Raa Mawa Desi Fusion serves Indian cuisine in Georgetown
Near the treeline at food truck park South Fork Fun, Food & Brew in Georgetown stands Raa Mawa Desi Fusion, which serves up traditional street-style dishes from various Indian regions.
Meet the chef: Georgetown local Manikiran Karaka is the owner and head chef behind Raa Mawa Desi Fusion, which opened in December 2023.
Karaka was inspired by his family’s business in India and the food he grew up with.
“When I was a kid, we used to eat a lot of street food outside,” Karakan said. “Most Indian people, they like to have street [food].”
What’s on the menu: Karaka traveled across different Indian states in his childhood, trying many styles of street food. He curated the menu to include dishes from north and south India alike. This includes northern-style chaats, and dosas, which are southern-style savory crepes.
Georgetown to deliver Round Rock water to Liberty Hill
The city of Georgetown will aid water transfer from Round Rock to Liberty Hill, following approval from both Georgetown and Round Rock city councils. Since Round Rock and Liberty Hill don’t have a direct connection, Round Rock will provide water through an established water agreement and connection with Georgetown.
The history: Georgetown and Round Rock entered into a 10-year water wholesale agreement in 2020, in which Round Rock provides the city with up to 3 million gallons per day, or MGD.
The conditions: Beginning Sept. 1, Round Rock will increase its water distribution to Georgetown to 3.25 MGD, charging a base rate of $47,732 and a volume charge of $1.22 per 1,000 gallons. Georgetown will deliver 0.25 MGD to Liberty Hill with a base rate of $11,143.86 and a volume charge of $2.90 per 1,000 gallons.
Georgetown is not liable to deliver water to Liberty Hill if it doesn’t receive the necessary amount from Round Rock. The agreement will expire Dec. 31, 2030, with the opportunity for extension.
Georgetown parklands to see controlled burns through March
Park lands near Lake Georgetown will undergo a series of controlled burns from Sept. 1-March 31.
The gist: The Georgetown Fire Department will collaborate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to conduct a series of prescribed burns around the lake, according to a city news release.
During the burns, trails and parks near the lake will be closed. Additionally, large clouds of smoke may affect air quality in the surrounding area.
The city will notify residents about burns and closures through the fire department’s Facebook page and Warn Central Texas. City officials encourage residents to sign up for Warn Central Texas’ mobile alerts and to monitor local air quality.
Local restaurants to fight food insecurity during Austin Restaurant Weeks
Dozens of Austin restaurants are teaming up from Aug. 29 to Sept. 14 to help combat food insecurity.
The detail: Austin Restaurant Weeks is a two-week dining event that features specially-priced meals and cocktails at a variety of participating eateries. A portion of the proceeds from each meal will be donated to the Central Texas Food Bank.
Pricing options include a $25 lunch and brunch package, a $50 dinner package and a $75 dinner package. The resulting donations are $4, $7 and $10, respectively.
Inaugural State of Healthcare Workforce Forum highlights local concerns around shortage, talent pools
Higher education costs, a booming population and aging workforce are all challenges identified by health care executives at the state and local level in a first-time health care forum held at Austin PBS in August.
The setup: Hosted by Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area and the Central Texas Healthcare Partnership, with support from the St. David's Foundation, the State of Healthcare Workforce Forum brought experts from the state and regional level to discuss challenges impacting the health care industry and its workforce Aug. 26.
Gov. Abbott signs new congressional map; Texas Democrats vow to fight in court
Gov. Greg Abbott signed Texas’ new congressional map into law Aug. 29, declaring in a video posted to social media that “Texas is now more red in the United States Congress.”
The details: Under Texas’ current congressional boundaries, Republicans hold 25 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats. State lawmakers have said the new map will help them gain up to five more during the 2026 midterm elections.
Texas Democrats have called the mid-decade redistricting effort unconstitutional and "racially discriminatory," while Republicans asserted that the map "complies with the law" and was designed to help more Republicans get elected to the U.S. House.
Next steps: Texas’ new congressional map is set to take effect in early December, although it will be discussed in court two months earlier. After state senators approved the map Aug. 23, the League of United Latin American Citizens and a group of Texas residents filed a lawsuit asking that the map be found unconstitutional.
A panel of three federal judges will hear arguments in the case Oct. 1-10 in El Paso.
