Wildfires near Austin continue burning: the Big Sky fire near Fredericksburg has burned nearly 1,500 acres and is 60% contained, the Smoke Rider fire near Dripping Springs burns on as well, now having consumed 1,200 acres and several homes with 70% containment, and a third wildfire has forced evacuations near Wimberley. Austin Fire is pleading with local smokers to keep their lit butts inside their cars.
Following the lead of several other Texas cities including Austin, San Marcos city officials announce that their police department will not investigate violations of new abortion bans in Texas.
The Alex Jones jury has delivered a verdict, awarding the parents of Sandy Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis's parents $4.1 million - they had sought $150 million. Two more trials to go for Jones.
As of Thursday, Austin has set its third-longest streak for consecutive triple-digit days at 20. Forecast models are predicting a chance of rain this weekend, and Colorado State is predicting potential hurricane relief for Central Texas. We'll believe it when we see it.
City officials are considering September as a good starting point for the first pilot run of Austin's guaranteed income program, the first to be tried in Texas. The city is also calling for input on how it should manage Austin's homelessness situation.
Local animal shelters, facing overcrowding, are struggling to adhere to Austin's standards as a no-kill city.
Austin has been ranked #1 on a new list of cities measured by lowest carbon footprint.
Meanwhile Brewing will host a book fair titled "Lagers and Literature" on August 28 to benefit the Inside Books Project, featuring pop-ups by the Austin Public Library, the Harry Ransom Center, Typewriter Rodeo and more.
Cameron "Dicker The Kicker" has left the building - leaving a gaping hole in Texas Football's special teams plans.
Live music for the weekend: the Hot Summer Nights free local music series continues through Saturday at venues all over the Red River Cultural District and beyond. Friday catch a long-awaited rescheduled show with David Gray at ACL Live, COIN at Stubb's, and Black Pistol Fire at Emo's. Saturday sees Leon Bridges at the Moody Center and Franz Ferdinand at Stubb's. Sunday, Christian Lee Hutson plays the Parish.
