Business
Workers at Austin tech company look to unionize
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Workers at an Austin tech company dedicated to connecting those in need with social welfare services are trying to unionize.
Why it matters: The union effort reflects worker unrest amid a wave of layoffs in the tech industry.
Austin-based Bumble partners with Netflix
Photo Illustration: Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Binge-watching TV shows could soon help you find love on a dating app.
Driving the news: Austin-based dating app Bumble this week announced a partnership with Netflix to create a game centered around the streaming service's most popular shows, including "Emily in Paris," "Squid Game," "Selling Sunset," "Stranger Things" and more.
Convenience store Foxtrot set to open 4 Austin locations
A mural on the wall of the new Foxtrot location by Annie and South First streets. Photo: Asher Price/Axios
Workers are putting finishing touches on the South First Street location of Foxtrot, a food pick-up and delivery service.
The big picture: The Chicago chain, which sells ice cream, wine, sandwiches and breakfast tacos — announced last year that it's opening at least three spots in Austin.
5 dry questions with Austin's Tori Bertschy
Austin resident Tori Bertschy has launched her own podcast and offers event hosting services as a growing number of people aim to reduce their alcohol intake. Photo: Courtesy of Tori Bertschy
We're halfway through Dry January, and Austin resident Tori Bertschy wants to inspire others to cut back on the booze all year round.
State of play: While Gallup polling shows that the percentage of U.S. adults who drink has held steady around 63% for years, Americans are consuming fewer drinks per week than at any point since 2001.
Texas universities bar TikTok access on their networks
Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios
The University of Texas on Tuesday blocked access to TikTok on its Wi-Fi networks.
The big picture: The decision by UT shows how efforts to ban the Chinese-owned app over cybersecurity fears by Republican and Democratic officials is filtering down to everyday use of the short-video colossus.
Madonna heads to Moody Center for Celebration tour
Madonna will perform in Austin for the first time in nearly four decades. Photo: Johannes Simon/Getty Images
Madonna will bring her Celebration tour to Austin this year — the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's first tour stop here since 1985.
Details: The 35-city North American tour will kick off July 15 in Vancouver, with a show at Moody Center on Sept. 21.
E-bike popularity soars as Austin Energy rolls out pilot program
Austin is aiming to be ahead of the curve as cities race to give residents incentives to switch to electric bikes — experiments intended to reduce car traffic and improve people's health.
Why it matters: E-bikes are environmentally friendly alternatives to cars and trucks, but they're expensive, and a renewed push from Austin officials aims to make them more accessible.
Austin issues to watch as Texas Legislature reconvenes
Lawmakers gather in the Texas Senate chamber on the first day of the 2021 legislative session. Photo: Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images
Lawmakers will head into this year's legislative session with an unprecedented budget surplus, and how they decide to spend it can directly impact Austin's property taxes, schools and more.
The big picture: Expect the time-honored tradition of Austin-bashing bills to draw headlines, but there are plenty more storylines for Central Texas.
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