Austin officially surpassed 1 million residents for the first time in its history last year, making it the 12th-largest U.S. city.

The overview: The city's estimated 2025 population was 1,002,632 people, based on new census data. The addition of more than 4,000 residents from 2024 moved Austin past the 1 million mark.

Austin's expansion came during what the U.S. Census Bureau called a "widespread national slowdown" in population growth, and reported drop-offs in annual growth among large cities. Despite declining international migration, demographer Lila Valencia said Austin, Travis County and the wider metro area continue to maintain "steady growth" thanks to in-state and domestic migration.

Zooming out: While Austin remains one of the largest cities nationwide, it's still ranked fifth in Texas and isn't growing as rapidly as some smaller cities in the state.

St. David's Surgical Hospital received a Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Hip and Knee Replacement Certification from The Joint Commission, the hospital announced March 9.

Learn more: Its national recognition for orthopedic care signifies the knowledge, professionalism and commitment of the orthopedic staff at St. David’s, Howard Garner, the hospital’s chief operating officer, said in a news release. 

Dive deeper: Health care facilities are recognized by The Joint Commission and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons based on a comprehensive evaluation of care. The certification considers pre-surgical consultations, hospitalization, rehabilitation and follow-up appointments, according to the release. 

In their own words: The hip and knee replacement certification “further distinguishes itself as a destination for leading-edge orthopedic care in Central Texas,” according to the release. 

A 2023 Texas law allowing state and local police to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally is scheduled to take effect May 15.

The overview: Texas legislators passed Senate Bill 4, a state immigration enforcement law, in late 2023. The law was originally set to take effect in March 2024, but has been tied up in court for more than two years.

For the first time, the law would allow Texas police to arrest migrants they suspect crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization and allow judges to order migrants’ removal if they are found guilty of illegal entry.

The background: SB 4 had been largely blocked by a series of court rulings since early 2024. A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit against SB 4 April 24, and a separate lawsuit was filed May 4.

On May 13, U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra—who previously deemed SB 4 unconstitutional—heard arguments in the secondary lawsuit, although he did not issue a ruling before press time May 13.