The Leander City Council approved purchases amounting to nearly $875,000 for ten vehicles to support the city’s police and public works departments Aug. 20. During the same meeting, the city council also approved a $700,000 contract for the leasing of golf carts for the Crystal Falls Golf Course.

By the numbers: The purchases include six police vehicles for more than $634,000, three Ford trucks for the Public Works department for less than $161,000 and a mini excavator for the Public Works department costing less than $80,000.

What else? The council approved a two-year contract to lease 92 golf carts and a hauler cart for the Crystal Falls Golf Course for more than $700,000. City documents indicate that the annual revenue from golf cart rentals at the course averages more than $600,000.
 

A new business now offers the greater Leander area a variety of hairstyling services. James Parker, operator of Vanta Beauty Lounge, said it is an “honor” to start up in Leander and said the business specializes in blond and vivid hair.

What they offer: The salon provides a range of hairstyling services, including haircuts, highlights and extensions. Clients can also book consultations, root touch-ups and blowouts. Parker said more services will be coming soon. Beyond hairstyling, Parker is looking to expand into head spa massages and extensive scalp treatments. Additionally, a lash specialist will begin operating in the salon soon.

“What I'm bringing to the table is luxury-forward,” Parker said. “We want to expand those booking services.”

• 11620 Hero Way W., Bldg. 230, Ste. 38, Leander

A data center in Cedar Creek, a new building for the Austin Community College Hays Campus and renovations at Liberal Arts and Science Academy are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. EDCAUS ($700 million): A data center campus is being developed in Bastrop County.

2. Austin Community College - Hays Campus ($101 million): A three-story Health Sciences instructional building with classrooms, administrative offices, a testing center, vocational training, instructional spaces, and laboratories will be constructed at the Austin Community College Hays Campus.

3. LASA High School ($21.3 million): Renovations will take place at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin.

4. Bartlett's South ($4 million): A new location of Bartlett’s steakhouse is coming to Austin.

5. Smart Stop ($1.5 million): A new one-story convenience store and two future tenant spaces are coming to Pflugerville.

A Travis County-funded feasibility study has found no engineering dealbreakers for a 125 mph passenger rail line connecting Austin and San Antonio, Travis County Judge Andy Brown announced Aug. 20. The roughly $13.5 billion project would run largely on public right-of-way along SH 130 and I-10, cutting travel time between the two cities to 55-65 minutes, according to county documents.

"Central Texas has studied passenger rail before, and we cannot wait another 30 years to study it again," Brown said in the release.

What you need to know: The line would connect Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to a terminus near downtown San Antonio's Alamodome, with connectivity to the existing San Antonio Amtrak Station, and run independently of freight trains, per the study.

How we got here: Commissioners voted unanimously in October 2025 to hire HNTB for about $125,000 to study SH 130 and I-10 as an alternative to the congested I-35 corridor. This is a feasibility analysis only, not a funding commitment. Environmental, ridership and financial studies are still needed.

Two candidates are listed on the Nov. 3 ballot for Williamson County treasurer. D. Scott Heselmeyer has held the position since 2017, and is not seeking reelection.

The details: The Treasury Department manages funds for the county, and primary duties of the position include maintaining financial accounts and distributing funds as directed by county commissioners.

Early voting for the Nov. 3 election runs from Oct. 19-30.

Read Q&As with each candidate below. Community Impact reached out to all candidates who will appear on the Williamson County treasurer ballot. Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents.