Cedar Park City Council members approved a $4.8 million architecture contract Sept. 24 for a city-owned art collective. The facility will feature a 500-seat theater, gallery and gathering spaces. City leaders selected a joint proposal from architecture firms Hoefer Welker and Bora to design the project.

Some context: The city plans to build the art center on land acquired in 2022 at Bell Boulevard and Buttercup Creek Boulevard. A pedestrian bridge will connect the building to the Bell District.

Funding the project: The Cedar Park Community Development Type B Board is funding the design using local sales tax revenue.

Also of note: Officials approved two other contracts at the same meeting:

• A construction management contract with Linbeck Group for $75,000 plus 3.3% of construction costs

• A $60,000 contract with arts consultant Emily Wanserski

What’s next: The design process is expected to take 18 months before the city requests construction proposals.

As Round Rock ISD staff forecast a multi-million-dollar shortfall for the district's self-funded health insurance going into 2027, the district is proposing an increase to employee healthcare costs.

The big picture: Historically, RRISD has absorbed cost increases for healthcare using its fund balance. However, costs have risen for many things in recent years, including healthcare claims, and the district can no longer prevent these increases from being passed on to employees, Chief Human Resources Officer Eddie Curran said Sept. 17.

The options: Curran said the district is exploring more expensive plan options or could choose to end its self-funded health plan and join the state's Teacher Retirement System ActiveCare program.

What they're saying: Tammy Conrad, the president of the district's teachers union, Education Round Rock, called on the district to find another option that does not potentially wipe out any pay increases that could come from the passage of the VATRE.

Check out six trending stories in the Austin area from Sept. 21-24.

1. Event center slated for site of old pharmacy at Parmer and Whitestone

2. Nana B's Country Kitchen showcases slow-cooked family recipes near Round Rock, Hutto border

3. Texas Roadhouse to open in November in Georgetown

4. Tacodeli plans new Dripping Springs location

5. ARA Diagnostic Imaging opens Leander location

6. Fritz Park holds grand opening in Hutto

Republican challenger Theodore Schramm is running against Democratic incumbent John H. Bucy III to represent District 136 in the Texas House of Representatives. Read Q&As with each of them below.

The big picture: District 136 includes portions of Round Rock, Cedar Park and northwest Austin. Bucy has served the district since 2019.

Learn more: Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines or for style and clarity.

Early voting runs Oct. 19-30. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation recently announced a 10-year transportation plan that will invest almost $140 billion in roadway improvements across the state. 

The framework: The Texas Transportation Commission approved the 2027 Unified Transportation Program at an August meeting. The funding includes $95 billion for projects across the state and $43 billion for development and routine maintenance. The investment is expected to improve safety, reduce congestion and strengthen the supply chain.

Quote of note: “This 10-year plan reflects the scale and complexity of meeting Texas’ transportation needs in one of the fastest-growing states in the nation,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in a news release. “It is focused on practical outcomes—improving safety, preserving the system we have, and supporting reliable movement for people and goods.”

The big picture: The 2027 UTP includes over $1.5 billion for Austin-area projects, including improvements to I-35 in Travis County and SH 71 in Bastrop County.