Pflugerville ISD officials broke ground Nov. 18 on what will be the district's central career and technical education facility near Killingsworth Lane. 

Remember this?: The facility is funded by the 2022 bond. 

What happened: Students, administrators and district officials held a ceremony to mark the start of work to construct a career and technical education facility to provide hands-on education preparing students for enrollment in higher education, employment upon graduation or enlistment in the military. 

Happy Panini celebrated its five-year anniversary Oct. 20 after growing from a food truck into a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Chris Auditore, who runs the business with his family, said customer support helped the restaurant exceed its original five-year plan by moving into a permanent location sooner than expected.

What they're saying: As the business continues to grow, Auditore said its mission remains rooted in consistency and community connection.

“We have great food, and we serve it from the heart," Auditore said. "My wife and I are here every day, giving people something we care about and sharing it from our table to theirs.”

The details: The restaurant continues to serve a menu anchored by customer favorites, such as chicken and beef paninis, and pasta dishes.

The company is now preparing for its next phase, with plans to open a second location in 2026 and a third soon after, with long-term goals to franchise the brand.

• 202 Farley St., Hutto

Austin Jeweler Korman celebrated the grand opening of The Jewel House, a new three-story space off North Lamar in late October.

The details: Since 1973, the Austin jewelry store has featured a hand-curated selection of designer jewelry and watches.

The new space, set among mature live oaks and overlooking Shoal Creek, brings new life to the former University Cyclery building. The Jewel House also features an intimate bridal salon for couples seeking a personal and private experience, according to a news release, in addition to a Rolex Service Center and private viewing rooms.

Meet the owners: Korman has been independently owned and operated for over 50 years with owners Kat and Larry Stokes taking over in 2018. The company is also a member of the Longhorn Business Network.

Quote of note: Co-owner Kat Stokes said The Jewel House is their homage to Austin.

“Restoring this building and bringing it back to life as a vibrant community space has been a dream realized,” Stokes said in the release.

• 2901 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin

Heart Hospital of Austin is aiming to provide preventative health care to a growing number of working professionals in Central Texas.

What happened: Officials with the St. David’s cardiovascular hospital celebrated the opening of an expanded clinic for its Executive Wellness program at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 17.

In their own words: “Our Executive Wellness program is designed for the busy professional who wants to prioritize their health without disrupting their schedules,” said Brett Matens, Heart Hospital of Austin CEO.

How it works: Through the Executive Wellness program, patients may receive a comprehensive health analysis in one day by undergoing a series of tests and examinations. Many patients visit the Executive Wellness clinic as a benefit offered through their employers, Matens said. 

The impact: The $1.6 million expansion has doubled the program’s capacity to serve patients, now seeing up to six patients in a day and up to 120 patients in one month, Heart Hospital of Austin Director Cara Rivas said.

Texas cannot use its newly redrawn congressional map in the 2026 election, an El Paso federal court ruled Nov. 18.

The details: The state must instead use the congressional map that Texas lawmakers drew in 2021, after the 2020 census. 

“The public perception of this case is that it’s about politics,” U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown wrote in the Nov. 18 preliminary injunction. “To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 map. But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map.”

What they're saying: Texas Republican leaders said they would “swiftly appeal” the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. If the court takes up the case, its justices will be pressed for time ahead of the Dec. 8 deadline for candidates to apply to run in the March primary elections.

Texas Democrats celebrated the Nov. 18 ruling as "very good news for Texans."