Several new racket sports facilities for pickleball and padel courts have opened in the Austin area within the last few years. These facilities offer players a social space for shared interests, said Karen Hoisington, franchisee of The Picklr Austin West, which opened in 2025, and its Oak Hill location, which opens in 2026.

The overview: Pickleball, padel and other racket sports such as tennis all share the basic gameplay of hitting a ball over a net, but there are a few differences.

• Pickleball: uses a plastic ball and solid paddle; games are usually played in doubles
• Padel: uses a depressurized felt ball and solid racket; games are usually played in doubles
• Tennis: uses a felt ball and string racket; games are usually played in either singles or doubles

In mid-November, a permit with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation was filed for the construction of a new Olive Garden location in Southwest Austin.

What to know: As stated in the permit, the new location is expected to begin construction in April and should be complete by mid-December. A representative with the company confirmed that a new location is coming to the area but did not share an opening timeline for the restaurant.

On the menu: The Italian restaurant serves appetizers, pasta entrees, soups, salads, breadsticks and desserts.

📍 5010 W. Hwy. 290 Service Road, Austin

Here are the top Community Impact stories in the Austin area from Dec. 29-Jan. 1:
1. Kohl’s will not open new store in Bastrop
2. Bastrop Sprouts seeks 82 new hires ahead of spring opening
3. Austin ISD names principals for schools affected by closures and turnaround plans
4. AI guardrails, tax rates after disasters: New Texas laws take effect Jan. 1
5. Bastrop concludes $3.5 million Agnes Street extension project
6. Austin Energy planning for 'tremendous strain,' possible billing impacts from new data centers

This November, Texas voters approved 17 constitutional amendments, also known as state propositions. Here’s what’s next for some of those propositions and what they mean for Texans.

The overview: Texas voters authorized the state to spend $1 billion annually on water supply funding, totaling $20 billion over a two-decade period, through Proposition 4. Funding will flow into the Texas Water Fund, a state account created in 2023 to help finance water projects.

However, state law requires that the money does not begin moving into the water fund until September 2027, and it will not be available for grants until 2029. Until then, state agencies, water utilities and local organizations will need to plan for funding, adjust rules and processes to align with recent state laws and update Texas’ water and flood plans, according to the Texas Water Foundation.

More details: Texas homeowners were set to see expanded property tax breaks on their 2025 tax bills under Propositions 11 and 13. Four other property tax exemptions approved by voters will take effect Jan. 1.