ATX-SBK: Impact 10/30/2025

Hays CISD campuses will undergo a 2025-26 district improvement plan aimed at enhancing student success and career, college or military readiness.

The gist: The HCISD board of trustees approved the district improvement plan, or DIP, at an Oct. 27 meeting, with outlined goals and action steps, including:

• Student achievement
• Safety and security
• Community, parent and staff relations

Proof Liquor and Deli is celebrating 10 years of liquor, wine, food and community in Buda throughout October—culminating with a celebration on Oct. 30.

What they offer: In addition to craft beer, liquors and wines, Proof also serves deli sandwiches, house-made soups and chicken salad. Additionally, the business offers tailgate packages and tastings.

What else? Owners John and Rebecca Hatch will host the anniversary celebration at 5 p.m., with product tastings, snacks and prizes.

• 3420 RM 967, Ste. B-107, Buda

Travis County officials approved a $124,953 feasibility study Oct. 21 to explore a potential commuter rail line between Austin and San Antonio.

The big picture: Championed by Travis County Judge Andy Brown, the study will examine passenger rail options along state-managed land near highways, potentially connecting the Amtrak station in San Antonio to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Brown said the goal is to use existing corridors like SH 130 and I-10 to avoid major land acquisition and speed up development.

Why it matters: Brown said a rail line could remove up to 25% of I-35 traffic between the two cities as the corridor’s population—projected to reach 8 million by 2050—continues to grow. The study will run 175 days and include engineering, ridership and cost analyses.

Zooming out: The project complements a separate TxDOT study reviewing 11 alternatives along I-35, including commuter rail and multimodal lanes. Rail ranked as the top community preference in 2024 public feedback sessions.

The overview: As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, has relaunched as the InCIder.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

Event details: As part of the relaunch, Community Impact will host its first-ever InCIder Hour, a new event aimed at celebrating and engaging the company’s supporters.

The event, open to InCIders only, will take place Nov. 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Community Impact Headquarters, 16225 Impact Way, Pflugerville.

Guests will have the opportunity to network with fellow InCIders, meet Community Impact staff and attend a featured conversation with legislative reporter Hannah Norton, moderated by Garrett.

“Our first event needed to start where all the hard work is put together,” Garrett said. “People are blown away when they see our operation. To be able to sit and chat with the best legislative reporter in Texas, Hannah Norton, makes it an event our InCIder friends deserve and hopefully will enjoy.”