Kyle City Council on Nov. 18 voted unanimously, with Mayor Travis Mitchell and Mayor Pro Tem Bear Heiser absent, to approve a multimillion-dollar expansion for wastewater treatment as the city continues to grow.

What it means: The vote adds $12.3 million to the city’s existing contract with STV Engineering, the architectural firm responsible for managing the facility expansion, bringing the total to $30.1 million and authorizing the start of Phase 2 expansion.

Why it matters: According to Mike Murphy, director of water utilities, the new funding will double the plant's daily treatment capacity from 4.5 million gallons per day to 6 million gallons per day by November 2026 and to 9 million gallons by September 2028.

Discover ways to give back in San Marcos, Buda and Kyle. Find volunteer and donation opportunities supporting children, animals, and the environment.

Help children at Austin Angels
The founding chapter of the National Angels network offers consistent and intentional support.
Sample activities: support needs such as meals, household essentials, babysitting, tutoring, mentorship
Donations accepted: monetary and gift cards

• 401 FM 967, Buda

• 601 University Drive, San Marcos

• 500 FM 150 East, Kyle; 2965 FM 165, Dripping Springs

Check out these Austin-area holiday events in November and December, featuring an array of activities for the whole family. Community members can shop from local businesses at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar, decorate holiday cookies, sit in on festive storytimes, watch various light shows and more. 

This list is not comprehensive and events are subject to change. 

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
The show based on the “Peanuts” special will feature a pay-what-you-wish weekend, markets and an ASL night.

• Nov. 7-Dec. 28, showtimes vary by date
• $21-$31
• 1421 W. Riverside Drive, Austin

Google is targeting Texas for future investments in data and artificial infrastructure, with $40 billion expected to be spent on adding three new data centers.

Federal, state and local leaders announced the new centers to be constructed in Armstrong and Haskell counties at a Nov. 14 event at the first Texas Google Data Center in Midlothian, near the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The gist: One new data center will be constructed in Armstrong County near Amarillo, and two new data centers will be constructed in Haskell County near Abilene. One center in Haskell County will also use a new solar and battery energy storage plant.

“They say that everything is bigger in Texas—and that certainly applies to the golden opportunity with AI,” Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said.

Also of note: The driverless car company Waymo is expanding to North Texas in 2026, Pichai said.