1. New high-rise height limit now in effect for downtown Austin
Austin officials implemented interim building regulations for high-rise projects in the downtown area in response to a new state law meant to spur housing development across Texas.
The update caps new construction in much of the city core at 350 feet, unless they provide streetscape improvements and affordable housing funds. The change is expected to be short-lived with wider revisions to downtown development policies next year.
Read the full story from Reporter Ben Thompson.
2. Austinites reject Proposition Q tax hike
Austin voters rejected Proposition Q, a 20% tax rate increase. City officials conceded the measure was headed for failure late election night, while opponents celebrated the tax hike's defeat.
The proposition failed with 109,262 votes against, more than 63% of the vote, versus 62,882 ballots cast in favor based on totals reported by Travis, Williamson and Hays counties.
Check out the full update from Reporter Ben Thompson.
3. New Indian grocery store in the works in Pflugerville
Desi Dukaan will open in Stone Hill Town Center, offering a one-stop shop for Indian groceries, meats and freshly prepared foods.
The business, owned by Hari Nemireddy and partners, will carry a selection of lamb, chicken, and seafood, along with a restaurant, juice bar, and bakery inside the 10,000-square-foot space. The store replaces a former Billiard Factory that closed in October.
Find out more from Reporter Manny Holguin.
4. Lucky Claw Mania now open in Pflugerville
The business specializes in claw machines, which are filled with a variety of plush toys, such as Labubus, Pokémon and other prizes. Customers can purchase tokens to pay the claw machines, and prizes won from the machines can be exchanged for points to go toward a different prize.
See the full update from Editor Grant Crawford.
5. Austin ISD to hold off on 3 school closures, delay boundary changes
The Austin ISD board of trustees will no longer vote to close Palm, Bryker Woods and Maplewood elementaries in November.
Additionally, the district will postpone any proposed attendance boundary changes until next year, excluding those related to intervention at failing schools, Superintendent Matias Segura announced in a letter to families on the evening of Nov. 4.
Hear more from the district in Reporter Chloe Young's story.
6. Pflugerville mayoral race heads to runoff; Coffman wins open council seat
The Pflugerville mayoral race will head to a runoff election after Doug Weiss and Pat McCord received 47.38% and 34.55% of the votes, respectively. With no candidate receiving a 50% majority of the vote, the two candidates will move on to a runoff election.
Jonathan Coffman will join Pflugerville City Council after winning the Place 1 seat, receiving 55.3% of the votes. He was followed by write-in candidate Sam Aly, who received 29.3% of the votes, and Phil Davis, who received 15.4%.
Find out more from Reporter Manny Holguin.
