New abortion restrictions in Texas continue to reverberate nationally. President Biden weighs in and promises a response. Effects on Texas' high-tech labor force remain to be seen, and on the court system, which will likely see a wave of lawsuits from Texans informing on their neighbors and seeking the promised $10,000 bounty. Bumble creates a fund to support Texas women seeking reproductive care services. The term "heartbeat bill" is misleading and inaccurate. Governor Greg Abbott's poll numbers hit an all-time new low. The U.S. Supreme Court's "shadow docket" is brought into the spotlight by the Texas abortion law decision. The recent general decline of new local COVID hospitalizations continues, while the death count rolls steady. Texas hospitals are now caring for almost 300 pediatric COVID patients, drawing a plea from doctors for Governor Abbott to lift his ban on mask mandates, but Abbott's office is unmoved. Williamson County hits a new record for daily new COVID cases. The second special Legislative session ends with several more GOP agenda items passed, including a ban on political censorship of Texans on social media platforms - a third special session for redistricting is all but certain. Austin City Council voices opposition to IH-35 expansion plans from TXDOT, approves the biggest APD budget in Austin's history, and also grants a $2.25 million settlement to the family of a man killed during a mental health crisis by Austin police. Texas based Firefly Aerospace's maiden launch fails. Texas Longhorns football: a new Ricky Williams biopic is coming as Joe Jamail Field is renamed for Williams and fellow UT legend Earl Campbell, while media critiques of the Texas program come from both ESPN and CBS Sports, and former QB Sam Ehlinger makes the cut for the Indianapolis Colts. Tequila 512 takes over the former central Austin Run-Tex building off Mopac. HAAM Day will be virtual again this year on September 14. Austin City Limits announces its broadcasts for October and November. Austin band BLK Odyssey lose their van and gear to flooding in the Northeast. Beer and wine can be bought before 12 noon on Sunday for the first time this weekend - and have some water too, because Labor Day weekend is gonna be Hot.
