Co-owned by chef Gianbattista “Gianba” Vinzoni and actor and comedian Tom Segura, Ciccio Bomba is now serving Italian baked goods at Fareground.

The details: The Italian bakery has become part of Fareground’s culinary scene with eateries including Desnudo, Four Brothers, Golden Boy, JABS Burgers & Fries, Rôtisserie and Shawarma Point.

The new space highlights Italian culture through traditional pastries with handcrafted cornetti, focaccia, artisan breads, seasonal pastries, savory options and more.

On the menu: Customers can find selections from classic pastries, cornetti semplici, and savory and specialty items, cornetti complicati. Those looking for more than baked goods can order breakfast dishes, focaccia, sandwiches, salads and café beverages.

Signature items include Pesto & Cherry Tomato Cornetto, Porchetta & Stracchino Cornetto and Avocado Toast on house made focaccia.

• Fareground, 111 Congress Ave., Austin

Austin short-term rental operators can expect to see a streamlined licensing process for their properties and increased enforcement of unsanctioned units, following regulatory changes that went into effect this fall.

What's happening: Changes rolling out in the weeks and months ahead follow an "overhaul" of local policies related to short-term rentals, or STRs, completed this year. The process played out in response to some past legal challenges to Austin's STR system, and in an effort to rein in the thousands of unlicensed STRs believed to be operating around town.

To that end, City Council advanced contracts totaling nearly $2.5 million to assist with STR enforcement and licensing services. The contracts, both with San Diego-based Deckard Technologies, were authorized Nov. 20.

Quote of note: "We look forward to having these tools in place to improve compliance and services for short-term rentals in Austin," Austin Development Services spokesperson Robbie Searcy said in an email.

Austin’s annual New Year’s event with Visit Austin has made some upgrades to this year’s experience with a drone show and expanded media coverage from national outlets.

What to know: Community members can check out headliners The Head and the Heart, who will be joined by local musicians Chaparelle, Tameca Jones and The Point. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy the experience with bites from local food trucks, nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages and a drone show. 

Presented by Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, the drone show will be a first in Austin’s New Year’s celebration and will kick off the lighting of the downtown skyline with a fireworks finale. As part of their national New Year’s Eve coverage, CNN will broadcast live from Austin.

Stay tuned: The city will share the full lineup of artists in December. Individuals looking to attend the event can also expect transportation and general event tips to be posted on the website in the near future.

• Auditorium Shores, 900 W. Riverside Drive, Austin

So far in 2025, Community Impact has covered two election cycles, major transportation updates, development news and local businesses throughout the greater Austin area.

Learn more about the top stories this year to date.

1. Billboard on Bee Caves Road receives resident complaints, city violation notice

2. A regional destination: Texas’ second-largest retail store set to bring visitors to Cedar Park

3. City of Austin to take unauthorized billboard to court

4. Check out these 20 new nonstop destinations from Austin’s airport

5. Billboard in Round Rock faces removal amid ordinance violation

International shipping company DHL has expanded its services with an additional location in Texas.

What to know: The brand has launched a new DHL ServicePoint location in Austin which is now offering shipping services. The location helps international consumer, B2C and B2B deliveries, as stated in a news release.

The North Austin location features international and domestic shipping services for account holders and non-account holders. Customers can export to over 220 destinations worldwide or ship within the U.S. The site also sells packing supplies and offers staffed assistance.

• 5610 N. Lamar Blvd., Ste. D, Austin

On the heels of what proponents have called “historic” property tax relief, some Texas lawmakers are questioning whether the state can afford to continue increasing the tax exemptions passed in 2023 and 2025.

The big picture: Texas homeowners pay property taxes to various local entities, although lawmakers can limit how much entities increase taxes each year and provide state funding to expand tax exemptions.

Texas is spending $51 billion on property tax relief in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 alone and may be required to spend more to maintain existing tax exemptions in future bienniums, lawmakers said.

What they're saying: "We're kind of maxed out at what we can do for property tax reform, from a budget perspective," said Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, during a Nov. 20 event.

"$51 billion ongoing, it's a huge amount to continue to support. To think about doing anything more seems very fiscally irresponsible," Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, said.

The other side: Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, said creating limits on local government spending would be critical to keeping Texas affordable.