Austin established a new public review process when city parks are targeted for eminent domain proceedings by other entities, including local school districts like Austin ISD that have moved to condemn areas like playgrounds on city-owned parkland.

The details: Under longstanding city policy, the condemnation of public parkland could take place without City Council sign-off or public review. New rules adopted Aug. 27 add more protections to manage any future condemnation proceedings, and offset potential impacts on public parks access.

What else: Separately, the city is also working to improve coordination between Austin and local school districts that may be shutting down campuses. The move came as Austin ISD school closure plans advanced earlier this year, and city staff are continuing to evaluate how those sites are being used and whether Austin could partner future redevelopments.

1 Hotel Austin officially opened on Sept. 3 along Waterloo Greenway’s The Confluence in downtown. The hotel brings 252 guest rooms, restaurants, a wellness spa and additional amenities, according to a news release.

In a nutshell: Included in the hotel’s 252 guest rooms are 60 luxury suites. Rooms feature views of Lady Bird Lake, Waller Creek and the downtown Austin skyline, according to the release. In-room amenities include robes, slippers, yoga mats and a mini bar stocked with local light bites and beverages.

Main course: The hotel houses several food and beverage destinations including Alteño Austin, watr and Neighbors Café and Wine Bar. 

What to expect: For wellness offerings, guests can head to Bamford Wellness Spa, founded by Carole Bamford. Available spa treatments include facials, massages and sugar scrub. 

The hotel also has a gym with one-on-one training, group classes and yoga. All guests receive a first-time day pass to Monroe, a private members club with personal training, physical therapy, a sauna, steam room and cold plunge. 

• 96 Red River St., Austin

Three candidates are running to lead the Texas Department of Agriculture in the Nov. 3 election.

The details: Libertarian Austin R. Kelly, Republican Nate Sheets and Democrat Clayton Tucker are vying to become Texas' next commissioner of agriculture. The commissioner's duties include regulating agriculture, administering nutrition programs and providing rural economic development assistance.

How we got here: There is no incumbent in this race after Sheets beat sitting Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in the March Republican primary. Tucker ran uncontested in the March Democratic primary, while Kelly was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

The winner of the November midterm will be sworn in to succeed Miller in January.

Looking ahead: Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30 in the midterm election, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

Several transportation projects across the Austin metro are moving forward, with new construction, funding and schedule updates.

The details: Hays County secured more than $39 million in federal funding for a planned $49 million Centerpoint Road overpass over the Union Pacific Railroad crossing. The project is in the right-of-way acquisition and final design stages.

In Pflugerville, construction on Parkway Drive is expected to begin in mid-September following City Council’s approval of a $3.1 million construction contract. Work is scheduled through July 2027.

The MoPac South expansion in Austin is now estimated to cost $1.3 billion, an increase of more than $400 million. The project would add express lanes and shared-use paths between Cesar Chavez Street and Slaughter Lane.

Meanwhile, Round Rock’s Red Bud Lane North widening remains on schedule despite weather delays. Construction also continues on Cedar Park’s Toro Grande Boulevard improvements. In Buda, final asphalt paving has begun on Middle Creek Drive following substantial completion in August.