City officials signed off on an economic incentive framework to support an expansion of Southwest Airlines' operations at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The move comes as the airline is moving to lease a majority of new gates to be added at ABIA amid its multibillion-dollar expansion.

The gist: The framework would see Austin pay an estimated $5.5 million to Southwest for roughly 2,000 new local hires over a five-year term, while the city would benefit with nearly $12 million in new tax revenue. The airline would also take on $7.5 million in infrastructure development at the city-owned airport if it selects ABIA for its expansion.

What's next?: Southwest CEO Bob Jordan, Gov. Greg Abbott, City Manager T.C. Broadnax and ABIA CEO Ghizlane Badawi are scheduled to make an economic development announcement at the airport Dec. 12.

City officials highlighted the agreement's potential to bring high-paying union jobs, child care funding and other community benefits.

The University of Texas at Austin is bringing a new multipurpose arena and student housing complex to its downtown campus next to the Moody Center.

The details: The new 6,000-capacity arena will serve as the home for UT women's volleyball, with room to expand for other types of events. The residential project will be geared toward university student-athletes. 

“This is a unique development that will enhance the University’s athletics facilities and housing portfolio and benefit students, Longhorn fans and our city for years to come," UT President Jim Davis said in a statement.

UT issued a solicitation for the project's development under a public-private partnership in December, and responses are due in February. Further project details including a construction timeline will be finalized after that point.

Self-driving car company Waymo has issued a voluntary software recall for its autonomous vehicles.

The move by Waymo comes amid an ongoing investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into reports of Waymo vehicles failing to stop for Austin ISD school buses. This school year, the district has recorded 20 incidents in which a Waymo vehicle illegally passed a stopped school bus, according to an AISD spokesperson.

What happened: On Nov. 20, AISD asked Waymo to immediately cease operating its self-driving vehicles between the hours of 5:20 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. At the time, the district had recorded 19 incidents of Waymo cars illegally passing AISD buses through its school bus stop arms, averaging 1.5 violations a week. Waymo received its 20th citation of the school year on Dec. 1.

The update: Waymo issued a voluntary recall of its software with the NHTSA earlier this week, a Waymo spokesperson said. The company identified software issues that contributed to Waymo vehicles initially slowing to stop but then proceeding past a stopped school bus.

The 2025-26 school year will be the last spent at an existing campus for some students in KIPP Texas Public Schools. 

What you need to know: Seven Central Texas-area KIPP Texas Public Schools are set to close at the end of the current school year, the charter school district announced Dec. 11. The charter school system operates over 45 schools across the state.

The details: Seven KIPP schools will close at the end of the current school year, spread across the system's Commerce, Austin South and Austin Ridge campuses.