Bar Peached, located at 1315 W. Sixth St., Austin, has closed until further notice after a fire broke out in the attic.

What happened: The fire was caused by malfunctioning kitchen equipment, according to an email newsletter from the business, and severely destroyed the building's roof early in the morning May 31. No one was inside the building when firefighters arrived, officials said.

The background: The Old West Austin restaurant, which serves Asian-Southern fusion, is operated by the team behind Peached Tortilla and Peached Social House. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and a timeline for reopening remains unclear.

Austin could partner with Capital Metro and Travis County to expand fare-free voting availability around this fall's general election.

The details: CapMetro typically suspends transit fares on Election Day in even-numbered years, which a transportation agency spokesperson said can "simplify operations and maximize access" when voter turnout is highest.

In an effort to broaden voting access, City Council recently supported a request to extend fare-free offerings to early voting days leading up to the election. The service expansion was first proposed by Austin's African American Resource Advisory Commission in April before securing council approval in late May.

Going forward: With council's recent approval, the city will now work with CapMetro and Travis County on possible extra free-fare days for this fall. CapMetro typically generates between $50,000-$75,000 from fares on an average day. The agency spokesperson said more review will be needed before any final decisions on added fare-free dates.

More than 120 students at the McCallum Fine Arts Academy spent the school year turning individual ceramic pieces into a public sculpture—”Mosaic of Minds”—now installed at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center.

The details: The sculpture is made up of 100 ceramic heads stacked on large forms covered in glass mosaic tiles. 

Each face on the sculpture is different—some expressive, some abstract, some realistic—representing the range of experiences and emotions within the school community.

What they’re saying: "Every individual matters, and together we create something larger than ourselves," the students said at the unveiling. 

Academy students hope the sculpture will spark conversations about mental health for generations.

A new apartment complex in Bee Cave, an EMS station in Bastrop and improvements to the Graham Middle School athletic field are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Twin Oaks Ridge ($29.5 million): Twin Oaks Ridge is a privately funded, $29.5 million mixed-use and leasing development spanning 175,000 square feet.

2. Leah Ave Industrial Building ($18.5 million): This project involves the construction of an 87,306 square-foot ground-up industrial building.

3. New EMS Station for Bastrop County ESD ($2.5 million): The project will consist of an approximately 6,000 square-foot single-story metal building consisting of apparatus bays, day room, kitchen, fitness room, living quarters, restrooms, and associated site amenities.

4. 24 Indoor ($2.3 million): This project is a 20,898 square-foot Interior renovation to create an indoor recreational facility geared towards children.

5. Grisham MS Athletic Field and Field House ($1.98 million): This project involves the conversion of an existing practice field to artificial turf.

In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2127, a sweeping regulatory measure designed to prevent cities and counties from adopting local ordinances that conflict with various sections of state law. Three years later, there is confusion about what local governments can and cannot do under the law.

The background: At the time, some legislators and other proponents of the bill said it would ensure consistency among Texas cities, citing ordinances passed by “liberal blue cities” that they said made it hard to run a business. Opponents of HB 2127, including some local leaders, said the law would prevent cities from addressing residents’ needs while undermining local worker safety provisions and nondiscrimination ordinances.

What's happening: During a June 4 hearing, the law’s critics said it has had a “chilling effect” on some local actions, while those who support the law expressed concerns that cities have not removed ordinances that are preempted by the state.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are considering whether changes are needed to clarify or better enforce the law.