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Cyclospora outbreak: Are you avoiding lettuce this summer?

Let us know if your eating habits have changed due to the outbreak.

Health

Some Americans are shifting their eating habits to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="avoid lettuce" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-infection-wash-food" data-vars-content-id="985a9073-4030-4a82-be5e-e8341d801840" data-vars-headline="Cyclospora outbreak: Are you avoiding lettuce this summer?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-infection-wash-food" target="_self">avoid lettuce</a> and other uncooked vegetables due to the current Cyclospora outbreak.Why it matters: Taylor Farms last month recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, and the FDA continues to focus on it as the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="likely source" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/fda-cyclospora-taylor-farms-lettuce-false-positive" data-vars-content-id="985a9073-4030-4a82-be5e-e8341d801840" data-vars-headline="Cyclospora outbreak: Are you avoiding lettuce this summer?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/fda-cyclospora-taylor-farms-lettuce-false-positive" target="_self">likely source</a> of the largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history.

Things to do in Austin this weekend

Live music, Austin's Pride parade and more.

Things to Do

Here&#x27;s what&#x27;s on deck this weekend.<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">Friday</h2>

Texas kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump

Texas exemptions are climbing, but Austin ISD vaccination rates rebound.

News

Texas&#x27; kindergarten vaccine exemption rate jumped nearly a full percentage point in the 2025-26 school year, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="released" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" data-vars-content-id="edd87898-7ceb-439c-a1bd-f74e7734cb32" data-vars-headline="Texas kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" target="_blank">released</a> Monday.Why it matters: The rise in exemptions coincided with efforts by the Trump administration to make <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vaccine policy changes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/26/mmr-mmrv-vaccine-shot-schedule-cdc-trump" data-vars-content-id="edd87898-7ceb-439c-a1bd-f74e7734cb32" data-vars-headline="Texas kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/26/mmr-mmrv-vaccine-shot-schedule-cdc-trump" target="_self">vaccine policy changes</a> and with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="measles cases" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/25/measles-record-cases-states-numbers" data-vars-content-id="edd87898-7ceb-439c-a1bd-f74e7734cb32" data-vars-headline="Texas kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/25/measles-record-cases-states-numbers" target="_self">measles cases</a> hitting levels not seen in more than three decades.

What to know as AISD edges closer to a state takeover

The district has until Sept. 11 to make an appeal on underlying data that led to the failing ratings for two middle schools.

Austin ISD has been plunged into further uncertainty as state officials on Thursday announced two middle schools received &quot;F&quot; ratings for the fifth year in a row, meaning the district is closer to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state takeover" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/06/10/austin-public-schools-state-takeover" data-vars-content-id="d459e2eb-a3ae-48db-8311-b3efb8129b49" data-vars-headline="What to know as AISD edges closer to a state takeover" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/06/10/austin-public-schools-state-takeover" target="_self">state takeover</a>.Why it matters: Classes start Tuesday, and AISD&#x27;s roughly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="70,000 students" 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="d459e2eb-a3ae-48db-8311-b3efb8129b49" data-vars-headline="What to know as AISD edges closer to a state takeover" 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">70,000 students</a> — and their parents — are facing big questions over who will be in charge of their campuses in the coming months and years.

Elon Musk's PAC lawyer eyes Texas congressional seat

The election of Chris Gober would give Musk a close ally in Congress.

Politics

The lawyer who helped run Elon Musk&#x27;s efforts to aid Donald Trump&#x27;s 2024 campaign is running for Congress in a Republican-friendly district that stretches from west of Austin to near Houston.Why it matters: The election of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chris Gober" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/06/01/austin-texas-spencer-pratt-campaign" data-vars-content-id="3db2a6ca-98c0-4401-bfe7-faee50e906a2" data-vars-headline="Elon Musk&#x27;s PAC lawyer eyes Texas congressional seat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/06/01/austin-texas-spencer-pratt-campaign" target="_self">Chris Gober</a> would give Musk a close ally in Congress as he seeks to continue to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shape the GOP agenda" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/29/musk-pac-midterm-election" data-vars-content-id="3db2a6ca-98c0-4401-bfe7-faee50e906a2" data-vars-headline="Elon Musk&#x27;s PAC lawyer eyes Texas congressional seat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/29/musk-pac-midterm-election" target="_self">shape the GOP agenda</a>.

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.

How the Talarico-Paxton race could play out

Talarico links the affordability crisis with corruption, while Paxton frames the Democrat as out of touch.

With Ken Paxton&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="GOP primary win" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/27/texas-senate-gop-cornyn-paxton" data-vars-content-id="f1d8eded-ce80-478f-a801-449ff75d69a2" data-vars-headline="How the Talarico-Paxton race could play out" 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 primary win</a> this week, Democrats now have the Republican Senate candidate, tactically speaking, they were hoping for.<ul><li>Now the question is whether their nominee, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Talarico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/27/texas-senate-gop-cornyn-paxton" data-vars-content-id="f1d8eded-ce80-478f-a801-449ff75d69a2" data-vars-headline="How the Talarico-Paxton race could play out" 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">James Talarico</a>, a young state lawmaker from Austin, can deliver them out of the wilderness.</li></ul>

Austin City Council to consider rules for e-motos

In Austin, there is no local code governing where e-motos can operate.

The Austin City Council on Thursday will consider taking an initial step toward regulating electric dirt bikes and mini motorcyles, or e-motos.Why it matters: A growing number of children and teens are riding the high-powered bikes on Austin streets, alarming residents and prompting safety concerns from local officials.

