ARA Diagnostic Imaging Riata is slated to open in Northwest Austin this summer, according to Julia Austin, senior creative strategist at ARA Diagnostic Imaging. The location is expected to launch mid-June and will become ARA’s 18th imaging center. 

The details: ARA Diagnostic Imaging Riata will offer a range of imaging services, including MRIs, CT scans, mammography and ultrasounds.  

The new location will be located at ARA’s corporate office, according to a news release, in a  5,600-square-foot renovated space. The new center has additional shell space for possible future expansion. 

What’s next: ARA announced it will be opening an additional imaging center in Leander in late 2026. 

• 12554 Riata Vista Circle, Austin

A requirement for all apartment buildings in Austin to offer composting collection has been widely adopted, with some reported compliance issues, as the city pushes for more adherence under its "zero waste" goal.

The details: The city's zero-waste policy aims to divert 90% of trash sent to landfills by 2040, in favor of recycling and composting. That goal is a key part of Austin Resource Recovery's waste collection service and comprehensive planning, and was recently expanded with a mandate for all multifamily properties to offer their tenants composting service.

What's happening: As the new standard went into place, Austin also rolled out an educational campaign for apartments and offered zero-waste rebates to affected property owners for implementation. Since first informing properties about the change in summer 2024, the city reports that more than two-thirds of Austin's more than 2,100 multifamily complexes are now compliant with the new composting offerings. With hundreds of properties still not meeting the standard, ARR is now planning to ramp up enforcement.

Check out some of the top trending stories from the Austin area May 11-14. 

1. Jewel of Texas opens in Pflugerville

2. Construction underway on site of future Georgetown Texas Roadhouse

3. Frank & Margie's to open in Odd's Bar + Bistro space

4. Espadas de Brazil to bring Brazilian steakhouse to Bastrop's former Stem & Stone

5. Baylor Scott & White to expand Cedar Park clinic, bring more specialists

6. Austin moving to consolidate technology employees, services after weeks of pushback

After dozens of Texas primary races ended without a clear winner in March, candidates for those seats will face off in an overtime round, known as a runoff election, this month. Texans can vote early in the runoff election from May 18-22, with election day May 26.

How it works: State law requires that primary candidates receive more than 50% of the votes cast to advance to a general election.

In the May 26 runoff election, Republican and Democratic voters will choose who they want to represent them in statewide offices, legislative and Congressional seats, the State Board of Education and county-level positions. The winner of each runoff race will appear on the ballot in November.

On the ballot: The statewide Republican runoff races include:

• U.S. Senate: John Cornyn and Ken Paxton
• Texas attorney general: Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy
• Texas railroad commissioner: Jim Wright and Bo French

• Texas attorney general: Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski
• Texas lieutenant governor: Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Vélez