ATX Pulse 8/3-7/26 (free): Tesla Makes $16.8B Initial Investment in Grimes County's Terafab // AISD Adding Transportation Hubs Less Than 2 Weeks Before School Begins // Austin Places $295m Bond for Parks, Libraries on Nov. Ballot // UT Football Signs Blue Chip RB for '27 Class

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MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026 - FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2026

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TOP NEWS

"Exclusive: Body cam video shows APD officer texting and driving before crash" via AAS – On a crisp afternoon in January 2025, Austin police officer Daniel Kessler was feverishly texting his girlfriend – often with no hand on the wheel – as he raced through the city with his emergency lights and siren activated.

Seconds before the crash, Kessler held the phone near his face and steered at times with his knees. His patrol car then slammed into two vehicles at U.S. 290 and Cameron Road, leaving one driver with a broken kneecap, glass embedded in his forehead and 27 stitches across his face and another passenger with a torn meniscus and lasting hip and back pain.

Kessler emerged largely uninjured. After getting out of his mangled patrol car, he slipped the phone into his pocket. The American-Statesman obtained Kessler’s body-camera video after the 15-year department veteran resigned 10 days ago before the conclusion of a disciplinary hearing.

“The first thing he told me is that ‘I am here for you,’” Tonie Reese, a daycare worker who is still recovering from her injuries, said of a meeting with Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “He was not there for me because there was no justice at all.” Garza’s office said Kessler’s case is the sixth instance in which a law enforcement officer “has taken responsibility for actions that caused physical harm or death” during Garza’s administration, which began in 2021. (AAS)

"'How will my child get to school?' | Parents question Austin ISD's new transportation hub system ahead of school" via KVUE – With less than two weeks until students return to class, some Austin ISD parents say they are concerned about the district's new transportation model, arguing the changes could make it more difficult and, in some cases, less safe for their children to get to school.

This school year, Austin ISD is replacing many neighborhood bus stops for middle and high school students with centralized transportation hubs. Students will either walk, bike, ride CapMetro or be dropped off at the hubs before boarding a school bus to campus.

According to Austin ISD , the district is facing significant financial challenges, including rising transportation costs. District leaders say consolidating bus stops into centralized hubs will create a more efficient transportation system while helping reduce costs.

For Amy Whiteaker, the changes mean her family's assigned transportation hub is much farther from home than their previous neighborhood bus stop. Christi Payne said the transportation changes could create significant challenges for families whose work schedules don't allow them to transport students to centralized hubs. (KVUE)

"Austin airport expansion: What's new at Austin-Bergstrom?" via AAS – Travelers pass by a new area created by the West Infill project at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin on June 12.

If it’s been a while since you’ve flown through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport , you might notice some big changes when you arrive at the Barbara Jordan Terminal.

Airport officials are in the midst of a massive improvement and expansion program, called Journey With AUS. The $5 billion program consists of more than a dozen short- and long-term projects intended to accommodate a rapid and unexpected surge in passenger traffic at the airport by the 2030s.

Among the most visible projects currently underway is the West Gate Expansion, which is nearing completion. The project added three gates to the west end of the terminal to replace capacity lost to construction. Those gates are already operating. (AAS)

"Check out several upcoming I-35 northbound, southbound closures" via CIN – Multiple lane closures are planned nightly on I-35 through Aug. 10 for roadway maintenance as part of the Lady Bird Lake segment of the I-35 Capital Express Central Project.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the northbound I-35 mainlanes between Woodland Avenue and Holly Street will be closed nightly from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Aug. 2-Aug. 6 and again Aug. 9. Drivers can use the Woodland Avenue exit 232B to access the frontage road, and use the Riverside Drive bypass lane to reenter the mainlanes.

Northbound detour traffic between Riverside Drive and Holly Street will be reduced to one lane on the bypass. TxDOT officials said the bypass lane will be closed from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. each night to prepare for the detour. During this hour, frontage road traffic can take the Oltorf Street entrance ramp to continue north.

The southbound I-35 mainlanes between Riverside Drive and Oltorf Street will also be reduced to one lane nightly from Aug. 4 at 9 p.m. to Aug. 6 at 5 a.m., then again from Aug. 9 at 9 p.m. to Aug. 10 at 5 a.m. Multiple entrance and exit ramps will also be closed, per the agency. (CIN)

"Austin ISD is still adding transportation hubs with less than 2 weeks till school starts" via KUT – With less than two weeks till the start of school, the Austin Independent School District is still adjusting how transportation will work for middle and high school students. District officials said they eliminated 27 bus routes that will help them save $5.2 million.

