ATX Pulse 9/14-18/26 (free): Austin 911 Consultant Recommended Against Standalone Department to City Hall // 3M Campus to Become Data Center // Travis County Commissioners Approve 12% Property Tax Increase for Central Health // Austin Water Reports 100,000 Gallon Sewage Spill // Oracle Begins Another Round of Layoffs

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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WEATHER

Wed 9/23: H: 97° / L: 77°. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of afternoon showers/storms (~20%). Heat index up to 106°.

Thu 9/24: H: 96° / L: 77°. Partly cloudy. Mostly dry. Heat index up to 105°.

Fri 9/25: H: 97° / L: 75°. Partly cloudy. Still hot; overnight lows easing a couple of degrees.

Triple digits have broken, but this is not fall. Upper 90s and heat-index readings over 100° hold through the week. Isolated shower chance highest Wednesday afternoon.

TOP NEWS

"Austin 911 consultant recommends against standalone department" via AAS – Austin City Council voted to create an office that could eventually lead to an independent 911 call center, but a city-hired consultant is recommending that civilian call-takers remain within the Austin Police Department under new civilian leadership. Mission Critical Partners’ report says that approach would preserve recent improvements to Austin’s 911 call center, which struggled with staffing vacancies and poor performance four years ago, while addressing weaknesses in technology, quality assurance and coordination with the 311 call center.

The report comes after the council’s Aug. 12 vote to create an Office of Joint Emergency Communications, which supporters described as the first step toward an emergency communications department independent of the Police Department. The council approved $1.4 million for the office and nine employees during this year’s budget process. The proposal grew from concerns about police oversight of call triage, mental health emergencies and the division of dispatch operations among police, fire and EMS.

A 2020 study found that only about one-fifth of 911 calls involved crimes, and the city’s 2021 Reimagining Public Safety Task Force recommended separating emergency communications from the Police Department. Under the current system, civilian Police Department call takers answer 911 calls and route them to police, fire, EMS or other services. Austin has taken steps to address some of the problems identified in those studies, including investments in call-taker recruitment, retention, compensation and training. (AAS)

"Austin’s former 3M campus set for data center following $1B transformation" via KXAN — Dust skirts through the air from the construction site at the former 3M campus in Austin’s Four Points. Crews in yellow vests poke through the brown clouds as a transformation takes shape.

But for some neighbors like Linda Bailey, a development mystery hides in the rising dirt. “We’re just trying to figure out what’s there,” she said. But a fact sheet shared with KXAN looks to clear the dust surrounding the endeavor.

SB Energy, a subsidiary of SoftBank — a Japanese investment company — plans to turn 3M’s old home into “HighPoint 2222 Campus,” also referred to as “Project Cosmos.” Located at 6801 River Place Blvd, Austin, the 1.1 million sq. ft. of office and lab space sprawling 156 acres is intended to “support our tenants’ current needs.” SB Energy said those include “research, development and engineering related to advanced AI [artificial intelligence] compute.” (KXAN)

"Central Health approves $54M for mental healthcare | Central Austin" via CIN – Travis County Commissioners Court approved Central Health's fiscal year 2026-27 budget Sept. 15, committing a historic $54 million in new mental health investments.

The $1.015 billion budget directs $127.5 million total toward crisis and recovery care services, funding new psychiatric beds, a mental health crisis center and expanded treatment access across the county. Central Health is Travis County's hospital district, funding and coordinating care for low-income residents through partners such as CommUnityCare Health Centers, Sendero Health Plans and local mental health authority Integral Care.

Untreated mental health needs among the workforce cost Travis County between $1.1 billion and $1.8 billion annually, Central Health CEO Dr. Pat Lee said at a Sept. 15 news conference. "For too many people in Travis County, getting mental healthcare means moving from one disconnected system to another, often only during a crisis," he said. "These investments will help connect people to care sooner so fewer are left cycling among emergency rooms, jails and the street."

Much of the budget builds on No Wrong Door, a partnership between Central Health, Travis County, the city of Austin, Integral Care and local organizations to give individuals a single, coordinated path into care, County Judge Andy Brown said at the news conference. Mike McIntyre, a peer support specialist with Integral Care, shared his experience navigating local services in recovery. He highlighted sustained peer and social support as critical to his sobriety and praised No Wrong Door as the coordinated access model he needed. Kirk Watson's office said in a Sept. 9 statement, "This is an excellent commitment from our healthcare district to serve some of the most vulnerable healthcare needs of our residents," (CIN)

** PLEASE NOTE: This is a 12% property tax increase for EVERY Travis County resident, largely for homeless response for the City of Austin. Voter approval is not required.

