The Austin City Council authorized a 6.89-acre acquisition near RM 2222 to expand the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve.

The gist: The city will pay $3.68 million for the Northwest Austin property, which connects with the existing Bright Leaf Preserve.

The acquisition is aimed at fire prevention and ecological preservation. According to city staff, the purchase will limit the expansion of the wildland-urban interface, protect floodplain and natural habitats, and simplify public land management. The transaction is funded through a city land acquisition fund created in 2024.

The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve is a roughly 50-square-mile conservation area managed by a variety of local entities. The newly acquired land will be managed as part of the preserve by Austin Water's Wildlands Conservation Division.

Incumbent Candace Hunter has been reelected to the Austin ISD board of trustees while newcomers Jessica Neufeld, Sarah Dille and Laurie Solis win seats for districts four, six and seven, respectively.

What else: The district's at-large position will head into a runoff in December, between candidates Pamela Mathai and Cynthia Soliz.

Mathai holds 42.9% of votes while Soliz holds 42.8%, according to Travis County unofficial results. Candidates must receive more than 50% of the vote to win.

What's next: Runoff elections will be held on Dec. 12, according to the Texas Secretary of State.

All results are unofficial until canvassed.

A guide to Austin-area Christmas tree farms highlights eight local options for harvesting or purchasing pre-cut trees in 2026:

• Elgin Christmas Tree Farm in Elgin offers choose-and-cut pine and Cypress, plus pre-cut Fraser Fir, starting Nov. 21.
• Pipe Creek Christmas Tree Farm in Pipe Creek features choose-and-cut Afghan Pine, Leyland Cypress and Arizona Cypress, alongside pre-cut and living trees, starting Nov. 23.
• Evergreen Farms in Elgin opens Nov. 27 with Virginia Pine, Leyland Cypress, Arizona Cypress and pre-cut options.
• Jenschke Orchards in Fredericksburg sells choose-and-cut trees and pre-cut Noble, Nordmann and Douglas Firs starting Nov. 27.
• Lee County Christmas Trees in Lincoln offers choose-and-cut Virginia Pines and Murray Cypresses starting Nov. 27.
• Grigsby Farms in Salado provides fresh-cut Fraser Firs and handmade wreaths starting Nov. 27.
• Brungot Farms in Cedar Park supplies Fraser Fir wreaths, trees, stands, lights and delivery starting Nov. 22.
• Sweet Eats Farm in Georgetown offers choose-and-cut Murray Cypress and pre-cut Fraser and Douglas Firs starting Nov. 28.