Early voting is underway in Hays County for the March primary elections. Voters will cast ballots for a number of local, state and federal races, ultimately deciding what candidates will appear on the November ballot.

The details: Early voting began Tuesday, Feb. 17, and will end Saturday, Feb. 27—giving community members a chance to cast a ballot before the March 3 election day.

Hays County has a total of 192,945 registered voters. Of those, 14,312, or 7.42%, have voted during the early election period as of Sunday, Feb. 22, according to Hays County.

Diving deeper: Voters can access full sample ballots for their desired primary election on the Hays County website, showing all local, state and federal elections.

The Hays County Commissioners Court approved the first countywide water study since 2011 at a Jan. 20 meeting. The study will help commissioners better understand the current water conditions in the county and plan for long-term sustainability that supports responsible water management.

Current situation: Significant growth in Hays County has increased development pressure over the last decade, according to the county. The region continues to face significant water challenges as the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District nears its first-ever Stage 4 drought.

The final results of the study are expected at the end of an 11-month period and will not exceed a cost of $542,360.

Looking ahead: The water study, to be conducted by HDR Engineers Inc., will combine updated data, flood assessments, infrastructure evaluations and community input to help guide county officials as they work to support growth and maintain healthy and sustainable water resources, according to the city.

The commissioners may also consider a moratorium proposed by Becerra on the approval of permits for new developments that use excessive amounts of water.

Check out six upcoming or ongoing transportation projects around the Austin metro.

Austin Light Rail: The 10-mile rail system will initially feature 15 stations along the alignment and all-electric trains running every five to 10 minutes throughout most of the day.
Update: Austin Transit Partnership approved a $60 million design-build contract for the first phase of the project Feb. 18.

• Timeline: construction expected to begin in 2027
• Cost: $7.1 billion

• Timeline: 2026-28 (Phase 1A)
• Cost: $30 million (Phase 1A)

Community members marked the completion of recent preservation efforts for an historic cabin built by Henry Green Madison, Austin's first African American council member, during a February ribbon-cutting at Rosewood Park.

The background: The original cabin was built in the 1860s and later enclosed in a larger structure where it was hidden for decades; it was only rediscovered by a demolition crew in the 1960s and then given to the city by its property owner.

A few years later, in 1973, the cabin was relocated, reassembled and rededicated in its current home at Rosewood Park in East Austin.

What's happening: Recent restoration efforts, led by the city and Austin Parks Foundation, came together after a 2021 site assessment found the Madison cabin's wood was deteriorating.

The project kicked off in late 2024 and construction was completed last summer through hundreds of thousands of dollars in public and private support.