Here is what Northwest Austin residents need to know this week, Nov. 21-27.

1. Austin has a new interim police chief 

Austin Police Department Chief of Staff Brian Manley has been named interim police chief and will temporarily replace Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, who is stepping down to take the chief position at the Houston Police Department. Manley began as a patrol officer for APD in 1991 and moved through the ranks to become chief of staff in 2015. He will start as interim chief Dec. 1. The city of Austin begins safety improvements Nov. 21 at the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and Rundberg Lane.[/caption]

2. Safety improvements begin at intersection of North Lamar and Rundberg Lane

The city of Austin starts work this week on $647,000 worth of safety improvements at five intersections throughout the city, including at North Lamar and Parmer Lane, as part of a program that Austin City Council passed to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries from vehicle collisions. The improvements at North Lamar Boulevard and Rundberg Lane include raised medians and striped crosswalks at all pedestrian crossing points. Construction will require road closures through February, and some Capital Metro bus stops near the intersection will be temporarily re-located.

3. Round Rock ISD changes middle school boundaries 

After several months of RRISD board meetings and public forums, last week trustees voted 7-0 to alter boundaries for Cedar Valley, Chisholm Trail, Deerpark, Grisham and Walsh middle schools to carve out a new boundary for the future Pearson Ranch Middle School, which will open in August. The changes will take effect during the 2017-18 school year. Middle school students entering eighth grade in 2017-18 will be grandfathered and remain at their current schools, according to the board’s decision. District staff said the changes were necessary to make room for the new middle school and relieve overcrowding in other schools. However, some parents, particularly those living in the Ranch and Brushy Creek subdivision, were unhappy with the changes and how they will affect the schools their children attend.

4. Zilker Holiday Tree lights up

The holiday season gets a jump start with the 50th annual lighting ceremony of the Zilker Holiday Tree at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27, at Moonlight Tower in Zilker Park on Stratford Drive, Austin. The ceremony includes local entertainment, food, novelties and live music. The 155-foot-tall tree will be lit with more than 3,300 light bulbs and will stay illuminated and open to the public until Dec. 31.

5. Chuy's holiday parade rolls through downtown

The parade benefitting the Austin Police Department's Operation Blue Santa features giant inflatable balloons, holiday floats, famous children's characters, marching bands, classic cars and Santa. Attendees are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to donate. The event starts at 11 a.m. at the Texas State Capital at the intersection of Congress Avenue and 11th Street.