ATX-PFH: Impact 10/31/2025

City leaders are moving forward with a plan to bring new life to Pflugerville’s original downtown blocks, adopting a plan with a focus on future development that balances new growth with preservation.

At its Oct. 28 meeting, Pflugerville City Council adopted the “Energizing the Core: Downtown Pflugerville Study,” a 10-year roadmap focused on revitalizing the corridor that includes Main Street, Pecan Street and Railroad Avenue.

Zooming in: The plan outlines steps to attract new businesses, improve pedestrian access and re-energize the area as a walkable destination.

Under the plan, the city will seek potential tenants or developers for its soon-to-be-vacated buildings at 100 E. Main, 100 W. Main and 105 E. Pecan streets in early 2026.

Despite an increase to state funding due to new legislation for the 2025-26 school year, Hutto ISD is still projecting a $3.5 million budget shortfall, district staff said in October. 

What you need to know: In the 89th Legislative Session, lawmakers passed House Bill 2, which included $8.5 billion in additional school funding. 

HISD Chief Financial Officer Caleb Steed presented a budget amendment to the board of trustees Oct. 23 showing that although the district is receiving an increased amount of school funding, an anticipated increase to the homestead exemption and other factors leave the school district in much the same financial position as before.

What's next? The board also approved a one-time retention incentive payment for staff.

Full-time employees hired on or before the start of the 2025-26 school year will receive $500, while employees hired between the start of the 2025-26 school year and Oct. 23 will receive $250. Part-time employees will receive half of these amounts, based on when they began working for the district. 

Since Nov. 7, 2000, at least one person has died on Texas roads every day, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. As the Lone Star State nears 25 years of daily traffic deaths, officials at all levels of government are investing in new roadway safety projects and encouraging Texas drivers to do their part to curb deadly crashes.

The big picture: In the past 25 years, over 91,000 people have died on Texas roads. That is enough people to fill Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, according to TxDOT.

On average, 11 people died daily on Texas roads last year. In 2025, an average of 10 people had died per day as of Sept. 24.

Zooming in: State and local leaders found that the top factors in severe crashes include:

• Impaired driving
• High speeds
• Distracted driving
• Pedestrian and cyclist safety
• Lack of seatbelt use
• Roadway or lane departures
• Wrong-way driving

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.”