ATX-LTW: Impact 8/25/2025

Outdoor festivals and vintage arcade games are just a few offerings to check out in the Lake Travis-Westlake area this fall.

Barton Fest
The outdoor celebration at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa will have live music from Ruthie Craft and artisan goods from local vendors. Selections from local breweries and distilleries will be available, alongside gourmet bites and handcrafted wares. The family-friendly event will additionally have activities for kids.

• Aug. 31, 5-8 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 8212 Barton Club Drive, Austin

• Sept. 27, noon-4 p.m.
• $50 (early bird), $100 (early bird VIP), $75 (general admission), $125 (VIP)
• 5973 Hiline Road, Austin

On Nov. 4, residents of the city of Rollingwood will vote on three City Council seats in a general election and a city sales tax for road maintenance and repairs in a special election.

The overview: The council seats up for a vote this year in the general election, which each have a term of two years, are currently held by council members Brook Brown, Phil McDuffee and Alec Robinson.

What else: The road tax up for a vote in the special election will reauthorize the city to collect a 0.25% local sales and use tax to provide revenue for maintenance and repair of city streets.

Austin-area colleges and universities offer various education opportunities for a range of students, from recent high school graduates to working parents. Check out the information below for important terms to know, deadlines, testing requirements and more.

Note, some institutions have specific application requirements and deadlines based on major. 

For more information visit the respective college website or discuss questions with an academic or college counselor.

Terms to know: Read below for definitions of common terms you may encounter during application season, defined by College Board and Apply Texas.

Early action: nonbinding application sent in before regular deadline; applicant will receive admission decision earlier in the admission cycle; can apply to other colleges

Early decision: binding application; sent in early to first-choice college; receive admission decision in advance; must attend the college if accepted

The breakdown: Colleges vary in their admissions requirements and deadlines. For example, The University of Texas at Austin requires standardized testing scores, while other schools such as Concordia University Texas do not require tests for admission. 

After two years in operation, the city is reporting that more homeless clients served at the Marshalling Yard shelter are finding housing after they exit the facility.

The details: The Marshalling Yard was originally built as a warehouse facility for the Austin Convention Center, but was transitioned into a shelter amid a 2023 push to add more beds for the homeless citywide. Since then, it's nearly 1,800 people have been served there including less than 300 who found stable housing.

The congregate shelter has always been viewed as a temporary solution, and city staff plan to eventually replace it with new, larger facilities or through partnerships with other area organizations. The city's recently approved budget and tax increase—requiring voter approval this fall—would support a wide range of ongoing homeless services, while a permanent shelter project with hundreds of beds could be included in Austin's 2026 bond.