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.

At a press conference Feb. 27, CIS Central Texas invited city officials, county leaders, state representatives and educators to discuss a study conducted by Harvard University.

The big picture: The study identified short- and long-term outcomes for high-risk students who received CIS support.

Key findings from the study include:

• Higher academic achievement
• Increased graduation and two-year college enrollment
• Greater economic mobility

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.