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UDPDATE: 2023 Top Stories: Cedar Park, Leander police faced a tumultuous year

The Cedar Park Police Department and the Leander Police Department both experienced one of the most tumultuous years in their history in 2023. Cedar Park dealt with a shocking revelation about one of … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 1/8/24

Families enjoy Cedar Park's grand opening of Phase 1 of Lakeline Park on March 24, 2023.

Cedar Park, Leander and Leander ISD are growing into the final version of themselves that will exist once their population growth reaches final buildout in the next decade. Leander alone was among … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 1/4/24

The murder of former Cedar Park High School football player Ronnie Caldwell, 21, created intense turmoil for Northwestern State University and its football program. Caldwell was shot and killed … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 1/4/24

The Vista Ridge High School marching band performed in the annual holiday tradition Rose Bowl Parade on Monday, Jan. 2.

2023 Top Stories: Leander ISD students earn state, national attention

Leander ISD students made a big splash in 2023, garnering recognition in national and state competitions and participating in national events. As the district’s enrollment continues to grow, … more

By Clayton Kelley, Reporter | 1/2/24

Leander ISD is starting the process of creating its own district school department to comply with a new law. The district hopes to have its application for the department reviewed and approved by summer 2024.

2023 Top Stories: Leander moves to adopt a district police department

Leander ISD is moving forward with creating a school police department. The decision adds a fundamentally new component to the school district, potentially for the rest of its existence, that … more

By Clayton Kelley, Reporter | 12/29/23

Signs supporting and opposed to Leander ISDâ??s bond proposition for the May 6 election are visible on the first day of early voting, April 24, 2023, outside the Cedar Park Public Library polling place.

Although the lack of city and state elections this year may make it look like a lackluster year for elections, the absence was a welcome breather for Cedar Park and Leander voters, who had a marathon … more

By Clayton Kelley, Reporter, and Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/28/23

Firefighters battle a structure fire Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, resulting from a 50-acre grass fire along Parmer Lane that totally destroyed one apartment building and damaged two other apartment buildings at the Bexley at Silverado, located at 12820 West Parmer Lane in Cedar Park.

2023 started with winter ice and culminated in summer fire for Cedar Park, Leander, and most of Williamson County. The 2023 February ice storm wasn't as devastating as the historic 2021 winter … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/27/23

The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority is nearly 28% completed with its approximately $290 million total deep water intake pipeline that will pull for the deepest section of Lake Travis. Construction of the pipeline is expected to be completed in April 2027.

Leander and Cedar Park residents had to repeatedly turn their taps off in 2023. Leander twice had to impose Stage 3 water restrictions, which prohibited all outdoor watering except for handheld … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/25/23

A release from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service shows the two suspects and the vehicle they used after robbing a USPIS worker around 9 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2023, in the 2000 block of Lucky Lane in Williamson County, just outside of the Leander city limits. The USPIS is offering a $150,000 award for any information that leads to the arrest of the two suspects.

Mail-theft ring arrested for Leander, Round Rock postal worker robberies

Four members of an alleged mail-theft ring operating out of Austin have been arrested and charged in connection with two robberies and a third attempted robbery of USPS master keys from postal … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/20/23

Atomic Tattoo shop on US 183 in northwest Austin, a few miles south of Cedar Park.

INK-ling of an idea: Cedar Park Council planning to loosen tattoo parlor zoning rules

Cedar Park doesn't have a single tattoo parlor. The cluster of them along the city's southern border, the newly opened tattoo parlor to the north in Leander's Old Town District and citizen … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/19/23

The Cedar Park Police Department provided a photo showing the approximately nine ounces of powder fentanyl seized during the May 16, 2022, bust.

Leander HS student dies after suspected fentanyl overdose

A Leander High School student's death last Saturday, Dec. 16, is suspected to have been a fentanyl overdose, according to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. Zarek McMeekin, an 11th grader, … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/19/23

The Leander Independent School District Administration Office, located at 204 W. South St., Leander.

Substitute teacher bringing gun to Leander ISD campus under police investigation

The Travis County Sheriff's Office and the Leander ISD's district administration are investigating a Dec. 13 incident at Four Points Middle School where a substitute teacher brought a gun onto the … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/18/23

Williamson County ..Williamson County held a ribbon cutting ceremony Dec. 13, 2023, for the completion of a $1.1 million sports fields and courts lighting project at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park in Leander

$1.1 million Southwest Williamson County Regional Park lighting project completed; other improvements planned

Williamson County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 13 for the completion of a $1.1 million sports fields and courts lighting project at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park in Leander. … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/14/23

Leander ISD creating district police department

Leander ISD will start the process of creating its own district police department by summer 2024 to comply with the requirements of a new state law. The exact timeline for the Texas Commission … more

12/13/23

Leander will permanently close and vacate its right to the CR 177 low-water crossing bridge located east of the road's intersection with Ronald Reagan Boulevard due to it becoming a persistent safety issue.

Leander closing CR 177 low-water crossing bridge

Leander will permanently close the CR 177 low-water crossing bridge in the coming days. The bridge over Brushy Creek is located on a section of the county road near its midpoint between its … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/12/23

LISD votes No on chaplains as employees

Leander ISD will not allow chaplains, or clergy members, to serve as district school counselors. LISD Board of Trustees voted Nov. 30 against allowing or accepting chaplains as volunteers … more

By Clayton Kelley, Reporter | 12/8/23

Postal worker robbed just outside Leander limits; US Postal Service offering $150K reward for information on suspects

A U.S. Postal Inspection Service worker was robbed around 9 a.m. on Dec. 5 in the 2000 block of Lucky Lane in Williamson County, just outside of the Leander city limits. The Leander Police … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/6/23

May 11, 2022, Leander, Texas: A CapMetro Metro Rail train sits at the Leander Station as passengers arrive for a morning departure for its route to downtown Austin.

Death of woman killed by CapMetro train ruled accidental

The Leander Police Department has ruled the Nov. 18 death of woman fatally struck by a CapMetro commuter train in Leander while crossing a railway bridge as accidental. On the day of the … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/6/23

Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, Texas.

Four Leander ISD to receive modernization upgrades

Four Leander ISD campuses will receive a combined maximum total of $25 million in modernization upgrades next year in 2024. The $25 million in funding is part of the 2023 voter-approved district … more

By Clayton Kelley, Reporter | 12/5/23

The 2023 Leander Old Town Christmas Festival drew over 31,000 attendees on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, a record-high turnout for the event.

2023 Leander Old Town Christmas Festival draws record crowd

The 2023 Leander Old Town Christmas Festival drew its highest turnout ever on Saturday, Dec. 2. The Leander Chamber of Commerce, which runs the event, estimated over 31,000 people … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/4/23

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