ATX PULSE 9/16/25 (free) (sponsored by 1440 Media): Travis County Raises Property Tax Rate 9% for Flood Recovery // CoA Ends Urban Alchemy Contract for Alleged Record Tampering // Lake Austin Battle Hydrilla Invasion // CoA Launches Free Graffiti Removal

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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WEATHER

Today: H: 94° / L: 70°: Highs in mid to low 90s, per Fox 7 Austin.

Spotty PM showers to finish the work week, per KXAN.

Tomorrow: H: 95° / L: 71°

TOP NEWS

“Travis County to increase tax rate for flood recovery“ KVUE

“City of Austin ends nonprofit contract over alleged record tampering at homeless shelters“ CBS Austin

“Austin assisted living facility executives indicted in 2021 winter storm hypothermia death“ CBS Austin

“Lake Austin battles hydrilla invasion“ Fox 7 Austin

THE BLOTTER

“Man killed in East Austin shooting identified; suspect at large“ Fox 7 Austin

“3 killed, including child, in Georgetown; victims' family speak out“ Fox 7 Austin

“Georgetown teen arrested on drug and illegal firearm charges in Round Rock“ CBS Austin

“Austin police arrest four in West Campus burglary, victim taken to hospital“ CBS Austin

“Firefighter injured after fire reported at Domain, AFD says“ KXAN

“Round Rock massage parlor shut down amid human trafficking investigation“ CBS Austin

“Suspect uses hammer to break into Hong Kong dessert shop in N Austin“ CBS Austin

“Car crashing into Cedar Park home causes gas leak, fire“ Fox 7 Austin

“Rabid bat found in Cedar Park“ CBS Austin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

“Austin launches free graffiti removal for private properties funded by utility fees“ CBS Austin

“Kyle ETJ neighbors push back against proposed 77% water rate hike“ KXAN

TEXAS SPORTS

CENTRAL TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: “Texas high school football 2025: Central Texas week 3 scores, highlights,“ via Fox 7 Austin — “High school football is back in Central Texas!

Below you will find a complete rundown of Central Texas high school football scores and highlights from Week 3 of the 2025-26 season.

Friday, September 12

College Station                14
Anderson                         37

Harker Heights                26                                          
Dripping Springs             31

LBJ                          34
Wimberley         33

Midland Legacy       13
Lake Travis              59          

Weiss                                40
CS A&M Consolidated     48 

Westlake                       35 
Humble Atascocita       28

Bowie   38
Glenn   14          

Round Rock       29          
Vista Ridge        30

Cedar Park         36
Huntsville          29 F/OT 

Connally             35
Bryan Rudder      24

Dallas Pinkston               28
McCallum                       34

Hutto                  63
Cedar Ridge      49

Stony Point        0
Vandegrift          24

Prestonwood      55
Bastrop               70

Westwood         45
McNeil                70

Belton                  10
East View             24

Leander                              43          
Del Valle                             14

Montgomery     48
Elgin                    0

SA Wagner         13
San Marcos       52          

Lago Vista          48
Taylor                   7

Eastside Memorial        36
Thrall                              43

Georgetown                      35
Copperas Cove                 32

Liberty Hill         33
EP Eastlake         20          

Llano                    50
Marble Falls      18

Lockhart             12
Lehman              32

Manor New Tech             0           
Akins                                20

Blanco                 35
SA Lanier            0

LR-Academy     28
Burnet                  31               

Fredericksburg 10
Kerrville Tivy     48          

Giddings     14
Salado         42

Smithville          7                            
La Grange          41

Killeen Chaparral           12
Lampasas                          13

Rockdale                            7           
Lexington                           33

Bartlett                6                           
Thorndale           54

Rio Vista             44
Florence             7

Flatonia              17
Nixon Smiley      47

Granger               42
Holland               0           

Caldwell             35
Jarrell                 64          

Miles                        6
Johnson City           49

Mason      50
Coleman     9

Keene       69
McDade   0

Hyde Park                      44
St. Dominic Savio            7

Regents               63
SA Antonian        41

Hou. Episcopal     44
St. Michael's         42

St. Andrew's        35
TMI                     42

Aus. Hill Country     17
St. Stephen's           20

RR Christian       0
Cherokee           52

Heritage                   54
Marble Falls Faith     46

Calvert               88
SM Academy     80

SM Hill Country       47                                         
Prairie Lea                 0           

