Austin

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Austin with Asher Price and Nicole Cobler.

Axios Austin

Standard

Axios Austin Partners

Axios Austin Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Austin Alerts

Alert

Austin Members

Membership

Cyclospora outbreak: Are you avoiding lettuce this summer?

Let us know if your eating habits have changed due to the outbreak.

Health

Some Americans are shifting their eating habits to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="avoid lettuce" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-infection-wash-food" data-vars-content-id="985a9073-4030-4a82-be5e-e8341d801840" data-vars-headline="Cyclospora outbreak: Are you avoiding lettuce this summer?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-infection-wash-food" target="_self">avoid lettuce</a> and other uncooked vegetables due to the current Cyclospora outbreak.Why it matters: Taylor Farms last month recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, and the FDA continues to focus on it as the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="likely source" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/fda-cyclospora-taylor-farms-lettuce-false-positive" data-vars-content-id="985a9073-4030-4a82-be5e-e8341d801840" data-vars-headline="Cyclospora outbreak: Are you avoiding lettuce this summer?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/fda-cyclospora-taylor-farms-lettuce-false-positive" target="_self">likely source</a> of the largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history.

Things to do in Austin this weekend

Live music, Austin's Pride parade and more.

Things to Do

Here&#x27;s what&#x27;s on deck this weekend.<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">Friday</h2>

Texas kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump

Texas exemptions are climbing, but Austin ISD vaccination rates rebound.

News

Texas&#x27; kindergarten vaccine exemption rate jumped nearly a full percentage point in the 2025-26 school year, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="released" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" data-vars-content-id="edd87898-7ceb-439c-a1bd-f74e7734cb32" data-vars-headline="Texas kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" target="_blank">released</a> Monday.Why it matters: The rise in exemptions coincided with efforts by the Trump administration to make <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vaccine policy changes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/26/mmr-mmrv-vaccine-shot-schedule-cdc-trump" data-vars-content-id="edd87898-7ceb-439c-a1bd-f74e7734cb32" data-vars-headline="Texas kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/26/mmr-mmrv-vaccine-shot-schedule-cdc-trump" target="_self">vaccine policy changes</a> and with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="measles cases" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/25/measles-record-cases-states-numbers" data-vars-content-id="edd87898-7ceb-439c-a1bd-f74e7734cb32" data-vars-headline="Texas kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/25/measles-record-cases-states-numbers" target="_self">measles cases</a> hitting levels not seen in more than three decades.

Take the Axios Austin news quiz!

Test your smarts in our Friday news quiz.

Delta is launching new service from Austin to Paris. Try your luck: On that note, take our Friday news quiz to test your knowledge about Austin&#x27;s airport.

The rise of mood drinks

Sales of functional beverages generated $31.3 billion in U.S. sales over the past year, per data from NIQ.

As <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Americans rethink alcohol" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/13/alcohol-drinking-rate-low-health" data-vars-content-id="cba336d5-167d-4189-85ea-a67669b648f1" data-vars-headline="The rise of mood drinks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/13/alcohol-drinking-rate-low-health" target="_self">Americans rethink alcohol</a>, beverage startups are racing to fill the gap with drinks that promise social connection without the hangover.Why it matters: Consumers are increasingly choosing beverages based on what they want the drink to do — energize them, improve <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gut health" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/13/gut-health-immune-system-anxiety-digestion" data-vars-content-id="cba336d5-167d-4189-85ea-a67669b648f1" data-vars-headline="The rise of mood drinks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/13/gut-health-immune-system-anxiety-digestion" target="_self">gut health</a> or help unwind — fueling a boom in products <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="marketed around function" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/pro/retail-deals/2024/03/15/functional-beverage-recess-25-million" data-vars-content-id="cba336d5-167d-4189-85ea-a67669b648f1" data-vars-headline="The rise of mood drinks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/retail-deals/2024/03/15/functional-beverage-recess-25-million" target="_self">marketed around function</a> rather than flavor.

Austin scores World Cup bump

New data suggests the tournament brought more visitors to the city.

Austin didn&#x27;t host a single World Cup match, but the tournament still appears to have brought more visitors and spending to the city.Why it matters: The World Cup offered a test for whether cities outside the host lineup could capitalize on one of the world&#x27;s biggest sporting events.

