Austin Water crews are cleaning up a wastewater spill caused by an equipment failure at a public lift station in Pflugerville that sent an estimated 198,000 gallons of domestic wastewater into a tributary of Gilliland Creek.

What residents should know: The overflow was discovered at about 9:50 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at a lift station near 13625 Coomer Path and was stopped later that morning, according to Austin Water.

During cleanup, crews determined the spill had traveled downstream to the Cameron Road crossing, where a fish kill was observed.

Crime trends and traffic safety improved in parts of Hutto in 2025, according to a quarterly police report that highlights both enforcement gains and growing demands on officers.

The local impact: Police Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough presented a quarterly update to City Council on Dec. 18, outlining staffing levels, crime trends and enforcement strategies aimed at addressing community concerns.

Here are the top Community Impact stories in the Austin area from Dec. 22-25.

1. Tunnels complete for Lake Travis deep-water intake project

2. Check out these 9 Austin-area restaurants open on Christmas Day

3. Check out these new and coming soon Georgetown-area businesses

4. Billboard on Bee Caves Road set for January court case

5. Cinemark Stone Hill Town Center upgrade coming soon

6. Austin sees 46% drop in pedestrian crashes after left-turn safety pilot

With digital technology now integrated into much of everyday life, many studies have shown that the use of smartphones, social media and online gaming take up hours of Americans’ daily routine.

While these devices have transformed how people communicate, work and relax, their widespread use has prompted growing discussions about excessive use, technology dependence and the benefits of disconnecting.

What's happening: According to the Center for Internet & Technology Addiction, 85% of Americans go online daily and, in a survey, 31% of American adults say they’re online “almost constantly.”

Today, the World Health Organization recognizes a type of technology addiction known as “gaming disorder,” which is on its official disease classification list. Furthermore, the WHO has signaled that problematic use of social media has been associated with less sleep, potentially impacting adolescents’ overall health and academic performance.

As these issues gain more public recognition, organizations such as Omega Recovery in Austin are offering programs to help people gain control over their digital habits.

2026 is a big election year in Texas. Voters will see 18 statewide races, all congressional seats, most state legislative seats and a variety of local positions on the ballot.

The overview: The Republican and Democratic primary elections will be held March 3, and the midterm election is set for Nov. 3.

Texas holds primaries for all partisan elected positions, such as state officials; state and federal lawmakers; and county judges, commissioners and justices of the peace. Third-party candidates, including independents, Libertarian Party candidates and Green Party candidates, have separate election processes will not be listed on the primary ballots in March. Eligible candidates representing various parties will appear on the November ballot.

Looking back: All statewide offices on the ballot are currently held by Republicans, although some are not running for reelection. No Democrat or third-party candidate has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, election records show.

Check out the full article for more details on election processes and an overview of state-level races.