🤘 SXSW cuts music-only weekend in 2026

🎙️ City Council Plans to Improve Quality of Life

Austin City Council has recently taken several actions to address quality of life issues, like increasing “missing middle” housing, addressing public art maintenance, recommitting to transparency in meet-and-confer processes, and more. Host Nikki DaVaughn and The Austin Common’s Amy Stansbury discuss these actions — plus Mayor Kirk Watson's “budget asteroids” warning. [City Cast Austin 🎧]

💰 School Districts Seek $1.7 Billion for Special Education

Texas school districts are urging lawmakers to address the rising costs of special education programs and narrow a $1.7 billion funding gap. A new proposed funding model would allocate resources based on individual student needs, a departure from the current system. [The Texas Tribune]

😲 SXSW 2026 Condenses Schedule

South by Southwest organizers announced a “reimagined experience” for next year’s festival that would cut the event from nine days to seven, which means the second weekend, dedicated solely to music, will be eliminated. Presales for badges are also now open. [KXAN]

• “A shorter SX gives attendees more of a chance to be here for the entire run,” a spokesperson said. “With the Conference, Film & TV Festival, and Music Festival all taking place concurrently over seven days, everyone will have the chance to experience the whole of SXSW.” [SXSW]

🏀 Texas Longhorns No. 1 Seed in NCAA

The women’s basketball team was awarded the top ranking Sunday. Are the Longhorns on the path to a national championship? [Austin-American Statesman]

• The Lady Longhorns' first game is on Saturday at the Moody Center, where they have a 15-0 record. Tickets are still available! [Texas Longhorns]