April is packed with events, ranging from environmental activities and Earth Day celebrations to shows from local performers.

Books and Bees Festival
This annual Bee Cave Public Library festival blends literacy celebration with live bee education. The event will feature programming for all ages, including local authors, book vendors, hands-on bee and nature activities, and a honey tasting contest.

• April 11, 1-5 p.m.
• Free, RSVP optional
• Bee Cave Public Library, 4000 Galleria Parkway, Bee Cave

• April 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Free
• Richard Moya Park, 10001 Burleson Road, Austin

Eanes ISD is still projecting a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall in 2026-27 and beyond, despite recently approved optimization actions to reduce this. Chief Financial Officer Chris Scott provided the board of trustees with a budget update during the March 24 board meeting, showing that the district could still see an over $2 million shortfall next year. 

Looking back: In February, the board approved a series of revenue generation or cost-saving measures to be implemented next year, projected to save $3.9 million. 

The update: The district is still facing a few unknown scenarios that could further impact the budget, including the district's estimated tax growth, the implementation timeline is for the Texas Education Agency special education formulas, and how the new education savings account program will impact EISD's enrollment.

What's next: The board is slated to pass the 2026-27 budget in June. Prior to that, an additional budget update will be presented in April, at which time officials anticipate having the estimate of certified tax values from the Travis County Central Appraisal District.

Austin leaders celebrated the opening of a new Southwest Airlines crew base March 25, a part of the airline's local expansion plans supported by an economic deal with the city that advanced last year.

The details: Southwest is now the largest carrier at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and plans to continue growing its local presence. The crew base, or a hub for airline employees, is a key feature of Southwest's new incentive agreements with both the city and state. It's eventually expected to create more than 2,000 jobs over the coming years, mainly pilots and flight attendants with positions paying an average salary of $180,000.

Southwest previously said the crew base would open this March with around 335 pilots and 650 flight attendants, and would grow its headcount to around 2,000 by mid-2027.

Check out some of the most read stories in the Austin area March 23-26.

1. 5 new and coming soon businesses in downtown Georgetown

2. Beginning March 31, most smokable cannabis products will be illegal in Texas

3. New Willie’s Grill & Icehouse location opening in Leander in late March

4. 44,000-square-foot indoor sports club headed to Leander, Cedar Park

5. Elon Musk announces ‘largest chip manufacturing facility’ Terafab coming to Austin

6. Pflugerville water update: Repairs planned, conservation critical as lake levels recover