Choose your location
Axios Austin
The politics of renewable energy in Texas
Despite renewable energy's performance in helping Texas steer clear of outages this summer, the industry has remained a boogeyman in the halls of the Capitol in Austin.The big picture: In this year's regular legislative session, renewable power projects were stricken from a rewrite of the state's biggest incentive program, which aims to bring large businesses to the state.The irony: As governors, George W. Bush and Rick Perry, both Republicans, helped jumpstart wind energy production in Texas.Bush signed a wide-ranging 1999 electricity deregulation law that mandated energy providers get a certain amount of power from renewables.Perry backed 2005 legislation that led...
Tom Rosen of Rosen's Bagels tells us his favorite Austin dish
Not too long ago, before Austin became a real metropolis, the best way to get a really good bagel was to beg a friend flying in from New York City to stuff a few into a carry-on. The big picture: Austin now has some top-notch options, from Rockstar Bagels to Wholy Bagel. But our favorite might be Rosen's Bagels.Founder Tom Rosen grew up in Topeka, Kansas, and moved to Austin in 2013 to do graduate work in sociology at the University of Texas. "I loved everything about Austin except for grad school and the lack of a good bagel," he...
Texans' love of boats remains afloat
Recreational boating in the Lone Star State remains popular, despite what industry experts call a "normalization" of boat sales.Driving the news: High interest rates and low water levels have slowed demand, but recreational boating in the state is projected to generate $11.8 billion in annual economic activity this year, per the National Marine Manufacturers Association.That figure, which includes sales, jobs and other spending related to boating, is up from $7.7 billion in 2018, the last time the group performed the study.Why it matters: The continued demand is good news for boat manufacturers and technicians, as well as the marinas and...
Central Texans face hawk attacks during nesting season
Jean Marchione and Dan Spence's summer outfits include umbrellas, hard hats and goggles.They're not avoiding any rain or working on a construction site. Instead, the pair have spent weeks trying to coexist with the very aggressive broad-winged hawk nesting above their South Austin home.Driving the news: They're not alone. Each year, Texas Parks and Wildlife receives multiple calls about aggressive birds, who perceive homeowners as a threat to their young during nesting season.Physical attacks on humans are rare, according to Blake Hendon, a wildlife biologist at the department, and "generally restricted to the period when the chicks are becoming active...
What the end of affirmative action means for Texas schools
The Supreme Court's ruling Thursday barring affirmative action in college admissions upended processes at the University of Texas and private universities across the state.Why it matters: The court ruled that colleges can't explicitly consider applicants' race in admissions, forcing colleges to reimagine long-standing hallmarks of the admissions process and likely jeopardize the representation of Black and Latino students on campuses nationwide, Axios' Erin Doherty and April Rubin report.Zoom in: The University of Texas at Austin is the only public university in the state that uses affirmative action in undergraduate admissions, where many applicants to the state's flagship university receive a...
Austin's annual mosquito days decline
Data: Climate Central; Chart: Axios VisualsWe're not the only ones lying low in triple-digit temperatures. Austin's increasingly hot summers have led to a decline in the number of days hospitable for mosquitoes.Driving the news: A recent report from nonprofit science research organization Climate Central found that while many cities have seen an increased number of "mosquito days," some locations — particularly in the South — are actually getting too warm for mosquitoes, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.Mosquitoes don't thrive in temperatures above 95° F.Heat index values could reach 107° today, and the city broke its all-time heat index record of 118°...
Austin's mosquito days decline
We're not the only ones lying low in triple-digit temperatures. Austin's increasingly hot summers have led to a decline in the number of days hospitable for mosquitoes. Driving the news: A recent report from nonprofit science research organization Climate Central found that while many cities have seen an increased number of "mosquito days," some locations — particularly in the South — are actually getting too warm for mosquitoes, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.
Texas researchers prep new COVID test device
A team of University of Texas researchers is trying to reshape COVID testing for people who live far from medical centers.The big picture: Researchers developed a small, lightweight device that can differentiate between COVID-19 and the flu using saliva as a sample material.Why it matters: More than three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, accurate testing remains a challenge, particularly as the virus has mutated over time, becoming more contagious, with symptoms that are hard to tell apart from other illnesses.What they're saying: The "emergence of new variants has made it increasingly challenging to differentiate it from other infectious diseases with...
