Recent contract approvals in Round Rock will see a new fire station and police department satellite office built near the corner of A.W. Grimes Boulevard and University Boulevard, as well as a new fire engine purchased for the department's fleet.

What you need to know: The Round Rock City Council approved a $10.5 million contract with John King Construction to build the city's last public safety project from the 2023 bond package May 28. Council also moved forward with a $939,950 fire engine order to replace the department's existing squad of smaller vehicles.

The details: In a May 26 packet briefing, Fire Department Chief Shane Glaiser said the current configuration of squad vehicles has limited equipment, making them less than ideal for responding to fires involving dumpsters, cars and construction sites.

The new fire station is also the third funded by the city's 2023 bond. The future fire station will also house a satellite office for the Round Rock Police Department, city staff said.

Slim Chickens is targeting an opening for its Round Rock location at the end of July or early August, a company representative confirmed to Community Impact in May. 

What you need to know: Company representatives shared intentions to bring a restaurant to the city in October, initially aiming for an April opening. A company representative confirmed the timeline for opening May 19. 

About the business: Slim Chickens offers a variety of chicken wings, tenders, sandwiches and other chicken-based items on the menu, in addition to southern-style sides like macaroni and cheese, potato salad and fried pickles.

Check out the latest transportation updates across the Austin metro.

Upcoming projects
CR 175 widening
Project: The project will widen south of Creek Meadow Cove to RM 2243 in Leander, and is expected to improve capacity and regional connectivity.
Update: Phase 2 preliminary design is complete, and design completion is expected later this year.

• Timeline: 2027-28
• Cost: $42.8 million
• Funding source: 2023 road bond

• Timeline: completed mid-May
• Cost: not available as of press time
• Funding source: TxDOT

Texas’ sweeping immigration enforcement law can take effect for now, a federal appeals court ruled May 29.

The background: Senate Bill 4 gives Texas officials the unprecedented authority to arrest and deport migrants suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico border illegally. State lawmakers passed the measure in late 2023, and it has largely been tied up in court since.

The latest: In an unpublished order May 29, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed SB 4 to take effect as the case continues, lifting a lower court order that had blocked portions of the law. 

What they're saying: In a joint statement, a trio of civil rights groups decried the May 29 decision as “disappointing and out of step with the Constitution,” saying that they would continue to fight the law in court.

Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated the order as a “major border security victory.” State agencies have not detailed their plans to arrest, detain or deport migrants under SB 4.