Austin

The Maywald family in Austin, Texas, announced that the 2024 season will be the final year of their long-running Maywald Christmas Light Display. The neighborhood holiday attraction, which has operated for more than 15 years at the family’s residence, has drawn visitors from across Austin and surrounding areas. The display features thousands of lights synchronized to music and will continue on its regular schedule through the current holiday season before closing permanently. City officials have previously monitored traffic near the site to ensure safety.

TxDOT announced that Austin’s Oak Hill Parkway project, which upgrades the congested US 290 and SH 71 corridor in southwest Austin, is scheduled for completion by mid-2026. The multi-year construction effort includes new lanes, reconfigured intersections, bridges, ramps, and safety improvements designed to increase capacity and improve traffic flow. Officials say crews remain on schedule and within budget while maintaining traffic through phased construction and coordinated detours. The project aims to enhance mobility and regional connectivity once the upgraded highway facility opens to drivers.

A large fire at the Sage at Franklin Park apartment complex in Southeast Austin, Texas, caused an estimated $3 million in damages, according to the Austin Fire Department. Firefighters responded to reports of heavy smoke and flames and deployed multiple units to contain the blaze and protect nearby structures. Investigators from the Austin Fire Department opened an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire and are reviewing witness accounts, physical evidence, and video footage. Officials said they will release further details after completing the investigation and damage assessments.

Waymo announced it will file a voluntary software recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after reports that its self-driving cars illegally passed stopped school buses. The recall will address the autonomous driving software that governs vehicle behavior around school buses displaying stop signs and flashing lights. Waymo will submit required documentation to NHTSA, identify all affected vehicles, and deploy an over-the-air software update to correct the issue. The company will monitor performance after the update and cooperate with federal and local authorities during the recall process.

Authorities in Bartlett, Texas, are investigating vandalism at the historic Bartlett Red School building and have offered a reward for information leading to the suspects. Police documented damage at the site, collected evidence, and appealed to the public for tips, including any sightings of suspicious activity near the property. Officials are working with preservation representatives to assess the impact on the historic structure.

The Texas Restaurant Association has activated the TX Restaurant Relief Fund to offer $5,000 grants to independent restaurants and foodservice workers in Central Texas impacted by catastrophic July 2024 floods. Eligible businesses that suffered physical damage, inventory loss, or prolonged closure can apply online for financial assistance to support repairs, equipment replacement, payroll, and other recovery costs. The fund, supported by donations from industry partners and individuals, will review applications on a rolling basis and distribute grants directly to approved recipients.

Austin officials report that the city must commit funding earlier than planned for phase two of the I-35 “caps and stitches” project after a change in the funding schedule by transportation partners. The project will add deck-style caps and connections over a rebuilt, lowered I-35 to support parks, public spaces and development in central Austin. City staff will bring updated cost estimates, funding options and a revised timeline to the Austin City Council while coordinating design and construction with TxDOT to keep the caps integrated with the highway redesign.

The parents of 19-year-old Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera have retained the Buzbee Law Firm and the Gamez Law Firm after authorities found her dead on a sidewalk in Austin, Texas. The family, through their attorneys, is disputing the official ruling in Aguilera’s death and initiating an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the incident. The legal team plans to examine investigative records, interview witnesses, and work alongside law enforcement while conducting its own fact-finding efforts.

Spray paint cans were flying again Friday as Austin’s iconic HOPE Outdoor Gallery reopened at a new 17-acre site near the airport, years after its closure.

Austin Wildlife Rescue (AWR), a nonprofit that rehabilitates and releases injured, sick, and orphaned wild animals, announced it will move its intake center to a new location at 811 E. 13th Street, near I-35. Operations at the new facility will begin Dec. 1, with hours remaining 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.