South Austin residents may need to adjust their commutes as Texas Department of Transportation officials prepare to close the William Cannon Bridge at I-35 for two consecutive weekends beginning June 12.

The big picture: The William Cannon Bridge will be blocked off for construction crews to set beams for elevated lanes as part of the I-35 Capital Express South Project.
The bridge will be closed during the following times:

• June 12 at 10 p.m. through June 15 at 5 a.m.

• June 19 at 10 p.m. through June 22 at 5 a.m.

There will also be lane reductions on the main lanes and frontage roads in both directions.

The project: Construction on the I-35 Capital Express South Project began in 2022. The total cost is $548 million, which was funded by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and TxDOT, according to TxDOT’s website.

The project will add two high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, a southbound bypass lane and pedestrian and bicycle paths. TxDOT officials anticipate completing the project in late 2028.

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.

Austin ISD has released a package of recommended budget reductions totaling $181 million for the 2026-27 school year, affecting 558 positions districtwide and triggering community pushback.

The cuts: The proposed plan would eliminate or restructure positions across the district, including 215 teaching positions and 228 vacant roles.

About 55 counselor, assistant principal and librarian positions would also be affected, according to district budget documents.

The breakdown: The district’s proposed reductions span central departments, campus staffing and districtwide programs, according to the reductions table.

The plan includes $31 million in proposed savings through staffing reductions over the course of the school year, documents say, and plans to sell or monetize four surplus properties for approximately $60 million.

What’s next: The board will hold an information session June 11 before voting on the final budget June 18. Written comments can be submitted online.

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.