ATX-ETA: Impact 6/25/2026

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Facing funding risks, Austin moves to strip roadway art under state mandate

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.

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CI Business

Gati expands from Holly to Hyde Park with new ice cream shop

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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Thinking about trying a THC beverage? Here’s what you should know

Changing drinking preferences are hitting retail shelves across Central Texas, with THC- and CBD-infused drinks increasingly positioning themselves as alternatives to traditional alcohol.

A closer look: Shayda Torabi, the cofounder of RESTART CBD + THC—a hemp retailer based in Austin—said many consumers are drinking less alcohol while actively looking for an alternative with an effect, not just a mocktail—what she referred to as the “sober curious movement.”

“People don't just want an adaptogenic drink, they don't just want a fizzy knockoff cosmopolitan. They want that drink that they're subbing alcohol for to have some experience, to have some effect,” Torabi said. “I think that's where cannabis beverages have really nicely parlayed into this next generation of consumers.”

What you should know: Torabi explained that many consumable hemp products can range from 2 milligrams to 10 milligrams of THC, but some products contain dosages as high as 100 milligrams. For first-time users, Torabi recommends starting with a low dose, around 2.5 milligrams of THC.