Local news | Hill Country News

Plug and Play CEO and Found Saeed Amidi (center left) participated in a ribbon cutting for the company's new Cedar Park location on Feb. 21, 2024, with Cedar Park Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin (center right) and other city officials. The location is Plug and Play's first Texas location.

BUSINESS BOOM: Wilco approves 200K-square-foot Hanwha facility; Leander approves 115-acre business park; Plug and Play holds grand opening in Cedar Park

While 2023 was a year of several high-profile successes - and a few major disappointments - for Williamson County, Leander and Cedar Park, all three have already seen a major success in just the … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/25/24

Man sentenced in St. David's parking lot pipe bomb explosion

A Jonestown man was to two and a half years in federal prison last Friday in federal court for possessing a pipe bomb that exploded back on Aug. 9, 2023, in his pickup truck while it was in the … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/20/24

2024 Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce Business Climate Survey

Chamber survey: Cedar Park businesses positive about future, growth

A majority of Cedar Park's businesses feel Cedar Park is heading in the right direction and feel they are doing better or the same as they did last year, according to over 300 individuals associated … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/19/24

Leander City Council Place 4 incumbent Na'Cole Thompson will face off against challenger Monica Roussel-Methena in the upcoming May 4 municipal elections.

Roussel-Methena challenging incumbent Thompson for Leander Council Place 4 seat

Leander City Council Place 4 incumbent Na'Cole Thompson, a Leander small business owner, is being challenged by newcomer candidate Monica Roussel-Methena, a rental management business owner and state … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/19/24

A group of Leander ISD students performed a dance at the Feb. 15, 2023, school board meeting in protest of a change the district made to its Off-Campus PE program.

Student backlash prompts Leander ISD to reverse course on Off Campus PE policy

Following public backlash against a change in a district policy, a group of students helped to convince the Leander ISD Board of Trustees to roll back a change to the district’s Off-Campus PE … more

By Scott W. Coleman, Editor | 3/14/24

Leander City Council Place 6 incumbent Becki Ross will face off against challengers Anna Yelaun and Pulla Reddy Yeduru in the upcoming May 4, 2024 municipal elections.

Leander Council Place 6 incumbent Ross facing two challengers

Leander City Council Place 6 incumbent Becki Ross, a 15-year business owner, is facing two challenger candidates this year — local teacher Anna Yelaun and senior software engineer Pulla Reddy … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/12/24

Former Williamson County Sheriff's Office deputies James "JJ" Johnson and Zach Camden

Former Wilco deputies found not guilty in Javier Ambler's death

The two former Williamson County Sheriff's Office deputies who were criminally charged following Javier Ambler's death while in their custody were found not guilty of all charges last Thursday, March … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/12/24

The Leander City Council named Todd Parton the new Leander City Manager during their meeting last Thursday, March 7.

Todd Parton named new Leander City Manager

A former Kerrville city manager has been named Leander's new city manager. Todd Parton was selected to fill the position last Thursday, March 7, by the Leander City Council. … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/11/24

Construction continues on Samsung’s 6 million square foot manufacturing facility located in Taylor, about 30 miles northeast of downtown Austin, on January 6, 2024. However, multiple media outlets have recently reported the company will delay mass production of semiconductors at the facility until 2025, several months after the initial target. Samsung Electronics recently announced it would add a second, 2.7 million square foot, building to the facility originally announced in 2021. The second fabrication plant is part of the $17 billion chip plant that is reported to have risen to a an estimated cost of $25 billion due to increase costs of raw materials and construction.

Judge Gravell: $17B Samsung plant beginning operations, receiving employees by July

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said the planned $17 billion Samsung Austin Semiconductor fabrication plant in Taylor will begin receiving employees and begin manufacturing operations by July 1. … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/8/24

Cedar Park-based aerospace company Firefly Aerospace held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Briggs, Texas, for its newly expanded 207,000-square-foot Rocket Ranch testing and manufacturing facility. The new buildings at the facility feature large robotic fiber placement machines that can automatically lay down more than 200 pounds of carbon fiber per hour to build the first stages of the company's rockets.

