The Junction, an entertainment venture by Georgetown-based Cooley Capital Cos., is approaching a November opening, Cooley Capital partner Matt Marshall told Community Impact.

The 60,000-square-foot facility aims to be a destination for food, drinks, live music, watch parties, pickleball, private events and community gatherings, Marshall said.

About the project: The Junction will offer event, entertainment and dining space including three pickleball courts, private cabanas, multiple full-service bars, a live music stage, a grand dining hall with individual food vendors, and covered decks and patios, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Georgetown-based Sweet Lemon Kitchen and Dough-Go Pizza as well as King's Chicken Wings and Taconmaye will all open in The Junction's dining space. Additional food vendors include JABS Smashburger and Shawarma Point.

The update: Crews are working to finalize construction on the pickleball courts, elevated stage, food stalls, bars, cabanas, interior finishes and permanent power, according to a company news release.

Fall festivities are in full swing. Here are 10 Georgetown events to check out in October.

Ghosts of the Georgetown Square
Hosted by the Williamson Museum, this ghost tour shares tales of haunting spirits and historical events throughout downtown Georgetown.

• Oct. 2-30 (Friday and Saturday), 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• $20 (admission), $15 (museum members)
• 716 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown

Autumn Art Stroll
The Georgetown Art Stroll allows participants to explore the Downtown Cultural District through interactive arts experiences, live music, artist demonstrations and shopping.

• Oct. 16, 4-8 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• Downtown Georgetown

Dia de los Muertos in Downtown Georgetown
The Dia de los Muertos celebration in downtown Georgetown features cultural performances, live music, artisan vendors and a marketplace to honor local history and culture.

• Oct. 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 809 Martin Luther King St., Georgetown

The Texas Education Agency is asking state lawmakers to spend $97.3 billion on K-12 education initiatives and staffing in the next two years, up from about $91 billion in the current state budget.

The details: During a Sept. 29 hearing on the agency's legislative appropriations request, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath noted that the TEA is "largely a pass-through vehicle to fund schools around the state of Texas." This means that while funding would be allocated to the agency under Article III of the state budget, the majority of that money would be sent to school districts, outside of funds used to pay TEA staff and cover operations for associated entities, such as the State Board of Education.

The TEA is asking for about $49.6 billion for fiscal year 2027-28 and $47.7 billion for fiscal year 2028-29, totaling $97.3 billion for the 2028-29 biennium. Morath said those amounts would "preserve 100% of all funding for public schools" through the Foundation School Program, which is the state's main funding source for K-12 schools, and other initiatives.