Monday

October 12, 2026

Vol. I · No. 48 · Weather · One Good Thing

Today at a glance

Weather 93° / 71°Muggy, with a heat index near 101 and a chance of afternoon storms.
Air quality 36 · GoodClear air. A great day to be outside.
Lake Travis 94.7% fullClose to full and holding steady from last week.
Allergies LowA little elm and grasses and ragweed around — most noses won't notice.
Power grid NormalA busy afternoon: demand near 76,500 megawatts, with 94,200 on hand.
Sunrise 7:31 a.m.The days keep getting shorter, so take the evening walk early.

Good morning, Austin. The festival is over, the wristbands are coming off, and roughly a whole small town of visitors is trying to fly home today, so give the airport extra time. It is sticky out there: a high near 93 that will feel like 101, and a few afternoon storms possible. Hang on until Friday. A strong cold front is due late Thursday, and KXAN says the first sub-60 night of the season usually arrives around October 21.

The Briefing · About our reporting

If the state steps in at Austin's schools, the district pays

Bar chart of superintendent base salaries, as reported by Austin Current: Austin Independent School District Superintendent Matias Segura earns $362,000; Houston ISD's state-appointed superintendent Mike Miles was hired in 2023 at $380,000; his base pay has since been raised to $462,000. — Chart: The Austin Bulletin · Austin Current

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) is waiting to learn what the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will do about Webb and Burnet middle schools, which each drew five straight failing ratings. Whatever the agency orders, Austin Current reports, the district will pay for it.

TEA gives districts no extra money for intervention. Agency spokesperson Jake Kobersky said the state "works with district leadership to identify additional revenue sources."

Other districts show the range. Fort Worth paid at least $412,000 to part ways with its superintendent after a March takeover, and now pays a state-appointed conservator by the hour. The Houston Independent School District drew nearly $450 million from reserves in the first two years of state control.

Austin starts from a hole. It ended last year $105 million short, closed 11 schools, and holds about half the reserves its board policy calls for. Trustee Candace Hunter said the district cannot absorb new costs and that the state should help pay for changes.

The district has appealed the ratings. If they stand, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath can order a full takeover or appoint a conservator and leave the current leaders in place.

Until property taxes arrive, AISD is borrowing $140 million to cover payroll through November.

What's next: AISD's appeal of the Webb and Burnet ratings is pending; TEA has not announced its plans for the district.

Sources: Austin Current, published with The Texas Tribune (intervention costs, district finances and comments from TEA and trustees)

City Desk

Money & bills

Austin ISD would cover the cost of any state intervention

Any changes the Texas Education Agency orders at AISD would be paid for by the district, Austin Current reports. Fort Worth's district paid at least $412,000 to its departing superintendent, and Houston's took nearly $450 million from reserves in two years. AISD Superintendent Matias Segura earns a base salary of $362,000, and his contract does not say what he would be paid if the state took over. Austin Current

Also

With its cash reserves low, AISD must borrow $140 million to make payroll through November while it waits for property tax payments to come in. Austin Current

Public safety & courts

Travis County's five constable offices will take unneeded prescription, over-the-counter and pet medications anonymously on National Drug Take Back Day, October 24; needles are not accepted. Travis County

Growth & infrastructure

Airport braces for 40,000-plus departures after ACL

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport expects more than 40,000 passengers to depart Monday as Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival visitors head home, CBS Austin reports. A typical day sees about 25,000 to 30,000 departing passengers. It is the airport's second day in a week at that level, after last Thursday. Officials recommend arriving at least 2.5 hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. CBS Austin

Image from the post — View on X ↗2 likes

Also

Residents of SkyHouse Austin on Rainey Street say two of its three elevators were out for months; a September 24 management email said replacement parts could take six to eight weeks. CBS Austin

Between ACL weekends, crews smoothed ruts and laid artificial turf on high-traffic parts of Zilker Park's Great Lawn; city leaders have said parts of the lawn will stay closed to recover. CBS Austin

KVUE reported that more than 1,000 people answered a community survey about Project Cosmos, a proposed northwest Austin data center, with many calling for changes, more protections or a halt. KVUE

Overheard on Reddit

r/Austinu/dogs-n-stuff · Oct. 11

“I remember when…” but seriously! Town lake is a mess.

