During a July 14 press conference hosted by Vikki Goodwin, candidate for Texas lieutenant governor, local elected officials from Hays County spoke about recent governmental votes involving data center development in the region.

The gist: Michelle Cohen, Hays County Precinct 2 commissioner and candidate for Hays County judge, spoke on the Commissioners Court’s June 23 resolution establishing a 180-day emergency water protection review period for high-usage developments, including data centers, and creating a review board to evaluate proposals.

The Commissioners Court’s resolution began a temporary review period during which the court will not consider any discretionary approvals for high-water-usage industrial projects or data centers, within the county’s legal authority, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

A closer look: San Marcos City Council members Amanda Rodriguez and Alyssa Garza both spoke at the July 14 press conference on the council’s recent decision to prohibit data centers in all city zoning distinctions.

Also of note: The officials called for a temporary moratorium on new data center construction until the Legislature could meet and review industry regulations.

Buda residents will have a new banking option soon, with a Frontier Bank currently under construction and set to open this fall.

A new Frontier Bank location is slated to celebrate its grand opening Oct. 22.

Zooming in: According to a Frontier Bank representative, once open to the community, the branch will offer:

• A full-service banking center to include a drive-thru window with night drop
• Safe deposit boxes
• A multidenominational dispensing ATM that accepts deposits
• A full team of bankers to assist with all personal and business banking services

• 215 Railroad St., Buda

A new arena football team is slated to make the Austin area its home, beginning its first season in spring 2027 as a member of the Indoor Football League, or IFL, team owner Vivi Lin told Community Impact. The team, which will be known as the ATX Draft, is “seriously considering” establishing its base of operations at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Lin said.

The details: The team is in talks with the H-E-B Center and has received strong support from local leaders, including Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin and Chief Economic Development Officer Arthur Jackson, Lin said. She added that the team will focus on community engagement and aims to give fans more access than a typical professional sports team.

“We designed a lot of our resources and impact in the community to strengthen the families, develop leaders, create economic opportunities for local businesses and ultimately just to serve the Greater Austin community,” Lin said.

What's next: The team will share more details at a media launch event Aug. 5, Lin said.

Check out some top trending stories from the Austin area July 13-16. 

1. New Austin-area professional arena football team set to kick off in 2027

2. Check out 3 stories coming out of Hays County school districts

3. Round Rock Burger King to get $300K remodel

4. New $2.2B Cedar Creek data center project, abatements under review

5. Pharmaceutical venture announces $500M expansion in Northwest Austin

6. New Braunfels City Council appoints new acting city attorney

Gov. Greg Abbott named Robert S. Howden, one of his senior advisers and his office's legislative director, as Texas' 116th secretary of state effective July 18. Howden will succeed Secretary of State Jane Nelson, who resigned effective July 17 more than three years after she took office.

As the state's chief elections officer, Howden will be responsible for overseeing the application of Texas election laws and assisting local election officials. The secretary of state's office also manages business records, government rules and regulations, and other official duties.

Following Abbott's appointment, Howden must be confirmed for the position by at least two-thirds of the Texas Senate. The state Legislature's next regular session will begin in January.