Thursday, August 06, 2026
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Tomorrow’s Forecast: Sunny ☀️ — High of 98° and Low of 77°
Hi y'all! The back-to-school season is upon us. Tomorrow kicks off the state's tax-free weekend that includes school supplies. You can check out the comptroller's website for a full list of eligible items.
Transportation is a big theme in today's issue with both Austin ISD and the University of Texas announcing changes for the upcoming school year.
And even if you're not returning to the classroom, remember that school speed zones will be back in effect. Safety first!
— 💖 Wynne
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Speedway, which runs through the University of Texas at Austin campus, is a popular route for cyclists who are going from North Austin to downtown. Patricia Lim/KUT News
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By Greta Díaz González Vázquez
After signs asking people to walk their bikes and scooters appeared on the University of Texas at Austin's campus, students and advocates worried the university was moving toward banning cycling. UT officials told KUT News that’s not the case, and they will soon announce the details of a new mobility plan.
Last week, UT student Eddy Diaz saw the university had published new regulations online, including a “dismount zone map.” Diaz and many other Austinites understood that people using bikes or scooters would have to get off and walk through sections of campus. The information has since been removed from UT’s website, but an archived version shows the map encompassed some of the busiest streets, including the Speedway Pedestrian Mall.
Diaz, who bikes to class and to work in East Austin, said he was disappointed that there was no further information or community engagement around the potential change.
“I was very surprised to see this basically popped up overnight,” Diaz said. “There was no official announcement. It just popped up on the website, and then the signs went up on Speedway.”
While the proposed changes and maps have been removed from UT’s website, the university put up signs that suggest people should walk their bikes and scooters on sections of Speedway. That raised bigger concerns among advocates on social media who asked the university for answers.
A UT Austin spokesperson told KUT News the university is working on a new plan that will be shared soon, and that changes will not impact manually operated bicycles.
“On Monday we will begin to make our campus aware of new mobility expectations that will build a shared culture of safety and encourage everyone to do their part to create a safe and welcoming campus experience,” the spokesperson said. “The University has been working throughout the past year on a series of mobility updates designed to enhance safety, accessibility, and the overall campus experience.”
UT's spokesperson said the signs that have been posted so far "do not constitute the complete picture," and that university officials are making sure they deliver a more detailed message to their community through "more signage, more language and through different channels."
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By Greta Díaz González Vázquez
With less than two weeks till the start of school, the Austin Independent School District is still adjusting how transportation will work for middle and high school students. District officials said they eliminated 27 bus routes that will help them save $5.2 million.
The district said it would scale back transportation services as part of the $205 million in cuts made to adopt a balanced budget for the 2026-27 school year. School buses will no longer go into neighborhoods to pick up middle school and high school students. Instead, those students will be picked up and dropped off at a community hub stop, including nearby elementary schools, Austin Community College campuses and CapMetro stops. District officials have said this hub model will increase route efficiency and shorten ride times for students.
Kris Hafezizadeh, AISD’s executive director of transportation and vehicle services, said Thursday the district hopes to add hubs as families give input. He said district officials know the plan will be disruptive for some families, but they are hoping the community will come together to make sure students are getting to the hubs safely.
"I cannot guarantee we will add hubs and stops everywhere, but we will consider the suggestions,” he said. "I do ask our families and our community members to help our students if there is a need to and from the hubs.”
On Monday, AISD shared a tool to find the closest hub stop. Hafezizadeh said the district has already added more than 50 hub stops based on community feedback, with a total of 254 hubs by Thursday afternoon.
The average distance to a hub from a student’s homes is 2 to 2.5 miles with the maximum distance being 3 miles. He said the district carried out a risk assessment, but there are still areas where students' paths may include areas "nobody wants to walk in.”
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This is The Texas Tribune Festival: bold ideas, real accountability, on the record, September 24-26 in downtown Austin.
TribFest brings together the state’s boldest leaders, thinkers and innovators for an up-close look at the issues affecting your life. From education and the economy to energy, healthcare, technology, public safety, culture and the arts, discover conversations you won’t find anywhere else.
Explore the ideas and actions transforming our state and join in candid, on-the-record conversations with real accountability.
Ask questions. Challenge ideas. Make your voice heard — and leave informed, inspired and ready for what’s next.
Be part of the record. Get tickets now and join us this September. Discounted tickets are available to Texas Tribune members, students and educators.
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🌱 An invasive aquatic plant in some local waterways
🎞️ Sound Unseen's first festival run by locals only
🍹 Frozen drink recommendations
Listen to Austin Signal every weekday live at 1 p.m. on KUT 90.5 or wherever you get your podcasts.
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I promise I'm not trying to wish summer away, but every day I seem to come across another reminder of the fun that fall brings. Today's comes in the form of the State Fair of Texas and the absurd concoctions people come up with for fair food.
The fair released its list of finalists for this year's Big Tex Choice Awards. KXAN rounded up the list of 15 that ranges from burger chop tater tacos to a chocolate corny dog from fan favorite Fletcher's.
Personally, I'm interested in the espresso martini popsicle or just a standard funnel cake! What would you try?
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