Austin's summer heat can affect mental health, particularly for people managing conditions like schizophrenia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or bipolar disorder, according to Ziyad Nuwayhid, chief medical officer at Integral Care, Travis County's mental health authority.

The impact: Nuwayhid said mental illness can impair temperature perception, and some psychiatric medications reduce the body's ability to stay hydrated.

A 2026 study by UT Austin researchers and the city found 85% of Austin single-family homes pose significant heat risk for elderly residents during a heatwave combined with a power outage.

Keep in mind: All Austin Public Library branches and Austin Parks and Recreation facilities serve as cooling centers during normal operating hours, according to Austin Emergency Management.

Travis County community centers are open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CapMetro offers complimentary rides to cooling centers when cooling hours are extended for those who cannot afford fare, according to the city.

Integral Care operates a 24-hour crisis hotline for mental health support and cooling shelter referrals.

Emily Rushing and Carissa Topham Fisher collaborated to offer pilates and somatic-based fitness classes in South Central Austin. RushTopFish Pilates opened on May 4, bringing reformer and mat pilates with a range of intensities. 

The brand celebrated with a grand opening party on June 27, featuring free mat classes, discounts and refreshments, according to its social media. 

What they offer: RushTopFish Pilates offers two mat classes: Feel Good Mat, with a rhythmic flow, and Strong Body Mat, designed to build strength and endurance. The studio also has small group reformer classes that focus on low-impact movement, building strength and improving posture, according to RushTopFish Pilates.

Keep in mind: The fitness studio is located in a residential area, according to its website, and all patrons are asked to park on Cumberland Street along South Austin Neighborhood Park or at the South Austin Tennis Center.

• 2611 S. 5th St., Unit C, Austin

City crews conducted hundreds of site visits, cleared hundreds of thousands of pounds of debris and moved dozens of people into shelter over the first month of Austin's ramped-up homeless encampment management.

The details: Earlier in the spring, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations announced an expanded model for addressing the scores of known encampments in public places around the city. The renewed response came years after local voters reinstated a public camping ban, and followed shorter-term targeted encampment clearings by both the city and state agencies last year.

From May 11 to June 5, AHSO-led teams conducted 456 total visits to 127 unique locations citywide, where more than 334 tons of debris were cleared. Half of the people contacted at encampments accepted offers of assistance—either shelter or other services—while half declined any help. As part of ongoing monitoring, AHSO found people are frequently reoccupying sites after they're cleared, with signs of return activity at 28% of those locations.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Upcoming projects

New Braunfels EDC invests $405K in pedestrian improvements: The NBEDC is funding the final design of Phase 2 of pedestrian improvements along five roadways. If approved, construction is expected to begin in 2028.

Ongoing projects

Legacy Ranch Drive expansion
Project: Crews are working to expand approximately 0.6 miles from Seward Junction North Loop in Liberty Hill to a CR 258 extension east of US 183, including new signals, pavement improvements, and turn lanes serving a future LISD site. 
Update: Contractors broke ground March 6.

• Timeline: completion expected this summer
• Cost: $1.4 million
• Funding source: Williamson County 2023 road bond