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Texas breweries face slowdown

The number of Texas breweries dropped from 440 in 2024 to 420 in 2025, per the Brewers Association.

Food and Drink

Fewer new breweries are opening in Texas, even as some breweries are closing, per recently released information from the Brewers Association.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="once-thriving industry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/11/decline-craft-beer-festival-gabf-2023" data-vars-content-id="aa846c67-562d-4dee-8ba6-1802d3e6003b" data-vars-headline="Texas breweries face slowdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/11/decline-craft-beer-festival-gabf-2023" target="_self">once-thriving industry</a> is now struggling amid <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a shift away from alcohol consumption" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/24/dry-january-february-athletic-beer" data-vars-content-id="aa846c67-562d-4dee-8ba6-1802d3e6003b" data-vars-headline="Texas breweries face slowdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/24/dry-january-february-athletic-beer" target="_self">a shift away from alcohol consumption</a>, particularly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="among younger people" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/drinking-alcohol-unhealthy-gen-z-millennials-poll" data-vars-content-id="aa846c67-562d-4dee-8ba6-1802d3e6003b" data-vars-headline="Texas breweries face slowdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/drinking-alcohol-unhealthy-gen-z-millennials-poll" target="_self">among younger people</a>, and brewers are looking for ways to adapt.

Behind Austin's Flock blowback

Austin and some Central Texas suburbs have discontinued their use of Flock cameras. Here's why.

News

Activists and citizens in Central Texas and elsewhere are pushing back against license plate readers made by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Flock and similar companies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/douglas/2026/08/04/flock-ceo-douglas-county-sheriff-regret-axon-data" data-vars-content-id="273c4667-c805-46b8-8cad-ebe1c987563f" data-vars-headline="Behind Austin&#x27;s Flock blowback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/douglas/2026/08/04/flock-ceo-douglas-county-sheriff-regret-axon-data" target="_self">Flock and similar companies</a>, fueled by privacy concerns and suspected police misuse.Why it matters: Flock cameras are suddenly a big target of populist anti-tech, pro-privacy sentiment, alongside the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/data-center-growth-map-states" data-vars-content-id="273c4667-c805-46b8-8cad-ebe1c987563f" data-vars-headline="Behind Austin&#x27;s Flock blowback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/data-center-growth-map-states" target="_self">data centers</a> fueling the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI boom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/12/ai-boom-goldman-sachs" data-vars-content-id="273c4667-c805-46b8-8cad-ebe1c987563f" data-vars-headline="Behind Austin&#x27;s Flock blowback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/12/ai-boom-goldman-sachs" target="_self">AI boom</a>.

Anthropic considers Texas data center expansion

Anthropic is rapidly expanding its Texas footprint with massive data centers in the works.

Development

Anthropic is eyeing another massive <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/25/data-centers-ai-electricity-water-politics" data-vars-content-id="554aed20-cae6-45dc-a3bf-0d527c4e8823" data-vars-headline="Anthropic considers Texas data center expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/25/data-centers-ai-electricity-water-politics" target="_self">data center</a> project in Central Texas as the AI company&#x27;s footprint expands across the state.Why it matters: Anthropic&#x27;s growth comes as Texas officials, including Gov. Greg Abbott, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grapple with how" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/08/03/greg-abbott-halts-texas-data-centers-electric-grid" data-vars-content-id="554aed20-cae6-45dc-a3bf-0d527c4e8823" data-vars-headline="Anthropic considers Texas data center expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/08/03/greg-abbott-halts-texas-data-centers-electric-grid" target="_self">grapple with how</a> to accommodate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="power-hungry data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/18/ai-data-centers-federal-commission-faster-connections" data-vars-content-id="554aed20-cae6-45dc-a3bf-0d527c4e8823" data-vars-headline="Anthropic considers Texas data center expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/18/ai-data-centers-federal-commission-faster-connections" target="_self">power-hungry data centers</a> without straining the state&#x27;s electric grid.

Water crisis in western Travis County

Some schools west of Austin were temporarily without water yesterday — which the utility serving the schools blamed on lawn watering violations by its customers.

Water

Some schools west of Austin were temporarily without water Thursday — which the utility serving the schools blamed on lawn watering violations by its customers.Why it matters: The episode renews long-term concerns about growing demands for regional <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="water supplies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/08/university-of-austin-waterhub-texas" data-vars-content-id="84d3ce6e-1e15-4398-a921-6476818e9fbe" data-vars-headline="Water crisis in western Travis County" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/08/university-of-austin-waterhub-texas" target="_self">water supplies</a> as Central Texas weather <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="promises more drought and extreme heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/08/29/hotter-feeling-days-central-texas" data-vars-content-id="84d3ce6e-1e15-4398-a921-6476818e9fbe" data-vars-headline="Water crisis in western Travis County" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/08/29/hotter-feeling-days-central-texas" target="_self">promises more drought and extreme heat</a>.

What Austin pet owners should know about screwworm

Austin veterinarians are fielding questions about New World screwworm.

Environment

There aren&#x27;t any reported cases of screwworm in the Austin area, but local vets are seeing a rise in questions from pet owners worried about the flesh-eating parasite.State of play: There have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="been 47 cases reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm/current-status/confirmed" data-vars-content-id="6fa05788-94d7-4fb7-ad00-4de4078dbb3a" data-vars-headline="What Austin pet owners should know about screwworm" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm/current-status/confirmed" target="_blank">been 47 cases reported</a> in Texas and New Mexico since June — the closest case in Gillespie County, about 70 miles west of Austin.

How Austin uses AI to address tree canopies

Austin leaders want to reach 50% citywide tree canopy coverage by 2050.

As Austin confronts <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hotter summers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/16/summer-temperatures-lingering" data-vars-content-id="b968b287-cfb4-4f13-9834-338bcebb0dbc" data-vars-headline="How Austin uses AI to address tree canopies" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/16/summer-temperatures-lingering" target="_self">hotter summers</a>, city officials are turning to Google&#x27;s AI to address shade disparities.Why it matters: Neighborhoods with less tree cover often face higher <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heat exposure," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/08/14/austin-students-face-extreme-heat" data-vars-content-id="b968b287-cfb4-4f13-9834-338bcebb0dbc" data-vars-headline="How Austin uses AI to address tree canopies" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/08/14/austin-students-face-extreme-heat" target="_self">heat exposure,</a> and AI-driven analysis can help target where shade could have the greatest impact.

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.

Axios San Antonio

Texas company pulls drinking water from the air

San Antonio

Gov. Greg Abbott calls for broad data center rules

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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