Your Daily Guide

The Latest in the AISD State Takeover Saga: Parents Want Investigation Into Petitions

The Parent-Teacher Association at Webb Middle School has asked the Texas Education Agency to investigate if outside groups put pressure on parents to sign a petition on the closing of the campus. [Austin Current]

• How we got here: Austin Independent School District’s Burnet and Webb middle schools received five consecutive failing grades earlier this year, which triggered intervention from the state. The state could close the schools or appoint a board of managers. [KUT]
• The Austin mayor proposed a plan. Kirk Watson called on parents to sign petitions asking the Texas Education Commissioner to close their campuses because the move could prevent a districtwide takeover. [Austin Current]
• Then: Parents at Webb and Burnet signed petitions seeking the closure of the campuses in order to avoid a state takeover. Those petitions were due on Oct. 15 and more than a majority of parents signed them. [KVUE]
• What’s next: Webb parents, in addition to feeling pressured to sign the petition, believe their private information was shared without permission. TEA officials say the agency is reviewing the complaint made by the parents to figure out next steps. [Austin Current]

Just 1 Austin Pizza Spot Made This National Ranking

Food & Wine Magazine released its list of the 27 best pizzas in the country right now and Allday Pizza is the only Austin spot on the ranking. The magazine highlighted the restaurant’s Pep & Pepp slice and pickle pizza. [Food&Wine]

Early Voting Is Outpacing 2022, 2018

Way to go, Austin! More than 40,000 ballots were cast on the first day of Travis County early voting on Monday, which is up from 25,343 first-day voters in 2022 and 32,036 in 2018. The county also increased its number of early voting locations from 38 to 45 this year. [Austin American-Statesman]

The Best Events Happening During F1

Formula 1 races kick off on Friday and even if you’re not headed out to the track, you’ll have plenty to do. Sports Illustrated is hosting a live music event downtown, Central Machine Works is putting on a kick-off party, and so, so much more is happening through Oct. 25. [Tribeza]

Amazon's Dog's Head Facility Will Be Huge, Filing Shows

An Amazon facility being built at Dog’s Head in Southeast Austin is expected to be 1.2 million square feet and include an office, factory, casting, and utility plant. A state filing says the preliminary cost of the project is $100 million. [Austin Business Journal]