Editor's note: New developments and Fourth of July fireworks lead this round of top stories. Read on for more of the week's most popular headlines.
1. This massive new development will transform The Backyard in Bee Cave. A celebrated Hill Country venue is getting a major transformation. On June 24, entrepreneurs John Paul DeJoria and Christopher Milam held the groundbreaking for The Backyard, a "50-acre fully integrated live-work-play creative corporate campus" off Bee Cave Parkway.
2. The best Fourth of July fireworks shows in Austin and beyond. Celebrate Independence Day with a bang. We've rounded up the best and brightest Fourth of July fireworks displays around town.
3. New nonstop flight takes off from Austin to Caribbean hot spot. Dreaming of a tropical vacation? This new nonstop flight from Austin to the Dominican Republic is for you. Vacation Express will introduce direct service from Austin to Punta Cana in summer 2018.
4. Here's your quick history of Austin's most extreme weather ever. Austin has it all when it comes to weather conditions — punishing heat, prolonged periods of drought followed by intense periods of flooding, dangerous tornadoes, damaging hail, and the occasional snow and ice.
5. New Thai restaurant fills niche in popular South Austin neighborhood. When one door closes, another opens. Krua, a new Thai restaurant, will open this summer in the former Barley Swine space on South Lamar Boulevard.
Austin's thriving telework industry is already known for being among the most prominent in the country, and as it turns out, it's one of the most affordable, too. A recent study by online retailer The Perfect Rug has revealed Austin is the No. 2 cheapest U.S. city center for remote work.
The report ranked the top 10 largest U.S. cities based on population data, the number of coworking spaces and cafes per capita, statewide average internet speeds, average apartment rent prices, and more.
Austin falls second to the far west Texas city of El Paso (No. 1), and is followed by Houston in the No. 3 spot.
When it comes to finding the best place to work remotely, Austin has an abundance of options including coffee shops, coworking spaces, and local library branches. According to the report's data, there are about six coworking spaces and 26 cafes per capita in the city, but Austinites know best that there is a much wider variety of places to work from "home" than whatever number a study determines.
The average internet speed in Texas is 425.9 mbps (megabits per second), which is the fourth-highest internet speed out of the six total states (and the District of Columbia) mentioned in the study. Pennsylvania, Washington, and Washington, D.C. all have faster average internet speeds, at 430.8, 451, and 473.8 mpbs, respectively.
The Perfect Rug also calculated the average costs for meals, coffee, and monthly rent in Austin:
"On the other hand, cities like Washington, D.C., and Seattle, while more expensive, compensate with faster internet speeds and a higher density of workspaces, which can enhance the remote work experience," the spokesperson said. "Finding the right balance between cost and amenities is key for remote workers seeking both productivity and affordability."
Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio ranked as the fifth most affordable city for teleworkers, followed by Dallas (No. 7).
The top 10 cheapest U.S. cities for remote workers are:
