Ellis’ Petition Falls Short: On the deadline day to file as a candidate for this year’s City Council elections, Council Member Paige Ellis was at the city clerk’s office submitting petitions she gathered to run for a third term. Due to city policy, Council members are limited to two terms, except in special cases where the incumbent gathers petition signatures from at least 5% of voters in their district. Late on Monday, Aug. 24, Ellis announced that the city clerk’s office informed her that her petition was short by 62 signatures, despite submitting more than the 3,044 required. Her tenure representing District 8 will officially conclude in January, as Jeffery Bowen and Selena Xie compete for the seat.
Council Proposes Banning Data Centers: At City Council’s Tuesday, Aug. 25, work session, Mayor Kirk Watson and Council discussed potentially banning large-scale data centers in Austin. Central Texans have pushed back on data center proposals throughout the year, and now city leaders are finally taking the matter into their own hands. However, state law does not allow the city to simply ban the developments overnight. The ban must be conducted through the city’s zoning process and amendments will have to be made to the city’s Land Development Code, which currently doesn’t define the term “data center.” Council will vote on the proposal at its meeting today with the process potentially reaching completion by spring 2027, according to Joi Harden of the Austin Planning Department. Read more in Brant Bingamon’s report.
Generation ATX Progress: Late last year, Mayor Kirk Watson launched Generation ATX, a citywide initiative aimed at making Austin “the best place in America to be a kid.” Last Thursday, Aug. 20, Watson released research from the first year of the plan that showed the city ranked first or second among a few dozen indicators related to child health, safety, and quality of life in comparison to the country’s 50 largest cities. The findings showed Austin in last place in terms of youth enrollment in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The mayor also announced a five-year plan for Austin youth focused on enhancing early childhood development, connecting youth with healthcare, food, and housing, strengthening mental health facilities, making community spaces more accessible, and creating more pathways from education to careers.
Big Bend Border Construction Protest: West Texas sheriffs, ranchers, hunters, outdoor activists, and state officials gathered outside of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ahead of the commission’s only annual public hearing last Wednesday, Aug. 19, to protest construction of border security at Big Bend National Park, Big Bend State Ranch Park, and Black Gap wildlife area. Construction began earlier this month, but was temporarily paused by Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Rodney Scott to do a “personal, on-the-ground evaluation” of the project and meet with local officials. Organizations within the region have recently filed suit against the Department of Homeland Security and others spearheading the project and were granted a hearing for a temporary restraining order on the construction in the national park by a San Antonio federal court. Most recently, DHS and CBP opposed the plaintiff’s motion for the restraining order with the hearing set for Friday, Aug. 28. Read more in Sammie Seamon’s report.
ICE Detains Father and 5-Year-Old Son: Victor Martinez Nieto and his 5-year-old son Liam Tadeo were detained by ICE officers in Austin and taken to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center on Sunday, Aug. 16, the Statesman reported on Aug. 21. Both the Department of Homeland Security and Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an immigration attorney who represents the family, have said that the two lacked legal status. And according to DHS, Martinez Nieto was arrested by ICE officers in November 2025 and accepted voluntary departure before later reentering the country illegally. U.S. Reps. Greg Casar and Joaquin Castro have since spoken out against the detainment of the father and son, as Castro said that ICE denied his request to visit the two in the South Texas facility. After being arrested and held in detention, Lincoln-Goldfinch told the Statesman that Martinez Nieto decided to voluntarily return to Mexico with his son to avoid being separated from one another.
APL Increased Security: According to KXAN, the Austin Public Library Central location is set to see more police and security presence, following the launch of a new initiative brought forward from the Austin Police Department that is set to curb crime at and around the Downtown facility. APD has said that reports of trespassing at the library have tripled and drug offenses have more than doubled since June. In response to the uptick, APD has increased security staffing, enhanced technology that reports and tracks incidents, and established a partnership with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office to place more personnel at the library. The changes come after an elderly man was attacked at the location earlier this year in which APD Chief Lisa Davis had to intervene and arrest the aggressor.
Abbott Versus Minnesota Continues: A lawsuit was brought forward by Minnesota’s highest officials against Gov. Greg Abbott after the Texas governor stalled the extradition of Christian Castro, an ICE agent accused of shooting and injuring a Minneapolis man earlier this year. The agent allegedly discharged his weapon into a Minnesota home, wounding an individual, and now faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime. Abbott then doubled down on delaying the process, recently asking a federal judge to deny the request while Texas officials investigate whether Castro can be deemed a fugitive since he didn’t flee Minnesota but was reassigned to Texas by ICE. On Wednesday, Aug. 26, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas sided with Abbott, stating that Minnesota did not prove that the Texas governor acted inappropriately in stalling the extradition, meaning Castro could be released today, Aug. 27.
