Like many Texas school districts, Round Rock ISD employs uncertified teachers as long-term educators working toward full certification.

How it works: As a District of Innovation, RRISD is one of several districts in the state that has used a policy exemption to hire uncertified teachers.

However, In the 89th Legislature, lawmakers passed a requirement that districts begin phasing out exemptions for teacher certification requirements for core subjects by the 2027-28 school year.

About the program: Round Rock ISD’s alternative certification program has brought dozens of participants since it launched in the 2022-23 school year.

Earlier this year, Eddie Curran, the district’s chief of human resources, also launched the district’s new apprenticeship program this fall, bringing a new inroad to the classroom for employees.

A project to widen a section of Hwy. 79 in Round Rock could move forward soon, after years of planning.

What's new: Both an environmental study and schematic design for the project are expected later this year, followed by clearance to begin land acquisition, utility relocations and early stages of construction, according to a Texas Department of Transportation update.

Latest update: TxDOT began a virtual open house Sept. 1, which provided updates on the project. Community members have until Sept. 16 to weigh in on the project's plans.

Since the last update to the project’s design in 2022, the originally proposed half-cloverleaf interchange at the intersection of Hwy. 79 and Mays Street has been changed to an at-grade interchange, per TxDOT.

The update also shows fewer displacements required for the road widening, which will need just over 10 acres of right-of-way. Twelve displacements are expected, compared to the 19 included in the 2022 proposal. According to the prerecorded open house presentation, these displacements do not include any residential or community facilities.

Several transportation projects across the Austin metro are moving forward, with new construction, funding and schedule updates.

The details: Hays County secured more than $39 million in federal funding for a planned $49 million Centerpoint Road overpass over the Union Pacific Railroad crossing. The project is in the right-of-way acquisition and final design stages.

In Pflugerville, construction on Parkway Drive is expected to begin in mid-September following City Council’s approval of a $3.1 million construction contract. Work is scheduled through July 2027.

The MoPac South expansion in Austin is now estimated to cost $1.3 billion, an increase of more than $400 million. The project would add express lanes and shared-use paths between Cesar Chavez Street and Slaughter Lane.

Meanwhile, Round Rock’s Red Bud Lane North widening remains on schedule despite weather delays. Construction also continues on Cedar Park’s Toro Grande Boulevard improvements. In Buda, final asphalt paving has begun on Middle Creek Drive following substantial completion in August.

Four candidates are running for Texas lieutenant governor—the second-in-command to the governor—in the Nov. 3 election.

What's happening: Libertarian Anthony Cristo, Democrat Vikki Goodwin and Green Party candidate Kevin McCormick are challenging Republican incumbent Dan Patrick, who is seeking a fourth term.

The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

How we got here: Patrick won his Republican primary race in March, while Goodwin advanced to the general election after beating another Democrat in a May primary runoff, Community Impact reported. Cristo and McCormick were selected as their parties' respective candidates during nominating conventions in April.

Looking ahead: Early voting in the midterm election runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.