The district said it would scale back transportation services as part of the $205 million in cuts made to adopt a balanced budget for the 2026-27 school year. School buses will no longer go into neighborhoods to pick up middle school and high school students. Instead, those students will be picked up and dropped off at a community hub stop, including nearby elementary schools, Austin Community College campuses and CapMetro stops. District officials have said this hub model will increase route efficiency and shorten ride times for students.

Kris Hafezizadeh, AISD’s executive director of transportation and vehicle services, said Thursday the district hopes to add hubs as families give input. He said district officials know the plan will be disruptive for some families, but they are hoping the community will come together to make sure students are getting to the hubs safely. (KUT)

"Austin ordered a homeowner to replace trees or pay $8,800. Now he's suing." via AAS – An Austin homeowner is suing the city over its tree-protection ordinance after officials ordered him to plant replacement trees or pay nearly $9,000 for what he describes as routine trimming intended to protect his Northwest Hills home and family.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin-based conservative think tank with a history of suing Austin, filed the federal lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michael Petrick, arguing that the city’s requirements violate constitutional protections for private property. The suit seeks to prevent Austin from enforcing the ordinance against Michael Petrick and asks a judge to declare all or part of it unconstitutional.

“The City cannot lawfully demand that Mr. Petrick pay thousands of dollars or plant a miniature forest in his yard simply because he engaged in ordinary, harmless, yard maintenance,” the foundation’s lawyers wrote in the complaint.

Michael Petrick bought his Northwest Hills home in August 2025 after he and his wife spent years searching for the right home in Austin. Petrick grew up a few streets away, and the couple was preparing for the birth of their first child. Three overgrown trees on the property quickly raised safety concerns, Petrick said. One was split and leaning toward the house while another was touching a power line and extended into the street where large trucks brushed against it. (AAS)

"Hemp groups sue to block Texas health agency’s delta-8 THC ban, citing harm" via KEYE – A new lawsuit is seeking to halt Texas’ newly implemented THC rules, as hemp industry groups warn the changes could force popular Delta-8 products off shelves and put some businesses at risk of closing.

The Department of State Health Services’ new THC rules went into effect Friday. Under the change, the agency is now classifying delta-8 products as controlled substances, making it illegal to sell those items as of Friday. The restrictions affect hemp-derived THC products including Delta-8 flower and prerolls.

Mark Bordas, executive director of the Texas Hemp Business Council, said the rules threaten a major sector of the state’s economy. “There’s going to be widespread, irreparable damage done to an $11 billion-a-year industry,” Bordas said. (KEYE)

"UT Launches New Materials Science Bachelor’s Program" via UT Austin News – From alternative fuels to the next quantum computer, it starts with materials science

The University of Texas at Austin is launching a new materials science and engineering undergraduate degree program, building on the University’s leadership in engineering by preparing students for one of today’s most critical fields. The Cockrell School of Engineering began accepting applications for the new Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering program on Aug. 1, 2026, for enrollment beginning in the Fall 2027 semester.

Students will be equipped to tackle the most pressing issues of modern technology: longer-lasting batteries for cars, phones and laptops; building blocks for microelectronic and quantum systems; materials that can withstand extreme environments in space and nuclear reactors; and new processes to synthesize materials with tailored properties. Advanced materials are the core of these innovations, driving advancements that will take people back to the moon (and beyond), enhance human health, power our society and push the limits of computing.

“I’m very excited to add this new degree program to expand our world-class engineering education offerings,” said Roger Bonnecaze, dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering. “These students are going to be the problem solvers sitting at the intersection of engineering, chemistry, physics and biology.” (UT Austin News)

"AI, STEM curriculum piloted in Bastrop ISD expands statewide" via CIN – Artificial intelligence literacy and STEM curriculum will be offered to more than 100,000 students in Texas by early 2027 through the EdgeConneX and Hello World partnership. A pilot program between the two companies began in four Bastrop County school districts: Bastrop ISD, Elgin ISD, McDade ISD and Smithville ISD, including 36 schools and 15,000 students. According to a press release , the partnership will now expand to school districts across the state.

EdgeConneX is a data center development company with three data center campuses in progress in Cedar Creek. Hello World is an Austin-based company that provides AI literacy and computer science curriculum to students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Hello World is currently partnered with 289 school districts across 42 states.

