Texas Department of Transportation officials broke ground on the Loop 360 at Courtyard Drive/RM 2222 project April 29.

About the project: According to TxDOT officials, the project is part of TxDOT's slate of projects along 14 miles of Loop 360 in West Austin, and part of the Texas Clear Lanes congestion relief initiative. Per officials, this segment will include:

• Removing the traffic signal from the Loop 360 mainlanes at Courtyard Drive, and construct an overpass
• Reconfiguring RM 2222 at Loop 360 to a Diverging Diamond Interchange, or DDI
• Adding shared-use paths and sidewalks

More than $17 million in new child care funding, a 1,300-acre park and a museum district are headed to Travis County.

What happened: Travis County Judge Andy Brown shared updates on several major county initiatives at the State of the County Address at Austin PBS April 30. The county has seen a 60% decrease in fentanyl-related deaths along with investments in supportive housing, mental health intervention and legal representation at first court appearance, Brown said.

What they're saying: "These investments in our downtown, in our parks and in our people are how we build real economic resilience," Brown said. "They help small businesses grow. They create jobs that cannot be outsourced, and they make Travis County a place where families can afford not just to live, but to truly thrive."

The update: The Travis County Commissioners Court is preparing to vote on $13 million in new contracts with 11 community organizations for after-school care and summer programs for more than 5,000 children and families May 5, Brown said.

Austin leaders advanced a city incentive deal for a $985 million resort project at Circuit of the Americas this spring that's expected to add hundreds of jobs and generate billions of dollars in the local economy.

The details: RIDA Development is planning a 1,000-room hotel with a golf course and 170,000-square-foot conference center on the western portion of the COTA project in Del Valle. A 30-year economic development agreement between Austin and RIDA proposed this spring would see the city reimburse a portion of the hotel occupancy tax, or HOT, generated by the resort once it's operating.

The project's construction is expected to create nearly 4,000 temporary jobs, while the resort will support about 900 permanent jobs and indirectly create hundreds more. The city deal would also see RIDA contribute public parkland and soccer fields, pay into Austin's affordable housing fund and offer resort discounts for local residents. It was widely supported before City Council advanced negotiations over the proposal April 23.

Check out some of the most-read stories from the Austin area April 27-30. 

1. 140-year-old Lammes Candies closes Round Rock shop, Austin location to follow

2. Four dining options to open this summer in Georgetown's upcoming The Junction development

3. Leander, Liberty Hill road projects: Explore several May construction updates

4. City of Austin acquires 50 acres of parkland in South Austin

5. Cedar Park development update: 3 projects to watch

6. Barbecue, tacos, tequila: 16 business updates for Lake Travis, Westlake