State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, will host a series of town halls throughout the city during October. The first meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 6-8 p.m. at Clint Small Jr. Middle School, 4801 Monterey Oaks Blvd., Austin. "To many observers of the Texas Legislature, the 85th regular session 'coulda been worse,'" Howard said in a news release. "But then we had a special session which was just plain terrible." "These town hall meetings will provide an opportunity for House District 48 constituents [which includes parts of the City of Austin as well as Rollingwood, Westlake Hills and Sunset Valley] to learn more about how recent legislative actions—or inaction—on the state budget, education, property taxes and other topics will affect them and impact our community," she said. There will be four town halls total. The other three are scheduled as follows:

• Tue., Oct. 17, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Doss Elementary Schoo, 7005 Northledge Drive, Austin
• Thu., Oct. 19, from 6-8 p.m. at Akins High School, 10701 S. First St., Austin.
• Sat., Oct. 28, from 10 a.m.-noon at Casis Elementary School, 2710 Exposition Blvd., Austin.