Mitzi’s Scoop Crew, a San Marcos-based company specializing in pet waste removal, expanded its services to the Lake Travis - Westlake area in July.

Overview: The business, owned by Nathan and Erin GoodLife, offers pet waste removal services to help keep yards clean and prevent waste from reaching local water sources.

Mitzi’s Scoop Crew offers weekly, one-time or subscription-based cleanups using recycled, compostable trash bags. The company also offers eco-friendly and pet-safe deodorizing spray to eliminate odors and protect grass as well as sanitary disinfectant to eliminate bacteria.

What else: Mitzi’s Scoop Crew is named after the family’s dog, a 2-year old French schnauzer mix.

Check out the latest transportation project updates for the Lake Travis-Westlake area.

Ongoing projects

Bee Creek Road improvements

Project: Bee Creek Road, from Lakehurst Road to Highlands Boulevard, will be widened to include a divided, two-lane roadway with a two-way left turn lane, shoulders and a shared-use path on one side.

Update: Design work is expected to be completed at the end of 2026.

• Timeline: Expected completion in early 2028

• Cost: $16.6 million

• Funding source: Travis County bonds

Completed projects

Oak Hill Parkway improvements

Project: Since 2022, the Texas Department of Transportation has been reconstructing Hwy. 290 in Oak Hill, transforming the existing four-lane, undivided roadway to a six-lane divided highway with new frontage roads and 14 miles of shared-use paths.

Update: As of July, drivers can now travel on newly opened mainlanes, frontage roads and ramps. However, drivers can expect ongoing minor work including painting, landscaping, asphalt paving, striping and shared-use path improvements to cause lane closures.

• Timeline: 2022-26 (total project)

• Cost: $677 million allocated for the entire project

• Funding source: TxDOT

For the first time in over a decade, there is no incumbent in the Texas attorney general's race as Republican Ken Paxton runs for U.S. Senate.

Democrat Nathan Johnson, a state senator from Dallas; Republican Mayes Middleton, a state senator from Galveston; and Libertarian Tom Oxford, an attorney from Nederland, are running to replace him this November. Community Impact asked the candidates for their perspectives on Texas' open records laws, state litigation and other topics.

How we got here: Johnson and Middleton each won their primary runoff elections in May, Community Impact reported, while Oxford was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

Looking ahead: Early voting in eight statewide races and dozens of local elections runs from Oct. 19-30. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Additions and renovations to Deerpark Middle School in Round Rock ISD, a refresh of the Yeti headquarters building and a new donut shop in Austin are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the metro this week.

1. Aalo Advanced Manufacturing ($25 million): This project involves the renovation of an existing 204,350 square-foot one-story warehouse building to provide lab, machine shop and production floor space for Aalo Atomics Advanced Manufacturing.

2. Deerpark Middle School additions and renovations ($20 million): Renovations will be taking place at Deerpark Middle School, including a fine arts and classroom addition at the main building.

3. Yeti HQ refresh ($2.1 million): The Yeti headquarters building in Austin will undergo a renovation. 

4. UT Austin President's Office renovation ($1 million): This project involves the renovation of the main suite to serve as the temporary President’s Office during the main building restoration.

5. Smiling Donuts ($120,000): A new Smiling Donuts location is coming to Austin.