The city of Pflugerville will implement mandatory Stage 1 water restrictions beginning March 1 under its Water Drought Contingency Plan.

What you need to know: During Stage 1, customers must limit outdoor irrigation to one day per week and water only before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m.

Hutto ISD will not create a period of prayer in the school day, following a legislatively required vote on the matter taken in February.

What you need to know: Trustees voted not to create a daily period of prayer in its schools, at the recommendation of staff, at a Feb. 26 board meeting.

The vote is required by statute in Senate Bill 11, passed in the 89th Texas Legislature, with a deadline of March 1.

The details: Board President Amy English and trustee Billie Logiudice said students in the district already have the right to pray in school during moments of silence, read scripture during silent reading time and engage with their faith in a variety of ways under existing policy.

Last fall, Gary Parente launched Curbside Compost with a simple goal—make composting easier for Williamson County residents and turn everyday food scraps into a small, steady act of sustainability.

About the program: As a Cedar Park resident, Parente launched his organic recycling concept to extend composting services to residents north of Austin—which already has mandated compost pickup from the city.
Curbside Compost provides an airtight bin for residents to dispose of their food scraps in, which they then place on the curb on their scheduled pickup day. Parente leads the services, collecting the scraps, cleaning the bins and leaving a new liner. Residents can sign up for the composting service for $29 per month.

Quote of note: “We ensure these materials are recycled back into the earth, enriching local soil and supporting a healthier ecosystem,” Parente said.

Check out the top six trending stories in the Austin area Feb. 23-27. 

1. Major highway overhaul underway between Leander and Georgetown

2. Updates on a dozen businesses serving west Georgetown

3. The League Kitchen & Tavern to close in Lakeway; Cousin Louie’s location announced

4. Costco to open new store in Liberty Hill this March

5. Lane closures over Mays Street bridge in effect

6. 9-mile stretch of US 183 expansion nears finish line

More Texans have turned out to the polls this year than in recent primary elections.

The gist: The increase is particularly pronounced among Democratic primary voters, state data shows, with more than twice as many Democratic votes cast by Feb. 24 than in Texas’ last gubernatorial primary.

Zooming in: Statewide, nearly 1.3 million Texans, or about 7% of the state’s 18.7 million registered voters, cast early ballots through Feb. 24, the eighth day of the 11-day early voting period. This is up from about 6% turnout at the same point in 2024 and about 4% turnout in 2022.

In interviews with Community Impact, election analysts attributed Texas’ rising primary voter turnout in part to a slate of competitive, high-profile races on each party’s primary ballot.

At the polls: Early voting in Texas’ Republican and Democratic primaries ran through Feb. 27, and primary election day is March 3.