Self-driving car company Waymo has issued a voluntary software recall for its autonomous vehicles.

The move by Waymo comes amid an ongoing investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into reports of Waymo vehicles failing to stop for Austin ISD school buses. This school year, the district has recorded 20 incidents in which a Waymo vehicle illegally passed a stopped school bus, according to an AISD spokesperson.

What happened: On Nov. 20, AISD asked Waymo to immediately cease operating its self-driving vehicles between the hours of 5:20 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. At the time, the district had recorded 19 incidents of Waymo cars illegally passing AISD buses through its school bus stop arms, averaging 1.5 violations a week. Waymo received its 20th citation of the school year on Dec. 1.

The update: Waymo issued a voluntary recall of its software with the NHTSA earlier this week, a Waymo spokesperson said. The company identified software issues that contributed to Waymo vehicles initially slowing to stop but then proceeding past a stopped school bus.  

CapMetro is marking its 40th anniversary with a forward-looking overhaul of how it serves a region where commuting patterns have shifted. With hybrid work reducing traditional peak-hour demand, the agency adopted Transit Plan 2035 as a “recalibration” aimed at building a more equitable, reliable and widely used system.

A closer look: Key strategies include expanding on-demand Pickup zones, boosting frequency on core MetroRapid corridors and improving all-day service on the Red Line in the coming years.

The plan also highlights system gaps in many outer neighborhoods, where bus stops remain far from homes and business centers, while Central Austin riders continue calling for more dependable service.

The outlook: CapMetro leaders say increasing frequency is the most effective way to attract riders.

Safety remains a focus as well. The agency’s community-centered public safety program blends ambassadors, intervention specialists and a new Transit Police Department, contributing to stabilizing incident trends. Long-term, CapMetro is investing in transit-oriented development to connect more Austinites to housing, jobs and high-frequency routes

The 2025-26 school year will be the last spent at an existing campus for some students in KIPP Texas Public Schools. 

What you need to know: Seven Central Texas-area KIPP Texas Public Schools are set to close at the end of the current school year, the charter school district announced Dec. 11. The charter school system operates over 45 schools across the state.

The details: Seven KIPP schools will close at the end of the current school year, spread across the system's Commerce, Austin South and Austin Ridge campuses.

City officials signed off on an economic incentive framework to support an expansion of Southwest Airlines' operations at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The move comes as the airline is moving to lease a majority of new gates to be added at ABIA amid its multibillion-dollar expansion.

The gist: The framework would see Austin pay an estimated $5.5 million to Southwest for roughly 2,000 new local hires over a five-year term, while the city would benefit with nearly $12 million in new tax revenue. The airline would also take on $7.5 million in infrastructure development at the city-owned airport if it selects ABIA for its expansion.

What's next?: Southwest CEO Bob Jordan, Gov. Greg Abbott, City Manager T.C. Broadnax and ABIA CEO Ghizlane Badawi are scheduled to make an economic development announcement at the airport Dec. 12.

City officials highlighted the agreement's potential to bring high-paying union jobs, child care funding and other community benefits.