The Austin City Council has a packed agenda for their session today, covering everything from major infrastructure expansions to community health initiatives.
Here is a summary of the key items being considered:
Major Infrastructure & Transportation Updates
- Airport Expansion Bonds: The Council is considering two major ordinances to authorize the sale of revenue bonds totaling up to $1.4 billion to fund the expansion of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
- Street and Pipeline Improvements: Significant construction contracts are on the table, including $2.1 million for intersection improvements at 7th Street and Springdale Road , and over $7.8 million for the Colony Park water pipeline renewal.
- Aviation Leases: A 10-year building and ground lease with FedEx for cargo facilities at the airport is up for approval.
Austin leaders are set to vote next month on a $1.5 billion expansion to the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, which they say would improve water quality.
Community Health & Human Services
- Mental Health Support: The Council may authorize over $2 million in additional funding for the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, which partners with first responders for mental health crises.
- HIV/AIDS Services: Six different agencies are slated to receive combined funding of nearly $800,000 to provide essential services for people living with HIV.
- Homelessness Support: A major contract worth up to $20 million is being considered for The Other Ones Foundation to operate bridge shelters and provide social services. Another $16 million agreement is proposed for shelter services at the Marshalling Yard.
City Council is set to vote on a number of items aimed at tackling the city’s homeless strategies, including funds to expand the Esperanza community.
Public Safety & Environmental Policy
- Noise Regulation: A new ordinance is being introduced to amend City Code Chapter 12-1 to specifically address vehicle engine noise and create an official offense.
- Climate Pollution Reduction: The City plans to increase its funding agreement with Capital Metro by $5 million to implement a federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant.
- Police Cadet Training: A proposed interlocal agreement with Austin Community College would allow police cadets to earn college credits during their training academy.
City Council is expected to vote on an amended ordinance creating a citywide efficiency review program, an initiative Mayor Kirk Watson launched weeks after Austin voters overwhelmingly rejected a major city property tax hike in November. (Austin American-Statesman)
Proclamations and Celebrations
The morning session will kick off at 9:00 AM with several local proclamations, including:
- Ruben Esquivel Day and Israel Lopez Day
- The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS
- Markeatha “Kiki” Simmons and My Sister’s Keeper ATX Day
- The Black History Month Centennial Celebration Day
The meeting will officially convene at 10:00 AM at Austin City Hall, with options for the public to participate both in person and remotely.
COMPLETE AGENDA:
On the ninth day of early voting in Travis County yesterday, the largest numbers of votes during the period were cast with 16,382 votes.
Tomorrow is the last day of the ten-day early voting period.
Nearly 12% of all registered voters in the county have voted early. (Austin American-Statesman)
The Texas Primary is Tuesday, March 3.
Finally some good news out of the Hill Country.
Hays County Commissioners are holding off, for now, on a proposal that would temporarily pause permits for large water usage developments.
The Supreme Court has upheld a decades-long prison sentence for a Bexar County man convicted of killing his boyfriend 10 years ago. (FOX 7 Austin)
A 12-year-old Austin girl who was the subject of a statewide AMBER Alert has been found safe, and a 20-year-old man has been arrested in connection with her disappearance, authorities said.
Bexar County authorities made an arrest in conjunction with the FBI San Antonio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Affordable housing remains a pressing issue in Austin, as rising rents continue to strain residents across the city. In response, local leaders, nonprofits and county officials are pouring millions of dollars into new apartment developments aimed at helping people experiencing homelessness and low-income Austinites find stable housing.
PODCAST
For years, Austin’s homicides have been declining though the population has increased, and our homicide rate is now lower than other major Texas cities, at five murders per 100,000 residents. Assistant Chief Angie Jones attributes that in part to a new place-based focus that looks for patterns and elements of crime, and shares more with executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec in today’s episode. Plus, a look at crime on Sixth Street, and advice for having a safe spring festival season.
Twelve days after viral videos prompted a wave of concern about the structural integrity of a North Austin flyover, the Texas Department of Transportation will shut down parts of the interchange overnight to fix what it says are bridge joints that have “expanded beyond the intended design.” (Austin American-Statesman)
Traffic Alert: Westbound US 290 East to southbound I-35 flyover closed nightly (Sun-Thurs) from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through early March, for maintenance. Drivers on westbound US 290 will take I-35/Waco exit and turn left at the signal to access southbound I-35. #ATXtraffic
— TxDOT Austin (@TxDOTAustin) February 25, 2026
City transportation leaders unveiled upgrades from a year-long redesign in East Austin on Wednesday.
