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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.

Antone's joins vinyl take-back program

Music fans can return damaged or unplayable vinyl records to potentially be recycled.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Antone&#x27;s Record Shop" data-vars-click-url="https://antonesrecordshop.com/" data-vars-content-id="776afb5e-35ae-41cb-a4c2-3d0d9458bf63" data-vars-headline="Antone&#x27;s joins vinyl take-back program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://antonesrecordshop.com/" target="_blank">Antone&#x27;s Record Shop</a> in Austin has joined a new nationwide vinyl take-back program that aims to give broken and unwanted records a second life.Why it matters: Vinyl has enjoyed a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="resurgence over the past decade" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/04/21/record-store-day-returns-amid-climbing-vinyl-sales" data-vars-content-id="776afb5e-35ae-41cb-a4c2-3d0d9458bf63" data-vars-headline="Antone&#x27;s joins vinyl take-back program" 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/record-store-day-returns-amid-climbing-vinyl-sales" target="_self">resurgence over the past decade</a>, but there&#x27;s been little focus on what happens when records become damaged, beyond repair or owners no longer want them.

Texas beaches within a 4-hour drive of Austin

Dreaming of sand and saltwater? We've rounded up some of our favorite Texas beaches.

With summer underway, we&#x27;re breaking down our favorite beaches that are roughly four hours or less from Austin.<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">Galveston</h2>Pros: Galveston&#x27;s free beaches and the history surrounding the city give you plenty to do during a weekend trip.

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.

How well do you know the connection between Austin and "Friday Night Lights"?

The "Friday Nights Lights" cast is on a 20th anniversary tour. How well do you know the show?

The TV show &quot;Friday Night Lights&quot; is celebrating its 20th anniversary.Why it matters: The series, set in the fictional town of Dillon, was filmed in and around Austin.

Your guide to summer swimming in Austin

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

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.

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.

How to celebrate Fourth of July weekend in Austin

We've rounded up the top Fourth of July weekend events around Austin.

Austin is gearing up for a lively July Fourth as America celebrates its 250th anniversary.The big picture: From Willie Nelson&#x27;s annual picnic to fireworks over Lady Bird Lake, here are our favorite shows, celebrations and giveaways all weekend long.

Padel is Austin's trendy new racquet sport

Austin is emerging as one of the country's biggest markets for padel.

Austin is emerging as one of the biggest U.S. markets for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="padel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/05/24/the-racquet-sport-growing-faster-than-pickleball-worldwide" data-vars-content-id="0d5f6bf6-8f54-41b0-87c6-5168e64d2933" data-vars-headline="Padel is Austin&#x27;s trendy new racquet sport" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/05/24/the-racquet-sport-growing-faster-than-pickleball-worldwide" target="_self">padel</a>, the racquet sport that&#x27;s rapidly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spreading" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/04/10/padel-tennis-court-home" data-vars-content-id="0d5f6bf6-8f54-41b0-87c6-5168e64d2933" data-vars-headline="Padel is Austin&#x27;s trendy new racquet sport" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/04/10/padel-tennis-court-home" target="_self">spreading</a> beyond its Latin American roots.Why it matters: Club operators are betting the city has the right mix of players to fuel padel&#x27;s next phase of growth.

Things to Do 🗓

Things to do in Austin this weekend

Things to do in Austin this weekend

Austin’s best margaritas, according to readers

Things to do in Austin this weekend

Things to do in Austin this week