Austin will strip markings from several roadways in response to state and federal safety directives, ending months of local planning and opposition to mandates.

A national transportation safety program launched in 2025 led Texas officials to mandate the removal of all roadway markings deemed to be potentially distracting and unrelated to traffic control. Cities and counties that didn't comply risked losing significant funding and mobility partnerships, prompting Austin to begin a local compliance process that includes prominent installations like rainbow painted crosswalks downtown and a roadway mural dedicated to Black artists in East Austin. 

A city review found crashes around more than a dozen targeted roadways weren't impacted by street art or paintings, and sought exemptions from the state process. However, the city learned this spring that no exceptions would be made and all markings will now be stripped this summer.

City leaders had also convened a resident-led task force to propose alternative installations at the identified locations, a process that is continuing after public celebrations at those places in June.

Austin’s Mexican American Cultural Center reopened earlier this month, revealing a newly renovated space on June 6 with a public celebration. 

The center, under the Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment department of the city of Austin, showcases renovated performance spaces, new classrooms and galleries.

The context: Austin's Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center initially opened in 2007 and has been growing ever since, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Over a decade after its launch, Austin City Council formally passed plans for phase two of the center's expansion. The plan included a vision to extend the center with classrooms, a new gallery and performance space, landscaping and a sculpture garden. 

The features: The newly-debuted phase two features new music rehearsal spaces, renovations to performance spaces, classrooms, galleries, teaching kitchen, landscaping and gathering spaces, according to the center. 

The celebration: The community celebrated the center’s grand reopening, with a family friendly event on June 6: Juntos de Nuevo.

• 600 River St., Austin

Gati, an East Austin bakery, ice cream and brunch spot, will open a second location this weekend named Gati Scoops. The ice cream shop will open to customers on June 27 serving coconut milk ice cream and desserts, according to Liz Harroun, a PR representative for the business.

The context : As a veteran restaurateur, Jam Sanitchat opened Gati in 2020 after owning and operating Thai Fresh since 2008. In the beginning, Gati exclusively sold desserts and ice cream, but later evolved to include an entirely gluten-free brunch and bakery lineup as Sanitchat always dreamed of selling breakfast.

Craving ice cream? Gati Scoops will be located in the same space as Juiceland and Poke Poke, serving dairy-free and gluten-free ice cream. The menu will feature 16 seasonal flavors. 

The celebration: On opening day, the new ice cream shop will give away a free scoop to its first 100 customers. Each additional customer will receive a free topping with their order, including house-made gluten-free oreos. 

• 4500 Duval St., Austin

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Founder and CEO of gluten-free bakery Sweet Charli Girl, Rachel Metts, announced on Instagram that she is opening a mainstay location in North Austin.

The brick-and-mortar will be located on 7413 Burnet Road and is expected to open in late June, Metts said.

On the menu: Everything on the menu is gluten-free and celiac-safe, with vegan and dairy-free options as well. The bakery sells cupcakes, specialty cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, peanut butter bars and more.

About the owner: Metts has always found joy in baking and sharing her creations with others, according to the Sweet Charli Girl website. Baking was central to her family gatherings and quality time with her mom and grandmother, so much so that she dreamed of opening a bakery. After being diagnosed with a gluten intolerance, she had to reimagine her dream and began testing new recipes, later discovering that gluten-free treats could taste just as good, according to the website.

• 7413 Burnet Road, Austin

Texas education officials gave preliminary approval June 23 to the state’s first mandatory reading list, which includes nearly 200 literary works that public school students would begin reading as soon as 2030.

The overview: The proposed list incorporates about a dozen stories from the Bible, including the tale of David and Goliath in second grade and direct biblical excerpts beginning in fourth grade. In total, students would be required to read more than two dozen texts in early elementary grades and about 10 literary works per year from sixth grade through high school.

What's happening: Members of the Republican-led State Board of Education voted 9-5 to cut several titles from the reading list June 23, following nearly eight hours of public testimony a day earlier.

More than half of those who testified June 22 asked the board to shorten the list, include more diverse authors and remove religious references. Others praised the SBOE for creating a list that they said would teach students about “American exceptionalism” and prioritize classical literature.