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George W. Bush not expected to speak at GOP convention

Bush has been obliquely critical of President Trump in the past but has mostly stayed silent on the topic.

News

Former President George W. Bush is not expected to be among the speakers at next week&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Republican Party convention" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/28/gop-midterm-convention-nfl" data-vars-content-id="86a09edf-e9ed-48c5-9916-e0ce9c323551" data-vars-headline="George W. Bush not expected to speak at GOP convention" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/28/gop-midterm-convention-nfl" target="_self">Republican Party convention</a> in Dallas, even though the event is virtually in his backyard.Why it matters: The former president&#x27;s likely absence underscores <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the schism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/04/trump-cpac-speech-republicans-george-bush" data-vars-content-id="86a09edf-e9ed-48c5-9916-e0ce9c323551" data-vars-headline="George W. Bush not expected to speak at GOP convention" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/04/trump-cpac-speech-republicans-george-bush" target="_self">the schism</a> between the Trump-era GOP and the Bush-era GOP.

1.2M Texas voters face questions about their home address

More than 1.2 million Texas voters have been flagged as possibly no longer living at their registered address.

Politics

More than 1.2 million Texas voters have been flagged as possibly no longer living at the address listed on their registration, potentially facing an extra step when they head to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the polls" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/23/senate-ohio-alaska-iowa-texas-kansas-mississippi-nebraska" data-vars-content-id="d4e5add4-a7c6-4936-a300-d6804d0a5ca1" data-vars-headline="1.2M Texas voters face questions about their home address" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/23/senate-ohio-alaska-iowa-texas-kansas-mississippi-nebraska" target="_self">the polls</a> this fall.Why it matters: Voters on the so-called suspense list remain registered and can still vote, but the designation means election officials have questions about whether their registered address is current.

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.

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>.

A look inside Austin's newest luxury hotel

The hotel includes 252 rooms, a rooftop pool and restaurants.

A luxury hotel with an apiary, rooftop pool, multiple restaurants and a spa opened this week in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas&#x27; tallest building" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/29/whats-next-for-austin-skyline" data-vars-content-id="e725dc43-a69b-4ace-8d54-8d05a4e7ffab" data-vars-headline="A look inside Austin&#x27;s newest luxury hotel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/29/whats-next-for-austin-skyline" target="_self">Texas&#x27; tallest building</a>.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="1 Hotel Austin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.1hotels.com/austin" data-vars-content-id="e725dc43-a69b-4ace-8d54-8d05a4e7ffab" data-vars-headline="A look inside Austin&#x27;s newest luxury hotel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.1hotels.com/austin" target="_blank">1 Hotel Austin</a> adds another major luxury hotel to Austin&#x27;s downtown hospitality scene, expanding the city&#x27;s appeal for high-end leisure and business travelers.

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Things to Do

It&#x27;s trivia time! See how well you absorbed this week&#x27;s news with our quiz.

Longhorns get ready to hit the gridiron

The Longhorns' success may depend on whether Arch Manning's protection remains healthy.

Sports

The University of Texas <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Longhorns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/24/most-valuable-college-football-programs-texas-the-athletic" data-vars-content-id="e7a7a55e-3083-4078-934b-a1b9d59e3c19" data-vars-headline="Longhorns get ready to hit the gridiron" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/24/most-valuable-college-football-programs-texas-the-athletic" target="_self">Longhorns</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="football team" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/12/20/ut-longhorns-clemson-college-football" data-vars-content-id="e7a7a55e-3083-4078-934b-a1b9d59e3c19" data-vars-headline="Longhorns get ready to hit the gridiron" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/12/20/ut-longhorns-clemson-college-football" target="_self">football team</a> kicks off their season Saturday against Texas State in Austin.Why it matters: With the return of star quarterback Arch Manning and a fearsome defensive front, anything short of a national championship will be a disappointment for diehard Texas fans.

Most Texas voucher recipients were already enrolled in private school

The data undercuts a major argument for the vouchers, critics say.

At least 70% of Texas kids awarded <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="school vouchers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/08/13/how-many-austin-students-are-getting-voucher-money" data-vars-content-id="fdcafcee-3cc3-4607-8c04-0bb209c9a45e" data-vars-headline="Most Texas voucher recipients were already enrolled in private school" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/08/13/how-many-austin-students-are-getting-voucher-money" target="_self">school vouchers</a> were previously enrolled in private schools or were homeschooled, per data obtained by Axios through a request under the Texas Public Information Act.Why it matters: The data undercuts a major argument for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vouchers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/03/apply-texas-school-vouchers" data-vars-content-id="fdcafcee-3cc3-4607-8c04-0bb209c9a45e" data-vars-headline="Most Texas voucher recipients were already enrolled in private school" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/03/apply-texas-school-vouchers" target="_self">vouchers</a> — that they would chiefly help Texans hoist their kids out of failing public schools.

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.

It&#x27;s trivia time! See how well you absorbed this week&#x27;s news with our quiz.

Poll: How are you feeling about the very hot temperatures?

Tell us whether the scorching temperatures are making you rethink where you live.

Temperatures in much of the country are topping 100 degrees this week.Why it matters: The weather is making it hard to go outside and reinforces worries about the consequences of a changing climate.

News 🗞

George W. Bush not expected to speak at GOP convention

A look inside Austin's newest luxury hotel

Take the Axios Austin news quiz!

Longhorns get ready to hit the gridiron

UH report: Texas is at the center of the U.S. electricity demand boom