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Justin Timberlake Is a Fan of Terry Black’s BBQ’s Burnt Ends

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Justin Timberlake Is a Fan of Terry Black’s BBQ’s Burnt Ends


Pop star Justin Timberlake shared that he had Austin barbecue during a recent concert in the city. While on stage at the Moody Center on May 31 and June 1, he talked about his meal at Terry Black’s BBQ. “If you see me moving kind of slow tonight, you have to blame that Terry Black’s,” he said. “Now, listen, you’re talking to a Memphis boy. Those burnt ends.” The Texas barbecue restaurant (with an Austin location on Barton Springs) shared a video of the banter on its Instagram.

One of the last times Timberlake performed in town — 2017 for F1 — he dined at Southern restaurant Olamaie.

Mochi doughnut coming attractions

Austin mochi doughnut bakery Mochinut ATX is opening a second location in the city. It’ll be found in the St. Johns neighborhood in the Linc development at 6406 North I-35, with an opening date not announced yet, but it should be “soon,” per its Instagram. The original Austin shop opened inside of Scofield Farms’ Asian supermarket Hana World Market in 2022.

Tracking Austin openings

A new cafe opened in East Austin this month. Prana Cafe debuted at 1623 East Seventh Street in the East Cesar Chavez neighborhood as of June 1. The menu is centered on what it describes as “holistic” dining, with smoothies, juices, toasts, panini, coffee, teas, and more. It took over the former El Chilito location, which had closed in early 2021.

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Growing Japanese noodle soup chain Ramen Tatsu-ya opened its next new location in Round Rock this month. It debuted at the Rock Creek Plaza on 2132 North Mays Street, Suite 960 as of June 2.

North Austin cupcake bakery Cupprimo opened a second location in South Austin in May, as reported by Community Impact. The new East Oak Hill bakery is found at 4404 West William Cannon Drive, Suite N as of May 18, serving up cupcakes, coffee, and espresso-based drinks. The original bakery opened in 2008.

Reservations-only tiki bar opens walk-in bar

Also in Tatsu-ya news, the hospitality group turned the second floor of its South Austin tiki bar Tiki Tatsu-ya into a comparatively more casual walk-up bar on select days. The Retreat at the Nest opened at 1300 South Lamar Boulevard in the Zilker neighborhood as of June 3. On deck’s bar service and walk-in seating, its own cocktails such as a choose-your-own-rum-base daiquiri and the MARGHHH, a tiki take on margaritas with rum and a Sichuan pepper foam twist; as well as highballs, beers, and ciders. Food-wise, the menu focuses on snacks like the mochiko chicken wings, taro tots, and Spam sandwich. It’s open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to midnight. Tiki Tatsu-ya opened in 2021.

Texas farmers market changes

The Texas Farmers Market at Lakeline underwent a change in name and location. It’ll be known as the Texas Farmers’ Market at Bell, found within the same-named mixed-use development in Cedar Park. The new market made its debut on May 25. Its hours are Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Farmers market bagel stand hiatus

In related farmers market news, bagel shop David’s Doughie’s is temporarily closing up its stand at the new Texas Farmers Market at the Bell. This will be until they “can get properly staffed,” per the newsletter. The bagel bakery is still selling out of the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller on Sundays, as well as its East Austin food truck.

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Culinary scholarship awardees

Women-in-food-and-drink-focused organization Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Austin chapter announced the winners of its annual scholarship and grants programs. This year’s awardees include gluten-free bakery Zucchini Kill founder and co-owner Cecelia Loessin, who will use the funds to get its Brutal Brownie and chocolate chip cookie mixes into stores; Evangeline Bundi, who wants to cook Kenyan foods professionally and will be mentored by the Coconut Cup; and many others.

Culinary business grant applications

Austin-based Mexican American food company Siete Family Foods opened up its Junto Fund for applications. It’s aimed at Latinx-owned food and drink businesses that have been around for at least two years and are based in America. The deadline is on Monday, July 1, and recipients will be announced starting on Sunday, September 15. The goal is to give away $300,000 in total.

