The American Red Cross of Central and South Texas is working to open a new regional headquarters in East Austin.

The big picture: The new center is expected to help the nonprofit better meet a growing need for blood donations, further support military families and veterans, and provide faster, more efficient responses during natural disasters and emergencies, American Red Cross officials said at a groundbreaking event Oct. 29.

In thier own words: “We want this building to be that center of resilience,” said Reihaneh Hajibeigi, chief development officer at the American Red Cross of Central and South Texas. “If something happens in their community, their partners are here reading to take care of them in a moment’s notice.”

The details: The $13 million regional headquarters is expected to open by late 2026 to early 2027 at the nonprofit's former office space off Pershing Drive, Hajibeigi, said.

Why it matters: The 15,000-square-foot facility will allow the organization to collect blood and platelet donations on-site for the first time, Hajibeigi said.

Located at Carpenter Hotel in South Central Austin, Carpenters Hall has planted roots as a space for travelers, neighbors and beyond to taste Southern-inspired cooking.

The background: General manager of Carpenter Hotel, Abbey Tillman said the hotel and restaurant space were previously known as a union hall building for local Austin carpenters. Some carpenters walk in and reminisce about the times they attended meetings at the building.

Lillie Frankowski, Carpenter Hotel Food and Beverage General Manager, said the restaurant has established an ambiance of community where individuals can make meaningful connections while enjoying a tasty meal.

“The atmosphere of the restaurant is just communal in a way without it being like you’re sitting with a bunch of people you don’t know,” Frankowski said. “It has that wholesome feeling while still having an intimate vibe.”

On the menu: The restaurant recently launched a new dinner menu in September which features slow-cooked meals including Duck Confit Carnitas, smoked options, grilled and preserved bites.

• 400 Josephine St., Austin

Texas is the nation’s largest energy producer, leading other U.S. states in both natural gas production and renewable energy generation, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows. Yet as people, businesses and data centers continue to move to the state, experts say Texas leaders need to harness new strategies to make energy more affordable and ensure the state power grid remains reliable.

The details: Amid high inflation nationwide, energy prices are on the rise in Texas, and residents are feeling the strain, experts said at the Texas Energy Summit, which ran from Nov. 4-6 in Austin.

In a June 2025 report, the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, a nonprofit research organization, found that 65% of low-income Texans recently engaged in “energy-limiting behaviors,” such as turning off their air conditioning to reduce electric bills or underheating their homes in the winter. 

What they're saying: Experts said state lawmakers and officials could invest in energy efficiency and residential demand response programs to tackle affordability and grid reliability issues.