COVID in Central Texas Wastewater: The Statesman reported that Central Texas wastewater is experiencing high levels of COVID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, indicating that Central Texans are contaminating the water with the virus when they poop. Though levels of those testing positive for COVID locally remains low, statewide numbers are increasing.
Federal Judge Sides With Drag: On Tuesday, Aug. 25, U.S. District Judge David Hittner permanently blocked the enforcement of Senate Bill 12, a 2023 law aimed at restricting “sexually oriented performances” on public property and in the presence of minors. The law was initially ruled unconstitutional by Hittner in 2023, but took effect in March after a federal appeals court overturned that decision. But because the bill is so vague, Hittner had the same stance he had three years ago, stating that it could restrict constitutionally protected expression. Attorney General Ken Paxton has since said that he plans to appeal the ruling.
West Nile in Travis County: The first resident case of West Nile virus has been reported in Travis County, Austin Public Health announced last Thursday. This comes after 10 mosquito pools tested positive for the virus this year. In 2025, 41 pools tested positive for West Nile and five Austin-Travis County resident cases were reported. According to APH, about 20% of those infected with the virus develop symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.
Appeals Court Sides With Central Health: In a case stemming back to 2017, the Texas 3rd Court of Appeals on Tuesday, Aug. 25, ruled that Central Health, Travis County’s public hospital district, can proceed with payments to UT-Austin’s Dell Medical School. Local taxpayers brought forward the issue almost 10 years ago, stating that Central Health was violating state law by paying Dell Medical School $35 million a year after Travis County residents voted for the annual payment back in 2012 that helped launch and sustain the school. The plaintiffs argued that Dell Medical School spent money on things like education, research, and administrative costs, which do not align with how a public hospital district such as Central Health is required to spend taxpayer funds. Fred Lewis, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said that he plans on filing a motion for a rehearing to the appeals court and appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.
Talarico Requests Paxton’s Depositions: The race to claim a U.S. Senate seat remains heated as Democratic candidate James Talarico finds new ways to attack his Republican opponent Ken Paxton by the day, which isn’t very difficult given Paxton’s track record. Most recently, Talarico’s campaign asked a court to unseal depositions given by Paxton back in 2019 and 2022 regarding a complicated business dispute in which Paxton and his colleagues were involved. Talarico’s counsel is now arguing that voters deserve to review Paxton’s testimonies before casting their vote in November, stating that because the testimonies “directly implicate Paxton’s fitness for office,” state law entitles the public access to the information.
Hemp Rally and New Lawsuit: Hemp business owners and advocates gathered at HOPE Outdoor Gallery last Thursday for the Save Texas Hemp Rally after recent rule changes have put the market in a chokehold. While the legal battle regarding rule changes that were introduced this year that industry members fear will eliminate thousands of businesses has stalled, a 2021 dispute was finally settled in May, allowing the Department of State Health Services to classify hemp-derived THC isomers as controlled substances. On July 31, all products containing synthetic cannabinoids, other than those with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, became illegal in the state. Possession of even the most minimal amount of such products could now lead to a state jail felony. Industry members gathered last Thursday to voice their concerns with where the market is heading, educate consumers on the new laws, and instill hope that a new lawsuit could potentially reestablish access to the outlawed products.
$7.5 Billion Border Reimbursement: U.S. Senator John Cornyn told The Texas Tribune that the state is expected to receive $7.5 billion in federal funding as reimbursement for border costs from Joe Biden’s stint as president. Created in July 2025 by the One Big Beautiful Bill, the act authorized $13.5 billion in grant funding to state governments. Through Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star program, the state spent over $11 billion on border security during Biden’s presidency. The reimbursements were delayed as the Department of Homeland Security just recently opened applications for the funding in June, nearly a year after the bill was passed. Abbott announced that the state has submitted its application for the funding, though it is unclear when Texas could receive that money. Another $3.5 billion in border reimbursements is set to be disbursed to state, county, and city governments by the Department of Justice after it began taking applications in June and July.
A/C Out at Austin Shelters: Austin Animal Services announced on Monday, Aug. 24, that air conditioning units in two of the shelter’s buildings were out of service, calling on community members to step up as fosters and adopters. On Tuesday, AAS reported that the units have been temporarily repaired, as a work order has been placed for a permanent fix and will be installed soon. The outages come after Austin experienced the hottest day of the year, as temperatures reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday.