I’m a native Austinite. Town lake (ladybird) used to be clear and easily paddled through… everyone says the weeds will clear with a big flood, but flood happened, and it’s worse than ever. I miss rowing! It’s literally not possible anymore. is anything going to happen to fix this?? Surely the boat rental places are losing their minds…

View on Reddit ↗

City Hall & county

Council to vote on $224 million more for airport utility work

The City Council's October 22 agenda includes item 27, which would add $224 million to the airport's utility infrastructure contract with Sundt/Archer Western, for a total of up to $344 million. Council approved the original contract, up to $120 million, in July 2024. The work covers storm drainage, water quality ponds and power distribution. Our October 22 Council preview has two more items. City of Austin

Also

In the five-candidate District 9 race, the Council's approval of Rowen Vale, 64 apartments with 36 affordable units at 206 E. Annie St., divides incumbent Zo Qadri from two challengers. Austin American-Statesman

Qadri said the vote helped make Austin "more affordable"; challenger Rich Heyman said Travis Heights residents feel unheard, and Katie Kam said the City should have brought neighbors and developers together. Austin American-Statesman

In the race for Texas Railroad Commission on Austin ballots, Democrat Jon Rosenthal said he and Republican Bo French agreed to debate October 22 in Dallas; French has not publicly confirmed it. KXAN

Schools

AISD has appealed the Webb and Burnet ratings; if they stand, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath can order a takeover with an appointed board or name a conservator instead. Austin Current

AISD trustee Candace Hunter said the district cannot absorb new costs and that the state should help fund the changes it requires. Austin Current

Business & street life

The Hideout Theatre, forced off Congress Avenue after 26 years, now performs in its North Lamar annex, a converted office with a 40-seat theater. KUT

Bar chart of Hideout Theatre seating, as reported by KUT: the former Congress Avenue home had an 89-seat theater downstairs and a 49-seat theater upstairs; the temporary annex on North Lamar has one 40-seat theater. — Chart: The Austin Bulletin · KUT

The Hideout is one of six Austin arts groups in Artspace's Immersion program, funded by the Moody Foundation, which helps them plan for space and real estate through December. KUT

ACL wrapped up Sunday; the festival's report for last year put its local economic impact at more than $557 million, including $118.8 million on food and drink. FOX 7

Overheard on Reddit

r/Austinu/BoomhauerTX · Oct. 11

Airport beer cheaper than ACL!

With A/C and seating too!

View on Reddit ↗

Ethereal Horror Fest returns to Violet Crown Cinema, 434 W. Second St., October 16–18, with day passes listed at $25 and weekend passes at $40. CBS Austin

The Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce scheduled a ribbon cutting at Out of the Closet Austin for National Coming Out Day on Sunday, with proceeds going to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. KXAN

Austin-based Goldenrod aims to help filmmakers navigate Texas's $1.5 billion film incentives fund, which offers rebates of up to 31% for qualifying projects. KXAN

Roberto Riggio, the Grammy-nominated violinist who led the world music group Atash and came to Austin to study at UT in 1989, died September 28 at 55. Austin Chronicle

Weather

The National Weather Service forecasts a partly sunny Monday with a high near 93, a heat index as high as 101 and a 30% chance of afternoon showers and storms. Tuesday is hotter, near 95, with a heat index up to 105. National Weather Service forecast

No watches, warnings or advisories were active for Travis County this morning. National Weather Service alerts

KXAN's forecasters expect heat and humidity through Thursday, then a strong cold front late Thursday into Friday with much cooler air, gusty wind and little rain. KXAN

Camp Mabry's average first fall low below 60 degrees comes October 21; last year's was the latest on record, KXAN says. KXAN

Sources: National Weather Service forecast, Travis County active-alert snapshot, KXAN

The Back Page

Early voting begins October 19; Election Day is November 3. Check official registration and election links.

One Good Thing: When the Hideout Theatre packed up its Congress Avenue home, it took the lounge mural Kaci Beeler painted in 2009 and hung it in the new annex on North Lamar. "That same mural that everyone walked past for, you know, 16 years, is here to provide some continuity," co-owner Roy Janik told KUT. KUT