- Austin Pulse
- Posts
- ATX PULSE 8/15/25 (free) (sponsored by 1440 Media): ATX Council Passes $6.3B Budget // New TEA Ratings: 3 AISD School Get 4th ‘F’ Rating // Higher Pending Home Sales Forecast Price Increases? // LISD Bus Crash Victims Released
ATX PULSE 8/15/25 (free) (sponsored by 1440 Media): ATX Council Passes $6.3B Budget // New TEA Ratings: 3 AISD School Get 4th ‘F’ Rating // Higher Pending Home Sales Forecast Price Increases? // LISD Bus Crash Victims Released
Everything you NEED TO KNOW about Austin.
PRESENTING SPONSOR: 1440 Media
Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025
Compiled by Matt Mackowiak
Thank YOU for reading as a FREE subscriber.
» Become a PAID SUBSCRIBER here for $5/mo. or #$50/yr. and SAVE TIME and be BETTER INFORMED.
P.S. Some personal news: Amy and I are expecting our first child!
STATEWIDE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE

Are you one of the 220,000+ subscribers to Must Read Texas, a newsletter that delivers everything you need to know ifrom across Texas each weekday.
Subscriptions are $7/mo or $70/yr here: http://mustreadtx.substack.com.
> Read the most recent FREE subscriber email here. (paid subscribers receive story summaries to save time)
> Become a PAID subscriber for $7/mo or $70/yr here.
TODAY’S WEATHER
H: 98° / L: 76°: Rain possible this weekend, per Fox 7 Austin.
Rain chances increase locally with tropical system in Gulf, per KXAN.
Tropical system poses rain threat to Central Texas this weekend, per CBS Austin.
TOP NEWS
“Home sales in the Austin metro could heat up this fall“ ABJ ($)
“Leander ISD bus crash: Everyone released from hospital“ Fox 7 Austin
“Abbott announces semiconductor grant for Austin Community College“ KXAN
THE BLOTTER
“Victim allegedly got threats prior to Rosewood Ave. homicide, court records say“ KXAN
“Georgetown police officer charged after allegedly engaging in sexual activity with victim while on-duty“ KVUE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Austin City Council approves $6.3B budget” CBS Austin
“TEA releases 2025 A-F ratings, 3 Austin ISD schools get fourth ‘F’ score” KXAN
BUSINESS NEWS
“Austin bars, restaurants face headwinds” ABJ ($)
“Long-planned baseball and softball entertainment complex in Cedar Park eyes new timeline” ABJ ($)
LOCAL SPORTS
TEXAS FOOTBALL: “Even though an injury kept him off the field, CJ Baxter still improved in 2024” KXAN
TEXAS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: “Texas wins again in Canada, beating the hosts 70-61 at GLOBL Jam’” KXAN
QUICK LINKS
Break-in at Town Lake Animal Center leads to multiple dog Injuries, death - Austin American-Statesman
Streamer arrested in Austin paintball attack on Lady Bird Lake trail - Austin American-Statesman
Austin Butler seen bartending at Dirty Bill's after movie screening - Austin American-Statesman
Fantastic Fest 2025: These must-see movies are premiering in Austin - Austin American-Statesman
Austin bucks regional trend with slight price increase in July - Austin American-Statesman
All eyes on the Austin city budget - Austin Monitor
Austin leaders call election for 20% tax rate increase, approve $6.3B budget - Community Impact
Duchen tries (but fails) to raise Austin Energy bills - Austin Monitor
The Cowboy Poolside Boutique now selling swimsuits, accessories at Cowboy Pools - Community Impact
After building Georgetown's fiber community, The Knitting Cup to close Sept. 30 - Community Impact
Texas Well Owner Network offers free well water testing for those impacted by floods Aug. 21-22 - Community Impact
Highway 71 Brewing Co. coming soon to Spicewood - Community Impact
Georgetown City Council adopts maximum tax rate for FY 2025-26 - Community Impact
Bee Cave calls election for new $19.98M library building - Community Impact
West Lake Hills to put road tax before voters in special election - Community Impact
Emma Stone finds a buyer for $23.5 million Austin, Texas, estate that she just renovated - MarketWatch
'The Nightmare Before Christmas' light trail in Austin starts next month - Austin American-Statesman
Advocates urge against Austin's proposed spay, neuter rules for vets - KVUE
Governor Abbott Signs Laws To Remove Squatters From Private Property In Austin - Office of the Texas Governor (.gov)
Retail construction activity in Austin, Texas, climbs to multi-year high - CoStar
Austin City Council approves $6.3 billion budget and calls for tax rate election - KUT
Fiancée of murdered transgender woman speaks about her loved one’s life - KXAN Austin
APD: Livestreamer arrested, charged after Hike and Bike Trail paintball shooting - KXAN Austin
‘I was in control’: Police documents reveal details on triple homicide outside Austin shopping center - KXAN Austin
Former Austin sergeant's tactics questioned in Yogurt Shop Murders docuseries - KVUE
620-acre 'Main Street' project advances in Georgetown - ABJ
New Texas cyber law shields Austin’s small businesses, yet employee benefit plan risks persist - ABJ
Spurs head back to Moody Center next year - ABJ
Nearly 1K housing units proposed in East Austin - ABJ
AUSTIN CULTURE
~ DINING: “Austin chef duo behind Bill's Oyster sears up new casual steakhouse” Culture Map Austin
~ AUSTIN FOOD NEWS: “A BBQ feast and Southern ice creams bring charm to Austin food news” Culture Map Austin
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
Fri
~ LIVE MUSIC: North Mississippi All-Stars. Antone’s. 8pm. Tix $21 and up here.
~ LIVE MUSIC: Josh Abbott Band. Buck’s Backyard (Buda, TX).. 8pm. Sold out. Limited re-sale tix $26 here.
Sat
~ AUSTIN FC: Dallas at Austin. Q2 Stadium. 7:30pm. Tix for re-sale here $37 and up. Airs on Apple TV.
~ LIVE MUSIC: Jason Aldean. Moody Center. 7:30pm. Tix $65 and up here.
~ LIVE MUSIC: Collective Soul w/ Our Lady Peace. Germania Insurance Amphitheater. Doors 6pm. Show 7pm. Tix $34 and up here.
~ LIVE MUSIC: Bob Schneider. The 04 Center. 8pm. Tix $39 and up here.
~ EDM: Sofi Tukker. Concourse Project. 9pm. Limited re-sale tix here.
Sun
None.
COOL JOB ALERT
~ Associate General Counsell Security Legal. Meta. Salary: $198,000 - $266,000 annually + bonus + equity + benefits. Info / apply here.