Nathan Bernier
Austin transportation reporter
KUT News
Austin spent $22 million to renovate the Barton Springs Bathhouse.
Why does it sometimes smell like sewage?
Why is the rotunda locked when it was supposed to open last October?
For #ATXplained, I dug into emails, contracts and millions in spending.
AUDIO: Why is Austin's $22 million Barton Springs bathhouse renovation taking so long?
(Runs about 10 minutes)
#ATXplained https://t.co/OrMKdt0Bmy
The Austin Transit Partnership is scrapping a plan to move into a high-rise overlooking Lady Bird Lake and expanding next door instead.
Austin police may now arrest someone for possession of Delta-8 based only on the label on the packaging.
The policy also cuts the other direction. Cannabis flower or concentrate with a label showing it's under 0.3% Delta-9 THC generally won't be seized.
Worth noting these policies are not universal across Texas police departments!
Starting tomorrow, the intersection of Puryear Road at Old San Antonio Road will be closed till February 21, 2027. https://t.co/tXo5xRxFPV
Update: The long-term closure of the intersection at Puryear Road and Old San Antonio Road isn't starting till Monday, according to this press release from Travis County. The electronic road sign I saw over the weekend had said it was scheduled to start yesterday. https://t.co/67JX6y79jY
Is it legal to possess smokable hemp flower or THCA concentrate in Texas? Or is it a felony?
Kind of an important question considering they were sold legally as recently as June.
DSHS wrote the rule. But they said ask law enforcement, so I did. 🧵 https://t.co/D8jK9cwZ5U
I reached out to more than a dozen law enforcement agencies.
Austin police gave the clearest answer, saying, "department policy dictates that the substance is not seized and no further enforcement action is taken." https://t.co/rrn7BUGzNA
Right next door to Austin, Round Rock police wouldn't answer, but told me to look at this Texas State Law Library website: Which linked a defense lawyers blog post saying THCA is a felony to possess: https://t.co/BDb6cnlmHH
versustexas.com/blog/delta-8-9…
Texas THC Law 2026: Is Delta 8 Legal? | Updated Aug. 2026
As of July 31, 2026 delta-8, delta-10, THCP and THCA are controlled substances in Texas. What is still legal, what is not, and the criminal penalties.
The Travis County Sheriff's Office didn't answer directly, saying "search, seizure and arrest associated with illegal substances is up to the discretion of the deputy." https://t.co/EnAyOerqCi
The Hays County Sheriff's Office says THCA "will not be legal" but, "Anything labeled as hemp or Delta-9 THC 0.3% will be considered legal." https://t.co/OihsLzknWl
You can follow Mose's excellent suggestion and listen to the audio version of this story here. Popcorn not included. https://t.co/qx513Ja9yE
Is possessing smokable hemp flower and concentrate legal in Texas?
No one knows.
One 14-year-old girl dropped off by an AISD bus can get home by walking along Loop 360 with no sidewalk, an hour down a trail, or by cutting across Bull Creek and steep concrete embankments.
It's the new hub system.
Important story by KUT's @GretaDGV:
In case you missed it, AISD is going to start dropping off this teenager at her apartment complex, which the bus was already driving past anyway. This was only because of Greta’s reporting.
BREAKING: Delta to launch Austin's first nonstop flight to Paris on March 27, 2027.
Ticket sales start Saturday.
Austin's Bikeshare service starts coming back Aug. 11 after a Memorial Day fire prompted CapMetro to pull its fleet of almost 500 bikes.
The estimated value of burned equipment was $159,000.
None of it was insured.
I should have wrote Memorial Day *weekend fire. It was on Saturday, May 23.
Three hemp businesses, including Austin’s Happy Cactus Apothecary, are suing the state of Texas in federal court over the Delta-8 ban that took effect Friday, which makes it a felony to possess almost all hemp-derived THCs (except Delta-9).