Upcoming Lake Austin Drawdown: The Lower Colorado River Authority is set to lower Lake Austin between Mansfield Dam and Tom Miller Dam by about 10 feet between Oct. 12 and Nov. 30 to allow shoreline property owners and Austin city departments to conduct maintenance in the area. According to the press release, the lake will be gradually drawn down by no more than around a foot per day, possibly taking three weeks to reach its target range. During the drawdown, public boat ramps will be closed and swimming will be prohibited at Emma Long Metro Park. Following the drawdown period, the lake will be refilled at a rate of up to 2 feet per day beginning Nov. 24, with water levels expected to be back to normal by Nov. 30.
North Austin SWAT Raid: Law enforcement made their way out to the Super 8 motel in North Austin last Thursday, Aug. 20, as they followed a stolen vehicle that was located at a gas station. The individual operating the car – who has multiple felony warrants – was known to the Austin Police Department officers. Upon arriving at the motel, APD confirmed that the individual was inside a room on the first floor, and because of his violent history, the officers got a SWAT team involved. While waiting for SWAT to arrive, APD officers set up a containment around the hotel and evacuated others from the building. By the time the SWAT team arrived to conduct a search of the room, the individual had already escaped through a window. Per KVUE reporting, law enforcement were still actively searching for the suspect as of 10am last Thursday.
Copper Theft Mueller Power Outage: At least 10 stores located at the Mueller Regional Retail Center experienced power outages and some had to temporarily close last week after an individual vandalized and stole copper from electrical equipment that services the businesses. An Austin Energy public information officer said that AE originally became aware of the issue on Monday, Aug. 17, and full power was restored by Saturday, Aug. 22.
Flea Market Fire: The Austin Country Flea Market in East Austin suffered from a major fire on Sunday, Aug. 23, causing a multi-acre brush fire nearby and the evacuation of thousands of people, as two people sustained minor injuries. Sections of the flea market collapsed as a result, as Austin fire crews contained the brush fire. Property owner Corbin Graham said that he believes the flea market will be deemed inoperable. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
Dolly Parton Dies at 80: Widely beloved country music icon Dolly Parton passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 80 years old. According to her publicist, Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee after briefly battling cancer. The native Tennessean certainly left her mark on Austin and the city on her, as she previously performed at Austin City Limits in 2000, Austin Aqua Fest in 1992, and most recently at South by Southwest in 2022. Releasing her first-ever track in 1959 when she was just 13 years old, Parton spent the next 60-plus years building one of the greatest legacies in all of music, releasing all-time classics like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and plenty more. She was also celebrated for her philanthropy and children’s literacy advocacy.
Body Recovered in Lake Travis: A body was recovered in the Lago Vista area of Lake Travis on Sunday, Aug. 23, after a swimmer went missing on Saturday evening. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office said that multiple agencies responded to a report of a missing swimmer late Saturday evening, unable to rescue the individual, transitioning the response to a recovery mission. After searching throughout the evening, recovery efforts resumed early Sunday morning, where they found the body of a man in his 20s in the Pace Bend Park area.
Austin Pride Parade: City leaders and thousands of community members gathered over the weekend to celebrate Pride in Austin, as the annual Austin Pride Festival and Parade took place Downtown on Saturday, Aug. 22, a day full of live entertainment and celebration. Prior to the festivities, a ceremony was held on Friday for the implementation of a new LGBTQ+ Historical marker at Fourth and Colorado streets underneath the Bettie Naylor Street sign, which was funded by Austin’s historical preservation fund, generated from hotel occupancy tax. The new monument comes after Gov. Greg Abbott directed TxDOT to enforce rules that required city officials to remove rainbow and other painted crosswalks throughout the city.
City Searches For Crossing Guards: Austin is seeking about 35 new crossing guards for the 2026-27 school year as part of the “Safe Routes to School” crossing guard program as the school year kicks off. The city requires the hires to be able to see and hear oncoming traffic and pedestrians, distinguish potential traffic hazards, and respond to emergencies, physically capable of carrying a 5-pound stop sign upright for up to two minutes and of pushing or pulling a child weighing up to 100 pounds if necessary. Paid $22.05 per hour, new guards must be at least 18 years old, and receive classroom training on their tasks, local traffic regulations, and crossing techniques.
Austin FC’s New Leadership: Austin FC announced on Tuesday, Aug. 25, that it has named Khaled El-Ahmad as its new chief soccer officer and sporting director. El-Ahmad previously held the two titles at Minnesota United FC, having served in the positions for a little under three years. The club’s new leader comes to Austin with nearly two decades of experience in Major League Soccer, European football, and City Football Group. He will oversee all functions of the club’s soccer operations, including roster construction and management, scouting and recruitment, player development, and the club’s player pathway from its academy to the Austin FC first team. Read more in next week’s The Verde Report.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“We cannot and we will not support the presence of hyperscale data centers within the city.”
Council Member José Velásquez on the city’s plan to ban data centers in city limits
This article appears in August 28 • 2026.