Leander Senior Activity Center expected to be complete in October
The Leander Senior Activity Center is expected to be completed by Oct. 8, said Russell Alabastro, a Project Manager for the city.
In a presentation to Leander City Council Aug. 21, he updated City Council on the building’s progress.
The details: According to Alabastro, as of Aug. 21, doors and frames in the facility are in progress, and interior walls have been insulated and are progressively being sealed.
Additionally, the west parking lot has been completed, the fire sprinkler and alarm system are in progress, network cabling is being installed and sidewalks are being formed.
The update comes as seniors in town have continued to express interest in the center.
Selection of bond project contractors upcoming; Round Rock ISD launches 2024 bond tracker
Round Rock ISD is making headway on several 2024 bond projects, with several entering stages of procurement and design, per a recent district report.
Current situation: Major and minor construction projects, turf field replacements, track resurfacing and technology replacements are underway in RRISD, as the district gets moving on bond projects funded through three 2024 ballot initiatives. Administrators provided an update on these projects in an Aug. 21 board meeting.
Local restaurants to fight food insecurity during Austin Restaurant Weeks
Dozens of Austin restaurants are teaming up from Aug. 29 to Sept. 14 to help combat food insecurity.
The details: Austin Restaurant Weeks is a two-week dining event that features specially-priced meals and cocktails at a variety of participating eateries. A portion of the proceeds from each meal will be donated to the Central Texas Food Bank.
Pricing options include a $25 lunch and brunch package, a $50 dinner package and a $75 dinner package. The resulting donations are $4, $7 and $10, respectively.
The new concept will be led by chefs Daniel Berg and Dylan Salisbury, of the Austin-based Berg & Sons Hospitality. The company opened its first restaurant, Bill’s Oyster, in 2023 and opened Teddy’s Restaurant & Bar in 2024.
The menu blends fine dining with casual fare, featuring Pat LaFrieda steaks—sourced from the renowned East Coast butcher—alongside burgers, cocktails and wines at a range of price points, according to a news release.
🌮 Horror-themed food truck Fright Bite opens in South Austin (Read more)
🆕 Injera & Beyond brings Ethiopian eatery to Cedar Park (Read more)
🦪 Austin Oyster Co. to open brick and mortar in East Austin (Read more)
😋 Big Daddy Jay's Creole Kitchen serves fresh gumbo in Buda (Read more)
Asian-barbecue fusion food truck Si Baby-Q relocated to Pink Flamingo Food Court in July. The menu features barbecue dishes with an Asian twist, such as brisket and ribs with an Indonesian pepper and spice rub.
Sides include smoked kimchi; queso noodles made with long peppers from India; street corn; roti, or an Indian bread; and a banana pudding dessert.
The food truck also sells smoked meats by the pound and features weekend specials such as smashburgers.
Amid Democratic criticism, Texas lawmakers vote to overhaul STAAR and launch new tests in 2027
Both chambers of the Texas Legislature have voted to overhaul the state’s standardized testing system, putting public school students one step closer to taking new exams in the 2027-28 school year.
The details: House Bill 8 would eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and replace it with three shorter tests, which students would take at the beginning, middle and end of each school year.
Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said HB 8 would “reduce test anxiety, provide teachers with immediate feedback and create a pathway for trust in our system again." The majority of House Democrats and a few Republicans disagreed, arguing Aug. 26 that the bill would increase the amount of time students spend on exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the Texas Education Agency.
Next steps: After state senators passed HB 8 with a 21-7 vote Aug. 27, the bill returned to the House for consideration of a Senate amendment. If House lawmakers sign off on the changes, HB 8 will be sent to the governor.
