Austin ISD is delaying its first round of boundary recommendations until September as the district seeks more reliable enrollment data, officials shared Aug. 11.

The details: AISD had planned to release draft recommendations Aug. 7 but says recent changes have complicated planning. Phase one will focus on urgent overcrowding concerns, a new attendance zone for Marshall Middle School and campuses affected by recent consolidations. 
The district plans an Aug. 29 feedback open house at Marshall, followed by meetings Sept. 14 and 16. Recommendations are expected in September, with a board vote in October.

What’s next: The broader districtwide process begins in January 2027, with phase two engagement in spring and districtwide changes expected in fall 2028. 
AISD said the added time could help the district base recommendations on current enrollment rather than summer estimates, while giving families more opportunity to understand and respond to proposed changes.

As parents prepare to send students back to school, the Texas Department of Agriculture is focusing on how to feed them with locally grown food.

Dig deeper: The department, led by Commissioner Sid Miller, established the Farm Fresh Network in 2010 to bring ingredients from local producers to school cafeterias across the state. The network is a digital database of Texas farmers, ranchers, distributors and producers who are interested in selling to schools, child and adult care facilities and summer feeding programs.

Zooming in: From the Panhandle to the Texas coast, farms and wholesalers are selling beef, nuts, beans, berries and more. In the Austin area, local companies like Round Rock Honey Company partner with schools and other facilities statewide, the network’s interactive map.

Who it’s for: Austin ISD is one of the school systems that utilizes the Farm Fresh Network as a resource, Lindsey Bradley, marketing manager at Austin ISD Food Service, said.

From 2020-25, more than 45,000 wildfires burned over 2.7 million acres of Texas land, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are looking into ways to better prevent wildfires from happening and prepare communities to respond when fires do start.

The background: In 2025, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 34, which required the Texas A&M Forest Service to create a statewide database of firefighting equipment; established a council to improve emergency communications between local, state and federal agencies; and increased funding to help rural volunteer fire departments purchase equipment from $30 million to $40 million.

Quote of note: Sen. Kevin Sparks, a Midland Republican who authored the law, said more work needs to be done to increase wildfire preparedness across the state.

"As we move forward, our focus should be on a more proactive approach that prioritizes prevention and mitigation alongside response preparedness," Sparks said during an Aug. 11 hearing of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs.
 

Goodies, a specialty home goods store, is launching its first Texas location in Austin next year, according to the brand. The company will be hosting monthly markets around the city until its permanent retail location is ready, it stated on Instagram. 

What they offer: Goodies sells a curated selection of ceramic, marble, wood, scents and woven home goods; each item at Goodies retails for $25 or under. Specific products include woven coasters, candles, wooden cutlery, ceramic vases, dishes and matcha bowls. 

Stay tuned: The Goodies team is still finalizing its lease, the brand shared with Community Impact, and will announce its official location in the future. Until the official storefront launches, Goodies plans to have monthly pop-up markets around Austin. 

The next market is on Aug. 15. The pop-up market will be outdoors, featuring an assortment of vases and catering from Sour Duck Market.

• Location TBD

Check out the latest transportation updates across the Austin metro from local and state sources.

Upcoming projects

Bee Cave Parkway and Bee Cave Road pedestrian improvements
Project: Bee Cave Parkway and Bee Cave Road in Bee Cave will undergo pedestrian improvements including the construction of signals, crosswalks, sidewalks and ADA curb ramps.
Update: The final package of design documents will be completed in August.

• Timeline: Construction is expected to begin in March 2027

• Cost: $1.06 million

• Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation and the Bee Cave Development Corporation

Ongoing projects

Austin Avenue vehicular bridges
Project: This project includes reconstruction of two vehicular bridges crossing the San Gabriel River in Georgetown.
Update: The southbound Austin Avenue bridge decks were demolished starting in early June, and reconstruction will take approximately two months. The contractor will then do the northbound bridge decks.

• Timeline: 2024-27

• Cost: $12.8 million

• Funding sources: city of Georgetown, developer fees