Austin City Council approved a resolution directing city staff to work with regional transportation agencies to prioritize safety, walking, biking and transit in proposed Parmer Lane improvements amid concerns that a plan to convert the corridor into a multilane highway could increase traffic, noise and pollution.

The background: For several years, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Texas Department of Transportation have been collaborating to recommend potential improvements for the section of Parmer Lane west of MoPac as part of the CAMPO Project Readiness Program.

One proposal revealed from the corridor study was converting Parmer Lane, between RM 1431 and MoPac, into a four-lane highway with four frontage road lanes north of SH 45, and two highway lanes plus six frontage road lanes south of SH 45.

The issue: The recommendation prompted backlash from transportation advocacy groups and nearby neighbors and business owners, citing that converting the road into a highway would make it more dangerous, increase noise and pollution and make it more difficult to walk, bike and use public transit.

Austin Futsal League has a new facility near the Bryson neighborhood in Leander.

What they offer: The business has opened registration for its kick-off tournament, league and camp. These programs will begin at various times throughout December and are open to girls and boys.

All levels of experience are welcome to join the league's camp, which runs from Dec. 28-30.

The league’s camps tend to cater to younger players who are enrolled in elementary or middle school. Leagues are open to students in third grade and up.

The details: Futsal is a variant of soccer that is played on a hard surface indoors with five players per side instead of 11.

• 401 S. Chitalpa St., Unit 250, Leander

In July, Texas' top elected officials directed most state agencies, appellate courts and public universities to cut spending by 3% in their base budget requests for the next two years.

The overview: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said those reductions will help Texas hold a "strong fiscal position" by expanding property tax relief and maintaining public education funding when the legislature returns to Austin next year.

The issue: Dozens of agency leaders have warned that the cuts, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, are not sustainable. They would cause Texas residents to lose "essential" services and lead to losses in state revenue, leaders said at the capitol and in budget documents.

Government institutions protesting the budget reductions include the comptroller's office, the attorney general, Texas' Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, state criminal justice agencies and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Read trending stories from the Austin area Oct. 19-23.

1. Hopdoddy Burger Bar announces opening date for Pflugerville location

2. Austin airport likely to see busy travel days surrounding Formula 1 Race

3. Monument Cafe opens beer garden and market in Georgetown

4. Major McCarty Lane developments gain opening timeline clarity

5. SH 71 update: Where 3 Bastrop County projects stand

6. New Chipotle location coming soon to Cedar Park