Editor's note: It's the first week of the year, and our top stories reflect that transition with news looking back and ahead. The top Austin news of the week lays out some safety data about living in Round Rock, followed by a lot of shifts in the restaurant industry and tips for New Year's Eve revelers who got parking tickets. Read the hottest headlines of the week below, then check out some things to do this weekend.

1. Austin suburb appears on new 2025 list of safest U.S. cities.Round Rock was declared the No. 26 safest city in America for 2025 in a new study by personal finance advisors MoneyGeek. It analyzed the cost of crime in dollars, per resident.

2. Wildlife officials warn Texans about invasive screwworm. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) says to look out for evidence of the New World Screwworm (NWS) affecting animals, especially near the state's southern border.

3. All of the restaurant and bar closures that rocked Austin in 2024.Yes, local development and rising costs are big issues. But as everything from celebrity chef-backed showcases to shaggy punk clubs bite the dust, the only constant seems to be chaos.

4. Some parking tickets will be canceled in Austin this New Year's Eve.While the reminder comes around New Year's Eve, the offer actually stands year-round. Austinites can have parking tickets dismissed if they provide proof of taking a responsible ride home.

5. A frozen custard closure and New Year's menus renew Austin food news.Culver's has closed after decades and is moving to Leander, Farmhouse Delivery is back in action, and we recap some notable openings and closings over the past few weeks.