Officials broke ground Oct. 19 on extensive utility upgrades across Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The details: The Utility Infrastructure Campus-Wide, or UICW, initiative is part of the broader Journey With AUS airport expansion program and is expected to be completed in 2029.

What happened: The groundbreaking came as UICW project costs rose from $120 million to $344 million, a jump of more than 180%. City Council authorized that increase Oct. 22 after the airport's planned future footprint had grown from an anticipated 20 new gates to 32 since UICW project design work began.

Zooming in: The multi-billion dollar expansion program is funded by airline charges, airport cash reserves, revenue bonds and federal grants, with no city tax dollars used.

Contractors Sundt Construction, Inc. and Archer Western Construction will deliver UICW improvements including:

• A new electrical system and power distribution center

• New storm drainage, and water quality and detention ponds

• Hydronic piping for hot and chilled water

• New information technology and telecommunications duct banks

Check out businesses that are now open, coming soon, relocating, in the news or are closing in downtown Austin.

Now Open

• Nobody's Business

• The Bins

Coming soon

• The Charles Oyster House

Relocations

• Bar Peached

Closings

• Marlow

• Garbo's

• Saturn Cocktail Club

• Zucchini Kill Bakery

• Wheatsville Food Co-Op

Educators, public officials and graduates from across the state gathered in Austin on Oct. 27 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Western Governors University in Texas. The online university offers certificates, bachelor's and master's degrees, which students can complete at their own pace.

About the organization: WGU was founded in 1997 by a bipartisan group of 19 governors in Western states to provide a more affordable and flexible option for higher education. In 2011, then-Gov. Rick Perry signed an executive order making Texas an official WGU affiliate.

Since 2011, WGU in Texas has reached the following milestones:

• 38,691 total graduates

• 45,545 degrees earned

• 24,087 students currently enrolled

Quote of note: "It was definitely one of those options that was super flexible, so that kind of fit my current schedule, especially since I work full-time," 2026 WGU graduate Jacob Gomez said. "It was super convenient for me."

Texans' last chance to vote in this year's midterm election is Nov. 3. Polling places across the state will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day, according to the secretary of state's office.

What to expect: Dozens of races will appear on the ballot, from U.S. Senate and governor to local officials and propositions.

If a voter runs into an issue at the polls that cannot be immediately resolved, such as a lack of photo ID or an administrative error, they have the right to cast a provisional ballot, per state law. Some voters may be required to return to the local voter registrar's office by Nov. 9—six days after Election Day—to resolve the issue after voting.

Stay informed: Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide to read Q&As with hundreds of candidates, find coverage of local propositions and print a custom sample ballot to bring to the polls.

After polls close at 7 p.m. Nov. 3, election results will be posted on the same webpage.