Leander City Council members unanimously voted May 7 to allocate $405,646 toward resurfacing the outer lanes of South Bagdad Road between Kettering Drive and Crystal Falls Parkway.

The gist: These improvements, which are financed through certificates of obligation, will resurface both the northbound and southbound outer lanes of South Bagdad Road, which have been damaged by utility trenching required by the Bagdad Terminus Station project.

The details: The city already repaved the middle lanes of South Bagdad Road between Kettering Drive and Crystal Falls Parkway due to the effects of the Bagdad Terminus Station project, which upgraded the infrastructure at Bagdad Terminus Pump Station. While the project budget originally accounted for the cost of resurfacing the middle lanes of South Bagdad Road, the city authorized additional funding to cover the costs of resurfacing the outer lanes May 7.

“This approach allows us to restore the full roadway to a high standard while the crews are already mobilized," said Otis Williams, Leander chief financial officer.

Leander-based mobile notary public and apostille company Moore Professional Notaries opened Feb. 28.

About the owner: The business is owned by Lea Moore, who said she is a commissioned notary public with a doctorate from Duke University and more than seven years of customer care experience.

What they offer: Moore said she offers mobile notary public services throughout Williamson County and Travis County, as well as apostille services throughout Texas. She also offers certified and sworn translation services for official documents. Moore said the business is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, including weekends and holidays. Customers can book appointments via phone, text or email.

Williamson County commissioners discussed options for future jail and justice operations at a May 12 special meeting, following several public comments from residents who oppose the proposed centralized justice center on SE Inner Loop in Georgetown.

What happened: In a presentation to commissioners, County Manager Rebecca Clemons laid out logistical possibilities for the future justice center location.

Expanding the current downtown facility would require a $115 million jail remodel, plumbing infrastructure upgrades and a plan to house inmates in different counties during construction, Clemons said. 

Because of this, the proposed long-term solution is to build a larger, phased justice campus on 253 acres of newly acquired land along SE Inner Loop, with a targeted completion date of 2030 or 2031, Clemons said. 

The discussion: The majority of residents who spoke during public comment oppose the site of the justice center because of its proximity to neighborhoods and schools. Many live in the nearby Saddle Creek and Carlson Place communities, and said the site is less than a mile from Wagner Middle and Mitchell Elementary schools.

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. Candidates on both sides of the aisle will compete in runoff elections May 26 after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primaries.

State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are vying for the Democratic nomination.

The overview: In a three-way primary race, Johnson secured 48% of the vote while Jaworski received 26% of the vote. The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face the Republican nominee and potential third-party candidates in November.

The context: The attorney general serves as Texas' top lawyer, defending the state in court, filing consumer protection lawsuits and issuing opinions interpreting state law. The agency also enforces Texas' child support laws, investigates human trafficking cases and manages access to public records.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22 and runoff election day is May 26.