According to the website, the programming is tailored to integrate into the existing curriculum for each grade level. Students will study coding, website development and the ethics of artificial intelligence. Additionally, teachers will receive training to guide students throughout the learning process, regardless of whether they have a background in artificial intelligence or computer science. “Our mission as a school district is grounded in the motto, ‘Their Future is Our Focus’ because we are ALL IN for our students,” Kristi Lee said in a release. “Through this partnership with EdgeConneX and Hello World, Bastrop ISD students are being exposed to AI, STEM and digital infrastructure in ways that are engaging, relevant and connected to real-world opportunities.” (CIN)

"4 Austin hospitals named best in Texas by U.S. News & World Report" via CultureMap Austin – St. David's Medical Center is Austin's best hospital for 2026-2027. St. David's Medical Center and three more Austin hospitals have earned bragging rights in U.S. News & World Report's newly released rankings of the Best Hospitals for 2026-2027.

Every year, U.S. News evaluates nearly 4,500 U.S. hospitals to determine which meet the publication's rigorous standards and offer the best care for patients across 14 adult specialties and 23 procedures and conditions. New to this year's batch of rankings, U.S. News introduced regional rankings in cancer; cardiology; heart and vascular surgery; orthopedics; and rehabilitation.

St. David's Medical Center ranked as the No. 1 best hospital in Austin, and it ranked as the 10th best hospital in Texas in a tie with Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital in Houston. The cardiology, heart, and vascular surgery program at St. David's also ranked as the 43rd best in the U.S. (CultureMap Austin)

"Franklin Barbecue is temporarily closing. Here's why." via AAS – One of Austin’s most popular barbecue destinations is about to go quiet — at least for a little while.

Franklin Barbecue will temporarily close its East Austin restaurant from Aug. 10 through Aug. 20, with plans to reopen Aug. 21, the restaurant announced in a post on Instagram. That means barbecue fans have less than a week to make one last pilgrimage before the smokers go cold.

The annual shutdown isn’t because of renovations or a change in operations. Instead, it’s become something of a summer tradition for the acclaimed barbecue spot, giving its staff a chance to step away during one of Texas’ hottest stretches of the year.

“Austin summers are no joke, and neither is the work our crew puts in day in and day out,” the restaurant wrote in a post on Instagram. “So every year around this time, we do what we’ve always done. We close the doors for 10 days, put out the fires and give our team a real vacation.” (AAS)

THE BLOTTER

"4 detained by ICE outside Austin City Hall after DPS traffic stop" via KEYE — Four construction workers were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday morning following a traffic stop conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety outside Austin City Hall, prompting condemnation from Austin City Council members and immigrant-rights advocates.

The arrests happened outside City Hall while council members were inside discussing the city's budget. By Thursday evening, family members of the four people detained did not know where they had been taken, according to activists.

According to DPS, the incident occurred just before 9:30 a.m. when troopers assigned to the Capitol Region observed a vehicle driving the wrong way on a one-way street at Guadalupe Street and Cesar Chavez Street, near Austin City Hall. In a statement to CBS Austin, DPS said the driver did not have a valid driver's license. Troopers on scene, who are federally certified Designated Immigration Officers under the 287(g) program, determined that all four people in the vehicle were not lawfully present in the United States. (KEYE)

"Travis County shooting leaves 1 dead, 1 other injured" via FOX7 – One person is dead and another was injured in a Travis County shooting, officials said.

The Travis County Sheriff's Office said on August 5, around 7:21 p.m., deputies responded to a shooting in the 15900 block of Cameron Rd.

An investigation revealed that an altercation between people who knew each other took place inside the home. Shots were fired, and two people were injured.

One of the people involved took the injured victims to a local hospital. One of the victims died, and the other is in critical condition. (FOX7)

"Motorcyclist killed after being hit by 2 vehicles, including Tesla operating on autopilot" via FOX7 – A motorcyclist was killed after being hit by two different cars in Travis County.

According to Texas DPS, on Tuesday, July 28, around 5:10 a.m., troopers responded to a deadly crash on the northbound lanes of TX-130 Toll near Decker Lake Road in Travis County.

A preliminary investigation stated that a motorcycle was heading north when the rear tire had a blowout, causing the motorcyclist to lose control. The rider was ejected into the road, and the motorcycle came to a rest on the shoulder.

An SUV hit the rider and initially left the scene. DPS said the driver then returned and was charged with failure to stop and render aid. Also, it was determined the motorcyclist was hit by a second car, a Tesla which was operating in autopilot mode. The Tesla driver said the car didn't detect the rider on the road. (FOX7)

"Pedestrian killed in crash on I-35 in Austin, police say" via KXAN – A pedestrian was killed after being hit by a vehicle early Sunday on Interstate 35 in north Austin, according to the Austin Police Department.

Officers responded at approximately 12:31 a.m. Aug. 2 to the 8100 block of northbound Interstate 35 for a reported collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.

Police said the pedestrian, an unidentified man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. The crash is being investigated as Austin's 48th fatal crash of 2026, resulting in 48 traffic fatalities this year. (KXAN)

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