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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

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ERCOT prepping for winter electric demand

The grid operator has been closely watched since mass outages in 2021.

News

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's vice-presidential chances

A prolific fundraiser, the border governor is a Trump loyalist.

Politics

Texas kids losing Medicaid insurance in overwhelmed system

Lapsed coverage means kids miss emergency medical care.

Texas' strongest THC gummy hits the market

It's 50% stronger than the strongest legal edibles previously available.

Health

Climate change made Austin's summer heat more likely

This year marked Austin's second warmest summer on record.

Climate

Texas&#x27; record-breaking heat this summer would have been &quot;virtually impossible&quot; without human-caused climate change, per recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="climate analyses" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/32830589.10491/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2JyaWRnZT91cmw9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud29ybGR3ZWF0aGVyYXR0cmlidXRpb24ub3JnL2V4dHJlbWUtaGVhdC1pbi1ub3J0aC1hbWVyaWNhLWV1cm9wZS1hbmQtY2hpbmEtaW4tanVseS0yMDIzLW1hZGUtbXVjaC1tb3JlLWxpa2VseS1ieS1jbGltYXRlLWNoYW5nZS8mcz0xMjUwMjUmbj03MDRiOGIxNiZ0PTVjYTI5MWE1MzkwYzI2M2QwMjg4MWM1M2VlZmY2NDgzYzk2MzVmZGUmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9zYW5hbnRvbmlvJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/611c03ead69ae557c5059a10C157df255" data-vars-content-id="f3dfbc12-cad3-4cb5-bd53-ba11d0020857" data-vars-headline="Climate change made Austin&#x27;s summer heat more likely" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/32830589.10491/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2JyaWRnZT91cmw9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud29ybGR3ZWF0aGVyYXR0cmlidXRpb24ub3JnL2V4dHJlbWUtaGVhdC1pbi1ub3J0aC1hbWVyaWNhLWV1cm9wZS1hbmQtY2hpbmEtaW4tanVseS0yMDIzLW1hZGUtbXVjaC1tb3JlLWxpa2VseS1ieS1jbGltYXRlLWNoYW5nZS8mcz0xMjUwMjUmbj03MDRiOGIxNiZ0PTVjYTI5MWE1MzkwYzI2M2QwMjg4MWM1M2VlZmY2NDgzYzk2MzVmZGUmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9zYW5hbnRvbmlvJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/611c03ead69ae557c5059a10C157df255" target="_blank">climate analyses</a>.Why it matters: Prolonged exposure to heat can make us ill, physically <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="and mentally" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/32830589.10491/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL2hvdXN0b24vMjAyMy8wOC8zMC9zdW1tZXItc2Vhc29uYWwtYWZmZWN0aXZlLWRpc29yZGVyP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfc2FuYW50b25pbyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/611c03ead69ae557c5059a10Bc2a0cf3a" data-vars-content-id="f3dfbc12-cad3-4cb5-bd53-ba11d0020857" data-vars-headline="Climate change made Austin&#x27;s summer heat more likely" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/32830589.10491/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL2hvdXN0b24vMjAyMy8wOC8zMC9zdW1tZXItc2Vhc29uYWwtYWZmZWN0aXZlLWRpc29yZGVyP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfc2FuYW50b25pbyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/611c03ead69ae557c5059a10Bc2a0cf3a" target="_blank">and mentally</a>. And it can <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="quickly turn deadly" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/32830589.10491/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL3Nhbi1hbnRvbmlvLzIwMjMvMDcvMjAvc2VuaW9ycy1jaGlsZHJlbi12dWxuZXJhYmxlLXNhbi1hbnRvbmlvLWhlYXQtaWxsbmVzcz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvY2FsX3NhbmFudG9uaW8mc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/611c03ead69ae557c5059a10B648beaa0" data-vars-content-id="f3dfbc12-cad3-4cb5-bd53-ba11d0020857" data-vars-headline="Climate change made Austin&#x27;s summer heat more likely" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/32830589.10491/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL3Nhbi1hbnRvbmlvLzIwMjMvMDcvMjAvc2VuaW9ycy1jaGlsZHJlbi12dWxuZXJhYmxlLXNhbi1hbnRvbmlvLWhlYXQtaWxsbmVzcz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvY2FsX3NhbmFudG9uaW8mc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/611c03ead69ae557c5059a10B648beaa0" target="_blank">quickly turn deadly</a> for vulnerable residents.

Austin may see driest summer since 1910

More than three-quarters of the state is in drought.

Austin is on track to see the second driest summer on record as drought conditions worsen.Driving the news: This summer&#x27;s measly 1.31 inches of rainfall at Camp Mabry — Austin&#x27;s central weather station — could make this the second driest summer since record-setting 1910, if the area doesn&#x27;t see more rain before the end of August, National Weather Service meteorologist Keith White tells Axios.

Austin-area schools adapt to the heat wave

With fall sports starting up in Texas, students could be at risk.

Summer break is over for Austin-area school districts, but the heat just won&#x27;t go away.<ul><li>The persistent triple-digit days are forcing school districts across the state to adjust how much time their students spend outdoors.</li></ul>

UT researchers simplify water purification

A device that would make drinkable water could be essential in emergencies.

A team of University of Texas researchers has created a 3D-printed device that could help increase access to clean water during extreme weather events.Why it matters: Texas has faced a number of extreme weather events that have left communities without electricity or water, including the 2021 freeze and Hurricane Harvey. A device that would make drinkable water from creeks and streams could be essential in future emergencies.

Austinites logged more than 33,000 miles last year

The Austin/Round Rock/Georgetown region ranked 29th in the country.