Filing: https://t.co/tTCmyk1xmd https://t.co/blHO0Yuxab
Background on the ban:
NEW: Removing Austin road art like the "Black Artists Matter" mural on 11th Street and the rainbow crosswalks downtown cost the city $41,298.
That doesn't include the cost of removing art on Joe Sayers Avenue, so the final total will be a bit higher.
Our most recent story on the citywide artwork removal was by KUT's newest reporter, @gvelasquezn.
He was there as people mourned the loss of the rainbow crosswalks, a symbol of LGBTQ identity in a neighborhood long central to Austin's queer community.
Texas will ban Delta-8 on July 31.
Austin police say possession will be a felony.
“Officers will treat substances identified as a Penalty Group 2 substance as a felony. To clarify, delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinols in Penalty Group 2 is different from marijuana. Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinols identified under-Penalty Group 2 in the Texas Health and Safety Code 481.103 is resin extract, which is separate from delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinols,” APD spokesperson Clara Ash said in an email. “Marijuana, which is defined as the plant material, will be enforced based on APD General Orders and State law.”
Possession of less than one gram of a “Penalty Group 2” substance is a state jail felony, punishable by 180 days to 2 years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
Prosecutors ultimately decide whether to file charges
Hemp drinks and gummies made from Delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, remain legal. Hemp flower is not legal for sale but is still legal to possess, and out of state retailers might still sell to Texans.
Most of you know this, but I always need to clarify:
Hemp is just a legal term for cannabis with not more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight. It’s legal in Texas.
Marijuana is a legal term for cannabis with more than that. It’s illegal in Texas.
The Delta-8 ban taking effect Friday, July 31 makes possession a felony in Texas.
Here's a 22-minute chat with Amanda Taylor, lead counsel for those who challenged the ban including @HometownHeroATX.
This interview is also on YouTube: https://t.co/734sr2CNBM
@HometownHeroATX The story:
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport under a ground delay until 9:59 PM. Flights are arriving about half-an-hour late, on average.
Some flights are delayed by up to 92 minutes.
This FAA alert says the cause is runway or taxiway construction. https://t.co/JY2cPpEmfh
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport under a ground delay until 9:59 PM. Flights are arriving about half-an-hour late, on average.
Some flights are delayed by up to 92 minutes.
This FAA alert says the cause is runway construction. https://t.co/B9KacFxg7O
LISTEN: Austin's City Council has been voting in secret for years, despite the city’s claims of transparency.
This audio story I made with @MoseBuchele is about ten minutes. https://t.co/DckOQMpDNf
@MoseBuchele The text version is here.
“Austinites can apply for between $5,000 and $250,000 depending on the program. Money for the grants comes from hotel occupancy taxes.”
“State law does not allow a city to enact or change its zoning by popular vote.” — City of Taylor, rejecting a citizen petition to put a data center ban on the ballot
Reports circulating suggest Delta is launching an Austin to Paris nonstop, but there's been no announcement.
Delta spokesperson: "Delta is always evaluating opportunities to grow our network and better serve our customers, but we don't have anything to announce at this time." https://t.co/9m64HCDy96
Austin City Council has been voting in secret for years on Austin Energy matters and no one knew because there’s no public record.
@MoseBuchele and I only found out by reviewing over 1,000 council meetings and challenging Austin Energy’s false claims.
EXCLUSIVE: Austin Energy says Austin City Council members have taken secret votes for years on matters involving the publicly owned utility, and that those votes don’t appear in any public record.
My first collab with KUT’s @MoseBuchele:
The disclosure only came after KUT News reviewed more than 1,000 City Council meetings and challenged the utility’s claim that such votes “ARE indicated in council minutes.”
I-35 expansion forces P. Terry's to close flagship location at Capital Plaza
Smokable hemp technically is banned for sale in Texas again, after an appeals court ruling that lifted a lower court's injunction of new state rules.
The legal fight is far from over. Another court ruling could change things again.
Didn't make it in the story, but @lukasgilkey said the DSHS "Total THC" rule is pushing hemp manufacturing out of Texas.
