City records show Austin has already spent more than $100,000 cleaning graffiti from private buildings since an October 2025 pilot launched. Officials say they are tracking the results before deciding whether to continue the program.

SFA will phase out its Early Childhood Laboratory, cutting 72 high-quality child-care seats in East Texas. The move affects families and hands-on training for future educators.

APD, AFD and ATCEMS will post monthly overtime and leave reports to give Council and the public regular, comparable snapshots of staffing and overtime use. The files will include hours, leave breakdowns and other operational metrics.

The Ruby Hotel & Bar will start work this fall on a 2,500-sq-ft event space that expands its wedding and conference capacity. The venue is slated to open in 2027.

Texas AG Ken Paxton says Walmart will pay more than $13 million after finding Spark Driver pay and tip misrepresentations. Roughly half has been returned to drivers and new transparency rules are required.

Austin police released images and descriptions after multiple ATMs were forced open at East Austin convenience stores in June; tips can be submitted anonymously and may qualify for a reward.

A pre-dawn 911 call in the Bent Tree subdivision reported a man firing a handgun while wearing only underwear; deputies later engaged in an officer-involved shooting and the investigation remains active.

A volunteer network of acoustic sensors in Rundberg sends audio alerts to neighbors who can decide whether to contact police. Organizers will check in with law enforcement next week.

Italian luxury label Brunello Cucinelli will open its first Texas outlet at San Marcos Premium Outlets in July, joining a roster of designer shops. The new boutique is listed as 'Coming Soon' in the center directory.

A raccoon captured east of Temple in late June tested positive for rabies. Bell County officials warn residents and remind pet owners to check vaccinations.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced a teacher-led Texas Classroom Commission chaired by Courtney Boswell MacDonald to advise on instruction, teacher support and student achievement.

Trinity Center has added afternoon hours and services in downtown Austin to shelter people experiencing homelessness from dangerous summer heat. The expanded schedule includes showers, meals and a rest area.

A spat over a “California transplant” barb has Ken Paxton accusing James Talarico of insulting military families, injecting fresh drama into the tight Texas Senate race.