The Austin ISD board of trustees voted to close 10 campuses next school year at a Nov. 20 meeting.

What's happening: The board’s vote comes nine months after the district began discussing consolidating campuses to address failed state ratings, reduce a $110 budget shortfall and combat an ongoing decline in enrollment.

The board also approved turnaround plans to provide intervention at 14 additional failing campuses, which may involve restaffing the schools with new teachers and principals as well as providing extra support staff and academic resources.

What you need to know: AISD will close eight elementary schools and two middle schools next school year. Seven of these campuses have received three consecutive F ratings from the Texas Education Agency and require state-mandated intervention through turnaround plans.

The school-wide dual language programs at Becker and Ridgetop elementaries, which are closing, and Reilly Elementary will relocate and be introduced as two-way dual language programs at Sanchez, Pickle and Wooten elementaries.

In total, 3,796 students will be reassigned, and 6,319 vacant seats will be eliminated.

Investment firm Karlin Real Estate is looking to transform two former 3M campuses in Northwest Austin into mixed-use communities with multifamily, retail, green space and more.

What's happening?: Manufacturing and tech company 3M previously occupied a 57-acre campus off Research Boulevard, "Duval," that was later rezoned to allow for mixed uses. 3M also previously occupied a campus off River Place Boulevard, now known as Highpoint 2222.

The features: Developers are seeking a variety of mixed-uses at Highpoint 2222, which could include:

• 1.1 million square feet of office and lab space, already delivered
• Up to 65,000 square feet of retail
• Up to 1,250 multifamily homes reaching 4 stories
• Up to 9 acres of green space

Hundreds of new units were cleared for construction during the initial year of the Home Ownership for Middle-income Empowerment, or HOME, initiative's first phase allowing for more housing on single-family lots.

The details: The effects of the new policy are already being felt around Austin, although more time may be needed to determine its clear outcomes on housing affordability, resident displacement, public infrastructure and the environment, according to city reporting.

City Council required annual reporting on HOME's impacts when the land-use update was approved in late 2023. During its first year in effect, from February 2024 through February 2025, the city approved plans for more than 400 new housing units, including many projects featuring multiple homes on a property.

The city's first in-depth analysis, released Nov. 19, suggests HOME is "beginning to achieve its intended objectives without triggering widespread negative impacts." However, city staff wrote that further annual reviews are likely needed before drawing conclusions about HOME's potential success or consequences.

Airport operations at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport have returned to normal following this month’s brief government shutdown, but officials expect heavy traffic as holiday travel ramps up after a record year.

What you should know: Travelers are encouraged to arrive early—2 1/2 hours before domestic flights and three hours for international—and to build in extra time if checking bags, returning rental cars or parking. Individuals can check real-time parking availability or reserve spots in the Blue Garage, Red Garage or Economy lots, though shuttles may see delays.

What else? Allegiant and Frontier passengers should remember that both airlines operate from the separate South Terminal. Flyers can speed up check-in by using mobile boarding passes, kiosks or curbside options. All three TSA checkpoints open at 3 a.m., with PreCheck, Clear and military lanes at Checkpoint 2 West.

On last thing: Travelers can access ADA shuttles, wheelchair assistance through airlines and TSA Cares. Construction tied to the Journey With AUS expansion continues, and an online map helps visitors navigate restaurants, gates and amenities.