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Cornyn donors largely keep distance from Paxton

GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton likely must win over U.S. Sen John Cornyn's supporters to win in November.

Politics & Policy

Few major donors to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Sen. John Cornyn" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/27/texas-primary-paxton-cornyn-takeaways" data-vars-content-id="86129321-01fa-43ee-a0e4-943eef7e95a8" data-vars-headline="Cornyn donors largely keep distance from Paxton" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/27/texas-primary-paxton-cornyn-takeaways" target="_self">U.S. Sen. John Cornyn</a> have thrown their weight behind <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/27/texas-senate-gop-cornyn-paxton" data-vars-content-id="86129321-01fa-43ee-a0e4-943eef7e95a8" data-vars-headline="Cornyn donors largely keep distance from Paxton" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/27/texas-senate-gop-cornyn-paxton" target="_self">GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton</a> since the Texas attorney general defeated Cornyn in a May runoff, per an Axios analysis of newly released federal campaign finance data.Why it matters: Paxton likely must rally Cornyn supporters to his side to defeat Democrat James Talarico, a state legislator from Austin and a formidable fundraiser seeking to appeal to moderate voters.

Lake Travis is full for the first time since 2019

The lake is the economic lifeblood for small businesses and drinking water source for Austin.

News

For the first time in seven years, Lake Travis has reached 100% of capacity.Why it matters: The lake is the economic lifeblood for small businesses, a playground for area boaters and a source of drinking water for Austin.

The lasting legacy of a 3D-printed home

Tim Shea's legacy lives on in the East Austin community that became his home.

This report is part of &quot;Texas Testbed,&quot; a series on how the state is becoming a real-world lab for emerging technologies.Tim Shea made headlines more than five years ago for moving into the world&#x27;s first permitted <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="3D-printed home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/11/3d-printing-company-icon-expands-austin" data-vars-content-id="e406de68-95d0-4be8-92e0-b3ab7f50bf61" data-vars-headline="The lasting legacy of a 3D-printed home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/11/3d-printing-company-icon-expands-austin" target="_self">3D-printed home</a>.

Texas Testbed: What's next for 3D-printed homes

3D-printed construction is expanding, but it's unclear whether it will drive down housing costs.

This report is part of &quot;Texas Testbed,&quot; a series on how the state is becoming a real-world lab for emerging technologies.Giant robotic printers are back at Community First! Village, building more than 100 homes as part of the East Austin neighborhood&#x27;s expansion for people coming out of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homelessness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/21/abbott-homeless-encampments-austin" data-vars-content-id="a0fb0998-8e58-4fbe-87a8-1320c8aac785" data-vars-headline="Texas Testbed: What&#x27;s next for 3D-printed homes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/21/abbott-homeless-encampments-austin" target="_self">homelessness</a>.

Austin performer brings Netflix shows to deaf families

Viewers can watch deaf performers overlaid alongside the original programming.

Austin performer JoAnn Benfield is helping bring Netflix&#x27;s most-beloved children&#x27;s shows and movies to deaf families in American Sign Language.Why it matters: Many deaf children use ASL as their primary language, meaning captions alone don&#x27;t always make programming fully accessible.

Social service nonprofits brace for Austin cuts

Millions of dollars may be cut from Austin's social services contracts.

Nonprofits that provide HIV outreach, workforce development, youth assistance and other social services are bracing for potential funding cuts from the city of Austin.Why it matters: Nonprofits typically perform on-the-ground work to help poor and vulnerable populations — and the city money is often a crucial funding source for their operations.

Your guide to summer swimming in Austin

Here's where to cool off, from Barton Springs to hotel pools.

Things to Do

Ready for the heat? We&#x27;re staring down highs in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mid- to upper 90s" data-vars-click-url="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=30.4882&amp;lon=-97.7618" data-vars-content-id="25b3ec47-73ac-4ec1-bc7c-6dec4ea57c66" data-vars-headline="Your guide to summer swimming in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=30.4882&amp;lon=-97.7618" target="_blank">mid- to upper 90s</a> through the weekend.Why it matters: Luckily, there are plenty of places to cool down in Central Texas.

How to chaos garden in Austin

Garden experts warn that tossing random seed packets into the yard doesn't always work as advertised.

Chaos gardening — the viral <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="TikTok" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/chaosgardening" data-vars-content-id="d7a5e7c3-ae20-4449-96a1-48f8eb1b440f" data-vars-headline="How to chaos garden in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/chaosgardening" target="_blank">TikTok</a> trend of scattering seeds and &quot;letting nature decide&quot; — is taking root as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="demand for native plants" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/04/21/seven-native-plants-for-gardening-in-austin" data-vars-content-id="d7a5e7c3-ae20-4449-96a1-48f8eb1b440f" data-vars-headline="How to chaos garden in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/04/21/seven-native-plants-for-gardening-in-austin" target="_self">demand for native plants</a> is rising in drought-stricken Central Texas.Why it matters: Chaos gardens appeal to homeowners seeking lower-maintenance yards that also help local wildlife thrive.

Desert Island Dish with Abby Love of Abby Jane Bakeshop

The bakery shares a space with Barton Springs Mill and uses the mill's flour in its pastries and bread.

Abby Love spends her day creating some of Central Texas&#x27; best pastries. But if she&#x27;s stranded on a desert island, she&#x27;s skipping the croissants and reaching for a basket of fried Gulf shrimp.Catch up quick: Love is the owner of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Abby Jane Bakeshop" data-vars-click-url="https://abbyjanebakes.com/" data-vars-content-id="9de1d0b6-f540-4045-97cd-6ae508ebe5c6" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Abby Love of Abby Jane Bakeshop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abbyjanebakes.com/" target="_blank">Abby Jane Bakeshop</a> in Dripping Springs, which she opened in 2021 after working as the head pastry chef at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dai Due" data-vars-click-url="https://www.daidue.com/" data-vars-content-id="9de1d0b6-f540-4045-97cd-6ae508ebe5c6" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Abby Love of Abby Jane Bakeshop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.daidue.com/" target="_blank">Dai Due</a> in Austin.

5 questions with Austin director Damon Brown

The Zilker Summer Musical has been an Austin tradition since 1959.

Director Damon Brown is preparing to bring &quot;Singin&#x27; in the Rain&quot; to Zilker Hillside Theatre this month, marking his return to the iconic <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin stage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/07/2026-box-domestic-office-start" data-vars-content-id="009d627c-5e4c-4047-866b-5eb6678bc57a" data-vars-headline="5 questions with Austin director Damon Brown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/07/2026-box-domestic-office-start" target="_self">Austin stage</a> more than two decades after performing there.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zilker Summer Musical" data-vars-click-url="https://zilker.org/" data-vars-content-id="009d627c-5e4c-4047-866b-5eb6678bc57a" data-vars-headline="5 questions with Austin director Damon Brown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://zilker.org/" target="_blank">Zilker Summer Musical</a> has been an Austin tradition since 1959, drawing tens of thousands of attendees each summer.

📈 Charted: Lake Travis rises

Charted: Lake Travis rises

A line chart that tracks Mansfield Dam lake level in feet from July 12 to July 19. Readings rise from 671.31 feet on July 12 to 671.78 on July 16, then jump to 684.63 on July 19. The chartâs range runs from a minimum of 671.21 to a maximum of 684.96 feet.

News 🗞

Austin performer brings Netflix shows to deaf families

Charted: Lake Travis rises

Lake Travis is full for the first time since 2019

Austin's St. John park to be closed for expansion

Cornyn donors largely keep distance from Paxton