Architects chosen for renovations at Round Rock High School, other campuses
Cedar Ridge and Round Rock High schools, as well as several middle and elementary school campuses in Round Rock ISD, will be renovated in the coming years, using funds approved in the 2024 bond election.
What happened?: The district's board of trustees approved contracts for architects to design these renovations and additions in August, via consent.
The overview: Trustees approved architect contracts for renovations and additions at seven campuses Aug. 21, district documents show, totaling just over $14.8 million. The costs of the contracts are included in the overall budgeted amount for each project.
City plans relocation of homeless services hub from South Austin's Sunrise Community Church
Austin's main homeless services hub could be moving away from its current South Austin location.
The details: For years, various homeless services have been offered from the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center in South Austin. The location has proved controversial, drawing legal and legislative attempts to shut down operations there due to public nuisance and safety concerns. On Sept. 3, the city's Homeless Strategy Office announced plans to potentially acquire a new property off I-35 to serve as a replacement for Sunrise's services. It remains to be seen if Sunrise would also make the move across town, or if a new operator would be chosen.
No final decision about the new site has been made, and officials said resident input will inform whether the proposed relocation takes place. Depending on public sentiment, City Council could vote to move forward with the property acquisition in October ahead of the new center's opening next spring.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Austin area.
A new restaurant bringing a homestyle menu based on recipes from owner Scott Roberts’ grandmother, Roxanna, is opening soon in Buda, according to a news release.
Roxie’s, from the family that established The Salt Lick BBQ, will be opening in the fall.
Roberts said he plans for Roxie’s to be open daily for lunch and dinner.
The menu will offer pimento cheese, deviled eggs topped with fried chicken bites, chicken-fried steak, char-grilled steak and a selection of pies.
😋 AnTeNa Kitchen and Bar coming soon to Leander (Read more)
🍫 Kesshō Craft Chocolate expands with new Burnet Road location in Austin (Read more)
🍝 Numero 28 heads to Bastrop with Southern Italian food (Read more)
🍣 Sushi Warriors now serving sushi, sashimi in North Austin (Read more)
Koko’s Bavarian has revealed it will be opening a brick-and-mortar location on South Lamar in October.
The location will feature 7,000 square feet of Bavarian tradition and Texas hospitality with an expanded food and beverage menu including wings, mozzarella sticks, whitefish dip, Bavarian pretzel, Belgian-style fries and more.
For diners looking for a more filling treat, the menu also features sausages, hot dogs, salads, sandwiches and cheeseburgers.
Heart Hospital of Austin at St. David's Round Rock using new vascular stent treatment
The Heart Hospital of Austin at St. David's Round Rock is the first in the nation to use a new vascular stent treatment for carotid artery disease, with a surgeon at the hospital being the first to use this treatment outside of clinical trials in July.
What you need to know: Per a news release shared by the hospital system in August, Dr. Bradley Boone, M.D., chief of surgery at Heart Hospital of Austin at St. David’s Round Rock and vascular surgeon with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons, performed the first surgery in the country to use a carotid stent in the transcarotid artery revascularization technique since receiving approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Second special session ends without new laws on THC, property taxes
Around 1 a.m. Sept. 4, the Texas Legislature gaveled out of its second special session of the year. On the heels of a two-week Democratic walkout that stymied bills during a previous legislative overtime, lawmakers moved quickly to pass 16 of Gov. Greg Abbott’s 24 priorities in under three weeks.
The details: A long-debated plan to ban or restrict sales of hemp-derived THC and a measure aimed at reining in local property tax growth were among the proposals that did not make the cut. Those proposals fell apart in the final days of the special session, after House and Senate lawmakers were unable to reach agreements.
Also of note: Lawmakers also did not pass bills intended to improve emergency preparedness and communications in the wake of the deadly July 4-5 floods; shield certain law enforcement files from public disclosure; and bar local governments from hiring outside lobbyists.
The governor can call a special session at any time; however, legislative leaders indicated they did not expect to return to Austin to tackle the remaining agenda items.
