Farmand’s Family Kitchen now open in Steiner Ranch
A new restaurant has opened in Steiner Ranch.
The overview: Farmand’s Family Kitchen offers a family-friendly dining experience featuring salads, burgers and sandwiches as well as cocktails, beer and wine. A patio and outdoor playground is included at the business’ new location, which opened in August.
What else: The location is named after restaurateur Tony Farmand, and is a collaboration with restaurant developer Carlos Griego and a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, according to its website.
Water district serving cities of Buda, Kyle, others declares Stage 3 drought
Austin-area residents with water wells served by the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District must reduce groundwater pumping Oct. 1, with drought declared for the district in September.
What you need to know: These include the cities of Buda and Kyle, as well as individual well owners and water utilities.
What happened: The board of directors voted Sept. 11 to declare a Stage 3 exceptional drought for the second time in the board's 38-year history. The first time the board declared this level of drought was in December 2023, according to a news release from the board.
What's next? As a result, permitees must reduce the amount of water they are pumping from the aquifer by 30-100%, based on the type of permit they hold. The portion of the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers managed by the board is estimated to serve about 100,000 people.
Travis County officials sign off on judicial pay raises amid ‘exceptionally tight budget’
Travis County commissioners on Sept. 9 approved a series of salary adjustments for judges and elected officials that will shape how taxpayer dollars are allocated in the upcoming budget.
The overview: District Judges will see their county supplement rise to the state-allowed maximum of $25,000, bringing their total salary to $200,000, with corresponding increases for County Court at Law Judges and the 3rd Court of Appeals. Associate judges will receive phased raises reaching $180,000 by 2027, a move judicial advocates said could improve retention, boost efficiency and reduce court backlogs.
What else? Nonjudicial elected officials, including commissioners and the county judge, will see a modest 1% raise, while broader compensation decisions for county staff remain pending. A market study, criticized by some Commissioners for flawed methodology, is under review, and the Human Resources Management Department has 60 days to conduct further analysis.
The outlook: Officials said limited funding and rising health insurance costs are constraining compensation options. The FY 2025-26 budget is scheduled for final approval Sept. 30.
Extension of downtown Austin skyline to continue south of Lady Bird Lake
City Council approved plans for a 2-million-square-foot mixed-use project off South Congress Avenue, one of several prominent redevelopments moving ahead in the South Central Waterfront near downtown.
The details: The 500 South Congress PUD, including Ego's bar and office and apartment buildings, will bring hundreds of new residences, a hotel and commercial space to the 6.5-acre site. The project from Related Cos. is expected to feature a restaurant, grocery store and affordable retail space that could bring Ego's back. It'll also add a new public trail along Bouldin Creek on the property's south side.
That project and other high-rises planned around the South Central Waterfront are advancing without long-anticipated city regulations that were meant to solidify more community benefits like affordable housing and parkland in the area. Officials suspended that update a year ago and construction is now being approved on a case-by-case basis, although new regulations could soon be in the works through a revision to the city's Downtown Austin Plan.
Check out these 20 new nonstop destinations from Austin’s airport
In August, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport announced a series of new destinations and nonstop flights beginning this fall to locations both nationally and around the globe.
International
Amsterdam, Netherlands: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Calgary, Alberta: WestJet
Cancún, Mexico: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines
Frankfurt, Germany: Lufthansa
London, United Kingdom: British Airways
and more.
Domestic
Fort Lauderdale, Florida: JetBlue Airways, new service starts Nov. 20
Fort Myers, Florida: Southwest Airlines, new nonstop service starts March 2026
San Diego, California: Alaska Airlines, increased frequency starts Jan. 7
San Francisco, California: Southwest Airlines, new service started Aug. 5
and more
Find details on nonstop flights and services on the airport's website, and visit individual airline websites for ticketing information.