And then the Wine & Food Foundation opened up its hospitality scholarships program for the summer. There are two applications: one for Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Art students for people in the Associate of Applied Science Degree Programs for Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts, with $2,500 scholarships. The second is for funds for any sort of hospitality education program. The deadline is Monday, July 15 with the recipients announced on Friday, August 30. The foundation is looking to give out $35,000 in total.

Austin food company gets national recognition

And speaking of Siete, the company was named as one of Food & Wine’s Game Changers this week. The write-up highlights the business’s family-grown roots led by siblings Veronica and Miguel Garza. who created gluten- and grain-free tortillas in 2011 and started the company in 2014.

National coverage of Texas barbecue

Also in Food & Wine-slash-Texas coverage, the magazine published a guide to barbecue in the state in late May. The features delves into the history and variety of Texas barbecue and its styles, as well as a ranked list of the best restaurants in the state. Number one is Austin’s La Barbecue; number two LeRoy & Lewis; and fourth is Southside Market & Barbeque (a mini-chain with an Austin location).

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Chef shuffle

Hill Country New American restaurant Tillie’s has a new executive chef on the team. Meredith Shaffer, who was and will remain the resort’s executive banquets chef, started overseeing the kitchen as of late May.

Tracking Austin food events

Nonprofit Good Work Austin is celebrating its five-year anniversary with a bunch of food and drink fundraisers at its members this month. This includes pizzeria Bambino and Italian restaurant L’Oca d’Oro donating one dollar from every sale of a cocktail made with Tito’s Vodka (with the spirits company matching those funds); casual Texas restaurant Redbud Ice House doing the same with one dollar of every sale of its margarita made with Lalo tequila (where the company will also match); New Texan restaurant Dai Due with one dollar of its burger; casual New American restaurant Hillside Farmacy with two dollars from every wine bottle sale; brewery and American restaurant Central Machine Works with one dollar from every nonalcoholic cocktail; and finally frozen sweets spot Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs’ collaboration with coffee shop Epoch — tea snowballs — at the cafe sold on Saturday, June 22.

The East Cesar Chavez location of pizzeria and wine restaurant Bufalina is offering an oyster and riesling evening on Thursday, June 6. On deck will be oysters from seafood pop-up Austin Oyster Co., along with bottles and glasses of various rieslings, as well as special dishes.

Whiskey brand Monkey Shoulder and art gallery Secret Walls are co-hosting the Battle of the Bars between two Austin bars — Dumont’s Down Low and Murray’s Tavern — this week. It takes place on Thursday, June 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. at downtown venue the Riley. It’s free to RSVP.





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Lawsuit: Brianna Aguilera’s parents allege underage alcohol service at Austin tailgate contributed to daughter’s death

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Lawsuit: Brianna Aguilera’s parents allege underage alcohol service at Austin tailgate contributed to daughter’s death


The parents of Brianna Aguilera have filed a lawsuit against two organizations, alleging that they served alcohol to their underage daughter which contributed to her death in Austin.

Before Aguilera fell to her death from the Rio 21 Apartments in West Campus, the lawsuit states that she attended a tailgate at the Austin Blacks Rugby Club’s facility, organized by the UT Latin Economics and Business Association.

Both the Austin Blacks Rugby Club and the UT Latin Economics and Business Association were listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

>> What we know about Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera’s death in Austin

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Even though the lawsuit states Aguilera was “noticeably intoxicated” at the tailgate, her parents argue that the defendants continued to serve her alcohol.

According to court documents, Aguilera allegedly began stumbling at the tailgate and needed help standing at times. At some point, the lawsuit said she fell into the woods and lost her phone.

After leaving the tailgate at approximately 10 p.m., court documents state Aguilera died around two hours later.