Saturday, September 13

LASA             28
Northeast     14” Fox 7 Austin

QUICK LINKS

Austin City Council approves new short-term rental rules after years of lawsuits - Austin American-Statesman

What's wrong with Arch Manning? Texas Longhorns QB says issues are primarily mental - Austin American-Statesman

CJ Baxter injury update: Will Texas Longhorns RB play this week? - Austin American-Statesman

Elon Musk buys millions of Tesla shares and the Austin company’s stock jumps - Austin American-Statesman

Texas football recruiting: QB Dia Bell suffers season-ending injury, eyes 2026 season - Austin American-Statesman

Cedar Park winner claims $1M Powerball prize from Sept. 6 - Austin American-Statesman

Austin falls into drought, fails to meet recycling goals - Austin Monitor

Austin Resource Recovery not meeting Zero Waste goals, audit says - Austin Monitor

Georgetown Samsung supplier expanding HQ - ABJ

H-E-B's current, future stores mapped out across Austin metro - ABJ

Applied Materials continues effort to mitigate tariff impact - ABJ

Austin credit card platform bought in $162M cash acquisition - ABJ

Elon Musk signals he's committed to Tesla with $1B stock purchase - ABJ

'It still doesn't feel real' | Woman shot near Zilker Park taken off life support, family confirms - KVUE

Abbott: Over 100 educators could be suspended for Charlie Kirk posts - MySA

New nonstop flights coming to Austin airport in the months ahead - KERA News

Texas Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit challenging Austin's tax rate election ballot language - KUT

Wicked Oaks Festival 2025: An Unmissable Halloween Celebration in Austin, Texas, All You Need to Know - Travel And Tour World

3 killed, including child, in Georgetown; victims' family speak out - FOX 7 Austin

CARTS launches all-in-one app for Central Texas riders - Community Impact

University of Texas Press to celebrate 75 years of publishing at Austin Central Library event - Community Impact

Leander and Liberty Hill show slight increases in home sale prices for August - Community Impact

Tony C’s Pizza & Beer Garden and The League Kitchen & Tavern coming to Georgetown - Community Impact

Hill Country Alliance celebrates 20 years with performance by Robert Earl Keen - Community Impact

Voter Registration begins Sept. 16: Hays County election guide - Community Impact

Mendocino Farms soon to offer seasonal eats in Sunset Valley - Community Impact

Mi Ranchito offers a "memory of Mexico" in South Austin - Community Impact

Austin dog handler detained by ICE during routine check-in - KXAN Austin

Google starts work on GFiber in Cedar Park - KXAN Austin

Austin ISD, Attorney General’s Office reach agreement in ‘critical race theory’ lawsuit - KXAN Austin

19-year-old arrested on drug, gun charges, police say - KXAN Austin

AUSTIN CULTURE

~ CHARITY EVENT: “Golden gala will celebrate Austin park's 150th birthday with flair” Culture Map Austin

~ DINING: “11 Fantastic Thai Restaurants in Austin” Eater Austin

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

~ LIVE MUSIC: Tate McRae. Moody Center. 7pm. Tix $57 and up here.

~ LIVE MUSIC: Lil Wayne. Germania Amphitheater. 8pm. Tix $35 and up here.

~ LIVE MUSIC: Toad the Wet Sprocket. Paramount Theater. 7pm. Tix $92 and up here.

~ LIVE MUSIC: Father John Misty. Waterloo Amphitheater. 8pm. Tix $41 and up here.

WHAT TO DO TOMORROW

~ LIVE MUSIC: Lorde. Moody Center. 7pm. Tix $100 and up here.

COOL JOB ALERT

~ Policy Analyst / Grants Manager. Texas Council on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Salary: $5,370 / month. Info / apply here.