ATX-SWA: Impact 10/2/2025

Thousands of music fans will gather at Zilker Park for the Austin City Limits Music Festival, taking place Oct. 3-5 and Oct. 10-12.

What you need to know: Zilker Park is closed to public access Sept. 22-Oct. 19, with road closures nearby. Expect lane reductions or full closures on Stratford Drive, Barton Springs Road, Jessie Street, Azie Morton Road, Stephen F. Austin Drive, Veterans Drive, Rollingwood Drive, and eastbound Bee Cave Road. Limited or shuttle-only access will also be in effect on streets near the park.

The city’s transportation and public works department has an interactive street closure map to view road closure and lane reduction schedules. Parking will be restricted, with several Zilker lots closed through Oct. 19. Limited parking is available at Butler Shores, Riverside Drive, Veterans Drive, and Polo Field. Heavy congestion is expected near MoPac.

What else? Cyclists should anticipate dense pedestrian traffic. Barton Creek Greenbelt, Butler Hike and Bike Trail, and Barton Springs Pool—south gate only—remain open.

Dripping Springs Elite Real Estate Professionals is hosting its annual community-wide shred day Oct. 9.

The details: The event offers community members the opportunity to declutter their space while protecting their personal information. Documents will be shredded on-site.

Participants can bring documents such as:

• Old tax returns
• Junk mail
• Paperwork

According to a Sept. 26 press release, Target has launched a first-of-its-kind accessible self-checkout experience designed for guests with disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision.

The self-checkouts will roll out nationwide beginning this holiday season and in early 2026 as part of Target's ongoing checkout improvements, according to the release.

What to expect: Per the release, the innovation is a guest-first design that primarily supports people who are visually impaired while supporting those with motor disabilities.

The technology works with Target’s existing self-checkout system and includes:

• Braille and high-contrast button icons
• A headphone jack with adjustable volume controls
• Physical navigation buttons and a dedicated information key

Travis County has approved a $2.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26, about 12% higher than last year’s.

The big picture: The plan includes a one-year property tax hike to help the county recover from July’s severe flooding, which drained $15 million in emergency reserves for debris cleanup and temporary road repairs. The temporary increase—roughly 3 cents more per $100 of property value—will raise about $42 million for disaster recovery, adding about $200 to the average homeowner’s tax bill, with $72 tied directly to flood costs.

What else? Beyond core services like public safety and infrastructure, the budget highlights major justice and health initiatives. That includes $86 million to launch a future mental health jail diversion center, designed to redirect people with mental illness or substance abuse disorders away from jail.

Central Health also received a 9.3% funding boost to expand primary, specialty, and behavioral care for low-income residents, with officials pledging shorter wait times and broader access under what they’ve called the “year of access.”