Pflugerville ISD is designing a potential Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps facility at Connally High School.

Chief Operations Officer Victor Valdez updated the board of trustees on the design of the facility on Oct. 1.

The background: While Hendrickson High School has a facility for its Marine Corps JROTC program, Connally's Army program does not have a facility.

Valdez said the JROTC program is a "major component" of the district's 3E initiative for the enrollment, employment or enlistment of every PfISD graduate.

The details: The proposed 8,000-square-foot standalone facility would increase Connally's JROTC capacity to 210 students.

The project is eligible to be funded by the district's 2022 bond under Proposition G, as JROTC is a career and technical education program.

What's next: The next phase involves finalizing construction documents and preparing to bid for a construction manager to determine the project's cost.

Scrambles, a breakfast, brunch and lunch spot, opened in Pflugerville. 

The details

The restaurant dishes such as chilaquiles and migas as well as omelets and pancakes. Scrambles is open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. 

• 100 S. 12th St., Ste. 110, Pflugerville

Central Texas is hosting several local fall events across multiple cities, including Austin, Bastrop, Bee Cave, Buda, Elgin, Cedar Park and Georgetown. These seasonal activities feature pumpkin patches, festivals and Halloween celebrations.

Key events scheduled for the holiday season include:

• Pumpkin Nights in Austin, an immersive half-mile exhibition running from Sept. 17-Oct. 31.

• The 43rd annual Viva la Vida Festival & Parade celebrating Día de los Muertos in downtown Austin on Oct. 24.

• Boo Bash, a free Halloween celebration in downtown Bastrop on Oct. 31.

• A free Haunted Trail in Bee Cave from Oct. 22-23, recommended for ages 13 and up.

• The city of Buda's annual Booda Halloween on Oct. 24, featuring trick-or-treating and a kids costume contest.

• The Evergreen Farms Pumpkin Hunt in Elgin from Sept. 26-Oct. 31.

• The Sweet Eats Adventure Farm & Petting Zoo fall festival in Georgetown, running from Sept. 19-Nov. 8.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Austin leaders look to local preparations as air taxis take off in Texas: New mobility options like electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles are now being evaluated for uses from passenger and cargo transportation to emergency response. Local officials are now moving ahead with extensive planning and outreach before the aircraft arrive.

Georgetown to reduce rideGTX operation hours, increase base cost: RideGTX, the city of Georgetown's ride voucher service, will soon eliminate overnight hours and increase its base price to combat rising costs. Once the changes go into effect, rideGTX will operate from 6 a.m. to midnight and cost a base fee of $5.

TxDOT, Mobility Authority seek public input on 290 Toll extension into Bastrop County: The two agencies are accepting comments on proposed improvements to about 15 miles of Hwy. 290 until Oct. 30. The entities are evaluating the feasibility of extending tolled main lanes alongside existing nontolled lanes, adding signalized intersections, and enhancing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

After COTALAND officials debuted more than 30 rides and attractions for people of all ages during events Sept. 26-27, officials are looking ahead to a planned water park and on-site resort as part of Circuit of the Americas' push to grow its year-round offerings.

Zooming in: To fund the next phase, COTA officials entered into a partnership with investment firm Carlyle, according to an Aug. 24 announcement.

The financing amount was not disclosed; however, officials noted in the release that the partnership will not change COTA’s ownership structure and the venue will remain locally owned and operated.

The background: The idea for a water park has been floated before, with COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein telling Community Impact in 2025 that the project could follow COTALAND if demand supported further expansion.

The Carlyle agreement now brings financial backing to that plan.