Rapid Ric has pushed more product than Stringer Bell. After a prolific run of underground releases, the Mixtape Mechanic finally dropped his proper debut this year, Whut It Dew: The Album, a cameo-studded effort that's a literal highlight reel for Texas hip-hop. Rapic Ric also produced the video for “PLP,” featuring Lil' Boosie and Gerald G.

After several sheets of glass fell out of the W Hotel and Residencies, owners Stratus Properties have announced that the hotel will remain closed while repairs are undertaken. However, ACL Live at the Moody Theater has confirmed that, except for tonight's Wine Down Wednesday, their shows will continue unchanged.

If you read Wednesday Rewind recently, you would have seen the staff of Waterloo Records scratch their heads over black metal band logos in the Record Store Olympics. But how do actual purveyors of super-heavy music do when faced with the same challenge?

With the special session winding down, and the Senate calling Sine Die, a major shuffle in the Democratic caucus has been announced: Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, is replacing San Antonio's Sen. Leticia Van de Putte as Democratic leader in the upper chamber.

You know the Texas motel in Bottle Rocket where the three bumbling criminals hole up and Anthony falls in love with the comely housekeeper Inez? Yeah, that motel's real, and it's in real danger of closing.

Formula One is receiving the lion's share of attention at council's special called meeting tomorrow, the first with Kathie Tovo on the dais. But a potential development deal with hotel builders White Lodging is also up, a proposal that's already created fault lines on the council.

A crowd of Texas immigrant and civil rights organizations rallied together on the steps of the capitol to protest anti-immigrant and anti-Latino legislation last Monday. Rally participants were demanding a halt to the construction of the Karnes County Civil Detention Facility.

First there was music, then film, then interactive, then education, and now SXSW is getting more environmentally aware with the launch of SXSW Eco this October.

Kathie Tovo will hit the ground running: A work session Wednesday takes up the Richard Suttle double-header of Formula One and a potential $4 million fee waiver deal with White Lodging to build a convention center hotel Downtown. But she has to be sworn in first, and that’s taking place tomorrow at City Hall.