Austin, TX
Does not compute: 4 Austin-area community leaders consider the future of data centers
Dozens of data center projects have been proposed across Central Texas, and how those projects shape the region’s land, economy and water resources will depend on how local leaders plan for their arrival.
But there is no consensus about what approach to take even among business leaders, Denise Davis, the board chair for the Austin Chamber of Commerce, said at the inaugural KUT Festival on Saturday.
Davis said the Austin Chamber is still trying to find its footing in the debate.
“I get that everyone has phones, and the average home has 20 devices, and I get that AI is powering everything, but I also have businesses that need electricity, and I need the grid to be reliable,” Davis said. “So I think it’s to be determined where the chamber comes down on the issue.”
Davis was joined on stage by Bradley Dushkin, Round Rock’s director of planning and development services, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and Carrie D’Anna, a Taylor resident and community organizer.
Dushkin said data centers have the opportunity to provide cities relief in the form of “ginormous” property tax contributions as local politicians struggle to provide community services amid budget constraints.
“We have a need to bring in these high-dollar, revenue generating, non-residential properties into the city so that we can help bring in that money and not have to rely on the property taxes generated by the residential side,” Dushkin said. “Having those large commercial properties helps us subsidize the tax rate across the city and keep the tax rate low for our residents.”
Dushkin said Round Rock’s budget is already a reflection of how data centers could do the heavy lifting for a city’s bottom line: commercial buildings only make up 8% of taxable properties in Round Rock, yet they generate nearly half of the city’s property tax revenue.
But many worry data centers will suck up too much water and power to be worth their property tax contributions.
Becerra said there’s “no good option” for data centers in Hays County, where extreme drought threatens its future water supply.
“Some of these systems are asking for a million gallons [of water] a day,” he said. “You can want ski slopes in San Marcos, but if we don’t have the snow, it’s not going to do you any good.”
Across Hays and Williamson counties, community activists like D’Anna have effectively ended some data center projects over such water and electricity concerns.
D’Anna said she’s noticed data center projects “strategically” planned out of the public eye. She created a Facebook group to keep people informed about the BPP data center proposal in Taylor, and with the help of other plugged-in community members, passed out flyers protesting a data center development in Hutto.
D’Anna said people in her neighborhood are “terrified” of how data centers could reshape Taylor.
“People who are building data centers, union workers, electricians, they want to sign our petition because they see the value in guidelines,” D’Anna said. “They love the technology. We don’t like how it’s being capitalized. We don’t like how it’s replacing us.”
MANOR, Texas — Multiple agencies are at the scene of a “major” crash on FM 973 in Manor.
Manor police reported the crash at around 4:48 a.m., saying that responders are on scene of a collision in the 11700 block of North FM 973 Road near Lagos Elementary School.
Police say the road is closed in both directions while officials work the scene.
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Manor PD, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Texas DPS, Travis County ESD 12, and Austin-Travis County EMS are also at the scene, according to police.
CBS Austin has reached out to officials from the responding agencies for more information.
This is a developing story.
AUSTIN, Texas – A 28-year-old Austin woman who was reported missing earlier this week has been located, according to the Austin Police Department.
What we know:
Police announced Saturday that Ghadah Alharbi has been found following a public appeal for information about her whereabouts.
Alharbi was last known to have contacted family members by phone around 8 p.m. on June 16. Her disappearance was described by investigators as out of character, prompting concern from both her family and the Austin Police Department.
Authorities said she had left her vehicle at her residence in Central Austin near Mueller and was known to use ride-share services for transportation.
Dig deeper:
The Austin Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit had requested the public’s assistance in locating Alharbi on Friday, citing concerns for her well-being.
In an update released Saturday, police confirmed Alharbi had been located but did not provide additional details about where she was found or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Police thanked the community and media for their assistance and cooperation.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by Austin police.
Following controversial comments from head coach Steve Sarkisian and recruiting battles with other contending teams, the Texas Longhorns have once again found themselves in the national spotlight ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Just like this time 365 days ago, the Longhorns are the favorites to win the SEC Championship by the time the postseason rolls around, as well as be contenders for the national championship — despite failing to gain a playoff berth in 2025.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Texas’ preseason hype centered around quarterback Arch Manning and his first year at the helm of the Longhorns’ offense. Despite predictions that Manning would win the Heisman and be the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Longhorns went on to a nine-win regular season with steady, ongoing improvements in Manning’s performance.
Now, the attention from national media seems due to the “all-in” season that the Longhorns are looking toward, with a huge roster turnover through the transfer portal suggesting that this is the make-or-break year for Texas — and Manning — to achieve any national championship hopes.
However, a “make-or-break” season isn’t necessarily what’s ahead for Texas in 2026.
Texas’ Championship Hopes Aren’t Necessarily Over After 2026
It’s fair to assume that the Longhorns are going all in for a national championship in 2026, given the emphasis on experienced transfer portal talent, coaching staff changes and even talk from some players about what the team’s goals are over the offseason.
But considering 2026 as the Longhorns’ last chance for a trophy in the immediate future isn’t as easily justifiable, especially when Texas may not be considering much of a rebuild after this season ends. Sarkisian himself didn’t deny that Manning may come back for another year with Texas in 2027, and many key playmakers on both offense and defense have several more years of eligibility left.
Especially looking at Texas’ incoming class of freshmen and history with the transfer portal, it’s likely that the Longhorns are setting themselves up for longevity more than immediate success. If Manning does decide to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft, incoming freshman quarterback Dia Bell will be an exciting prospect for Texas to bank on when looking for its next offensive leader.
It’s natural that the Longhorns should continue to generate national excitement, especially with the newest five-star commit to the 2027 class. Even so, Texas has a habit of bucking the trends and national predictions. The pressure was on in 2025 to win a national championship in Manning’s first year as a starter, and as more mock drafts continue to slate him as a first-rounder, that pressure has only heightened in what most onlookers see as his last year playing college football.
Whether the Longhorns will buckle under that pressure this go-around will be seen, starting with their home opener against Texas State on Sept. 5.
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