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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

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Six new murals added to South Congress

The permanent installations are on display now.

News

Austin loves electrolyte powders, but doctors say they don't work

Doctors say drinking electrolyte supplements instead of plain water is a waste of money.

Business

Complaints mount as robotaxis roll through Austin streets

There are 125 autonomous vehicles on Austin's streets.

How Austin leaders are grappling with the heat

The city has launched cooling centers, misting areas and cool pavement technology.

Climate

Austin FC to take on Mazatlán FC at Q2

The tournament involves every team in MLS and Mexico's Liga MX.

Sports

Austin FC will kick off its first Leagues Cup match tonight, facing off against Mazatlán FC at 7:30pm at Q2 Stadium.What&#x27;s happening: MLS teams will take a break from their normal schedules July 21-Aug. 19 to compete in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2023 Leagues Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/leagues-cup-2023-schedule-bracket-for-historic-mls-liga-mx-competition" data-vars-content-id="73fae560-017a-4c77-92ea-1bc1347e4185" data-vars-headline="Austin FC to take on Mazatlán FC at Q2" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/leagues-cup-2023-schedule-bracket-for-historic-mls-liga-mx-competition" target="_blank">2023 Leagues Cup</a>, a 47-team inter-league tournament involving every team in MLS and Mexico&#x27;s Liga MX.

Diver Manny Pollard talks diversity in the sport

Pollard hopes to bring diving to a wider, more diverse audience.

Manny Pollard, a University of Texas graduate assistant diving coach, has big hopes for the future of the sport.The big picture: Pollard, one of a small number of Black or LGBTQ+ divers, has long dealt with racist comments and the feeling of otherness on the pool deck.

Pickleball popularity on the rise in Austin

Austin has 4.7 pickleball courts per 100,000 people.

Austinites have been jumping on the bandwagon to play one of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fastest-growing sports" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/31729402.6588/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMTUvcGlja2xlYmFsbC1zcG9ydC10ZW5uaXMtaG93LXRvLXBsYXk_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9zYW5hbnRvbmlvJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/612e20a5a7e7511e90448ce6Bae5bb5f1" data-vars-content-id="9770477b-ba79-4d8d-b8bb-6c63477e2124" data-vars-headline="Pickleball popularity on the rise in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/31729402.6588/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMTUvcGlja2xlYmFsbC1zcG9ydC10ZW5uaXMtaG93LXRvLXBsYXk_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9zYW5hbnRvbmlvJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/612e20a5a7e7511e90448ce6Bae5bb5f1" target="_blank">fastest-growing sports</a> in America: pickleball.By the numbers: Austin has 4.7 pickleball courts per 100,000 people, according to the Trust for Public Land, a pro-parks nonprofit, Axios&#x27; Jennifer A. Kingson and Alice Feng report.

Austin FC salaries among MLS' highest

Even as the team has a down season, Austin FC's payroll is among the highest in the league.

Even as Austin FC muddles through a disappointing season — a victory Wednesday night against Seattle was only its third win through 12 Major League Soccer games — its payroll now ranks among the highest in the league.Driving the news: The MLS Players Association this week released its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2023 Spring-Summer Salary Guide" data-vars-click-url="https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide" data-vars-content-id="6eaceb11-4b86-4520-9cba-d61c4937a25f" data-vars-headline="Austin FC salaries among MLS&#x27; highest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide" target="_blank">2023 Spring-Summer Salary Guide</a>, which contains annual base salary and annual guaranteed compensation data for the 869 players under contract with Major League Soccer, per the association.

Austin physician rides across Texas for MS cure

Nearly 700 riders will start in Austin on Saturday.

Things to Do

Thousands of cyclists will ride up to 150 miles across the state this weekend to raise money for a multiple sclerosis cure.Why it matters: MS — a central nervous system disease affecting almost 3 million people globally — has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="baffled doctors since it was discovered" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/28/multiple-sclerosis-medical-advances" data-vars-content-id="1676a3a6-1038-457e-8971-791d7090cdb9" data-vars-headline="Austin physician rides across Texas for MS cure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/28/multiple-sclerosis-medical-advances" target="_self">baffled doctors since it was discovered</a> over a century and a half ago.