Austin chefs, artists head to Lockhart
Lockhart, the once-sleepy town 35 miles south of Austin, is poised for explosive growth.Catch up quick: Any good Texan knows that it's the barbecue capital of Texas and it's on the painful stretch of U.S. 183, where you're sure to hit every traffic light as you head from Austin to South Texas.In other words: For many, it has long been a pit stop for lunch while heading out of town.But now, Lockhart is growing at a rapid clip as musicians, creatives, retirees and others leave Austin in search of a lower cost of living and small-town life.Driving the news: In...
Load Off Fanny's owner finds a home in Lockhart
Load Off Fanny's owner Hayley Fort was born and raised in Austin, and after she had a brief stint in Las Vegas, Central Texas was calling.But this time, it was Lockhart that pulled her back to the area.The big picture: Fort's best friends from Austin had already moved to the tiny town when she and her wife, Barb, received a call to help open a bar and restaurant, Load Off Fanny's.The close-knit community she's made there is what's kept them around for nearly seven years. The patio at Load Off Fanny's, where locals come to catch live music and eat...
6 things to do in Lockhart
Lockhart has transformed into a hub for creatives and artists. There are plenty of ways to spend a day — or weekend — in this Texas town.🍷 Pro tip: Head to downtown Lockhart on the first Friday of every month for complimentary snacks, beverages, shopping specials and later hours for local businesses.The next First Friday is July 7.1. The Culinary Room🛍️ Shop gourmet gifts, grab-and-go meals and more.2. Shop vintage apparel👗 Find vintage goods at Golden Hour and Magic Mirror. Lockhart's Magic Mirror. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios3. Fields Stables Antiques📠 Sort through a collection of antiques and vintage furniture.4. Lockhart Arts and Craft🧶 Head to a craft workshop, catch live music, play trivia, grab a drink and more.5. Commerce Gallery🎨 Enjoy rotating exhibits from the region's contemporary artists. Lockhart's Commerce Gallery. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios6. The Southwest Museum of Clocks and Watches⏱️ Check out a collection of rare timepieces.Dig deeper: Where to eat in Lockhart
6 places to eat in Lockhart
Lockhart is an easy drive from Austin for a day trip or weekend getaway.The big picture: The town has plenty of good food beyond the barbecue trinity of Kreuz Market, Smitty's Market and Black's Barbecue, and a growing number of Austin restaurateurs have set up shop.1. Chaparral CoffeeDetails: Start your morning (or end the day) at Chaparral Coffee, which offers a variety of coffee, Italian soda, breakfast, sandwiches and beer. The coffee shop's owners also opened specialty store Good Things Grocery.Hours: 7am to 7pm daily.Location: 106 E. Market St.2. Old Pal Texas Tavern The exterior of Old Pal in Lockhart....
Former Austinite creates "Don't Austin My Lockhart" hats
Jessica Wimpy, 46, spent over two decades in Austin before heading to Lockhart, where she bartends at three businesses on the main square and handmakes custom hats.The big picture: Within the first year of moving to Lockhart, Wimpy was inspired to create baseball caps, T-shirts and stickers that read "Don't Austin My Lockhart," which she sells in stores around town.Details: Wimpy headed to Lockhart after her Austin rent went up almost $1,000 nearly four years ago, and she told Axios she doesn't print the phrase on hats and shirts to be mean toward Austinites."It's not the point to scare people away and tell them not to come, because if you're sweet, wonderful, loving and kind and appreciate the community … then come on to Lockhart," Wimpy said.Yes, but: Every time Wimpy wears a "Don't Austin My Lockhart" hat or shirt, she says, "the main thing I hear is 'It's already happening.'""It's a hope and a prayer," Wimpy said of the phrase. "I can't be worried about something that I can't control."
