In October, the Round Rock City Council approved $12.2 million in funding for the ongoing Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority deep water intake project.

About the project: The project serves as insurance against drought periods, allowing the utility authority to pump drinking water from lower depths of Lake Travis for Round Rock, Cedar Park and Leander.

What else?: The second phase of the project is expected to wrap up in 2027 and planning for the third phase is underway.

Since its beginning, the city of Round Rock has contributed over $80 million toward the project, city documents show.

Anchor Bar marked five years of operation in Round Rock in October. 

About the business: Locally owned by T.J. and Erin Mahoney, the franchise offers sauces and dry rubs for both bone-in and boneless wings. The restaurant also sells salads, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, appetizers and pizza.

With locations across the country, the Anchor Bar brand claims to be the home of the original buffalo wing.

• 2702 Parker Drive, Ste. B, Round Rock

In the first eight days of early voting in Williamson County, over 160,000 people have cast their ballots by mail or at the polls, based on reports from the county.

With one week until Election Day, 33.96% of registered voters in the county have voted.

By the numbers: There are 471,602 registered voters in Williamson County, according to county records. As of Oct. 26, 152,751 people have cast their ballots in person during early voting, with more sending mail-in votes, as well as casting limited and provisional ballots.

Williamson County Jester Annex ranks as the most popular early voting site, with more than 15,000 residents choosing to cast their ballot in the Georgetown facility.

What's next: Voters can utilize early voting at 25 sites in the county through Oct. 30. Polls are open until 7 p.m., and anyone in line before polls close will be able to cast a ballot.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Residents can check this county website for polling locations and wait times before heading to the ballot box.

New apartments in Austin, a Brazilian steakhouse in Cedar Park and a Burlington in Bastrop are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Rio Grande Apartments ($97.3 million): This building will house 300 student housing apartment units. The building will be 30 stories tall with a lobby, study spaces, pool deck and leasing, amenity and fitness areas.

2. Grace Learning Center ($25 million): This project involves constructing a four-story, 48,000-square-foot worship assembly building for Grace Covenant Church.

3. Fogo de Chao ($4.5 million): A Fogo de Chao location is coming to Cedar Park. The Brazilian steakhouse has a location in downtown Austin.

4. Burlington ($3.3 million): A Burlington is coming to Bastrop as part of the Burleson Crossing East development.

5. P. Terry’s ($950,000): A new P. Terry’s Burger Stand location is coming to Liberty Hill, with construction set to begin early next year.

Early voting in Texas began on Oct. 19 and will continue until Oct. 30, before election day on Nov. 3. Austin-area voters can now head to the polls, trading their “I Voted” sticker for freebies and discounts at businesses across the city.

Taco Flats: Voters can present their voting sticker at any Taco Flats location for a free TF Original taco.

• 5520 Burnet Road, Ste. 101, Austin; 1110 W. Lynn St., Austin; 2500 E. 6th St., Austin; 12221 Riata Trace Parkway, Ste. 100, Austin; 900 Ranch Road 620 S, Ste. c104, Lakeway

Nunya Neighborhood Bar: After going to the polls, voters can visit the east Austin bar for a free beer or hot dog.

• 1806 E. 12th St., Austin

Hyperreal Film Club: The local movie theatre is offering free popcorn to voters who show their “I Voted” sticker.

• 301 Chicon St., Ste. A, Austin