The recent surge in water- and energy-intensive artificial intelligence data center construction has forced lawmakers across the country to find ways to protect limited local resources. Now Austin is too.
Austin's No Wrong Door initiative targets a costly cycle of homelessness and arrests by connecting people with long-term support.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion finding Austin code requiring new buildings to be “electric-ready” discriminates against natural gas.
https://austincurrent.org/2026/06/26/texas-austin-paxton-energy-code-unlawful-utility-gas-electric/
States closing borders to Texas animals due to screwworm could cause a local backlog and lead to thousands of animal deaths in under-resourced parts of the state.
https://austincurrent.org/2026/06/25/texas-austin-screwworm-infestation-shelter-dog-cat/
A charter amendment requiring recurring City Hall audits is headed to voters, despite assertions that similar legislation is already in place.
https://austincurrent.org/2026/06/23/texas-austin-audit-taxes-election-council/
As Dog’s Head developers start meeting with the public, details of the controversial project are slowly coming into focus.
Although Austin lost the battle to preserve the Black Artists Matter street mural on East 11th Street and the rainbow crosswalks on Fourth Street, city and community leaders are moving ahead with plans to commemorate the neighborhoods and residents the artwork helped celebrate.
https://austincurrent.org/2026/06/17/texas-austin-street-art-orders-rainbow-lgbt-blm/
A historic East Austin building once owned by Nate Paul could be demolished, but preservation advocates are pushing to preserve it.
https://austincurrent.org/2026/06/03/texas-austin-nate-paul-preservation/
Austin leaders are set to vote on a controversial $1 billion natural gas peaker plan Austin Energy says is needed to prevent outages and price spikes.
https://austincurrent.org/2026/05/14/texas-austin-energy-grid-climate-gas/
The city is exploring a less-sweeping approach to a controversial technology services overhaul, following vehement pushback from city employees and City Council concerns.