The Austin Transit Partnership continues to pursue new offices for its growing workforce as its development of Austin Light Rail ramps up.

A final decision on the transit planning organization's next home is now expected with consideration of ATP's next budget in September, months after officials declined to approve a $32 million luxury office lease downtown following opposition from Mayor Kirk Watson.

ATP and its partners are working to complete initial plans for the light rail network, train cars and system maintenance facilities before officially starting construction in 2027. The organization is outgrowing its current 32,000-square-foot office at 203 Colorado St., officials said, and are planning for a new home before its lease for that space ends.

As the search continues, some ATP board members said the process must include more consideration of project risks and taxpayer impacts. A decision on new offices could come in September alongside a vote on ATP's next budget.

Austin ISD is working to certify 464 teachers currently assigned to core classrooms who don't hold a state teaching certification, according to district documents. Statewide, 12% of teachers were uncertified in the 2024-25 school year, up from 3.8% in 2019-20, according to Texas Education Agency data.

Diving in deeper: Like nearly all Texas districts, AISD operates under a District of Innovation plan, a designation that lets districts opt out of certain state rules.
One exemption lets AISD hire uncertified teachers in math, science, English language arts and social studies for grades 7-12, and early childhood through grade 6.

The latest update: House Bill 2 is phasing out that exemption on a set schedule, and AISD has been approved to delay full compliance until 2029-30. Under its own delay application, the district has set a target of certifying an average of 85 to 90 core-subject teachers per year, and plans to shrink the share of uncertified new hires from 16% this year to zero by 2029-30.

Amazon is bringing a multi-billion dollar advanced robotics manufacturing facility to East Austin, the company announced Aug. 19. The project will be an anchor development in the newly annexed Dog's Head, and was first detailed by city officials during recent planning and financing reviews for that district.

The details: The new manufacturing site will be located off Hergotz and Dalton lanes in the center of the more than 2,600-acre Dog's Head area. The roughly 300-acre development first started moving through city reviews earlier this year as the unidentified "Project Toaster," and was revealed as the first potential tenant in the Dog's Head in July.

The facility will produce robotics systems that'll work with Amazon's employees "to handle repetitive tasks and heavy lifting," according to the release. The development will create between 300-500 manufacturing and engineering jobs, adding to Amazon's more than 17,000 employees in the city today.

Check out these trending stories from the Austin area Aug. 17-20. 

1. The Farm Fresh Network brings locally grown food to Texas schools

2. Hutto, Williamson County poised for $674M Blue Origin facility

3. Eagles Nest Street extension moves forward in Round Rock

4. 4 changes Bastrop drivers should know near Sendero, Burleson Crossing

5. Local Georgetown bakery celebrates 5-year anniversary

6. New Braunfels ISD receives 'B' rating from TEA for the 2025-26 school year