"Austin passes policy to spur affordable housing units near light rail" via ABJ – The Austin City Council passed a policy designed to spur the inclusion of more affordable housing units near transit corridors and the planned Austin light rail route.

But there are concerns this policy could make it more difficult to make projects near transit corridors to make financial sense. (ABJ)

"Austin-based Oracle begins another round of layoffs" via KVUE – Austin-based Oracle is cutting more jobs as the company spends billions to expand the data centers powering its AI business.

According to KVUE’s media partners at the Austin American-Statesman , affected employees were notified on Monday by email or in personal meetings. It’s not yet clear how many jobs were cut or how many are based in Austin.

The company, which deals with database software and cloud computing, already cut thousands of jobs earlier this year.

“After careful consideration of Oracle’s current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change,” the email to affected employees said, according to The Statesman. “As a result, today is your last working day.” (KVUE)

"Airbnb announces first housing accelerator investment in Austin, TX" via Airbnb Newsroom – Airbnb was born when two hosts inflated three airbeds and launched a website to help pay their rent. Nearly 20 years later, millions of hosts rely on Airbnb income to stay in their homes—but too many of their neighbors still struggle to find a home they can afford.

Today, Airbnb is taking its most significant step yet to be part of the solution: the launch of the Airbnb Housing Accelerator, a multi-pillar commitment to help build more housing across the country and around the world.

The Housing Accelerator combines capital deployment, policy advocacy, and innovation into a coordinated system designed to help remove the barriers that prevent homes from being built and unlock housing supply, and inspire the next generation of breakthroughs in construction technology. (Airbnb Newsroom)

"U.S. 290 Extension Project reaches 60% proposed design as Austin-area residents are invited to weigh in" via ABJ – Austin-area residents will soon get their first look at proposed improvements along U.S. 290 east of the city and will have a chance to influence what comes next.

Virtual and in-person open houses planned for this fall are the latest step in a process that has already generated more than 1,200 public comments that are helping shape improvements designed to address increased congestion.

The continued growth of Manor, Elgin and surrounding communities are adding more regional traffic traveling on U.S. 290 between Austin and destinations farther east, putting pressure on an already busy corridor. According to 2024 traffic data, bottlenecks in this area can add as much as 17 minutes to an average trip. (ABJ)

"Legal issues, unpaid bills: Allegations stacking up for Austin developer Ari Rastegar" via The Real Deal – Ari Rastegar’s Austin-based real estate investment and development firm Rastegar Capital is now juggling a number of legal issues, including a foreclosure on its headquarters, alleged fraud and millions in purported unpaid loans and legal teams,

Ari Rastegar, who used to work for embattled developer Nate Paul, boasts a 3.5 million-square-foot portfolio of buildings across 13 states, according to the Austin Business Journal.

In 2025, Ari Rastegar told the audience at The Real Deal’s downtown Austin event “If you can’t sell them, fucking kick the keys back,” stating that foreclosure is just another way to exit a deal. And exit deals Ari Rastegar has, as he’s had six properties totaling 167,000 square feet foreclosed on over the past year, according to the outlet.

Four of the six properties, 1211 West Eighth Street, 206 West 38th Street, 902 Romeria Drive and 803-809 Tirado Street were foreclosed on amidst legal dispute in which Ari Rastegar is accused of owing millions to lenders. (The Real Deal)

"Behind Austin ISD's Paredes Middle closure: Emails show rushed ..." via AAS – When Austin Independent School District trustees decided July 30 to close Paredes Middle School, the abrupt move shocked many of the school’s staff and families. Behind the scenes, Austin ISD administrators spent the final weeks of summer moving at a breakneck pace to execute the last-minute decision to shutter the South Austin campus, according to emails obtained by the American-Statesman.

The emails show that in the week between when trustees discussed the closure behind closed doors on July 20 and their public vote over a week later, school board members questioned Austin ISD officials on how the proposal would affect educators and families. Superintendent Matias Segura said the decision to close Paredes was because of unexpected declining academic performance and staff vacancies.

Austin ISD wasn’t “in a position to ensure that our students at Paredes Middle School grow academically in 2026-2027 school year,” Matias Segura said during a July 28 meeting. District officials first publicly proposed closing the campus on July 22 — less than three weeks before classes began. Trustees first met publicly to discuss the closure July 28 and took an official vote on July 30, with seven of nine trustees approving the measure.

