Your Daily Guide

Travis County Launches Voter Hotline

Early voting for the Nov. 3 election is underway in Travis County and, lucky for us, officials have opened an Election Call Center to answer all your questions about the process. You can call 512-238-8683 with questions about where to vote, what you need to bring, and voting by mail. [Travis County]

• Early voting runs through Oct. 30. Early voting lasts through the next couple of weeks and is a great way to avoid Nov. 3 crowds. Travis County residents can vote at any polling place and most are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Some locations have extended hours. [Travis County]
• Need a guide? Elections can be confusing! This guide is extremely thorough with information that ranges from what races are on the ballot statewide to making sure your ballot is counted. [The Texas Tribune]
• An independent city audit is on the ballot. A number of propositions will appear on your ballot this election, but everyone seems to be talking about Proposition I. The proposition would require the city of Austin to undergo an independent audit every five years. Save Austin Now helped put the proposition on the ballot and more than 21,000 people signed a petition to have it added. [KUT]
• Test your voting knowledge. I’ll be honest, I’ve watched this video-voting-guide-pop-quiz by our creative producer Elissa Castles too many times to count. Even if you’re an elections expert, the quiz is a helpful refresher on what you need to know before heading to the voting booth! [City Cast Austin]

Where To See the World's Largest Cowboy Hat

A 17-foot-tall Tecovas cowboy hat has been installed at Circuit of The Americas ahead of Formula One races, making it the world’s largest, Guinness World Records confirmed. The hat is 43 feet wide and 47 feet long. [CBS Austin]

Viral Parking Dispute Puts Spotlight on City's Gentrification Issues

A viral video that shows a dispute between a white couple and people parking near Huston-Tillotson University has been shared by TMZ, The Root, and has been watched internationally. The woman who took the video says it’s a good example of how gentrification affects Austinites. [City Cast Austin]

Lineup Out for New Riverside Venue

United Heritage Hall, a music venue opening on East Riverside Drive next year, has released its spring lineup. Performers include Chaka Khan, ZZ Top, Taylor Tomlinson, deadmau5, and more. [United Heritage Hall]

Texas May Sell a State Park to Elon Musk

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is the prospective buyer of Boca Chica State Park in Brownsville, which is near Musk’s Starbase facility, Texas Monthly has reported. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission removed a Nov. 5 agenda item about the sale and may take it up at a later date. [Texas Monthly]

• In other park news, a 650-acre ranch at Lake Palestine in Northeast Texas is going to be turned into a state park. [CultureMap Austin]