Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Austin news of the week, beginning with the safest suburbs in the area. Plus, the tallest tower in Texas rises in Austin. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head here for the best things to do this weekend.

1. These are Austin's 4 safest suburbs in 2025, new report says. Four buzzy Austin neighbors – Cedar Park, Georgetown, Round Rock, and Taylor – have unlocked coveted spots in a new ranking of the safest suburbs in America.

2. 2 Texas cities praised among most affordable beach towns for homebuyers. Texans who have longed to buy a home on the Gulf Coast can make their dream a reality by searching for their next home in Port Lavaca or Corpus Christi, which have been named among the most affordable American beach towns in 2025.

3. Lucchese debuts UT Longhorns collection with boots, bags, and footballs. El Paso-based luxury bootmaker Lucchese has unveiled a new collection in collaboration with the University of Texas Athletics Department. Styles include boots with logos, subtler color-coded boots, a stadium-friendly bag, and even a ridiculously fancy football.

The Bevo boots by Lucchese. Photo courtesy of Lucchese

4. Austin Public Library's used bookstore risks closing in new budget. Recycled Reads, the Austin Public Library’s secondhand bookstore, could shut its doors by spring 2026.

5. Austin steals Houston's claim to the tallest tower in Texas. Texas officially has a new highest tower. The title moves from Houston to Austin via Waterline at 98 Red River St. The new tower will contain mixed-use spaces including apartments, offices, a hotel, restaurants, and retail. It is scheduled to open in full in 2026.