City officials marked the groundbreaking of the expansion of Austin's largest wastewater plant at an April 14 ceremony.

The details: The more than $1 billion expansion will boost the plant's wastewater treatment capacity by 33%, from 75 million gallons daily to 100 MGD by the early 2030s. Hundreds of millions of dollars more are also being spent to improve and modernize other parts of the facility, which will remain operational throughout several years of construction.

Some projects are expected to be completed in the late 2020s, and the 25 MGD capacity increase will be completed by mid-2030. All expansion and modernization initiatives will be completed by late 2032.

In total, major expansion and modernization contracts total more than $1.8 billion including a $600 million increase approved earlier this year. Some of that will be covered through local utility revenue, and millions of dollars in state and federal support also anticipated.

The next Royal Blue Grocery corner store is moving closer to its planned opening in Mueller.

What's happening: The Austin-based urban market franchise owned by Craig Staley and George Scariano will open its newest location in the city early next year. The shop was planned due to high local demand, Staley said, and will be specifically tailored to Mueller neighborhood.

The location: The grocery store will cover 2,158 square feet, according to a new project filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and designed by Chioco Design with general contractor Havens Construction—the same local team behind all Royal Blue stores in Austin. Staley also noted his partnership with AMLI stretches back two decades; it's the original landlord of his location at Third and Lavaca streets.

Child care scholarships, after-school care and other efforts are underway to grow a voter-approved initiative to provide more affordable child care for low-income families in Travis County.

The big picture: In 2024, voters approved increasing the county's tax rate to generate $75 million for Raising Travis County. So far, the county has awarded more than $28 million to the Workforce Solutions Capital Area nonprofit, local school districts and other community organizations.

An additional $17 million in child care contracts is set to go before the Travis County Commissioner Court for approval.

Current situation: The county has awarded $17.34 million to Workforce Solutions Capital Area to cover 1,000 child care scholarships annually for children up to 3 years old. The organization has also received $4.16 million for quality improvements, including teacher raises or curriculum, Meunier said.

Looking ahead: Travis County is seeking to offer contracted slots by paying child care providers to reserve seats for low-income families. The county also plans to assist providers in offering child care during nontraditional working hours.

From an airport expansion in Austin to a med spa renovation in New Braunfels and more, here are five of the most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Austin Bergstrom-International Airport ($60 million): Following the closure of the airport's south terminal, construction will start this summer on a six-gate southern terminal called Concourse M.

2. Texas Realtors ($2 million): A full remodel of the existing 23,847-square-foot building’s second floor will begin in late spring, along with the addition of a second-floor terrace.

3. Georgetown Logistics Park ($8.6 million): Construction is underway on a 39,200-square-foot facility.

4. Adoration Med Spa ($704,000): A former residence is being converted into a med spa. Renovations include removing the back deck, replacing windows and updating doors.

5. Kung Fu Tea–Bastrop: The specialty tea shop will fill a 1,500-square-foot space in the Burleson Crossing East shopping center.

The State Board of Education gave preliminary approval April 10 to roughly 200 literary works that all Texas public school students would be required to read beginning in 2030.

What happened: The SBOE trimmed about 100 titles from a list proposed by the Texas Education Agency, which board members and educators criticized as too long to be taught. The Republican-led board signed off on a revised list in a 9-5 party-line vote April 10.

The details: The draft list ranges from nursery rhymes and short stories in early grades to classical and 20th-century literature in high school. The list also includes about a dozen excerpts from the Bible. While students learn about world religions today, Texans testified that if the reading list is approved, it would be the first time in recent history that state leaders mandate religious readings in the classroom.  

Next steps: Board members are scheduled to take a final vote on the reading list in June. If approved, the list will be used in classrooms in the 2030-31 school year.