Headlines

City Council is on holiday hiatus and electoral interregnum: Mayor-elect Steve Adler and the 10 Council members will be inaugurated Jan. 6 at City Hall, where there should be enough chairs. (The first regular meeting of the new Council is scheduled for Jan. 29.)

If you're reading this on Jan. 2 – don't do it while driving or bicycling. Austin's new "hands-free" rule takes effect Jan. 1, prohibiting the use of handheld electronic devices while driving or cycling. Only exceptions are emergency calls to 911 or 311, and the recommendation is to first pull over and come to a complete stop. (No Grand Theft Auto, either.)

After the cancellation of its $90-million Health and Human Services contract extension – following allegations of conflicts of interest and other problems, first reported in the Austin Ameri­can-States­man – 21CT Inc. announced the layoff of 65 employees due to the "sudden and unexpected" withdrawal of the contract.

Governor-elect Greg Abbott's agenda still seems hazy, but with the 84th Legis­lat­ure looming, he's dropping hints. Lawmakers report early conversations about Medicaid expansion and $4 billion a year more for roads, and on Dec. 29, Abbott retweeted a Tyler Morning Telegraph column calling for more business deregulation.

Early voting has begun in three of the four upcoming legislative special elections – no, don't panic, none of them are in Austin. However, self-appointed guardian of Austin's political morals, Bastrop resident Linda Curtis, is running in House District 17 as an independent.

The Texas Tribune, having just ended its publishing partnership with The New York Times (NYT budget cuts), has announced a new one with The Washington Post, a "content-sharing, events, and marketing agreement" to include a Trib D.C. bureau chief and possibly "a presidential debate and a suite of other co-sponsored events." Jeff Bezos brings you Ted Cruz – what could be better?

In discouraging news for pro-choice advocates, three George W. Bush appointees will determine the fate of the final provision of Texas' draconian abortion law, HB 2. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals selected Justices Jennifer Walker Elrod, Catharina Haynes – who both upheld HB 2 in previous challenges – and Edward Prado to hear oral arguments Jan. 7. The suit largely focuses on a rule that forces clinics to comply with the same requirements as ambulatory surgical centers; it is expected to shutter all but eight clinics in the state.

The Longhorns laid a big, fat egg Monday night, losing 31-7 to the Arkansas Razor­backs in the Texas Bowl. Quarterback Tyrone Swoopes' offense accrued a 59 measly yards in four quarters, leaving Head Coach Charlie Strong heading into 2015 with more questions than he has competent skill players.