Middleton defeats Roy in Texas AG race

Middleton successfully cast himself as the MAGA candidate, even as President Trump didn't endorse in the race.

State Sen. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mayes Middleton" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/18/texas-attorney-general-may-runoff" data-vars-content-id="742ac211-8db8-41c8-b685-203a2d2ed8d7" data-vars-headline="Middleton defeats Roy in Texas AG race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/18/texas-attorney-general-may-runoff" target="_self">Mayes Middleton</a> of Galveston defeated U.S. Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chip Roy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/08/chip-roy-texas-attorney-general-paxton-cornyn" data-vars-content-id="742ac211-8db8-41c8-b685-203a2d2ed8d7" data-vars-headline="Middleton defeats Roy in Texas AG race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/08/chip-roy-texas-attorney-general-paxton-cornyn" target="_self">Chip Roy</a> in the GOP runoff for Texas attorney general Tuesday night.Why it matters: Middleton successfully cast himself as the MAGA candidate, even as President Trump didn&#x27;t endorse in the race.

Texas GOP voters oust Cornyn in Paxton upset

Cornyn's loss marks one of the most significant defeats for a Republican senator in years.

Republican primary voters on Tuesday rejected U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, one of the Senate&#x27;s most senior GOP members, in favor of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump-backed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/19/trump-endorsement-texas-senate-race-ken-paxton" data-vars-content-id="319ecb20-8e5a-415d-9d5a-b2a8fc1d11fc" data-vars-headline="Texas GOP voters oust Cornyn in Paxton upset" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/19/trump-endorsement-texas-senate-race-ken-paxton" target="_self">Trump-backed</a> Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.Why it matters: Cornyn&#x27;s loss marks one of the most significant defeats for a Republican senator in years and underscores how loyalty to <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="319ecb20-8e5a-415d-9d5a-b2a8fc1d11fc" data-vars-headline="Texas GOP voters oust Cornyn in Paxton upset" 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> continues to reshape GOP primaries nationwide.

Candidates vie to be Texas attorney general in May runoffs

Two Republicans and two Democrats face off on May 26.

Two Republicans and two Democrats are facing off May 26 in runoff primary elections to be Texas attorney general, though it&#x27;s likely a Republican would take the win in November.Why it matters: As <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the chief legal officer of the state" data-vars-click-url="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/about-office/duties-responsibilities-office-attorney-general" data-vars-content-id="540fb797-a939-4df0-9776-b44ae754ab7d" data-vars-headline="Candidates vie to be Texas attorney general in May runoffs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/about-office/duties-responsibilities-office-attorney-general" target="_blank">the chief legal officer of the state</a>, the attorney general represents Texas <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in litigation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/10/30/covid-vaccine-mandate-texas-biden-contractors" data-vars-content-id="540fb797-a939-4df0-9776-b44ae754ab7d" data-vars-headline="Candidates vie to be Texas attorney general in May runoffs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/10/30/covid-vaccine-mandate-texas-biden-contractors" target="_self">in litigation</a>, defends state laws, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="initiates investigations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/07/texas-democrats-beto-orourke-paxton-investigation" data-vars-content-id="540fb797-a939-4df0-9776-b44ae754ab7d" data-vars-headline="Candidates vie to be Texas attorney general in May runoffs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/07/texas-democrats-beto-orourke-paxton-investigation" target="_self">initiates investigations</a> and enforces consumer protection laws.

Abbott calls for new impeachment process for district attorneys

Travis County's district attorney called the proposals "nothing more than a political stunt."

Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday proposed that locally elected district attorneys should be subject to impeachment, part of a broader push to expand state oversight of local prosecutors who he says fail to aggressively pursue <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="violent offenders" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/10/violent-crime-us-cities-trump" data-vars-content-id="a834fa9c-2726-4034-b81e-ee2395473ab7" data-vars-headline="Abbott calls for new impeachment process for district attorneys" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/10/violent-crime-us-cities-trump" target="_self">violent offenders</a>.Why it matters: Abbott&#x27;s proposals escalate a yearslong clash between Texas Republicans and progressive district attorneys in the state&#x27;s largest urban counties.

What Democrats' wins in local Texas elections mean for the state

Why local election wins by Democrats in Texas may not matter come November.

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gina Hinojosa" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/09/26/gina-hinojosa-austin-democrat-campaign-texas-governor" data-vars-content-id="587e56c9-9d39-4ad1-b6ba-406e305013d3" data-vars-headline="What Democrats&#x27; wins in local Texas elections mean for the state" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/09/26/gina-hinojosa-austin-democrat-campaign-texas-governor" target="_self">Gina Hinojosa</a> is suggesting recent school board and mayoral election results across the state signal hope for Democrats running in statewide races — but politics watchers tell Axios the suggestion is tenuous.Why it matters: No Democrat has won statewide in Texas since 1994, but Democratic candidates are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eager" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/04/talarico-democratic-vice-president" data-vars-content-id="587e56c9-9d39-4ad1-b6ba-406e305013d3" data-vars-headline="What Democrats&#x27; wins in local Texas elections mean for the state" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/04/talarico-democratic-vice-president" target="_self">eager</a> to show this year is different.

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.

Politics 🇺🇸

GOP's Senate map gets shakier as Texas, Iowa become toss-ups

Elon Musk's PAC lawyer eyes Texas congressional seat

Pornhub targets age verification laws in Texas

Cornyn donors largely keep distance from Paxton

Fewer Central Texans are on SNAP