The Pease Park Conservancy is expanding its operations and maintenance responsibilities to cover the entire 84-acre Pease District Park, Austin's oldest public green space.

What happened: Following a unanimous recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board, the Austin City Council approved the updated agreement Nov. 5.

Under the new phase plan, the conservancy takes over lead responsibilities from the city parks department, including:

• Facilities maintenance

• Programming, concessions and volunteering coordination

• Trash and other waste collection

• Graffiti abatement

• Expanded public engagement related to the park

The nonprofit will also lead proposed park improvements, starting with a comprehensive signage plan running into 2027.

The agreement is expected to save the city money and offset staff workload, and includes no city dollars for upcoming expenses that'll be covered through private funding.

The history: Frances Lala opened Lala’s Little Nugget in 1972, bringing holiday nostalgia to the Crestview neighborhood. FBR Management assumed ownership in 2015 after Lala experienced health complications in her 80s.

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere: The bar features a rotating cocktail menu, a scratch-made eggnog and a gingerbread man shot. A weekday Jolly Hour runs from 4-7 p.m.

Craving pizza?: FBR Management added a patio, extra bathrooms and food. The bar serves Pedroso’s Pizza Tuesday-Sunday, offering American or New York style pizzas, salads, appetizers and cannolis.

Did you know?: There are three theories behind the year-round decorations: Lala put them back up in January because the bar felt bare; her husband left her on Christmas; or she vowed not to take them down until her son returned from the Vietnam War.

In their own words: Co-owner Max Moreland said, “It's something Frances created and we're just thrilled to continue her legacy.”

Texas' first female lieutenant governor, Austin state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, held her first news conference since the election on Nov. 10 in Austin.

What happened: Goodwin, a Democrat, also announced her political transition team, which is led by lobbyist Angela Hale and outgoing state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie.

The team, which includes four former state senators—two Democrats and two Republicans—will help prepare Goodwin to take over as lieutenant governor in January and work with state senators.

"My focus right now is sitting down with each senator, many of whom I worked with while in the House, to talk about their individual priorities and how we can work together so they can represent their districts," Goodwin told reporters Nov. 10.

More context: Goodwin will preside over the Republican-majority Texas Senate. How much power she will have over the chamber is largely up to senators, who will approve new Senate rules when the legislature convenes Jan. 12.