A virtual community event will be held Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. for members of the Travis County and Austin communities to provide input on a new wildfire preparedness plan.

The event is part of a community engagement effort to update the 2026 City of Austin/Travis County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, a collaborative document to address wildfire concerns that is updated every 10 years.  

The details: The community wildfire protection plan aims to identify risk areas, prioritize areas for wildfire mitigation funding and make recommendations for homeowners to reduce fire risk. At the Nov. 19 event, the public will be able to share ideas about wildlife prevention and identify risk areas. 

“It is also paramount that our community members take action themselves to prepare for these hazards and know what to do and where to go should their neighborhood need to evacuate,” Austin Emergency Management Director Jim Redick said in a Nov. 7 news release. 
 

The downtown Austin area has gained seven new businesses from a European-inspired bar to a joint market and cafe in addition to saying goodbye to a taco eatery. This list is not comprehensive.

Jo’s Coffee
The coffee shop has debuted its ninth location which is now serving tacos, pastries, coffee and more beverages in West Campus.

• Opened Nov. 7
• 701 W. 24th St., Austin
• www.joscoffee.com

• Opened in September
• 1836 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin
• www.tapvillesocial.com

• Closed in late September
• 88 1/2 Rainey St., Austin
• www.asadortacos.com

South Austin community members can enjoy a range of holiday events in their area throughout late November and December including light shows, wagon rides and photo opportunities with Santa Claus. This list is not comprehensive. Event details are subject to change.

Zilker Tree Lighting
The 155-foot tree’s 3,909 lights will come to life right after Thanksgiving on Nov. 30. Attendees can look forward to live music, entertainment and food.

• Nov. 30, 5:15 p.m.
• Free
• Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road, Austin

• Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• Downtown Dripping Springs

• Dec. 13, 4-5:30 p.m.
• $14 (ages 3-16 admission); $20 (adult admission)
• The Hive, 10542 Menchaca Road, Austin

Texans began receiving full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits Nov. 14, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced. The renewed SNAP payments came after two weeks of delays due to the 43-day federal government shutdown, which ended Nov. 12.

The overview: SNAP is a federally funded program that provides low-income individuals and families with monthly stipends to spend on groceries. The food assistance program ran out of funding Nov. 1, one month after the government shut down amid disagreements over federal health insurance subsidies.

The details: Over 3.5 million Texans receive SNAP benefits each month, according to Feeding Texas, the statewide network of food banks. Payments are issued on a rolling basis throughout each month.

“For SNAP clients who receive benefits on or after the 14th of the month, full benefits will be issued on their normal issuance date,” the HHSC website states. “SNAP clients who already received partial benefits will receive the rest of their monthly amount on or after Nov. 14.”