Firefly Aerospace holds ribbon cutting for Rocket Ranch expansion; Two mission operation centers opened in Cedar Park

Cedar Park-based aerospace company Firefly Aerospace held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, Feb. 28, for its newly expanded 207,000-square-foot Rocket Ranch testing and manufacturing facility in … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/8/24

Campaign signs seen across Cedar Park and Leander ahead of the March 5, 2024 primary.

2024 Primary Results: Incumbents, returning candidates win 2024 Primary Elections by overwhelming margins; Williamson County sees major drop in voter turnout

Although federal incumbent and returning candidates still won their primaries by overwhelming victory margins just like they had statewide, county voters broke with statewide trends by keeping … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/6/24

Leander Place 2 incumbent Esmeralda Mattke Longoria and challenger Michael Herrera

Herrera challenging Mattke Longoria for Leander Council Place 2

Leander business owner Michael Herrera is challenging Leander City Council Place 2 incumbent Esmeralda Mattke Longoria in the upcoming May 4 municipal elections. Early voting begins on April 22. … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/5/24

Tamara Needles, Travis County District Court Judge, moderates a panel including Travis County Judge Andy Brown, Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez to discuss in detail a plan to build a mental health diversion center for those arrested who are in crisis – starting first with a pilot program to begin in March.

Travis County to launch $23 million project to keep mentally ill from jail

For years, veteran Texas sheriffs like Travis County’s Sally Hernandez have watched how countless tax dollars are spent to break the endless cycle of taking mentally ill or intoxicated … more

By Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune | 3/4/24

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

Leander ISD anticipates $3.8M budget shortfall this year

Leander ISD is projecting it will have a $3.8 million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2023-24. The district is expected to receive $5.2 million less than budgeted from the School Health and … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/4/24

More than 200 vehicles were displayed for the public at the 11th Annual Rouse Rock N Rides Car Show, at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park on March 2, 2024.

11th annual Rouse Rock N Rides Car Show breaks records, raises over $19,000

More than 200 autos ranging from classics to customs to modern muscle cars and even the iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile showed up and showed off to visitors at the 11th Annual Rock N Rides Car Show … more

Staff Reports | 3/3/24

The City of Round Rock will continue development of a park area along Brushy Creek and will also build a bridge to help bring pedestrians and cyclists to the city's downtown area.

Round Rock downtown park projects moving ahead

Round Rock will continue developing a 22-acre space near downtown into a lush green bicyclist-friendly public park along Brushy Creek. With the schematic design phase complete, city officials said … more

Texas Government Insider | 3/1/24

H-E-B awards a second place prize, worth $15,000, to A’HUA! Sparkling Agua Fresca in the 2023 H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition.

H-E-B accepting entries in annual H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition

H-E-B is excited to kick off the 11th annual H-E-B Quest for Texas Best, a competition created to find the best Texas-made products. Submissions for the competition will be accepted February 21 … more

Staff Reports | 3/1/24

A voter leaves the polling place at the Leander Public Library during early voting on February 26, 2024.

Early voting totals low for March primary, all-time high turnout for Republican primaries

Early Voting totals so far are slightly lower than usual for Williamson County going into the final week before the March 5 primary elections. But, the county is simultaneously seeing record … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 2/29/24

Inspire Ink tattoo shop is located on Hero Way West in Leander.

Tattoo removal: Cedar Park might finally get a tattoo parlor after zoning hurdle is removed

Cedar Park has never had a tattoo parlor or piercing studio in its entire history. After the Cedar Park Council unanimously approved changes to Cedar Park's zoning rules last Thursday, Feb.22, … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 2/29/24

A new program will begin introducing Accelerated Science classes to students at all 11 Round Rock ISD middle school students.

Round Rock ISD middle schools to offer Accelerated Science pathway

Middle school just got a little more exciting for Round Rock ISD students with a passion for STEM. Beginning this fall, all 11 middle schools within the district will introduce … more

Staff Reports | 2/28/24

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