Jack Allen’s serves up something for everyone in Hutto, Round Rock

Sixteen years ago, Jack Allen Gilmore worked as a corporate chef and Tom Kamm as the director of operations for a local chain of restaurants. The pair traveled frequently for work and after 20 years at the same company, they ventured out to grow a unique family of restaurants in the Austin area.

“We were just inspired to ... touch local ingredients, local farmers, local brewers, local distillers, local cheese makers [and] local coffee roasters,” Kaam said.

The background: Gilmore and Kamm met with investors and found a spot for the first Jack Allen’s Kitchen in summer 2009.

On the menu: The menu features a selection of salads, seafood, chicken-fried meats, tacos, enchiladas, burgers and desserts. One of the “Jak Originals” is a pesto-marinated crab stuffed chicken, which is a grilled chicken breast stuffed with blue crab, red bell peppers and jack cheese, a potato cake, vegetables and cajun cream sauce.

The final phase of the Cottonwood Creek Public Improvement District is nearing completion, bringing one of Hutto’s larger residential developments closer to full buildout.

The big picture: Improvement Area No. 3, also known as Phase 7 of the Cottonwood Creek development, includes 171 single-family homesites and represents the last bond-funded phase of the project.

Land development began in January 2025, paving was completed in October, and the city is expected to accept the infrastructure in February, according to project documents.

The Cottonwood Creek community is located off CR 132, south of Hwy. 79, and has been under development since 2021.

The Texas Broadband Development Office awarded the Lower Colorado River Authority a $29 million grant that will expand high-speed internet access and improve flood-monitoring infrastructure throughout Central Texas. 

Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced the award Jan. 20. 

The details: The Texas Broadband Development Office expects the financing to accomplish several goals, including: 

• Extending fiber into underserved and unserved areas 
• Bolstering local economies 
• Improving access to education, health care and emergency services

Check out some of the top trending stories in the Austin area Jan. 19-22.

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6. Monkey Sports coming soon to The Crossover in 2026

Austin Regional Clinic opened a new clinic offering specialty care in Round Rock in January.

What you need to know: The new facility serves as a multispecialty clinic and an outpatient surgery center. At 22,000 square feet, it doubles the clinic's footprint within the city.

The details: On the first floor is an outpatient surgery center, with the second floor being home to ENT, general surgery, orthopedics, podiatry and endoscopy, with more specialties to be added.

The clinic has 17 exam rooms, three procedure rooms, an onsite lab and radiology services.