Ahead of its scheduled opening in August, Legacy Ranch High School offered a sneak peek of the campus during a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 6. Future students will be able to visit Liberty Hill’s second high school, located at 1277 Legacy Ranch Drive, May 11 and May 13, according to the district.

The setup: The 475,000-square-foot campus features an auditorium capable of seating 925 people. Additionally, Wrangler Stadium can accommodate over 9,000 fans. The high school broke ground September 2023, amidst projections for increased enrollment for Liberty Hill ISD.

The context: According to data from the Texas Education Agency, Liberty Hill ISD currently enrolls 10,469 students for the 2025-26 school year, which is a nearly 89% increase from the 5,539 students the district enrolled in 2020-21. Currently, LRHS students take courses at Legacy Ranch Middle School while the high school is being finished. According to October data, LRHS has 1,576 students.

As the city continues to grow, a number of new businesses have opened their doors in Leander.

Now open

First Watch
The Florida-based breakfast, brunch and lunch chain, opened its first Leander location along Ronald Reagan Boulevard within the Gateway 29 development. 

• 19389 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Leander

Fifty/50 Pilates
The business offers strength and sculpt, cardio and endurance, and stretch and yoga classes. All studios will have reformer Pilates, in-studio virtual classes and an on-demand digital content library with classes. Beyond instructor-led classes and private instruction, members can also reserve a reformer for a workout outside of classes.

• 133 Collective Way, Ste. 130, Leander

Prose and Pints: A unique concept blending a bookstore and a beverage bar, Prose and Pints is planning to open its first brick-and-mortar storefront in August or September. The business will expand from its current online and market presence into a physical space featuring books and novelty items at the front and a micro-cocktail bar at the back. 

• 1972 N. US 183, Ste. 110, Leander

Check out some of the most read stories from the Austin area May 4-7. 

1. Road to relief: Drivers navigate construction along SH 71 as TxDOT continues $293M updates

2. Cedar Park unveils plan for major expansion of Lakeline Park

3. Thomas Ranch near Spicewood continues to progress on construction

4. Second HTeaO location opens in Georgetown

5. New playground, tennis, pickleball courts now open in Round Rock

6. Royal Blue Grocery moves closer to Mueller opening

Williamson County received a $5 million grant in late April from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for its East WilCo Highway Southeast Loop Connection project, according to a county news release.

Learn more: The funds will aid the construction of 1.65 miles of East WilCo Highway, and be used for safety improvements at FM 1660 and FM 3349 as well as a new traffic signal.

The remainder of the $7 million project will be funded by the 2023 voter-approved Williamson County Road Bond.

About the project: The East Wilco Highway Southeast Loop Connection project is part of the greater East Wilco Highway Segment 2 project, which will construct a new road with a lane in each direction, as well as a center turn lane, between CR 137 and CR 404.

Engineering firm Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson created the project design, and the county has not yet selected a construction contractor. Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in May 2026 and be completed by the end of the year.

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. Mayes Middleton of Galveston and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Austin are each seeking the Republican nomination for the seat.

The overview: Middleton and Roy were the two highest-performing candidates in a four-person primary race. The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face the Democratic 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 May 18-22 and runoff election day is May 26.