The lawsuit also accuses the defendants of negligence and gross negligence for serving alcohol to Aguilera despite her age and allegedly overserving her.

In the suit, Aguilera’s parents demanded a trial by jury and sought at least $1 million plus interest, costs and punitive damages.

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Aguilera’s parents also seek damages for wrongful death, citing the defendants’ alleged misconduct.

Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who’s representing the Aguilera family, commented on the lawsuit in a Tuesday news conference.

Watch the full news conference below:

“Brianna was obviously overserved,” Buzbee said. “Even the police have concluded that she was overserved at that tailgate. She was not 21.”

Buzbee also stated that the Austin Police Department has allegedly told multiple witnesses not to talk with him and Aguilera’s parents.

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“They told the three, the three individuals that were in that apartment that night when this young girl died. They told them, do not speak to Brianna’s mother or her lawyers,” Buzbee said.

He said that the lawsuit could provide a way for the witnesses to eventually come forward with information.

“By filing this lawsuit, not only will we hold accountable an entity or entities that were involved in overserving Brianna and other minors, but we will also be able to subpoena individuals and documents and video and data so we can continue our investigation,” Buzbee said.

KSAT’s sister station, KPRC, has reached out to both the Austin Blacks Rugby Club and the UT Latin Economics and Business Association for comment on the lawsuit. This story will be updated once the organizations provide a statement.


More coverage of this story on KSAT:

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Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.



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Cedar pollen eases, but record heat builds across Central Texas

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Cedar pollen eases, but record heat builds across Central Texas


Although record-breaking heat and spring-like warmth dominated the first few days of the new year, cooler — but still warmer than normal —temperatures settled in to start the first work week of 2026.

The heat will ramp up yet again Tuesday and Wednesday, with temperatures about 20 degrees above the normal early-January high of 62 degrees. 

Expect a blanket of low stratus clouds and some patchy dense fog Tuesday morning, but skies should begin clearing around lunchtime.

“In the meantime, a surface trough (of low atmospheric pressure)/dry line will push from the southern Edwards Plateau into the I-35 corridor, bringing temperatures into the lower to mid-80s,” meteorologists with the National Weather Service wrote in a forecast discussion Monday. “It is going to be very warm for this time of year, and some daily high temperature records could be broken.”

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Those temperatures could rival record highs at both Austin climate observation sites, Camp Mabry and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where the standing record is 84 degrees, set in 1989.

Behind the dry line Tuesday, drier air will move into Central Texas, leading to a slightly cooler start Wednesday under mostly to partly cloudy skies.

Morning temperatures will dip into the 50s around sunrise before climbing into the upper 70s to mid-80s by the afternoon. Those highs would surpass the record of 80 degrees set in 2008 at Camp Mabry.

Temperatures the rest of the week will remain above normal with mostly cloudy mornings but sunny afternoons. 

A cold front is forecast to move across the region later in the week with a slight rain chance Thursday and Friday, but most of the rain will fall north and east of Austin. However, cooler and more seasonable weather is expected this weekend. 

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This past weekend, Austin experienced the highest cedar pollen counts so far this season with a count of 3,200 grains per cubic meter Saturday and a peak of 4,000 grains per cubic meter on Sunday. However, the count dropped to just over 1,000 grams per cubic meter on Monday. Humidity has been on the rise in the past few days, and winds have been much lighter. Those factors have helped “settle” the cedar pollen for the time being. 

Luckily, the winds have turned southerly and are much lighter, so the pollen has settled a bit. A small chance of rain on Thursday and Friday should also help dampen cedar pollen before it becomes airborne. However, above-normal temperatures will allow tree pollen cones to continue opening, setting the stage for another pollen surge when the next breezy cold front arrives.



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Venezuelan oil reboot not expected to spur windfall in Texas

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Venezuelan oil reboot not expected to spur windfall in Texas


With former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro out of power, President Trump said he wants to reboot the oil industry in Venezuela. 