"In a weird way, it sort of allows companies to operate outside the state without having to play by the same rules that companies in the state," Gilkey said. https://t.co/ziBrLijqDQ
@lukasgilkey
Even though some new Texas hemp regulations are not blocked by court order, the state health department doesn’t appear to be enforcing them at the moment.
“DSHS is still determining how to proceed given that there is not a final disposition yet," spokesperson Lara Anton said.
Even though Texas hemp regulations are not legally blocked by court order, the state health department doesn’t appear to be enforcing them at the moment.
“DSHS is still determining how to proceed given that there is not a final disposition yet," spokesperson Lara Anton said.
Austin's airport is heading into summer with more flights going to more nonstop destinations than this time last year.
But rising fuel costs are causing some airlines to pull back.
Meanwhile, ABIA's expansion is full speed ahead.
Lots o' updates:
CapMetro is shutting down Bikeshare service citywide after a fire at their Bikeshare facility (5315 E. Ben White Blvd) damaged batteries and charging infrastructure.
Statement from CapMetro: https://t.co/4moW0u8OXf
Update:
Audio version of the update:
Austin's Bikeshare service has been shut down since a May 23 fire inside a battery charging room at a CapMetro facility on Ben White.
The same day, a Bikeshare bike caught fire on South Congress.
The role of batteries is being investigated in both.
For those tired of reading, the audio version of the story includes Austin Fire Department radio communications from the night of the fire. https://t.co/qr9jkfkitb
I learned more about this fire. After it happened, people assumed it was arson. AFD doesn't think so.
AFD radio communications and the fire incident report point to the fire starting in a battery charging room.
CapMetro hired a forensic investigator.
I learned more about this fire. After it happened, people assumed it was arson. AFD doesn't think so.
AFD radio communications and the fire incident report point to the fire starting in a battery charging room.
CapMetro hired a forensic investigator.
A 2021 court order that had allowed for the sale of Delta-8 THC products across Texas expires today at 5 p.m.
The state says it won't be taking any immediate action, but it's unclear what this means longer term for Delta-8.
Whataburger is bringing back the A-frame design, @QSRmagazine reports.
https://t.co/5hSMoDWtvk
NEW: TxDOT denies Austin request to keep certain street art including:
• Black Artists Matter mural on 11th • Pride crosswalk at 4th and Colorado • TEXAS mural on Guadalupe • "River" crosswalk on Lake Austin Boulevard
Pics in thread below.
Here's the letter TxDOT sent Austin Transportation and Public Works on Monday, May 18.
A TPW spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter, but wouldn't release it until staff finished drafting a memo to the Mayor and City Council, expected by Thursday.
https://t.co/P3OcjwhAb0 https://t.co/J7hghYsrue
The Black Artists Matter mural was installed on 11th Street on June 18, 2020 by the city, Capitol View Arts and the Austin Justice Coalition. It was last touched up by the city in 2024.
📷 by KUT's Gabriel C. Pérez https://t.co/c2vqmJ88Ra
The Pride crosswalks at 4th and Colorado streets were installed in late 2021 to commemorate National Coming Out Day.
📷 by KUT's Gabriel C. Pérez https://t.co/m9uJa28q1H
UT Austin's "TEXAS" mural along Guadalupe Street was installed in August 2024 as the Texas Longhorns prepared for their debut in the Southeastern Conference. https://t.co/ttbZIXMjwx
CapMetro says Rapid Routes 800 and 837 will arrive every 10 minutes starting June 7.
They've been on 20 minute frequencies since launching in Feb. 2025, a couple years late.
Also June 7: park-and-rides finally open at the end of each line at Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center. https://t.co/KvXqxRdhxo
The Goodnight Ranch Park-and-Ride on Slaughter Lane will have 64 parking spaces.
The Expo Center Park-and-Ride on Decker Lane will have 159 parking spaces.
Routes 18, 233, and 337 will also end at the Expo Center starting June 7.
Routes 318 and 333 will end at the Goodnight Ranch Park-and-Ride starting June 7.
