Austin voters rejected Proposition I, a proposed mandate for recurring independent assessments of city government operations, by a 10-point margin.

The details: Despite the failure of the Save Austin Now-backed measure, an existing multi-year comprehensive efficiency review authorized by City Council remains in progress. The program is taking place under a $5.23 million contract with Public Works LLC, and the firm has started its preliminary reviews of Austin's government:

• Year 1: General fund departments providing public-facing services, including public safety, public health, homeless strategy, housing and planning, parks, library, animal services, and arts and culture

• Year 2: Enterprise and support services departments, including aviation, transportation and public works, watershed protection, convention center, financial services, City Council and city management

• Year 3: Utility departments, including Austin Energy, Austin Water and Austin Resource Recovery

Initial public reporting from Public Works is anticipated during a January presentation to council members.

Austin ISD is exploring Senate Bill 1882 partnerships for Dobie Middle School and Linder and Pecan Springs elementary schools, according to a district calendar notice.

In an SB 1882 partnership, an outside nonprofit, charter or university runs a campus. In exchange, the district gets extra state funding and a two-year pause on state intervention, according to the Texas Education Agency.

What’s happening: AISD held feedback meetings at Linder and Dobie this week. A virtual information session for all three school communities is set for 11 a.m. Oct. 31. Any partnership would need trustee approval and TEA’s sign-off.

The backstory: This is the district’s second SB 1882 effort this year. TEA denied benefits for an earlier partnership with the Texas Council for International Studies at Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools in May. The deal ended in July.

Why it matters: Under state law, a fifth consecutive failing rating requires the education commissioner to close the campus or replace the elected school board. Burnet and Webb each received a fifth straight F in August.

Why it matters: Founder Allan Cole launched Every Body Jams in May 2026 to create an inclusive music school for performers of all ages, experience levels and physical limitations. Cole, who has young onset Parkinson's disease, started playing bass guitar at age 55.

How it works: Located in East Austin, the school offers several personalized instruction options including:

• Weekly private lessons on drums, guitar, bass, keyboard or vocals for $400 per month

• An additional instrument for $150 per month

• A 16-week Rocklab program for an additional $100, where students learn to play together and perform in a showcase

• A band coaching program starting at $375 for a two-hour session

• Audition coaching and songwriting lessons

Looking ahead: In December, Every Body Jams will launch Rocklab Foundations, a new program catered toward students who have never played before or have not played in several years.

Check out businesses that are now open, coming soon, relocating, in the news or are closing in downtown Austin.

Now Open

• Nobody's Business

• The Bins

Coming soon

• The Charles Oyster House

Relocations

• Bar Peached

Closings

• Marlow

• Garbo's

• Saturn Cocktail Club

• Zucchini Kill Bakery

• Wheatsville Food Co-Op

Austin City Council approved a resolution directing city staff to work with regional transportation agencies to prioritize safety, walking, biking and transit in proposed Parmer Lane improvements amid concerns that a plan to convert the corridor into a multilane highway could increase traffic, noise and pollution.

The background: For several years, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Texas Department of Transportation have been collaborating to recommend potential improvements for the section of Parmer Lane west of MoPac as part of the CAMPO Project Readiness Program.

One proposal revealed from the corridor study was converting Parmer Lane, between RM 1431 and MoPac, into a four-lane highway with four frontage road lanes north of SH 45, and two highway lanes plus six frontage road lanes south of SH 45.

The issue: The recommendation prompted backlash from transportation advocacy groups and nearby neighbors and business owners, citing that converting the road into a highway would make it more dangerous, increase noise and pollution and make it more difficult to walk, bike and use public transit.

St. David’s HealthCare CEO David Huffstutler will retire in March 2027, the health system announced Oct. 15.

What we know: Huffstutler has led the system, the fourth-largest private employer in the Austin area, since February 2011. The system grew from 60 sites of care to more than 200 in Central Texas during his tenure, per the announcement. It now has nine hospitals. He will stay on as president and CEO through March and is also president of HCA Healthcare’s Central and West Texas Division.

What’s next: HCA Healthcare, the system’s hospital operating partner, is searching nationwide for his successor and expects to announce a choice in the next few months.