Renovations at Rooster Springs Elementary School are one step closer to breaking ground after the Dripping Springs ISD board of trustees approved the schematic design at a Dec. 15 meeting.

The overview: The schematic design outlines several renovations the district plans to make over the next two years.

Some key improvements include:

• Exterior and interior finish upgrades
• Safety and security upgrades
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning replacement
• An additional second-floor bathroom
• Ceiling tile replacement
• Floor replacement
• Lockdown buttons every 4,000 square feet
• Card reader installation for all exterior doors

Nearly $1 million in local tourism revenue was directed toward homeless services this fall, representing the first seeding of the stand-alone reserve for Austin's homelessness response.

The details: Financing for the city homelessness endowment created in 2023 came in the form of a $942,845 revenue transfer from Austin's new Tourism Public Improvement District, or TPID. The district was set up late last year to support tourism activity and hospitality bookings amid the Austin Convention Center's multiyear closure and redevelopment, and related impacts for major events in town.

Under the TPID, a share of room rental revenues is pulled from its dozens of participating city hotels for the initiative's marketing and incentive purposes. The Austin TPID generated nearly $8 million in less than a year and is projected to add about $20 million more over the full FY 2025-26 ending in September. Visit Austin has reported that just a few months of tourism promotion efforts are showing strong early returns.

City of Austin officials face a 2025 deadline to define the scope of several cap and stitch projects that could reshape traffic and neighborhoods across the city.

Explained: In a Dec. 4 update to the Austin Mobility Committee, city staff said the Texas Department of Transportation revised the I-35 Capital Express Central project timeline, delaying construction of city-funded elements by three years while moving up the deadline for additional funding commitments.

The impact: The shift forces Austin to commit millions of dollars when designs are only 30% complete, increasing financial risk, city staff said. City Council approved an advance funding agreement last May for up to $104 million to support three downtown caps and two northern stitches, with future payments to be spread over several years and larger “balloon payments” due during final construction.

Looking ahead: Community engagement continues on northern stitches aimed at reconnecting East and West Austin. Final stitch locations are expected to be selected by City Council by the end of 2025.

Owned by chef Paul Qui, Kitsu Nori has officially opened its doors on South Lamar.

The details: The space features two outdoor patios with an estimated seating capacity of 145 patrons in addition to 30 seats in the indoor seating area. The restaurant’s menu includes dishes focused on crispy nori, warm rice, dry-aged fish, premium shellfish and farm-fresh vegetables as well as omakase-inspired experiences and specialty drinks.

• 2310 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 102, Austin