Learn more about volunteer opportunities in Round Rock, Pflugerville, Hutto and the surrounding areas.

Jack Jack’s Pack Street Dog Rescue

The organization rehabilitates lost, abandoned and abused dogs in Central Texas, and either reunites or finds new homes for them.

• Sample activities: taking dogs to the vet, walking dogs, fostering dogs, helping at adoption events

• Donations accepted: H-E-B Heritage Ranch dog food, dog beds, enrichment toys, bully sticks, martingale collars, monetary gifts

Round Rock Area Serving Center

The center provides financial assistance for necessities, operates a food pantry and a thrift store, and offers social work case management.

• Sample activities: picking up and sorting donations, restocking the pantry, unloading trucks, working as a cashier at the thrift store

• Donations accepted: food, clothing, furniture, appliances, electronics, monetary gifts

The Sandbox at Madeline’s Place

The organization works to provide a space to empower teenagers through education, offering recreational activities, mentorship, relationship building opportunities and skills training.

• Sample activities: assisting with fundraising opportunities, facilitating recreational activities, tutoring students

• Donations accepted: monetary gifts

Chief Fire Marshal Gary Howell lifted the burn ban for unincorporated Travis County Nov. 3, citing rainfall. The ban had been in place since Aug. 11.

What residents should know: The change only applies to unincorporated areas of the county, where state rules allow residents to burn certain items during daylight hours with someone attending at all times. Inside city limits, local rules still apply: Open burning is banned in Austin year-round, and Bee Cave, Lakeway and Pflugerville require permits.

Sorting out details: In unincorporated areas, residents may burn brush, leaves and other plant growth from their own property. They may burn household trash only at homes without trash collection service.

Tires, furniture, carpet, appliances and non-wood construction debris cannot be burned. Residents should contact their local fire department first and obtain any required permits.

Democrats saw decisive wins up and down the ballot in Texas and across the nation in the Nov. 3 election, flipping the Lone Star State to Democratic control for the first time in a generation.

The big picture: Texas has had a Republican governor, state Senate and state House since 2003. Next year, the state will be led by a Democratic governor, with a Democratic lieutenant governor presiding over the Senate and House lawmakers likely electing a Democrat to lead the chamber—however, the senators themselves will remain majority-Republican.

More details: How much power Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin will have over the Texas Senate is largely up to senators, who will approve the chamber's new rules when the legislature convenes in January.

Sam Hooper, a legislative attorney and consultant, said he was "hopeful" that the election results would lead to "a more collegial Senate" and cooperation among lawmakers of both political parties.

The majority-Republican Senate and majority-Democrat House will have to find a balance, as bills cannot become law without approval from both chambers.