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Residents say self-driving car killed duck in Mueller

The company has temporarily paused testing on roads near the lake.

News

Autonomous vehicle company <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Avride" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/12/03/uber-autonomous-vehicles-dallas-avride" data-vars-content-id="49456d43-da7e-42ce-b5fb-37c95ce33b93" data-vars-headline="Residents say self-driving car killed duck in Mueller" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/12/03/uber-autonomous-vehicles-dallas-avride" target="_self">Avride</a> is facing backlash after a resident said one of its cars struck and killed a duck near Mueller Lake Park on Tuesday.Why it matters: The incident <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reinforces concerns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/09/austin-shooting-puts-spotlight-on-waymo" data-vars-content-id="49456d43-da7e-42ce-b5fb-37c95ce33b93" data-vars-headline="Residents say self-driving car killed duck in Mueller" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/09/austin-shooting-puts-spotlight-on-waymo" target="_self">reinforces concerns</a> about whether autonomous vehicles can safely navigate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="complex, real-world environments" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/02/waymo-vehicle-blocks-ems-austin-mass-shooting" data-vars-content-id="49456d43-da7e-42ce-b5fb-37c95ce33b93" data-vars-headline="Residents say self-driving car killed duck in Mueller" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/02/waymo-vehicle-blocks-ems-austin-mass-shooting" target="_self">complex, real-world environments</a> — especially as they operate in pedestrian-heavy areas with pets and wildlife.

Austin exploring mask ban for law enforcement

"No More Secret Police," says an Austin city council memo.

Targeting mask-wearing by federal immigration agents, Austin city officials are considering banning facial coverings among all law enforcement.Why it matters: Austin could soon join a host of cities and states that are prohibiting the coverings, as part of a wider clash between federal and local governments over policing, privacy and civil rights.

Texas women's hoops riding "off the chart" chemistry to Final Four

Led by Madison Booker and Rori Harmon, the Longhorns are looking to win a national championship.

The University of Texas <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="women&#x27;s basketball team" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/26/texas-basketball-ncaa-tournament" data-vars-content-id="5ab01d55-8c66-43d1-9ef3-0db4c0e6ea20" data-vars-headline="Texas women&#x27;s hoops riding &quot;off the chart&quot; chemistry to Final Four" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/26/texas-basketball-ncaa-tournament" target="_self">women&#x27;s basketball team</a> is playing in its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="second consecutive Final Four" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/02/12/texas-womens-basketball-madison-booker" data-vars-content-id="5ab01d55-8c66-43d1-9ef3-0db4c0e6ea20" data-vars-headline="Texas women&#x27;s hoops riding &quot;off the chart&quot; chemistry to Final Four" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/02/12/texas-womens-basketball-madison-booker" target="_self">second consecutive Final Four</a> — but this year, they&#x27;ve arrived in dominating fashion.Why it matters: After winning their four tournament games by an average of 35.5 points, the 35-3 Longhorns are two victories away from nabbing their first championship since 1986.

It's hard to track how much NIL cash student-athletes are making

An agency tracking them refuses to give breakdowns by school and sport.

Sports

Even as player sponsorship deals are remaking the college athletics landscape, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tracking the money" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/01/12/university-of-texas-releases-nil-contract" data-vars-content-id="0f0bcd74-3de2-4b80-9957-c9bc84ae6fc9" data-vars-headline="It&#x27;s hard to track how much NIL cash student-athletes are making" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/01/12/university-of-texas-releases-nil-contract" target="_self">tracking the money</a> at play is increasingly challenging.Why it matters: Student-athletes are now able to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="make a buck" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/10/10/university-texas-football-nil-deals-longhorns" data-vars-content-id="0f0bcd74-3de2-4b80-9957-c9bc84ae6fc9" data-vars-headline="It&#x27;s hard to track how much NIL cash student-athletes are making" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/10/10/university-texas-football-nil-deals-longhorns" target="_self">make a buck</a> — or several million — off their name, image and likeness, but knowing how much they&#x27;re making and where it comes from appears more opaque than ever.

MotoGP bets on Austin to grow its U.S. audience

The three-day race weekend runs Friday through Sunday at COTA.

MotoGP&#x27;s only U.S. race returns to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin" data-vars-content-id="13f9a9c2-6856-41b2-a214-808ccf9b184c" data-vars-headline="MotoGP bets on Austin to grow its U.S. audience" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin" target="_self">Austin</a> this weekend, putting the city at the center of the racing series&#x27; bid to grow in America.Why it matters: Circuit of the Americas serves as MotoGP&#x27;s lone foothold in the U.S., making Austin a test case for whether <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="another European motorsport" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/17/formula-1-austin-women-fans" data-vars-content-id="13f9a9c2-6856-41b2-a214-808ccf9b184c" data-vars-headline="MotoGP bets on Austin to grow its U.S. audience" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/17/formula-1-austin-women-fans" target="_self">another European motorsport</a> can break through with American fans.

