With a new school year underway, enrollment in Liberty Hill ISD is reaching new heights.

The big picture: More than 11,000 students are enrolled in the district for the first time in LHISD history. While new home construction continues to draw families to the district, enrollment projections indicate growth is slightly slowing. LHISD is now projected to have 18,746 students enrolled within the next 10 years.

“We're continuing to grow, just not at the same pace that we were before,” LHISD Superintendent Travis Motal said.

By the numbers: Compared to the same time last year, an additional 625 students are enrolled at LHISD, according to numbers presented during the district’s most recent board meeting.

Looking ahead: Combined, 2,429 new homes were under construction or had closed over the past year, according to the district’s demographer. LHISD ranks third among Austin-area school districts in these metrics, trailing only Georgetown ISD and Hays CISD.

Liberty Bells, a strength and conditioning gym specializing exclusively in functional kettlebell training, is now open in Leander, owners Jason and Tricia Rojas said.

The details: Liberty Bells is a "premium, boutique" facility offering "expertly coached, low-impact, high-yield kettlebell instruction," the owners said in a statement. The gym offers instruction through classes of about 15 clients at a time, the owners said.

Liberty Bells also offers a waiting space for children while their caregivers train.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Austin Transit Partnership approves lease for new downtown office: The ATP board approved a $13.5 million agreement to lease office space for 48 months at 203 Colorado St.—the agency's current office—as well as space next door at 201 Colorado St. Officials said this will help as the agency anticipates growing as Project Connect plans move forward.

Blakey Lane plan advances with Jessica Place connection: Bastrop is moving ahead with a Blakey Lane extension intended to connect the Sendero and Burleson Crossing shopping areas with businesses to the east. The plan has drawn opposition from Riverside Grove residents over opening a subdivision street called Jessica Place to through traffic.

State invests approximately $1.5B in Austin-area roadway improvements: Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation recently announced a 10-year transportation plan that will invest almost $140 billion in roadway improvements across the state. The funding includes $95 billion for projects across the state and $43 billion for development and routine maintenance.

Last fall, Gov. Greg Abbott deemed Texas "the epicenter of AI development" during an event about Google's data center investments in the state.

Since making that remark, the Republican governor has issued several directives aimed at regulating AI-powered data centers. Meanwhile, state agencies are expanding their use of artificial intelligence in government services.

The overview: At the state level, one of the primary uses of artificial intelligence is to improve government efficiency, said Tony Sauerhoff, who leads the Texas Department of Information Resources.

Down the road, that will likely mean reducing the number of staff members at state agencies, Sauerhoff said, noting that agency leaders are being "intentional" about those changes.

Zooming in: When asked which state agencies will be most impacted by AI in the coming years, Sauerhoff pointed to the Texas Department of Transportation.

TxDOT uses artificial intelligence in a variety of forms, including to analyze transportation infrastructure, determine which construction projects should be prioritized, optimize road safety plans and manage the flow of traffic, according to its AI strategic plan.