Ascension Seton nurses to strike
Unionized nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin will strike Tuesday, a move that will cost them three unpaid days off.Driving the news: Ascension management announced last week that nurses who participated in the one-day strike would not be allowed to return to work for three additional days, blaming it on a contractual obligation to retain temporary staff for four days.The nurses' union, National Nurses United, called the decision a "deliberate ploy to intimidate nurses from speaking out" and filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint to the National Labor Relations Board.The union gave Ascension a 10-day notice of its plans.Flashback:...
Diver Manny Pollard talks diversity in the sport
Manny Pollard, a University of Texas graduate assistant diving coach, has big hopes for the future of the sport. The big picture: Pollard, one of a small number of Black or LGBTQ+ divers, has long dealt with racist comments and the feeling of otherness on the pool deck. "No one...
New to Austin? Here's everything you need to know
Welcome to Austin.State of play: Maybe you're among the 116-odd people who move here daily, most likely from another part of Texas or one of the coasts.Or perhaps you graduated from McCallum High in the '70s, stuck around to attend the University of Texas on the five-year plan and now find yourself an empty-nester perched up high in a new Rainey Street tower, with one bedroom drawer dedicated exclusively to your old tie-dye tees.Either way: Howdy!The big picture: The fact is, Austin has always been a fast-growing outpost, with the greater metro doubling in population every couple of decades since...
Best things to do in Austin
Get a feel for our city with these activities.First up: Take in the skyline from the Pfluger Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge.From there, you're an easy walk to the Austin Central Library and its gorgeous roof garden views and all set up for afternoon fish fajitas at Polvo's on West Third.Get outsideYou might've already noticed that it's very hot. Good thing there are dozens of swimming holes and public pools, including the iconic Barton Springs Pool and Deep Eddy Pool.Take an e-bike tour of central Austin and learn some quirky historical facts about the city. Deep Eddy Pool is a perfect...
12 essential Austin restaurants
You'll find no shortage of good food in Austin, but we've rounded up the bites you can't miss when you first arrive.🍔 ATX staples: Prioritize these spots when you first find yourself in our city.Hoover's Cooking for a chicken-fried steak as big as your face.Matt's El Rancho for the Bob Armstrong Dip and their signature Knockout Martini.Old Austin hangouts Cisco's and Joe's Bakery for a tasty meal that will transport you back in time.Micklethwait Barbecue (located at Saddle Up, along with Taco Bronco) and La Barbecue for great barbecue. Joe's Bakery in East Austin. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios📍 Eat like a local: From BBQ to fennel-and-leek soup, we've got you covered.Canje for standout Caribbean flavors.Uptown Sports Club from pitmaster Aaron Franklin for a laid-back alternative to the wait at Franklin Barbecue.South First Street trailer The Rad-dish for whatever they've got cooking on their rotating menu.Palo Seco 512, formerly La Tunita 512, for birria tacos.👀 Of note: You can even find good barbecue in Texas' favorite grocery store, H-E-B.
An Austin newcomer's guide: What to read and watch
Once known as Waterloo, Austin is a college town, a tech town, a music town and, of course, a capital town.Between the lines: There's no shortage of lovely nooks and neighborhoods, but finding a place that fits your budget is the trick.🏠 Where to buy your first house: Try Wells Branch, Pflugerville or, nearer in, Southeast Austin.📞 Who you gonna call: Sidewalk falling apart? Garbage wasn’t collected? If you're in Austin and need help with any non-emergencies, call 311.🍿 What to watch: "Slacker," Richard Linklater's 1990 plotless, zeitgeist-capturing film about young bohemians.Of note: Cult classic "Office Space" was shot in...
Legal costs in Texas book ban fight continues to rise
The cost of protecting a book ban continues to tick up in rural Llano County, northwest of Austin, per records obtained by Axios.Catch up quick: A group of residents in Llano County sued county officials in April 2022 over what the residents described in legal briefs as a violation of First Amendment rights after the officials removed books from libraries.Between the lines: Many of the books targeted were written by Latino or Black authors or have LGBTQ+ themes.The 15-odd books taken out of circulation — and since returned by an Austin judge's order — ranged from "Caste: The Origins of...
Axios Austin
1K+
Posts
1M+
Views
Axios Austin, anchored by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.