Austin has the largest concentration of at-risk homes of any metro area outside California, with more than 100,000 properties and $49.2 billion in reconstruction cost value exposed to wildfire, according to Cotality's 2026 Wildfire Risk Report. 

Travis County remains under a burn ban as hot, dry conditions keep wildfire risk elevated heading into fall.

The ban: Travis County's burn ban has been in effect since Aug. 11, prohibiting outdoor burning countywide, and stays in place until Commissioners Court lifts it. 

Residents can sign up for free burn ban status text alerts by texting TCBURNBAN to 888777.

Why it matters: The county's wildfire preparedness push traces back to the Sept. 4, 2011 Steiner Ranch Fire, which this year marks its 15th anniversary. 

"We don't celebrate this as a celebration," said Robert Abbott of Lake Travis Fire Rescue, "but we do celebrate the fact that we have learned quite a bit from those events," pointing to major gains in staffing, training and technology since then, and current conditions eerily similar to those in 2011.

Dribble Soccer's grand opening will begin at 4 p.m. on Aug. 30—the new business aiming to “make soccer accessible to everyone” will host a grand opening with Austin FC players and a youth tournament, co-owner Vivin Abraham said.

The details: During the grand opening, young players can participate in a 1-on-1 tournament and win prizes. Austin FC players Guilherme Biro and Damian Las will also be attending the grand opening event.
Dribble Soccer is open to all skill levels and hosts both recreational and competitive adult leagues. The facility also offers “coach-led homeschool programs” and skill clinics, Abraham said.

“Dribble is focused on breaking down grassroots barriers and making quality soccer experiences, professional-level coaching, development opportunities and competitive play more accessible to the entire community,” Abraham said.

Of note: Customers can also enroll in seasonal camps, rent out fields or book a space for private events. Founded by Bijoy James, Shopith Shylarajan and Clodoveu Almeida Mariano Júnior, the business had a soft opening in June.

• 1220 Toro Grande Blvd, Cedar Park

The Texas Department of Insurance must take action to promote competition and “prohibit excessive or unfairly discriminatory rate setting" in the state's homeowners insurance market, Gov. Greg Abbott said Aug. 24.

The background: Texans are paying the fourth-highest home insurance premiums in the nation, Community Impact previously reported. State data shows that the average Texas home insurance premium nearly doubled from $1,791 in 2016 to $3,506 in 2025.

The details: Abbott asked the TDI to prohibit insurers from using the age of a home and homeowners' personal data when setting rates; create a task force targeting insurance fraud; study the impact of inflated insurance claims; and require insurers to consider a homeowner's participation in a roof fortification program when writing policies.

Another perspective: "Under Greg Abbott, Texas has been one of the most expensive states in the country to own and maintain a home," Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic candidate for Texas governor, said in a statement. "If Abbott really wanted to lower costs, he would have done it in the last 12 years."

Two candidates, including incumbent Steve Snell, are running for the Williamson County judge position this November.

Early voting for the Nov. 3 election runs from Oct. 19-30. 

Read Q&As with each candidate below. Community Impact reached out to all candidates who will appear on the Williamson County judge ballot. Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents.

* indicates incumbent