University of Texas officials are standing by their decision to order KUT's inaugural festival to move off campus, citing security concerns.

Why it matters: The decision threw a major wrench into this weekend's long-planned event and highlights the complicated position of public media outlets housed within state universities.

Driving the news: Nearly all programming, intended to take place over two days at various locations at UT, will now happen Saturday at the brewery and restaurant Central Machine Works and neighboring East End Ballroom, more than 3 miles from campus.

Catch up quick: The festival will feature live music, author conversations, book signings and panel discussions.

• It aims to "celebrate what makes Austin great, as well as connect on the issues that are important to our community," KUT public media general manager Debbie Hiott wrote in an email to panelists.

What they're saying: In the email, Hiott said the university first raised concerns last week, adding it ordered KUT on Friday "to cancel the outdoor portions of the events citing a safety analysis that they have yet to provide us."

• "In our months of planning, we have agreed to every health, security and safety request that has been made of us and our production company, which has produced the Texas Tribune Festival and many other major events over the years."

The other side: "The University is disappointed that the inaugural KUT Festival had to relocate and resize some of its events due to poor planning. However, it was the right decision," Amanda Cochran-McCall, vice president for legal affairs and general counsel, wrote in a letter to Hiott yesterday.

• KUT's plans were short 10 police officers and had insufficient crowd control measures and reunification processes for missing or lost children, Cochran-McCall wrote.
• "Event planners rejected UTPD's advice to include unmanned aerial vehicle overwatch," she wrote.

If you go: All sessions are now free to attend, but registration is required. Tomorrow's keynote with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) will be held at the LBJ Presidential Library.

• Other speakers include Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, filmmaker Noah Hawley, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin) and District Attorney José Garza.

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As Central Texans head into peak gardening season, Barton Springs Nursery owner Amy Hovis is seeing a shift: fewer lawns, more butterflies and a growing appetite for water-wise yards.

Driving the news: Hovis recently opened the new BSN Design Studio & Showroom at 910 N. Lamar, where she offers full-service garden design and installation.

• We caught up with Hovis to talk about the new studio and tips and tricks for gardeners.

This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

1. You say no project is too big or small for the design studio. What's the most common request you're hearing from Austin homeowners right now?

"Right now, the most common request is some version of: 'I want my yard to have more plants for butterflies and be more water-wise, but I don't know where to start.'

• We're seeing a big shift away from traditional lawns toward more natural, layered landscapes with shade, habitat, and places to gather. There's also a strong desire for low-water, low-maintenance gardens that still feel lush and intentional."

2. For someone starting from scratch, what's the first step to creating a garden that actually works in Central Texas?

"The first step is always to understand your site: your sun, your soil, your drainage, and how water moves through the space.

• In Central Texas, if you skip that step and go straight to picking plants, you're setting yourself up for frustration."

Three more questions

🚙 Commander Roger Patterson with Austin-Travis County EMS revealed a second incident involving Waymo vehicles during last month's mass shooting, telling City Council members in yesterday's joint committee meeting that four to five Waymos "stacked up at the intersection of Guadalupe and Sixth" and blocked multiple ambulances. (Austin American-Statesman)

• The cars did not respond to first responders' hand signals. They were then moved with the company's remote assistance.

🏙️ PNC Bank is relocating to downtown's new ATX Tower, which will now have the bank's name placed prominently on it. (Austin Business Journal 🔒)

🎤 Shaboozey will bring his "Outlaws Never Die Tour" to Moody Amphitheater on Sept. 11. (CultureMap Austin)

Here's what's on deck this weekend.

Friday

🎙️ Catch Kid Cudi at Germania Amphitheater. 6:30pm, tickets start around $80.

Saturday

🇲🇽 Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Mexic-Arte Museum and Downtown Austin Alliance at Republic Square, featuring interactive booths and hands-on art activities. 9am-2pm, free.

🤠 Jam to a full country music lineup at the annual iHeart Country Festival at the Moody Center. 7pm, $42.

Sunday

🐴 Grab your big hat and head to either Juliet Italian Kitchen location for the annual Kentucky Derby party. The best hat winner will get a $100 gift card. $20, 4:30-7:30pm.

After news last week that Michael and Susan Dell's donations to the University of Texas had topped $1 billion, we asked how you'd distribute that kind of cash.

Chelsey S. would like to shore up Austin public schools. "Our kids deserve quality education and my heart aches for all the trade offs being made and the struggling teachers."

"I'm glad the Dell family is investing some money in medical research," writes Rachel.

• "I have a daughter with a rare disease called neurofibromatosis (NF). I would definitely be throwing a ton of money toward the Children's tumor foundation or any other private group doing research to find a cure for NF.

"Dollar for dollar, I'd say nothing can beat donating to the Central Texas food bank, though I also can't avoid calling out KUT/KUTX and our very own Axios Austin!" writes Eric B.

Nicole O. endorses the Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin.

• "Donated human milk has helped decrease necrotizing enterocolitis, a gastrointestinal life-threatening condition in newborns."

Where else you'd donate