Representatives from sporting goods store Scheels cut the ribbon on the company’s newest store in Cedar Park alongside local government and business leaders Aug. 25. The store will open to the public Aug. 29.

The details: Scheels is an employee-owned store that sells a wide variety of sports and outdoor equipment, clothing and more. The Cedar Park location is the second in Texas and one of the largest retail spaces in the state, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.

In addition to shopping, visitors to the Cedar Park Scheels can ride a 65-foot indoor Ferris wheel, view roughly 600 fish in a 16,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, and visit a candy shop and a cafe.

A new optometry practice is now open in Cedar Park, offering comprehensive vision services for patients of all ages, owner Elena Lischau, O.D., said.

At a glance: Behold Family Eye Care provides a full range of vision services, including comprehensive eye exams and treatment for eye diseases, Lischau said. The practice also features an optical shop with a curated selection of eyeglasses and sunglasses.
The practice aims to serve Cedar Park's growing population with personalized eye care services.

A closer look: In addition to routine eye exams, Behold Family Eye Care offers pediatric eye exams, contact lens exams, myopia management and dry eye treatment.
The optical shop carries designer frame brands including Orgreen, Etnia Barcelona, Eco, Modo, Ray Ban, Krewe, Forall and Entourage of 7, offering options for various styles and budgets.

The shop is offering an opening special—customers who buy one pair of glasses can get a second pair for half off, Lischau said.

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.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks established a new chapter in North Austin this month, holding a ceremony to secure the first new lodge in Central Texas in over a decade.

The overview: The North Austin Elks Lodge No. 2894, based out of Round Rock, is now developing new programs focused on support for veterans, youth activities and partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, according to a press release.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is a fraternal organization with hundreds of thousands of members across the country, with a network of nearly 2,000 lodges. Chapters, which also act as social clubs, raise funds to provide scholarships, host youth sports events, connect veterans with services, provide disaster relief and more.

Almost two dozen candidates have filed to run in Austin's five City Council races this fall, three of which include incumbents seeking reelection.

The big picture: Half of Austin's council seats are on the November general election ballot, with candidates in districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9 seeking four-year terms starting in January. Residents can look up their council district online.

Districts 1 and 8 are only open seat races, as two-term council members Natasha Harper-Madison and Paige Ellis will reach their term limits and leave office at the end of the year. Incumbent District 3 council member José Velásquez, District 5 council member Ryan Alter and District 9 council member Zo Qadri are all seeking to hold their seats.

All Austin voters will also be considering two bond propositions and multiple charter amendments on the Nov. 3 election ballot.