Most of the 848 students at Paredes moved to Bailey Middle School in South Austin, which also inherited a state-mandated academic turnaround plan in place at Paredes. The remaining 45% of Paredes students moved to Mendez Middle in Dove Springs. Arati Singh, who holds one of two at-large seats on the nine-member board of trustees, replied to Segura, asking basic questions such as “why are we modifying the (turnaround plan)” and “which campuses are impacted.”

Joshua Jeon, AISD executive director of governance, accountability and board services, responded that the decision came about because of academic reasons, not budgetary concerns. Ryan Alter had reached out directly on July 22, and learned about the proposal when it became public, he told the Statesman last week. Lynn Boswell wrote on July 22 to administrators, asking that the district include Austin elected officials in upcoming discussions about Paredes. Edna Butts, director of intergovernmental relations and policy oversight, assured Lynn Boswell that she had contacted city council members, Travis County commissioners, Texas state lawmakers and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, about the matter. (AAS)

"Austin ISD won't help families gather signatures to avoid state takeover" via KUT – Austin Independent School District officials will not be involved in helping parents petition to close two schools in an effort to avoid a state takeover of the entire district. Parents from the impacted schools met on Monday night to learn more about options for their campuses and how that can have an impact on the whole district.

After Burnet and Webb Middle Schools received five consecutive F ratings from the Texas Education Agency, the state is required to intervene. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath could decide to appoint a new superintendent and board of managers or close both failing schools if a majority of parents petition to do so.

Last week, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson suggested parents ask the state to close the campuses instead of waiting for them to shutter during a total takeover of the district. Superintendent Matias Segura said Monday that the law allows families to call for the closures in an effort to ensure their voices are heard. (KUT)

"Cary Granat to take over UT's Moody College of Communication" via KUT – Cary Granat has been appointed new dean of UT’s Moody College of Communication.

Granat previously served as co-founder and CEO of Walden Media, a production and publishing company known for films like the "Chronicles of Narnia" series. He will take over as dean of the college from interim Dean Anita Vangelisti, who’s been in that role since August 2024.

In a statement, Granat said he was "optimistic about what lies ahead" in his new role. "I arrive with open hands, a listening ear, and a simple conviction that leadership worthy of this College must be humble in posture and transparent in practice," Granat said.

UT Executive Vice President and Provost William Inboden said in an announcement that Granat will start on Sept. 28. Granat will oversee the hiring of KUT and KUTX’s next general manager after Debbie Hiott’s firing earlier this summer. Vangelisti fired Hiott after a public spat over the university’s decision to cancel on-campus programming at the inaugural KUT Festival in May. Hiott maintained the station did everything it could to plan the festival, pushing back on the university’s insistence there were safety issues. (KUT)

"UT Austin plans to cut ethnic studies majors - KUT 90.5" via KUT – The University of Texas at Austin is planning to eliminate four majors: African and African diaspora studies, Mexican American and Latina/o studies, women's and gender studies, and the race, indigeneity and migration major.

Danielle Pilar Clealand, the interim chair of the Social and Cultural Analysis Department, told faculty Tuesday that "the Provost's office rejected our proposal to keep our majors," in an email obtained by KUT News.

University officials announced plans to consolidate seven ethnic and gender studies departments at the College of Liberal Arts into two new departments in February. David Sosa, then the interim dean of the college, said the university would continue to look at changes to majors, minors and course offerings within the college. The university also said students would be able to finish their current majors, but these new changes have faculty questioning if that will be the case.

Mike Rosen, a university spokesperson, confirmed UT is no longer enrolling new students into the Mexican American and Latina/o studies, African and African Diaspora studies, and women's and gender studies programs. "Students currently enrolled in those majors will be able to complete their degree," Rosen said. (KUT)

"UT students accuse school of 'soft canceling' Hasan Piker event" via KVUE – Student organizers with University Democrats at the University of Texas at Austin are accusing university leadership of trying to sabotage a highly anticipated speaking event they have scheduled for later this month. They say the school has denied their requests for a venue large enough to accommodate the crowd they're expecting.

Political commentator and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker is scheduled to speak on campus Sept. 30. University Democrats President Adit Raha said the group applied for guest speaker approval in early August and was approved to host the event in a 466-seat auditorium. Instead, 2,500 people signed up.

"I got a phone call from UTPD saying that the current, the original venue we were going to host it in was no longer recommended, that there's a chance it wasn't going to be safe and to start looking for other venues," Adit Raha said. "This has the potential to be the largest political event in Austin since like 2018, and so we're ready to do whatever it takes to host it on campus.” (KVUE)

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