City Council approved an ordinance to combat excessively loud vehicles that residents and law enforcement say have become a growing nuisance on city streets, particularly in West Austin.

What residents should know: Austin police will now be able to cite motorists whose cars or motorcycles are unreasonably loud after an initial warning is issued. The increased enforcement applies to vehicle noise that's 85 decibels or louder and that's being made "intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence." Violations are Class C misdemeanors punishable with fines up to $500.

Residents have urged action on a policy city officials seemed generally comfortable with, although council members took time to revise the ordinance due to some worries about its unintended consequences.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Cunningham Elementary in Southwest Austin on Feb. 27 to observe Austin ISD's school nutrition program.

Zooming out: Kennedy's visit comes weeks after the Trump administration released new U.S. dietary guidelines with an added emphasis on protein and avoiding highly-processed foods. AISD's school nutrition department has garnered national attention for serving scratch-made dishes free from additives.

A closer look: The new federal dietary guidelines, released in January, prioritize protein, dairy and healthy fats while avoiding highly-processed foods, sugars and refined carbohydrates.

AISD is "already pretty aligned" with the new standards and doesn't anticipate needing to make any sweeping changes, AISD Executive Chef Diane Grodek said. The district may offer larger protein servings for students if additional funding is provided, Mikolaycik said.

In their own words: "We need a voice to lift up school nutrition," Mikolaycik said about Kennedy visiting the district. "We need a champion to elevate what we're doing, understand the true cost of what we're doing and to invest into us."

Check out six ongoing or completed transportation projects across the Austin metro.

Ongoing projects
Kohlers Crossing road extension
Project: The project will develop a new section of Kohlers Crossing running from I-35 frontage road to Seton Parkway, with a future I-35 underpass connecting to this section. 
Update: Construction on the east-to-west connection began in late 2025. The underpass is in the design phase and is expected to enter the construction phase in late 2027.

• Timeline: 2025-29
• Cost: $66.1 million
• Funding source: 2022 bond

• Timeline: 2022-26
• Cost: $612 million
• Funding source: federal funding, sale of toll revenue bonds

Primary election day in Texas is March 3. With dozens of state, regional and local races on the ballot, voters in the Republican and Democratic primaries will determine their parties’ nominees for the November midterm election.

At the polls: Polling places across Texas will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. March 3, according to the secretary of state.

On election day, voters in the following counties in Community Impact’s coverage areas can vote at any polling location within their county of residence: Bastrop, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Collin, Comal, Fort Bend, Galveston, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Tarrant and Travis. Registered voters in other counties are required to visit a polling place specific to their voting precinct.

Voters are required to bring photo identification to the polls.

On the ballot: Voters will choose their political parties’ nominees for the U.S. Senate, seven state offices, 10 state judicial seats, 38 congressional seats, nearly all state legislative seats and over half of the State Board of Education. Candidates who win their primaries will advance to the November ballot.