Transit

The average Austin metro area household traveled more than 33,000 miles in 2022, per a new study, higher than the national average of roughly 30,000.Driving the news: The Brookings Institution <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/building-for-proximity-the-role-of-activity-centers-in-reducing-total-miles-traveled/" data-vars-content-id="88c2b6c4-88cc-4672-a988-0a1fa1d167dc" data-vars-headline="Austinites logged more than 33,000 miles last year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/building-for-proximity-the-role-of-activity-centers-in-reducing-total-miles-traveled/" target="_blank">study</a> explores household auto, biking, mass transit and walking data for the 110 largest U.S. metro areas in 2022 to measure how close people are to where they work, eat, play, shop and more.

How Austin leaders are grappling with the heat

The city has launched cooling centers, misting areas and cool pavement technology.

Austin leaders and cities across the country are taking steps to address this summer&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="record-breaking heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/20/world-heat-wave-records-us-europe-china" data-vars-content-id="7ccbc9aa-621b-4f91-b81d-cda3541454c4" data-vars-headline="How Austin leaders are grappling with the heat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/20/world-heat-wave-records-us-europe-china" target="_self">record-breaking heat</a>, but they&#x27;re largely <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="short-term Band-Aids" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/28/heat-wave-stay-cool-extreme-cities" data-vars-content-id="7ccbc9aa-621b-4f91-b81d-cda3541454c4" data-vars-headline="How Austin leaders are grappling with the heat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/28/heat-wave-stay-cool-extreme-cities" target="_self">short-term Band-Aids</a>.What&#x27;s happening: Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) officials have turned libraries and other public buildings into cooling centers this summer, offering up free CapMetro bus rides to them for anyone who asks.

Wet winter weather could be on Austin's horizon

This summer was the driest in 113 years in Austin.

There&#x27;s a decent chance of a wetter-than-normal winter in Austin this year, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="seasonal outlook" data-vars-click-url="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/us-winter-outlook-wetter-south-warmer-north" data-vars-content-id="d978d768-c24a-42fe-b8b3-3eaf8e8fe79d" data-vars-headline="Wet winter weather could be on Austin&#x27;s horizon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/us-winter-outlook-wetter-south-warmer-north" target="_blank">seasonal outlook</a>.Why it matters: Apart from this week&#x27;s rains, it&#x27;s been bone dry and super hot in Central Texas.

When to expect the first frost in Austin

First frost dates are helpful to know for gardening.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first fall cold front" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fox7austin.com/weather/austin-weather-cold-front-brings-widespread-rain-to-central-texas" data-vars-content-id="20ebd2f1-70c5-4983-9b72-eced45058a69" data-vars-headline="When to expect the first frost in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fox7austin.com/weather/austin-weather-cold-front-brings-widespread-rain-to-central-texas" target="_blank">first fall cold front</a> arrived in Central Texas earlier this month, and Austin&#x27;s first frost of the winter isn&#x27;t too far off.What to know: The median first frost — 32 degrees or cooler — for Austin is Nov. 30, according to the Midwest Regional Climate Center.

Central Texas trees stressed amid drought

The summer's extreme heat and low rainfall have taken their toll.

That&#x27;s not fall foliage you&#x27;re seeing. Brown and red canopies across Austin are a sign of trees under stress <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="amid an exceptional drought" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/08/25/austin-driest-summer-since-1910-drought" data-vars-content-id="59ecd61b-e09a-4f0d-b4b4-7373c1b9e6fa" data-vars-headline="Central Texas trees stressed amid drought" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/08/25/austin-driest-summer-since-1910-drought" target="_self">amid an exceptional drought</a>.Why it matters: Severe drought can have a long-term impact on trees, and we won&#x27;t fully understand the damage caused by this summer&#x27;s drought for another year or two, experts say.

Austin's home insurance premiums could rise

Insurers are changing how they factor extreme weather risks.

Nearly 88% of properties in the Austin metro area could be facing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="higher insurance premiums or policy non-renewals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/27/insurance-rates-climate-change-extreme-weather" data-vars-content-id="a25a6f26-5cfd-4299-a639-9e98be5257fc" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s home insurance premiums could rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/27/insurance-rates-climate-change-extreme-weather" target="_self">higher insurance premiums or policy non-renewals</a> due to the risk of wildfires, high winds, and flooding, Axios&#x27; Brianna Crane and Kavya Beheraj report, based on a new analysis.Driving the news: Insurers are changing how they factor climate and extreme weather risks into premiums, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas is among the states" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/03/texas-homeowners-insurance-premiums-rising" data-vars-content-id="a25a6f26-5cfd-4299-a639-9e98be5257fc" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s home insurance premiums could rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/03/texas-homeowners-insurance-premiums-rising" target="_self">Texas is among the states</a> with the steepest increases in homeowners insurance premiums since last year.

The politics of renewable energy in Texas

Conservatives shut the industry out of a Texas incentive program.

Despite <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="renewable energy&#x27;s performance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/05/texas-heatdome-record-temperature-electricity" data-vars-content-id="3c996bf2-19cd-45c2-8b79-196c4248c734" data-vars-headline="The politics of renewable energy in Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/05/texas-heatdome-record-temperature-electricity" target="_self">renewable energy&#x27;s performance</a> in helping Texas steer clear of outages this summer, the industry has remained a boogeyman in the halls of the Capitol in Austin.The big picture: In this year&#x27;s regular legislative session, renewable power projects were stricken from a rewrite of the state&#x27;s biggest incentive program, which aims to bring large businesses to the state.

Illustration of the Texas State Capitol with lines radiating from it.