City voters won't consider a measure aimed at stopping the Austin Convention Center redevelopment and reallocating associated tourism tax revenue this spring, although the group behind the proposal is now working to call an election on the issue this fall.

The details: The $1.6 billion project has received pushback from a group seeking to halt construction. The Austin United PAC's effort to have voters weigh in on the project stalled out in court this year.

A PAC petition campaign last year sought to halt the old convention center's demolition through an election. After the city rejected the PAC's petition in the fall, the group sued in an attempt to overturn that decision and force a May vote on the convention center project.

After a two-day trial in January, a district court judge sided with the city, and the PAC's proposed ordinance was left off the ballot as of the Feb. 13 filing deadline. The group now says it'll restart its efforts in an attempt to land a similar measure on the November ballot.

The Texas Science & Natural History Museum recently opened its latest paleontology exhibit to the public on Jan. 28. Museum attendees can now immerse themselves in how creatures lived by playing a video game, checking out interactive panels and learning where the featured Texas fossils were found across the state.

Dig deeper: Various interactive elements have been introduced to the Epic Encounters space including the featured creatures touchscreen panels which give attendees the opportunity to dig deeper into the lives of eight of the animals in the exhibit’s collection.

In addition to the panels, the museum has introduced a choose-your-own-adventure game where individuals can choose to play as one of the five creature options in two environments and see how they would do living out a day in that creature’s life.

• 2400 Trinity St., Austin

South Austin has become home to a new Kendra Scott location and a locally owned art gallery/event space. The area can expect a few new changes coming to the business scene in the near future with a new coffee cart and a Mediterranean restaurant. This list is not comprehensive. 

Oria
Oria, a new Mediterranean restaurant, is slated to open to diners off Barton Springs Road in late February. The restaurant specializes in charcoal- and wood-fired cooking inspired by flavors from the Eastern Mediterranean and Southern Europe, including bright acidity, bold spices and fire-forward cooking techniques.

• Opening Feb. 27
• 1530 Barton Springs Road, Austin 

• Opening in early March
• 1620 E. Riverside Drive, Austin

Check out six upcoming, ongoing or completed transportation projects across the Austin metro.

Ongoing projects
Bell District to 183A Toll shared-use path
Project: Construction is underway on a shared-use path that will connect 183A Toll to Bell Park in Cedar Park. It will be a 10-foot-wide concrete path following along Brushy Creek Road.
Update: According to city officials, crews have begun building the path itself, as well as working on utility relocations and drainage infrastructure.

• Timeline: expected completion fall 2026
• Cost: $3.3 million
• Funding source: 2022 transportation bond

• Timeline: 2026-27
• Cost: $23 million
• Funding source: Type B sales tax revenue

Early in-person voting in Texas’ primary elections begins Feb. 17 and lasts until Feb. 27.

How it works: Texas has an open primary system, where voters decide at the polling place whether to cast ballots in the Democratic or Republican primary. Voters may not participate in both primaries.

What to expect: Voters will be given a ballot with a slate of statewide seats and other races determined by the voting precinct they live in. During early voting, registered voters can visit any polling location in their county.

Candidates who win their primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 midterm election.

Why it matters: Early voting gives registered voters the opportunity to cast their ballots before primary election day March 3.

Voter advocacy groups and experts told Community Impact that a vote in the March primaries is “the most impactful vote” Texans can cast, due to consistently low voter turnout and competition in certain races. Over 18 million Texans are registered to vote, although about one-fifth of registered voters participated in recent primary elections.