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Buda Championship Park secures additional funding as project progresses

Buda Championship Park, formerly known as the Buda Sportsplex, received $1.5 million in additional funding from the Buda Economic Development Corp., or BEDC, to be used toward facility improvements.

The $1.5 million contribution in fiscal year 2026-27 will be used to offset construction costs, mitigating the tax rate impact of the associated 2026 certificate of obligation bonds, according to agenda documents.

The background: BEDC had previously contributed $1.5 million in fiscal year 2025-26 for the project to assist with design and pre-construction costs, bringing the total contribution from the BEDC to $3 million, according to agenda documents.

A major renovation of the sports park has been underway since September 2025. The project is anticipated to be completed by spring 2027.

The framework: To receive the latest installment of BEDC funding, the city must meet performance measures at the Sportspark, including a minimum of 65 qualifying tournaments during years 4-8 of the park's operation.

 
Key Information
Hays CISD launches back-to-school information page for parents

For families in Hays CISD, students will head back to school Aug. 13. Check out important details for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.

The big picture: HCISD officials recently published an informational page with important information for parents and students.

The website links to resources, including:

  • School supply lists
  • Calendar and bell schedules
  • Student registration details

In case you missed it: The HCISD community can also read about updates regarding bond and construction projects, district financing and athletics.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo

Sunset Movie Series

July 28-Aug. 1, times vary
Bastrop

July 31, 8 p.m.
Georgetown

More info

More info

 

Summer Stock Austin’s “Newsies”

Hays County Back to School Health Fair

July 31-Aug. 9
Austin

Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
San Marcos

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Worth The Trip
'The Golden Girls' Kitchen is popping up downtown next month

From Atlanta to Austin, Disney Entertainment and Bucket Listers are opening a pop-up cafe in downtown as part of a national tour, all centered around “The Golden Girls.”

The pop-up is set to house scenes and photo opportunities, including the kitchen and Blanche’s Boudoir. The pop-up restaurant will serve up breakfast, lunch, desserts and drinks with nods to the show’s characters and storylines—it launches on Aug. 20. 

Learn more: Visitors will need tickets to access “The Golden Girls” Kitchen, which will include a reserved seat, mocktail or cocktail, an entree and slice of cheesecake.

What they offer: Guests can dine for breakfast and lunch, choosing from menu items like the “picture it” pancakes prepared with warm bourbon maple syrup, berries and whipped butter.

One more thing: There is currently no ending date for the pop-up, according to a representative with “The Golden Girls” Kitchen. In the past, the pop-up has stayed in each city for several months. 

  • Wanderlust Wine Co., 610 N. I-35, Austin
 
CI Texas
Texas spends billions on tax breaks for data centers. There’s a bipartisan legislative push to repeal them.

Texas lawmakers are considering cutting a costly, decade-old tax break for the state’s booming data center industry.

The overview: Texas spends more than $1 billion annually on the sales tax exemption, and the comptroller’s office estimated in 2025 that due to the program, the state will lose about $3.2 billion in sales tax revenue over the next two years.

The Lone Star State is home to the nation’s fastest-growing data center market, and the Data Center Coalition, which advocates for the industry, has argued that the tax break program is key to maintaining that title. Senators and members of the public who spoke at a July 27 hearing disagreed.

Looking ahead: Amid a bipartisan push for more regulation of data centers, senators indicated that they intend to add more strings to the tax exemption program or eliminate it entirely.

"The question is whether or not we need to have a special session where all of us are focusing in on this," Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said.

“We do,” Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, replied.

 

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Sierra Martin
Senior Editor

Heather Demere
General Manager

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