San Antonio Spurs make Austin inroads

No, the Spurs are not relocating to Austin, they say.

Spurs rookie Jeremy Sochan — a lone bright spot in a dim season for the San Antonio NBA squad — was in Austin this week bagging groceries at the H-E-B on East Riverside Drive.The big picture: The Spurs are playing a couple games in April at the Moody Center, with the team eager to expand its branding reach into Central Texas. <ul><li>Sochan came to dispense free merch and build excitement for the Austin matchups.</li></ul>

UT basketball eyes a deeper NCAA run

The Longhorns are favored in Sweet 16 Xavier matchup.

After years of underwhelming post-season play, the Longhorns men&#x27;s basketball team is poised to do something really special in this March Madness tournament.Driving the news: Friday&#x27;s matchup against Xavier marks Texas&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first Sweet 16 game since 2008" data-vars-click-url="https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/longhorns/mens-basketball/2023/03/20/texas-xavier-basketball-sweet-16-tv-cbs-jim-nantz-march-madness/70025319007/" data-vars-content-id="5f7af7b3-86ca-4094-9461-79f477ee02b6" data-vars-headline="UT basketball eyes a deeper NCAA run" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/longhorns/mens-basketball/2023/03/20/texas-xavier-basketball-sweet-16-tv-cbs-jim-nantz-march-madness/70025319007/" target="_blank">first Sweet 16 game since 2008</a>.

What to know about Austin's final Dell Match Play

The world's best golfers compete at Austin Country Club.

Austin Country Club&#x27;s final Dell Match Play — and the last PGA match play for at least a couple years — kicked off Wednesday, bringing the game&#x27;s top golfers and thousands of visitors to town for the four-day tournament.Driving the news: PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan confirmed earlier this month that this year&#x27;s World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play would be the final one at Austin Country Club, although he didn&#x27;t rule out a match-play event at another location in the future.

Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk wins inaugural ATX tennis tourney

"I want to dedicate this title to Ukraine and to everyone who is fighting and dying right now."

Marta Kostyuk, a 20-year-old Ukrainian, defeated 22-year-old Russian Varvara Gracheva to win <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the inaugural ATX Open" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/11/08/austin-tennis-stadium" data-vars-content-id="b3d7bb21-15cd-431f-b93e-c6cc59468db6" data-vars-headline="Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk wins inaugural ATX tennis tourney" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/11/08/austin-tennis-stadium" target="_self">the inaugural ATX Open</a> on Sunday.<ul><li>With the Westwood Country Club crowd in her corner in the final of the WTA event, Kostyuk won 6-3, 7-5 — and a champion&#x27;s check for $34,228.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;Being in the position that I am in right now, it&#x27;s extremely special to win this title and I want to dedicate this title to Ukraine and to everyone who is fighting and dying right now,&quot; Marta Kostyuk said during her trophy acceptance speech. &quot;Obviously, it&#x27;s a very special moment.&quot;

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk takes a swing at the ball in Sunday's ATX Open.

New pro softball team announced for Austin

The team is still nailing down a home venue.

A former major league baseball player and a professional wrestler are teaming up to bring a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pro softball franchise" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/21/pro-softball-leagues" data-vars-content-id="f042e5a0-446b-49ea-ac3a-f7c7c1b83dde" data-vars-headline="New pro softball team announced for Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/21/pro-softball-leagues" target="_self">pro softball franchise</a> to Austin.Driving the news: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas Smoke" data-vars-click-url="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3794795-1&amp;h=1167509907&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fthetexassmoke.com%2F&amp;a=thetexassmoke.com" data-vars-content-id="f042e5a0-446b-49ea-ac3a-f7c7c1b83dde" data-vars-headline="New pro softball team announced for Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3794795-1&amp;h=1167509907&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fthetexassmoke.com%2F&amp;a=thetexassmoke.com" target="_blank">Texas Smoke</a> will be the fourth franchise in Women&#x27;s Professional Fastpitch.

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