More boots are coming to South Congress

There are already five boot sellers within blocks of the property.

Another boot maker is preparing to open a storefront on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="South Congress Avenue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/30/state-of-austin-retail" data-vars-content-id="a3fa4cbd-8f06-4944-81ba-8522c081c152" data-vars-headline="More boots are coming to South Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/30/state-of-austin-retail" target="_self">South Congress Avenue</a>.Why it matters: The bustling commercial strip once known for an eclectic mix of locally owned shops and restaurants is now a destination for cowboy boots and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Western apparel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/11/15/kendra-scott-new-store-south-congress" data-vars-content-id="a3fa4cbd-8f06-4944-81ba-8522c081c152" data-vars-headline="More boots are coming to South Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/11/15/kendra-scott-new-store-south-congress" target="_self">Western apparel</a>.

Texas Testbed: What's next for 3D-printed homes

3D-printed construction is expanding, but it's unclear whether it will drive down housing costs.

This report is part of &quot;Texas Testbed,&quot; a series on how the state is becoming a real-world lab for emerging technologies.Giant robotic printers are back at Community First! Village, building more than 100 homes as part of the East Austin neighborhood&#x27;s expansion for people coming out of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homelessness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/21/abbott-homeless-encampments-austin" data-vars-content-id="a0fb0998-8e58-4fbe-87a8-1320c8aac785" data-vars-headline="Texas Testbed: What&#x27;s next for 3D-printed homes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/21/abbott-homeless-encampments-austin" target="_self">homelessness</a>.

Padel is Austin's trendy new racquet sport

Austin is emerging as one of the country's biggest markets for padel.

Austin is emerging as one of the biggest U.S. markets for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="padel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/05/24/the-racquet-sport-growing-faster-than-pickleball-worldwide" data-vars-content-id="0d5f6bf6-8f54-41b0-87c6-5168e64d2933" data-vars-headline="Padel is Austin&#x27;s trendy new racquet sport" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/05/24/the-racquet-sport-growing-faster-than-pickleball-worldwide" target="_self">padel</a>, the racquet sport that&#x27;s rapidly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spreading" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/04/10/padel-tennis-court-home" data-vars-content-id="0d5f6bf6-8f54-41b0-87c6-5168e64d2933" data-vars-headline="Padel is Austin&#x27;s trendy new racquet sport" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/04/10/padel-tennis-court-home" target="_self">spreading</a> beyond its Latin American roots.Why it matters: Club operators are betting the city has the right mix of players to fuel padel&#x27;s next phase of growth.

New York coffee shop to open in ATX Tower

Black Fox has positioned Austin as its Texas flagship.

New York City-based coffee roaster Black Fox Coffee will open its first Texas location Friday in Austin&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ATX Tower" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/03/15/anatomy-austin-skyscraper-321-west?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_austin&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="ea2d1368-cbc1-4d22-9e29-dd9e6ac0de2c" data-vars-headline="New York coffee shop to open in ATX Tower" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/03/15/anatomy-austin-skyscraper-321-west?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_austin&amp;stream=top" target="_self">ATX Tower</a>.Why it matters: The opening comes as the city&#x27;s coffee scene continues to gain national attention, with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Food &amp; Wine" data-vars-click-url="https://www.foodandwine.com/top-united-states-cities-for-coffee-in-2026-11930933" data-vars-content-id="ea2d1368-cbc1-4d22-9e29-dd9e6ac0de2c" data-vars-headline="New York coffee shop to open in ATX Tower" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.foodandwine.com/top-united-states-cities-for-coffee-in-2026-11930933" target="_blank">Food &amp; Wine</a> recently naming Austin the top coffee city in the U.S.

Kacey Musgraves draws crowds to New Braunfels

Restaurants, bars and shops are seeing a jump in foot traffic.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kacey Musgraves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2024/04/12/kacey-musgraves-bluebonnets-picking-debate" data-vars-content-id="9af6c27d-b8a7-43ab-8bb7-a87a83d552a3" data-vars-headline="Kacey Musgraves draws crowds to New Braunfels" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2024/04/12/kacey-musgraves-bluebonnets-picking-debate" target="_self">Kacey Musgraves</a> is the hottest ticket in New Braunfels, and her three-night, sold-out run at Gruene Hall is providing a boost for the city&#x27;s historic district.Why it matters: The Grammy-winning singer, who now typically plays arenas and headlines major festivals, is drawing legions of fans to the iconic Hill Country venue, offering a real-time look at how a major star can supercharge a local economy.