That idea has raised questions about whether it could cause a price spike at the gas pump and a downturn in the Texas oil patch region. 

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Now, a spike at the pump and a production slump in the Texas oil patch may not happen this year, but with oil prices down, a budget crunch for state lawmakers may be waiting when they return to Austin in 2027.

What they’re saying:

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The situation in Venezuela is creating a lot of political uncertainty, but a Texas energy expert said he is not expecting that uncertainty to cause an oil patch crash or a gas pump pike in 2026.

Prices at the pump are low and despite some recent big swings, up and down, analysts say 2026 could see the lowest prices since the pandemic. That prediction has people like Dale Owens cautiously optimistic.

“Things change so drastically nowadays. I mean, look what’s happening with the government, so anything can affect the price. But right now I’m really happy that it’s stable,” said Owens.

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There are big reasons for that local gas price stabilization, and it predates the leadership change in Venezuela, according to Ed Hirs, an Energy Fellow at the University of Houston.

“The first is that the president has asked MBS (Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) and OPEC nations to continue pumping a pace. Number one. Number two, this helps hamstring the Russian economy and its war effort. And that’s also one of the goals of not only the European Union, but of the Trump administration. And number three, we’ve got the midterm elections coming up,” said Hirs.

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The price of a barrel of oil is expected to increase slightly because of the uncertainty regarding Venezuela. Texas crude oil production, according to an update released Monday, was stable in December, but state data also showed drilling permits for 2025 were at 369 and that’s down from 459 in 2024.

“When President Trump took office, oil was about $80 a barrel, today it’s under $60 a barrel. We are the high-cost producers in the global commodity oil market, and the cost of drilling these wells has gone up by between 5% and 12%, primarily because of Trump’s steel tariffs. Not only does the imported steel now cost a lot more, but domestic producers raise their So the producers in West Texas and across the Permian Basin are getting squeezed by much lower revenues, $20 a barrel less and much higher cost. It’s not a good capital investment for Wall Street,” said Hirs.

Dig deeper:

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The oil industry remains a big part of the Texas economy and the state budget. State lawmakers will return to Austin in 2027 to crunch numbers for a new two-year budget.

“I think they need to be looking at the budget. So the state comptroller needs to be running the numbers now based on lower oil revenues, not only for state lands, for example, for the universities, but for the state tax receipts. And that applies to the counties and cities that rely on these revenues to keep their budgets balanced. It’s going to be lower for longer,” said Hirs. 

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There are also doubts about whether the Texas refineries will get a financial windfall if the Trump Administration is able to reboot the oil industry in Venezuela. There are about six refineries in Texas and Louisiana that can process the heavy crude that is located in Venezuela.

“Well, it might help keep them open. But Lyondell just closed down a 100-plus-year-old heavy crude refinery on the Houston Ship Channel because it just doesn’t make any sense to reinvest in it. And it was going to require $750, $800 million of new capital investment just to keep the plant operating at par,” said Hirs.

What’s next:

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Stocks for several oil companies did increase on Monday. Chevron, at one point, had a 10% stock price surge, mainly because Chevron is the only U.S. company operating in Venezuela. Other energy-related companies also saw an increase, like Exxon, as well as industry suppliers like Baker-Hughes and Halliburton. 

The action on Wall Street came after President Trump said he wants energy producers to pay for the oil production rebuild. Hirs described the administration’s plans as being “naive.”

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Past attempts to rebuild another country’s oil infrastructure seem to back up the doubts raised by Hirs. In 1989, after the Soviet Union collapsed, companies like Exxon went in to rebuild — only to get kicked out later by the Russians. Hirs also noted the rebuilding effort in Iraq, started by President George W. Bush, hasn’t returned production there to pre-war levels. And it’s the same story for Libya, which was done under President Obama.

The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski and previous coverage

AustinTexas PoliticsDonald J. Trump
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