Headlines

› No City Council meeting today – all the better, since council members are still recovering from a bruising debate over when to hold the city's next mayoral election (see "City Hall Hustle"). A split council voted to keep elections in May despite the potential for increased expenses, but passed it on first reading only; the measure returns for final adoption at council's next meeting, Oct. 6.

› Speaking of elections: A steering committee in support of Travis County Propositions 1 and 2 was announced this week, encouraging voters to do the "Travis Two-Step" this November. At $133 million, Prop. 1 pays for safety improvements on roadways and bridges, school routes, sidewalks, and flood prevention; Prop. 2, at $82 million, is for open space acquisition and water-quality protection.

› AISD trustees voted on Sept. 26 to extend Superintendent Meria Carstarphen's contract by one year, through July 30, 2014, despite opposition from trustees Robert Schneider and Annette LoVoi. The motion was a last-minute addition to Monday's schedule, surprising trustees, who expected a discussion next month.

› No sooner had the Belmont announced its closing than Austinites say farewell to three more Downtown institutions this week. First, Emo's owner Frank Hendrix confirmed on Sept. 26 that he had sold the venerable Red River venue; then management at the Hickory Street Bar and Grill on Congress and Charlie's, a long-standing gay bar in the shadow of the Capitol, both announced they will close this weekend.

› After years of writing and wrangling, the city has unveiled a draft of the Imagine Austin Compre­hensive Plan. The first complete overhaul of planning policy since 1979's Austin Tomorrow document, the 197-page plan is available for download at www.imagineaustin.net. A kick-off party is this Saturday; see "Civics 101."

› At press time, a U.S. State Department hearing was under way at UT on the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline proposed along East Texas properties and wetlands; opponents include environmentalists, religious leaders, and eminent-domain-wary tea party activists.

› It's been a bad week for Gov. Rick Perry's presidential aspirations. After a rambling performance in the Sept. 22 debate, Perry got spanked by a 2-to-1 ratio by Herman Cain in the Florida straw poll, and now is reported to be severely trailing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in fundraising.

› A UT fraternity is being sued by the national Kappa Alpha Order. The Texas branch of the fraternity broke off in June to become Texas Omicron after allegations of hazing and live sex shows, and now the national body says it wants the frat house on Leon Street, plus its contents and outstanding dues, back.