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Talarico leads Cornyn and Paxton in UT poll

The survey was conducted as the two Republican candidates continue to battle for the GOP nomination.

Politics & Policy

State Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Talarico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" data-vars-content-id="65bd459c-71ee-4b9a-bdf3-8ed9777233f8" data-vars-headline="Talarico leads Cornyn and Paxton in UT poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" target="_self">James Talarico</a> (D-Austin) leads his potential Republican opponents in the U.S. Senate race in Texas, per a new poll from the University of Texas. Why it matters: A close race in Texas would expand the battleground for Democrats in their bid to retake the Senate and put a legislative check on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="65bd459c-71ee-4b9a-bdf3-8ed9777233f8" data-vars-headline="Talarico leads Cornyn and Paxton in UT poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">President Trump</a>.

University of Texas kicks KUT Festival off campus

The university stood by its decision, saying the event was poorly planned and lacked a sufficient security plan.

News

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="University of Texas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/04/21/michael-dell-university-texas-donation" data-vars-content-id="87fb53a7-996f-4c46-bb82-da5cf4627ad3" data-vars-headline="University of Texas kicks KUT Festival off campus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/04/21/michael-dell-university-texas-donation" target="_self">University of Texas</a> officials are standing by their decision to order <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="KUT&#x27;s inaugural festival" data-vars-click-url="https://cvent.utexas.edu/event/kutfest2026/home" data-vars-content-id="87fb53a7-996f-4c46-bb82-da5cf4627ad3" data-vars-headline="University of Texas kicks KUT Festival off campus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cvent.utexas.edu/event/kutfest2026/home" target="_blank">KUT&#x27;s inaugural festival</a> to move off campus, citing security concerns.Why it matters: The last-minute decision threw a major wrench into this weekend&#x27;s long-planned event and highlights the complicated position of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="public media outlets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/29/public-media-tv-radio-federal-funding" data-vars-content-id="87fb53a7-996f-4c46-bb82-da5cf4627ad3" data-vars-headline="University of Texas kicks KUT Festival off campus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/29/public-media-tv-radio-federal-funding" target="_self">public media outlets</a> housed within state universities.

Austin's April full of rain

In Lampasas, 70 miles northwest of Austin, 10.78 inches of rain fell in April.

Austin remains in drought, but a very wet April has replenished waterways crucial for drinking water, recreational activity, farming and manufacturing.Why it matters: Upriver areas, home to one of Central Texas&#x27; major reservoirs, are out of drought, making heavy water restrictions unlikely this summer.

Why Dems would (or wouldn't) pick Talarico for VP in '28

Talarico has carved out a new lane in Texas politics: a Christian Democrat who appeals to Latinos and suburbanites.

Texas legislator <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Talarico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/democrats-texas-talarico-voter-turnout" data-vars-content-id="355d5c5b-dfab-4ce5-9dbe-6b053a2cdcab" data-vars-headline="Why Dems would (or wouldn&#x27;t) pick Talarico for VP in &#x27;28" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/democrats-texas-talarico-voter-turnout" target="_self">James Talarico</a> is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an underdog" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488686" data-vars-content-id="355d5c5b-dfab-4ce5-9dbe-6b053a2cdcab" data-vars-headline="Why Dems would (or wouldn&#x27;t) pick Talarico for VP in &#x27;28" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488686" target="_blank">an underdog</a> for U.S. Senate, but his name is already being whispered as a potential 2028 vice presidential candidate. Why it matters: The mere suggestion reflects just how stratospheric <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Talarico&#x27;s rise" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/15/how-texas-talarico-is-leveraging-social-media-in-his-bid-for-the-senate" data-vars-content-id="355d5c5b-dfab-4ce5-9dbe-6b053a2cdcab" data-vars-headline="Why Dems would (or wouldn&#x27;t) pick Talarico for VP in &#x27;28" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/15/how-texas-talarico-is-leveraging-social-media-in-his-bid-for-the-senate" target="_self">Talarico&#x27;s rise</a> has been — and how desperate Democrats are to win Texas&#x27; electoral votes.

Floodwaters still pose risk in Austin lakes

Officials expect conditions to return to normal by the end of the week.

Swimmers and boaters should be cautious this week as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="floodwaters move through" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/07/06/texas-floods-how-to-help" data-vars-content-id="3f8db293-28f8-4d1c-89d0-f1b709a5a04b" data-vars-headline="Floodwaters still pose risk in Austin lakes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/07/06/texas-floods-how-to-help" target="_self">floodwaters move through</a> Austin waterways, but Austin Water officials say the area&#x27;s drinking water remains safe.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Highland Lakes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lcra.org/water/highland-lakes-overview/" data-vars-content-id="3f8db293-28f8-4d1c-89d0-f1b709a5a04b" data-vars-headline="Floodwaters still pose risk in Austin lakes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lcra.org/water/highland-lakes-overview/" target="_blank">Highland Lakes</a> are a main source of water for Central Texas, and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="July 4 floods" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/21/texas-floods-missing-drops-kerr-county" data-vars-content-id="3f8db293-28f8-4d1c-89d0-f1b709a5a04b" data-vars-headline="Floodwaters still pose risk in Austin lakes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/21/texas-floods-missing-drops-kerr-county" target="_self">July 4 floods</a> moved debris and bacteria into popular recreational waterways.

Austin launches final year of program to combat toxic algae

The five-year pilot program costs $300,000 a year.

The city on Monday will undertake the fifth and final year of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a pilot program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/06/05/austin-lake-algae" data-vars-content-id="b646c2f0-e320-49fa-939a-2d547109d18e" data-vars-headline="Austin launches final year of program to combat toxic algae" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/06/05/austin-lake-algae" target="_self">a pilot program</a> to slow the growth of harmful blue-green algae in Lady Bird Lake.Why it matters: Toxic algae blooms, or cyanobacteria, have been found in the lake every year since 2019, when six dogs died after encountering it.

When Austin's leaves will peak this fall

A series of maps show the predicted weekly progression of fall foliage across the U.S. in 2025, from Oct. 3 to Nov. 3. The maps show that the Northeast and parts of the Midwest will see peak fall colors in mid-October, while the Pacific Northwest and parts of the South will experience peak colors later in the month.

2025-08-14-foliage

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