ATX PULSE 4/23/25 (free): Early Voting Begins for May 3 Municipal Election // Tesla Reports Rough Q1 // Ponzi Scheme Alleged // Travis County, DEA Team Up for Drug Take Back Event // Appellate Court Strikes Down Marijuana Ordinance in San Marcos // Leander ISD Consider Closing Campuses to Close $34M Deficit

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2025

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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TODAY’S WEATHER

H: 85° / L: 70°. Scattered showers today, per Fox 7 Austin. Strong storms possible across the Hill Country Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, per KVUE. A couple more rounds of storms this week, per KXAN.

Severe storms leave a blanket of hail across parts of Central Texas, per KVUE.

TOP NEWS

“Travis County early voting locations, hours” Fox 7 Austin

“Lawyer for the accused: 'We disagree with many of its conclusions'” ABJ ($)

THE BLOTTER

“APD searching for suspects connected with north Austin grocery store robbery” KXAN

“Caldwell County deputies find gunshot victim in overturned vehicle” CBS Austin

“New Braunfels man arrested after barricading himself in home: police” Fox 7 Austin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

“Travis County, DEA team up for drug take back event” KXAN

“Appellate court finds San Marcos voter-approved marijuana ordinance unlawful” KXAN

“Parents push back as Leander ISD considers closing campuses to ease $34 million budget deficit” KVUE

“Hays CISD cuts STEM programs at five schools due to budget issues, no layoffs planned” CBS Austin

“CAPCOG hosts 2nd annual wildfire summit; aims to perfect communication strategies” CBS Austin

BUSINESS NEWS

“Tesla reports disappointing Q1 results but still outlines big plans in Austin, elsewhere” ABJ ($)

“Waymo driverless cars in Austin slammed with complaints” Fox 7 Austin

“Icon to print homes in new luxury neighborhood west of Austin” ABJ ($)

“Teachers, district staff will get first dibs; 50% of units earmarked as income-restricted” ABJ ($)

TEXAS SPORTS

TEXAS BASEBALL: “Jalin Flores played hero for Texas vs Texas State. He went home with a souvenir, too” AAS ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: “Steve Sarkisian weighs in on former Longhorns expected be picked in 2025 NFL Draft” KXAN

QUICK LINKS

~ LBJ High School senior earns 22 college acceptances and over $1M in scholarships KVUE

~ School of Rock, McDonald's: 13 business updates to know in the Kyle, Buda area - Community Impact

~ Austin Paddleboard & Kayak offers unique water recreation on Lake Travis - Community Impact

~ Round Rock ISD selects architects for renovations at some campuses - Community Impact

~ Nectarine now serving acai bowls, baked goods in Dripping Springs - Community Impact

~ Waterloo Greenway aims to boost partnerships with landowners - ABJ

~ Early voting begins April 22 in Hays County - Community Impact

~ Active Austin-area developer tees up another project in Jarrell - ABJ

~ Copperas Cove needs help building class A office space - ABJ

~ Journal Profile: Nhat Ho shapes Austin's landscape - ABJ

~ Road closures begin April 24 for Red Poppy Festival in Georgetown - Community Impact

~ Pecan Street Festival, Mother's Day: 10 May events to attend in the Lake Travis area - Community Impact

~ Man drowns in Lake Austin near Emma Long Park on Sunday - Austin American-Statesman

~ Mountain lion spotted on San Marcos trail after several reports of dead deer - Austin American-Statesman

~ Austin Catholics mourn Pope Francis' death: 'I hope the next pope will be just as humble' - Austin American-Statesman

~ Texas scores a Top 10 city in the US for starting a business - MySA

~ City touts ongoing success in one-year update on micromobility program tweaks - Austin Monitor

~ Police identify body of man found shot to death near Mueller neighborhood - KVUE

~ Firefighters, city reach agreement on retirement fund - Austin Monitor

~ Austin City Council to vote on $26M office building purchase - KXAN Austin

~ Wood Partners JV Breaks Ground on Austin-Area Property - Multi-Housing News

~ Body recovered, identified after swimmer goes missing in Lake Austin - KVUE

~ East Austin double homicide linked to child custody dispute - KEYE

~ VIDEO: Man swings at edge of crane in downtown Austin - FOX 7 Austin

~ Catholics mourn Pope Francis' death during mass at St. Mary Cathedral in downtown Austin - Austin American-Statesman

~ Austin Recognizes Flood Safety Awareness Week - AustinTexas.gov

~ An Austin-area guide to the May 3 election - KUT

~ Possibly toxic algae discovered at Austin park along Lady Bird Lake - KVUE

AUSTIN CULTURE

~ WEEKEND PLANS: “7 festivals take over Austin this weekend with music, food, and more” Culture Map Austin

~ DINING: “The Best Mexican Restaurants in Austin” Eater Austin

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

~ LIVE MUSIC: Charli XCX (with Finn Keane). Moody Center. Doors 7pm. Show 7:30pm. Tix $99.50 and up here.

~ LIVE MUSIC: LCD Soundsystem. Emo’s. 7pm. Sold out. Re-sale tix $196 and up here.

~ TEXAS SOFTBALL: #4 Texas at #23 Oklahoma State (Stillwater, OK). 7pm. Airs on ESPNU.

COOL JOB ALERT

~ Events Associate. Texas Tribune. Salary: Based on experience; minimum annual salary is $65k. Info / apply here.