Texas basketball faces a big moment

Texas men's basketball is a Cinderella — and the women have been dominant.

For the first time since 2004, the University of Texas men&#x27;s and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="women&#x27;s basketball teams" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/30/texas-women-basketball" data-vars-content-id="ebbbf9c6-1d78-4297-bc61-bf16538451b0" data-vars-headline="Texas basketball faces a big moment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/30/texas-women-basketball" target="_self">women&#x27;s basketball teams</a> are playing in the Sweet 16 in the same year.Why it matters: The squads come to the crucial <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="post-season moment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/04/07/texas-march-madness-money" data-vars-content-id="ebbbf9c6-1d78-4297-bc61-bf16538451b0" data-vars-headline="Texas basketball faces a big moment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/04/07/texas-march-madness-money" target="_self">post-season moment</a> very differently, each compelling in its own way.

UT researchers develop sensitive robot hands

The robot can grip a raspberry without crushing it.

A new type of robotic hand developed at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="University of Texas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/02/13/university-texas-department-consolidation" data-vars-content-id="6a3b6208-34fa-42ee-9993-8cfdf199ba3d" data-vars-headline="UT researchers develop sensitive robot hands" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/02/13/university-texas-department-consolidation" target="_self">University of Texas</a> can grasp objects as fragile as a potato chip or a raspberry without crushing them.Why it matters: The technology could bring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="robots" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/05/hyundai-humanoid-robots-boston-dynamics" data-vars-content-id="6a3b6208-34fa-42ee-9993-8cfdf199ba3d" data-vars-headline="UT researchers develop sensitive robot hands" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/05/hyundai-humanoid-robots-boston-dynamics" target="_self">robots</a> closer to imitating the sensitive touch of humans, with implications for manufacturing and health care.

James Talarico's Austin church beefs up security

Talarico's North Austin church has received an influx of "negative communication."

Politics & Policy

State Rep. James Talarico&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Senate campaign" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" data-vars-content-id="5cfee955-c646-4421-9359-bf1a9e55fc3c" data-vars-headline="James Talarico&#x27;s Austin church beefs up security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" target="_self">Senate campaign</a> has thrust his North Austin church into the spotlight, prompting increased security, St. Andrew&#x27;s Presbyterian Church pastor Jim Rigby told members on Facebook.Why it matters: Religion is emerging as an early flashpoint in Texas&#x27; high-profile Senate race, pitting the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin Democrat against" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" data-vars-content-id="5cfee955-c646-4421-9359-bf1a9e55fc3c" data-vars-headline="James Talarico&#x27;s Austin church beefs up security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" target="_self">Austin Democrat against</a> the winner of a GOP <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="runoff between" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/cornyn-paxton-runoff-texas-republican-senate-primary" data-vars-content-id="5cfee955-c646-4421-9359-bf1a9e55fc3c" data-vars-headline="James Talarico&#x27;s Austin church beefs up security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/cornyn-paxton-runoff-texas-republican-senate-primary" target="_self">runoff between</a> Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

SXSW goes small this year

A condensed timeline means that all three tracks — innovation, film and TV, and music — will run concurrently.

A revamped South by Southwest — one that&#x27;s smaller and playing out across Austin neighborhoods — goes into full flight Friday.Why it matters: A lot is riding on the fest overhaul, both for the bottom line of SXSW itself and for the Austin hotel and restaurant industries that rely on the annual influx of visitors.

Vance to headline two RNC fundraisers in Texas

The Austin event has an ask starting at $100,000 per couple.

A Republican National Committee fundraiser featuring Vice President Vance in Austin this month has a buy-in of $100,000 per couple, per an invitation to the event obtained by Axios.Why it matters: The March 23 event is hosted by GOP mega-donor and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2020/09/30/palantir-founder-joe-lonsdale" data-vars-content-id="80a84cfa-1b99-4700-9c87-84b86b41166a" data-vars-headline="Vance to headline two RNC fundraisers in Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2020/09/30/palantir-founder-joe-lonsdale" target="_self">Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale</a> and signals how crucial tech money will be to Vance in a potential 2028 presidential run.

News 🗞

Residents say self-driving car killed duck in Mueller

Texas women's hoops riding "off the chart" chemistry to Final Four

It's hard to track how much NIL cash student-athletes are making

Texas cuts candy and soda from SNAP benefits

Singer-songwriter Jon Dee Graham remembered as Austin troubadour