Georgetown’s first downtown garage opened Nov. 21 on Austin Avenue and Sixth Street, adding 315 parking spaces near the square.

City officials and community members celebrated the garage’s opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The details: The $23.11 million garage has four stories, features a parking guidance system that connects with the city website to show available parking online and is free for the public. Some city offices are also included in the garage, such as the Downtown and Tourism Department.

Two art installations adorn the building—a mural by artist Arcy on the north side of the garage and a 14-foot longhorn sculpture at the office entrance.

What they’re saying: “This is the community’s garage, not City Council’s, not staff's … the entire community has their fingerprints on this garage,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said at the event Nov. 21.

Schroeder also noted that this garage is the first of “several” planned in the downtown area.

Using advanced drone technology, OmegaSkies Aerial Services began providing aerial photos and videos for professional and commercial use in early November.

The Georgetown-based business is owned by Ken Johnson. 

More details: Services offered by OmegaSkies include photography and videography for weddings, marketing, real estate surveying, construction progress, and agriculture.

A new shop selling sports-forward footwear and apparel will open soon at Round Rock's outlet mall.

About the business: The footwear and apparel retailer New Balance will open by the end of November at Round Rock Premium Outlets, according to a Simon Malls representative. It will be located next to the Gap outlet.

• 4401 I-35, Round Rock

Here are the top Community Impact stories in the Austin area from Nov. 17-20.

1. Officials break ground on 60,000-square-foot entertainment complex in Georgetown

2. New Chipotle planned for Georgetown

3. J. Alexander’s to open first Cedar Park location next year

4. Texans again receiving full SNAP benefits, state health department says

5. Russo’s Italian Kitchen closes in Pflugerville months after reopening

6. Bastrop ranchers launch glamping stay with ATV tours, fishing and more

Airport operations at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport have returned to normal following this month’s brief government shutdown, but officials expect heavy traffic as holiday travel ramps up after a record year.

What you should know: Travelers are encouraged to arrive early—2 1/2 hours before domestic flights and three hours for international—and to build in extra time if checking bags, returning rental cars or parking. Individuals can check real-time parking availability or reserve spots in the Blue Garage, Red Garage or Economy lots, though shuttles may see delays.

What else? Allegiant and Frontier passengers should remember that both airlines operate from the separate South Terminal. Flyers can speed up check-in by using mobile boarding passes, kiosks or curbside options. All three TSA checkpoints open at 3 a.m., with PreCheck, Clear and military lanes at Checkpoint 2 West.

On last thing: Travelers can access ADA shuttles, wheelchair assistance through airlines and TSA Cares. Construction tied to the Journey With AUS expansion continues, and an online map helps visitors navigate restaurants, gates and amenities.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is moving forward with a set of permanent rules designed to prohibit the sale of consumable THC products to anyone under 21 years old.

The overview: The proposal is similar to emergency rules adopted Sept. 23, which are currently in effect and prohibit Texas alcohol retailers from selling intoxicating THC products to minors. The state health department adopted similar emergency rules in October.

The context: The existing and proposed THC rules are the result of a September executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott, who called for age restrictions on THC sales and tighter guardrails on the multibillion-dollar industry.

Earlier this month, federal lawmakers approved a ban on most consumable THC products, which is set to take effect in November 2026. The ban is part of a federal funding package that became law Nov. 12, ending a 43-day federal government shutdown.

Next steps: Texans can weigh in on the TABC's proposed permanent rules during a Dec. 11 virtual public hearing or submit written public comments through Jan. 4.