I-35 frontage roads would be on the same side of the interstate under TxDOT's new plans "The Texas Department of Transportation's latest proposal to expand I-35 includes a plan to run the northbound and southbound frontage roads directly next to each other on the same side of the highway between Cesar Chavez and Dean Keeton streets. The frontage roads would be at ground level with the interstate lowered and possibly covered if the City of Austin can come up with an estimated $700 million to $800 million to pay for the coverings, or 'caps' as they're called." (Nathan Bernier, KUT-FM)

Next phase of Austin's Mexican American Cultural Center expansion taking shape "Planning for an expansion that would nearly double the footprint of Austin's Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is moving along, while some questions remain about the proposed designs of new features and the community's role in finalizing the project's scope. ... In recent months, a project team from Miró Rivera Architects and Tatiana Bilbao Estudio has been developing schematics for the new phase, which were unveiled this month to Austin's Design Commission and the advisory board of the cultural center." (Ben Thompson, Community Impact)

Dips in natural gas production could be a concern for Texas power grid, ERCOT chief says: The top executive of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said he’s concerned that declines in natural gas production when temperatures dipped below freezing earlier this month might point to a continuing vulnerability of the state’s power grid, because many power plants rely on natural gas as fuel." (Bob Sechler, Austin American-Statesman)

Austin moves onto list of top growth cities in the U.S. for 2021 "The recently released U-Haul Growth Index puts Austin at No. 16 among the U.S. cities last year with the most inbound moves via U-Haul trucks. Kissimmee-St. Cloud, Florida, near Orlando, grabs the No. 1 spot. The number of customers coming to Austin in one-way U-Haul trucks rose nearly 22 percent last year compared with 2020, while one-way departures rose 18 percent from 2020. Arriving customers accounted for 50.4 percent of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Austin during 2021." (John Egan, CultureMap Austin)

Samsung facility in Austin spilled up to 763,000 gallons of acidic waste into tributary, memo says "The Samsung facility in northwest Austin spilled up to 763,000 gallons of acidic waste into a tributary of Harris Branch Creek over a period as long as 106 days, according to a memorandum sent to the Austin City Council." (Christian Aleman, KVUE/ABC)

Model Y, battery cell production underway at Tesla's Austin-area factory "Electric vehicle and battery production has commenced at Tesla Inc.'s Austin-area factory. It represents an important milestone for Tesla, which broke ground on the 4-million-plus-square-foot facility about a year and a half ago, and a huge step for the Austin metro." (Kathryn Hardison, Austin Business Journal)

An Austin developer wants to turn an old music venue into a new one. Neighbors are not sold. "Included in a plan to develop nearly 5 acres of land just east of South Congress Avenue is a proposal to revive a former music venue with a legendary past. The idea to revive the Austin Opera House requires a zoning change and therefore a vote in favor from the Austin City Council. But neighbors have filed a legal challenge that could halt the project." (Audrey McGlinchy, KUT-FM)

Landmark commission approves ‘Keep Austin Weird’ sculpture "The Historic Landmark Commission approved plans for a public artwork installation on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Congress Avenue this past Monday, but not before a heated dispute over the piece’s cultural merit." (Kali Bramble, Austin Monitor)