The removal of a public art installation on Lake Austin Boulevard was formally approved this summer, representing the final pavement marking to be cleared by the city under a state mandate this year.

The details: At the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Transportation imposed a new standard for the removal of any roadway markings that don't "directly support traffic control or safety." Cities that didn't comply risked losing significant state or federal funding.

Austin attempted to secure exceptions from the state standard and compiled local mobility data showing no apparent impact on safety after street markings were added. But TxDOT's traffic safety division denied that request in May, prompting Austin Transportation and Public Works crews to address all but one of the identified markings at a total cost of around $43,000.

The final targeted pavement marking, "Crosswalk on the Lake,” was part of Austin's public art collection, meaning City Council approval was needed before its removal. Officials voted 9-2 for its deaccession in August.

Voters in Austin ISD will choose their school board trustee for the At-Large Position 9 on Nov. 3, with early voting running Oct. 19-30. Community Impact asked candidates to share their motivations, priorities, and vision for the district.

Read the full Q&A for details on each candidate's platform ahead of the general election.

Texas senators indicated Sept. 1 that they intend to tighten regulations on data centers during next year’s legislative session, which begins in January.

What they're saying: “I think every member's district has had an impact from a data center conversation, so there will be plenty of bills trying to put things in place that are reasonable, responsible regulatory frameworks for data centers,” state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, said.

The big picture: With some Texas residents and conservation groups sounding the alarm about water-intensive technologies used by some data centers, state agencies have warned that limited information is available on how much water the industry actually uses. Officials said they have also had trouble determining exactly how many data centers are operating in the state today, as there is no “comprehensive statewide list” of existing and planned facilities.

Estimates from state agencies and the University of Texas at Austin suggest that roughly 370 data centers are currently operating in Texas, with about 100 facilities under construction and another 180 being proposed.