Austin AI startup Circuit raises $30M in major angel round

Circuit's AI software turns technical manuals and other documentation into step-by-step workflows.

Austin-based <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Circuit" data-vars-click-url="https://circuit.ai/" data-vars-content-id="6506fbe2-bebc-4634-a18d-0884911c622a" data-vars-headline="Austin AI startup Circuit raises $30M in major angel round" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://circuit.ai/" target="_blank">Circuit</a>, an AI startup co-founded by former <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Silicon Labs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/04/texas-instruments-silicon-labs-merger" data-vars-content-id="6506fbe2-bebc-4634-a18d-0884911c622a" data-vars-headline="Austin AI startup Circuit raises $30M in major angel round" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/04/texas-instruments-silicon-labs-merger" target="_self">Silicon Labs</a> CEO Tyson Tuttle, raised $30 million from angel investors to build an AI software for manufacturing and service operations.Why it matters: It&#x27;s one of Texas&#x27; largest angel rounds — an early-stage phase where individual investors pitch in — and a bet that AI can help manufacturers capture and scale institutional knowledge.

Austin homeowners are staying put

Austin is seeing the longest homeowner tenure in at least 20 years.

Real Estate

Austin-area homeowners are staying in their houses for the longest time in at least 20 years, largely thanks to their low <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mortgage rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2023/07/19/texas-housing-supply-mortgages" data-vars-content-id="5e950bd0-a4e6-4840-838b-b714002c42b2" data-vars-headline="Austin homeowners are staying put" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2023/07/19/texas-housing-supply-mortgages" target="_self">mortgage rates</a>, data shows.Why it matters: That — along with still-high home prices and tight inventory — has kept the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" data-vars-content-id="5e950bd0-a4e6-4840-838b-b714002c42b2" data-vars-headline="Austin homeowners are staying put" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" target="_self">housing market</a> on ice, though it may be thawing.

New romance bookstore opens in East Austin

Finney's Books opened in December, shortly after the release of "Heated Rivalry."

Finney&#x27;s Books, a new romance bookstore in East Austin, is riding a wave of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reader enthusiasm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2025/03/07/hot-romance-novel-recs-houston-romance-bookstore" data-vars-content-id="ace01b72-38e0-41d7-b205-910434bffc5d" data-vars-headline="New romance bookstore opens in East Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2025/03/07/hot-romance-novel-recs-houston-romance-bookstore" target="_self">reader enthusiasm</a> for genre-specific spaces.Why it matters: Romance is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="having a moment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/02/10/romance-bookstores-book-clubs-romantasy" data-vars-content-id="ace01b72-38e0-41d7-b205-910434bffc5d" data-vars-headline="New romance bookstore opens in East Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/02/10/romance-bookstores-book-clubs-romantasy" target="_self">having a moment</a>. Niche bookstores like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Finney&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.finneysbooks.com/about" data-vars-content-id="ace01b72-38e0-41d7-b205-910434bffc5d" data-vars-headline="New romance bookstore opens in East Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.finneysbooks.com/about" target="_blank">Finney&#x27;s</a> are popping up across the country, and screen <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="adaptations have helped sales" data-vars-click-url="https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/07/10/2701952/0/en/From-Laggard-to-Leader-Record-Sales-of-Romance-Books-Reflect-Next-Generation-of-Contemporary-Readers.html" data-vars-content-id="ace01b72-38e0-41d7-b205-910434bffc5d" data-vars-headline="New romance bookstore opens in East Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/07/10/2701952/0/en/From-Laggard-to-Leader-Record-Sales-of-Romance-Books-Reflect-Next-Generation-of-Contemporary-Readers.html" target="_blank">adaptations have helped sales</a> of romance novels climb.

Business 🏦

The rise of mood drinks

Austin scores World Cup bump

Report: Texas affordable housing shortage threatens growth

More boots are coming to South Congress

Texas Testbed: What's next for 3D-printed homes