After immigrating from India as a child, the Khan family’s patriarch, Bob Khan, envisioned a concept that would remain rooted in two guiding principles—family and community. In 2021, more than a decade after settling in Leander, the family acted on his lifelong dream of owning a restaurant.

The setup: The Khan family officially opened the pizzeria in November 2023, deciding to serve pizza as a nod to their go-to meal growing up as a family of six.

Craving pizza? Beyond Pompeii Pizza started out serving up classic and specialty pies, such as the Margherita and supreme pizza; later the owners added other favorites like the Meat Monster

• 3651 US 183, Ste. 170, Leander

Co-owners Tanner Heim and Taryn Ostendorf opened True Rest Float Spa in Cedar Park in August 2020 to expand holistic wellness options for Williamson County residents. The independently owned spa offers a unique approach to personal wellness, combining float therapy with a private vitality suite stocked with amenities like a sauna, cold plunge, and red light therapy.

How it works: Clients enjoy a customized, one-hour experience in a float pod filled with 10-15 inches of water and 1,000-1,500 pounds of Epsom salts, creating a weightless sensation, Heim explained.

“You kind of forget where your body ends and the water begins,” he said.

Float therapy can also benefit those recovering from injuries or stress disorders. True Rest offers free sessions for veterans on the 11th of each month and partners with Wounded Warrior Project to provide discounted rates.

Of note: Membership options start at $109 per month.

 “Just show up for yourself,” Ostendorf said. “We have everything you need.”

• 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 165, Cedar Park

Travis County is looking to provide guaranteed child care availability for low-income families and expand child care options for parents working during nontraditional hours.

The big picture: The $75 million Raising Travis County initiative—approved by voters in November 2024—is expected to support several programs aimed at increasing affordable child care for around 9,800 children, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The county has awarded nearly $29 million in annual funding to the Workforce Solutions Capital Area nonprofit, local school districts and other community organizations, according to county documents.

The update: Travis County is planning to pay child care providers to reserve a certain number of slots for children from low-income families, said Cathy McHorse, a consultant for the Raising Travis County initiative, at a Feb. 24 Travis County Commissioners Court meeting. The model, known as contracted slots, is anticipated to increase the supply of child care for infants and toddlers ages up to 3 years old, she said.

Check out the top six trending stories in the Austin area Feb. 23-27. 

1. Major highway overhaul underway between Leander and Georgetown

2. Updates on a dozen businesses serving west Georgetown

3. The League Kitchen & Tavern to close in Lakeway; Cousin Louie’s location announced

4. Costco to open new store in Liberty Hill this March

5. Lane closures over Mays Street bridge in effect

6. 9-mile stretch of US 183 expansion nears finish line

Dozens of Texans shared their feedback Feb. 25 on the current phase of a lengthy revision of the state’s social studies curriculum standards. Parents, educators and students urged the State Board of Education to slow the revision process down and give those drafting the new curriculum more time to work.

The overview: The state is currently overhauling the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for social studies, which are the standards dictating what public school students should learn at each grade level. The board is expected to adopt the new standards this summer before they are rolled out to classrooms in 2030.

“We have one opportunity to get this right for an entire generation of students,” said Meghan Dougherty, an Austin-area social studies specialist involved in the revision process.

Zooming in: Several educators involved in drafting the new curriculum plan said current proposals included "too much content" with a heavy emphasis on Texas history, while some appointed content advisers and SBOE members argued schools should teach lessons focused on "American exceptionalism [and] Texan exceptionalism."