Mayor Kirk Watson outlined several of his stated accomplishments since returning to office, as well as his hopes for Austin's future, during a Jan. 6 state of the city speech downtown.

The details: Looking ahead to his final three years in office, Watson framed his approach around balancing short-term needs with longer-range plans to build on civic improvements and avoid potential pitfalls down the road.
He also pointed to progress on permitting improvements and public safety relationships as examples of recent wins the city can build on.

Focusing on the city's financial stability, drawing more economic development and growing Austin's international presence will be key for the years ahead, Watson said. Some of those goals may be advanced in the near future with updates like council spending reforms, citywide auditing measures and planned business expansions.

Looking ahead to later this year, Watson also said the city may need to hold off on a planned bond election to fund mobility, environmental, housing, cultural and public safety projects.

While some individuals are interested in coping with experiences by enrolling in traditional one-on-one therapy sessions, others may be drawn to healing alongside a community.

Austin-based running club Good Grief has shaped an experience for community members to find solace in staying active while working through their grief with people going through similar situations.

The inspiration: The club was founded by Samantha Hendel who received news in 2022 of her mother’s lung cancer diagnosis. While trying to make sense of the news, a week later Hendel was notified her father had received a colon cancer diagnosis.

To cope with the news, Handel started running in addition to going to therapy. She said while run clubs were popular in the city, she wasn’t finding an exact space like the one she was looking for.

The local impact: Today, the group averages 100 people every Monday morning at Noble Joe’s Coffee Co. in South Austin.

Noble Joe Coffee Co., South Shore Eatery, 1620 E. Riverside Drive, Austin

A recent burn ban for the unincorporated areas of Travis County—areas outside of any specific city—was recently extended to remain in effect until Feb. 10, according to a news release from the county.

The burn ban had been put into effect on Dec. 29 and originally was slated to end on Jan. 6, as previously reported by Community Impact.

The details: The burn ban was extended due to continuing dry conditions. The ban applies to outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of Travis County, but does not include prescribed burns, outdoor welding, cutting, grinding, or other hot work operations when conducted in accordance with the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office guidelines.

Travis County officials urge residents to:

• Use caution when grilling or barbecuing outdoors. Residents should keep a water source or fire extinguisher nearby when doing so.
• Avoid the use of leftover fireworks from the recent holiday. Even small fireworks can ignite dry vegetation and pose a wildfire risk.
• Call 911 if they notice a fire that may be out of control.

Texas charter system Harmony Public Schools launched a new virtual learning platform on Jan. 5 that allows students across the state to take high school courses online.

The overview: The Harmony Online Learning program includes dozens of courses aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards, all of which are self-paced, according to a news release.

More details: Students can choose from dozens of courses in core subjects, electives, Advanced Placement and Career and Technical Education, according to the program’s website. The offerings aim to help students complete credit recovery, get ahead with their requirements and access courses not available at their home campus. Credit earned through Harmony may be applied toward high school graduation requirements depending on local district policies, per the release.

One more thing: Interested families can enroll online, and spring courses begin Jan. 12, per the release. The cost of tuition per course is $325, a spokesperson from Harmony Public Schools told Community Impact.

This November, Texas voters approved 17 constitutional amendments, also known as state propositions. Here’s what’s next for some of those propositions and what they mean for Texans.

The overview: Texas voters authorized the state to spend $1 billion annually on water supply funding, totaling $20 billion over a two-decade period, through Proposition 4. Funding will flow into the Texas Water Fund, a state account created in 2023 to help finance water projects.

However, state law requires that the money does not begin moving into the water fund until September 2027, and it will not be available for grants until 2029. Until then, state agencies, water utilities and local organizations will need to plan for funding, adjust rules and processes to align with recent state laws and update Texas’ water and flood plans, according to the Texas Water Foundation.

More details: Texas homeowners were set to see expanded property tax breaks on their 2025 tax bills under Propositions 11 and 13. Four other property tax exemptions approved by voters will take effect Jan. 1.