third most active market for new retail space in the U.S. (CultureMap Austin)
Recycled Reads, the Austin Public Library‘s used bookstore on Burnet Road, is slated to close by next spring if the proposed city budget receives approval. The store first opened its doors in 2009 with the mission of generating funds to support Austin’s library system.
The Austin Animal Center is teaming with Greater Good Charities to offer a free spay and neuter clinic for cats and dogs at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this week.
The event will begin Monday, July 28 and run through Friday, Aug. 1. Registration and drop-off will begin at 7:30 a.m. each day and will continue until 10 a.m., or until the schedule is full.
A popular Austin social media influencer is desperately searching for dog after his car was stolen.
Mustang Ridge authorities pulled over a motorcyclist clocked doing 130 mph.
Starting today, local residents affected by recent floods can seek assistance at Round Mountain Baptist Church in Leander for questions regarding rebuilding and permit applications.
Link here. (CNN)
The House and Senate committees are holding separate hearings in Arlington and Austin respectively, demonstrating a decentralized approach to gathering public input on the redistricting process.
Republican representatives largely remained silent during public hearings, while Democrat leaders argue the proposed redistricting will harm Texas.
Link here. (New York Times)
Texas Republicans’ move to redraw congressional district boundaries in the middle of the decade could backfire on them. (Axios San Antonio)
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Parts of downtown Austin saw a decent downpour of rain for a brief time Sunday afternoon.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has added Jose Antonio Marquina-Bonilla, a criminal illegal immigrant, to Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List. (News Channel 6)
A Hill County man is in custody after authorities removed an improvised explosive device from a nearby bridge.
Texas is buying land for new state parks that will be developed using a $1 billion voter-approved fund. (Texas Tribune)
Parents have until the end of the month to enroll their newborns in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund at 2024-25 prices. The prepaid college tuition plan lets families lock in the cost of undergraduate resident tuition and required fees at Texas public colleges and universities based on current rates. (KSAT-TV)
Lawmakers get back to work at the State Capitol, working toward ways to prevent future disasters. Jala Washington reports on public pressure to keep lawmakers focused on flood safety legislation. Matt Grant looks closer at the first hearing on flood-related bills and the push for accountability.
Gov. Abbott vetoed a bill to ban THC products and pushed lawmakers to regulate the products instead. But there’s a backlash. We examine the looming conflict at the Capitol as senators renews their push for a full ban.
Pressure from the White House sets up a battle over voting lines in Texas. Dylan McKim digs deeper into the fight over redistricting and the tactics Democrats could use to fight back.
When it comes to the race to replace Ken Paxton, Republican candidates have dominated the news. But now, two Democrats have launched their campaigns. Our team goes one-on-one with both Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski and hear their message to voters in the race for Texas Attorney General.
Texas has set a new execution date of October 16 for death row inmate Robert Roberson, nearly one year after his originally scheduled lethal injection on October 17, 2024, was stayed by the Texas Supreme Court at the last minute.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park in the Texas Panhandle was named one of the most underrated parks in the country, according to a report from National Geographic.
SPORTS
MLB: The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros continue to go in opposite directions.
Josh Smith hit a two-run home run, Wyatt Langford had a bases-clearing double and the surging Texas Rangers piled up eight runs in the first three innings in an 8-1 victory over the struggling Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Texas has won six straight and nine of their last ten games to move to 56-50 overall. They are now just four games out of first place in the AL West. (Yahoo! Sports)
Meanwhile, the Astros were swept at home over the weekend by the Athletics.
Miguel Andujar and Shea Langeliers homered in the first inning, J.T. Ginn threw six shutout innings and the Athletics beat the Houston Astros 7-1 on Sunday to sweep the four-game series. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
GOLF: A North Austin sports and entertainment complex is handing over the reins to golf legend Tiger Woods’ mini-golf enterprise. PopStroke is currently renovating The Pitch to take over operations. (CultureMap Austin)
Longhorn Livestream | Texas Football News & Notes | 2026 Recruiting Updates | Arch Manning
NFL: The Dallas Cowboys sign TE Jake Ferguson to 4-year, $52 million extension.
CBS Sports Texas’ Bill Jones one-on-one with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones:
For the Houston Texans, it’s their second week of training camp.
Step where giants once roamed! Head to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, where you can literally walk in the ancient footprints of dinosaurs. Nestled along the Paluxy River, this park offers a perfect blend of Texas nature, family adventure, and prehistoric wonder.
