From a new adult transition services facility to new library books, read about recent Dripping Springs ISD stories affecting families in the area.

1. Dripping Springs ISD officials break ground on 18+ facility: Dripping Springs ISD officials broke ground on the 18+ program facility on Nov. 13 near Sycamore Springs elementary and middle schools.

The big picture: The 18+ program, or adult transition services, prepares special education students ages 18-22 for post-school life. There are currently 15 students enrolled in the program, and Director of Special Services Rick Roberts said the district anticipates future growth.

2. Dripping Springs ISD officials OK new library books: Dripping Springs ISD trustees approved approximately 300 new library materials, following a report from the School Library Advisory Committee on Nov. 17.

What’s new: The SLAC was established earlier this year after Senate Bill 13 passed in the 89th legislative session, which aims to give school boards and parents more oversight over library materials.

Veterans seeking employment will soon have access to an exclusive, virtual career fair with over 50 employers.

What you need to know: Disabled American Veterans and RecruitMilitary are hosting the free job fair to connect veterans, transitioning service members, Guard or Reserve members and military spouses with companies seeking skilled workers.

Employers attending the upcoming career fair include:

• Hearst
• PNC Bank
• The Boeing Company
• United States Postal Service
• John Deer

Green Pastures, a historic South Austin estate in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood, has expanded its offerings with the debut of The Inn at Green Pastures, a 63-room boutique hotel built to preserve the site’s iconic live oaks.

The details: The lodging is situated on a seven-acre wooded property, which was originally part of a 50-acre farm anchored by an 1895 Victorian home.

The Inn features nine suites named for the tree-lined surroundings; adjoining room options are also available. The property also boasts its long-established Mattie’s restaurant and the grounds’ well-known peacocks as well as its new cafe and bar,

Henry’s, which offers an all day menu—morning coffee, mid-day snacks and dinner, alongside a cocktail program that includes breakfast drinks, frozen spritzes and signature house cocktails.

Food highlights include hot smoked salmon on an everything bagel, a double-smash burger, grilled redfish and poolside small plates.

• 811 W. Live Oak Street, Austin

Check out the top trending Community Impact stories in the Austin metro Dec. 1-4.

1. 11 new, coming soon traffic signals throughout Georgetown

2. Bakery and cafe Paris Baguette planned for Georgetown

3. Here's what's new and coming soon in downtown Georgetown

4. Pizza, pickleball and Port of Subs: 17 new business updates for Leander and Cedar Park

5. Round Rock officials to deliberate on potential Skybox data center Dec. 4

Texas can use its newly redrawn congressional map in the 2026 elections, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Dec. 4.

The background: State lawmakers approved the new congressional boundaries this summer, after President Donald Trump asked them to produce a new map in an attempt to help Republicans maintain a narrow majority in the U.S. House, Community Impact previously reported. Texas Republicans have said they hoped the map would help the GOP secure 30 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats, up from 25 Republican-held seats today.

What's happening: The Supreme Court's ruling overturns a Nov. 18 injunction from an El Paso federal court, which deemed Texas’ redistricting plan "racially gerrymandered” and directed officials to use a 2021 congressional map instead.

“The District Court improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections,” the Supreme Court said in the unsigned Dec. 4 order.

The order comes just four days before the Dec. 8 deadline for Texas candidates to file to run in the March primary elections.