Ahead of a $20.2 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2025-26, Leander ISD administration has put forth three possible cost-saving pathways that could include closing down and repurposing Cypress, Faubion and Steiner Ranch elementary schools next year.
Despite a public school funding bill that sent $8.5 billion to Texas school districts, the bill requires the money be spent largely on teacher salary raises, school safety mandates and special education allotments.
“House Bill 2 just passed, and that money, as great as it was ... it was money that we had to spend in certain areas,” Chief Financial Officer Pete Pape said. “It wasn’t money to help with the deficit; it wasn’t money to help in any other areas.”
Grassroots efforts such as Save Cypress Elementary, Fight for Faubion and Speak Up for Steiner Ranch have formed in light of the potential closures, and LISD students and parents have packed school board meetings over the last several months in an effort to keep their schools open.
Check out these 20 new nonstop destinations from Austin’s airport
In August, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport announced a series of new destinations and nonstop flights beginning this fall to locations both nationally and around the globe.
International
Amsterdam, Netherlands: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Calgary, Alberta: WestJet
Cancún, Mexico: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines
Frankfurt, Germany: Lufthansa
London, United Kingdom: British Airways
and more.
Domestic
Fort Lauderdale, Florida: JetBlue Airways, new service starts Nov. 20
Fort Myers, Florida: Southwest Airlines, new nonstop service starts March 2026
San Diego, California: Alaska Airlines, increased frequency starts Jan. 7
San Francisco, California: Southwest Airlines, new service started Aug. 5
and more
Find details on nonstop flights and services on the airport's website, and visit individual airline websites for ticketing information.
Italian-based Caracol opens U.S. headquarters in Pflugerville
The Italian-based advanced manufacturing company Caracol opened its U.S. headquarters in Pflugerville this month. The overview Caracol is an industrial 3D printer manufacturer that works with aerospace, construction, automotive, railway and other industries. The 10,000-square-foot facility production center in Pflugerville triples the company’s space for systems productions and application development, according to a news release.
The company’s Heron AM robotic platform prints parts in composite material with no shape or scale limits, while its Vipra AM system prints metal parts for various industrial machinery. Caracol’s new location also includes space to develop special projects for local manufacturing companies, providing access to the company’s engineering services, materials and product testings.
Oscar-winning composer Justin Hurwitz brings La La Land to life in Austin
Mark your calendars—theater lovers and romantics alike can look forward to a special screening and live performance of the 2016 Academy Award-winning film La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
The details: The movie follows the story of a promising pianist and aspiring actress who cross paths and fall in love.
The performance will bring the film’s soundtrack to life with a full orchestra and jazz band, conducted by Oscar-winning composer Justin Hurwitz. Audiences can experience the movie on the big screen while hearing its iconic musical moments—including dynamic piano solos—performed live.
Hurwitz, both composer and screenwriter, is recognized for his longtime collaboration with director Damien Chazelle. He has composed the scores for many of Chazelle’s films, including Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, Whiplash, La La Land, First Man and Babylon.
Tickets are currently on sale for a Valentine’s Day showing, Feb. 14, 2026, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Bass Concert Hall.