New southbound 183 express lanes are set to open Saturday.
The Lower Colorado River Authority is exploring plans for a new water reservoir northwest of Eagle Lake.
City officials are warning residents about local lakes & creeks containing blue-green algae mats, which may be toxic and can be deadly for dogs.
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Winter in Central Texas has certainly been a mild one.
What might we expect for spring?
PODCAST
Catch up on everything going on in Austin right now before diving into a full ranking of the best outdoor activities to do in Austin Texas.
The Texas Education Agency received final approval Wednesday evening for roughly 4,200 corrections and changes to its elementary and secondary school curriculum. (Texas Tribune)
A case of rabies detected in Buda.
Texas is still dealing with cases of measles, with state officials reporting nine cases so far in 2026. In 2025, Texas saw the largest number of confirmed measles cases since 1992, when 990 cases were reported in one outbreak. Texas reported a total of 1,097 cases in 1992.(Austin American-Statesman)
- 2 in Frio County
- 5 in Bandera County
- 1 in Kendall County
- 1 in Lubbock County
Texas can enforce a 2023 law that restricts some public drag shows, a federal appeals court reaffirmed in a new ruling on Wednesday. (Texas Tribune)
Harris County has agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle a federal lawsuit about the 2021 beating death of a special needs teen inside the Harris County Jail. (Houston Public Media)
Texas’s first new state park in over a decade opens this Sunday.
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park opens March 1 about 2.5 hours northwest of Waco. The nearly 5,000-acre park offers hiking, biking, camping and fishing.
Capitol Context: Texas’ U.S. Senate race analysis with primary early voting underway.
After a Stephon Colbert interview that went viral and big spending on ads, Rep. James Talarico says he’s still the underdog in the Democratic primary for Texas Senate against Jasmine Crockett.
The latest poll numbers show a very close race between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate Republican nomination.
When Mexican forces captured and killed the country’s most-wanted cartel boss, it revealed how much President Trump’s growing pressure is forcing Mexico to take on cartels.
Maria Abi-Habib and Jack Nicas, who covered the developments, discuss the operation to take down the leader known as El Mencho, and Mexico’s efforts against some of the world’s most powerful criminals.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) is facing growing pressure to step down amid allegations that he had an affair with one of his staffers. If Gonzales were to leave, the House GOP would lose their one seat majority. Gonzales told reporters he is “not resigning.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing more providers for allegedly shipping abortion medication into Texas.
Paxton’s office announced a new suit Tuesday against Aid Access, a nonprofit based in Austria, as well as two medical providers. (Texas Standard)
One of Texas’s Ten Most Wanted has been captured in Mexico and is being returned to the United States.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Alex Condon scored 23 points, Boogie Fland had 22 and No. 7 Florida beat Texas 84-71 Wednesday night for its eighth consecutive victory. (Associated Press)
The Longhorns will travel to College Station on Saturday to face the Aggies.
Texas A&M will also be coming off a loss when they host Texas this weekend.
Billy Richmond III scored 23 points and No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks took advantage of Texas A&M Aggies’s miscues to beat the Aggies 99-84 on Wednesday night. (CBS Sports)
NBA: The San Antonio Spurs are looking invincible.
Devin Vassell scored 21 points, De’Aaron Fox added 20 and the San Antonio Spurs overcame Victor Wembanyama’s rough night to beat the Toronto Raptors 110-107 on Wednesday, extending their season-best win streak to 10 games. (Associated Press)
20th W in front of the home crowd 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bndOrk9jl7
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 26, 2026
Reed Sheppard made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 28 points, Alperen Sengun had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, as the Houston Rockets routed the Sacramento Kings 128-97 on Wednesday night. Houston has won two straight. (Associated Press)
ON THE SCHEDULE
Houston, San Antonio and Dallas are all on tonight’s schedule.
NHL: Wyatt Johnston scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season as the Dallas Stars beat the Seattle Kraken 4-1 on Wednesday night. Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist, and Sam Steel also scored for the Stars, who have won seven consecutive games for the first time since last March 22 to April 3. (Associated Press)
The Stars are off until Saturday when they’ll host Nashville.
Episode 121: How The Battle of The Alamo Almost Never Happened
