ATX-GEO: Impact 9/23/2025

Georgetown residents are able to purchase tickets for the Two Step Inn music festival at a discounted rate through 10 a.m. Sept. 26.

The details: The presale is available for those who use a valid Georgetown address at checkout. Purchasers will need to enter their Georgetown ZIP code as the passcode to access the sale.

What we know: Both one-day and two-day options are available. One-day tickets start at $169, while two-day packages begin at $289.

Looking ahead: The music festival will take place in San Gabriel Park on April 18-19. The 2026 lineup will be announced Sept. 24, according to the event’s website.

While Texas Department of Transportation crews continue to repair the interior beams of the Hwy. 29 bridge in Georgetown, the southbound I-35 lanes and Williams Drive entrance ramp will be closed overnight Sept. 22-25.

What you need to know: The southbound lane closures will take place from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday-Thursday. Drivers will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road at Exit 261 during the closures.

Something to note: Although the closures will last four nights, the repair work on the damaged beams is expected to take four to five weeks to complete, according to TxDOT. Once the work is complete, the Hwy. 29 eastbound lanes will fully reopen.

The cause: On Sept. 2, an 18-wheeler struck the Hwy. 29 overpass, causing a crash involving five other vehicles, according to a city of Georgetown news release. The driver of the 18-wheeler was hauling an excavator that exceeded the height limits for the bridge, as well as the height restrictions of their TxDOT commercial permit.

Hill Country Forensics moved from its previous location at 2334 Rockride Lane, Bldg. 1, Georgetown, due to the business’s growth.

Its new location opened Sept. 15, Director of Operations Courtney Smith said.

Learn more: The business is owned by Dr. Satish Chundru and provides autopsies for unattended deaths in Williamson and surrounding counties.

• 136 Market St., Georgetown

Kitchell representative Cameron Glass gave an update on the Justice Center complex project to Williamson County commissioners at a Sept. 16 meeting, including the need for new facilities and the process for site selection.

The construction and real estate company is the manager for the project, which will build a new jail and office space in Georgetown.

The history: The current Justice Center was built in 1990. At that time, Williamson County had a population of about 139,000 residents, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Today, Williamson County is home to almost 730,000 residents.

About the project: Commissioners have discussed building the new Justice Center complex outside of downtown Georgetown. Although the court has not identified a site yet and is still in the preliminary stages of planning, Kitchell anticipates a $1.5 billion project through “phased, strategic investment,” Glass said.

Kitchell has looked at 35 potential sites for the project, 10 of which fit the needed criteria. The county will need at least 80 acres of buildable land to house the facilities, Glass said.

Austin Community College District has introduced a new partnership with Housing Connector, a nonprofit organization focused on removing barriers to housing.

The impact: A recent survey conducted by the college found that 55% of students indicated they are housing-insecure, and 57% stated they would have difficulty finding $500 cash or credit in an emergency.

“Stable housing is essential to our students' success,” ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart said. “Our mission is simple: help every student succeed. This partnership is about meeting students where they are, removing barriers and making sure they have the stability and support to keep moving toward their goals.”

The partnership will connect students with local property owners who are willing to offer accessible and affordable housing options.

The context: Housing Connecter has a partnership with the city of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office, which provides funding to expand housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Texas voters will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution during the Nov. 4 election.

The overview: The propositions, which were adopted by state lawmakers earlier this year, include measures aimed at reducing property taxes, funding water supply projects and creating a state dementia research institute.

“This is an opportunity to make your voice heard about the governing document of our state,” Secretary of State Jan Nelson said in a June 25 statement.

More details: Texans have until Oct. 6 to register to vote in the upcoming election. Early in-person voting runs from Oct. 20-31, and Election Day is Nov. 4.

The secretary of state’s office randomly selected the ballot order for the 17 state propositions. Keep reading to learn about the proposed constitutional amendments and how they would change Texas law.