🚰 Trees love leaky pipes

🌳 Water Seepage 👉 Helps Trees

Leaky city pipes are apparently softening drought effects on trees in Austin. Every day, thousands of gallons of water seeps out of the city’s water distribution system, and University of Texas researchers have found that trees close to the leaks reap their benefits. While the leaks aren’t technically a good thing, I still consider this a win.

🥴 City Funds Used On ‘John Wick’

Transportation and Public Works Department Superintendent Michael Collier falsified records to cover up that he had used a City of Austin credit card to rent a “John Wick” movie for $6.48, a city audit found. Collier first claimed he rented it for city business, then eventually admitted that wasn’t the case, and paid the city back for the movie. Oops! [Austin Monitor]

🦟 West Nile Virus Confirmed in Austin

A group of mosquitos in Southeast Austin’s 78744 ZIP code tested positive for the West Nile virus during a routine check, Austin Public Health announced this week. No human cases of the virus have been reported, but keep that bug repellant handy. Last year, one person in Travis County died of the virus, and three others were likely also infected. [City of Austin]

• Symptoms of the West Nile virus include: headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. [KXAN]

🌾 Guadalupe’s Wheatsville to Close

I’m still not over it: Wheatsville Food Co-Op on Guadalupe Street near the UT campus will close in 2026, in part, because of the city’s light rail plan. General Manager Bill Bickford said the train will make it “impossible for the large trucks our primary suppliers use to access the delivery area.” Stock up on all your favorites now! [Eater Austin]

🎉 East Austin Gets NSFW Bachelorette Destination

Who knew this is how I would use my journalism degree? Not my parents, that’s for sure. East Austin is now home to a so-called dick arcade. Slick Dick’s Wild Ride includes a mechanical penis named Marvin, staff dubbed Dicktendants and DickMasters, and a game of Whac-A-Dick, á la Whac-A-Mole. The venue opened in February. [Austin Monthly]