A new website was recently launched for Hays County residents, in an effort to improve accessibility, transparency and customer service for users.

The framework: The project was funded after the Hays County Commissioners Court approved funding Nov. 18, following the county’s Information Technology Department's research to identify a new website platform that will meet residents' needs, according to a news release.

The county selected the website provider CivicPlus for its selection of government-focused digital services. The new website offers a mobile-friendly layout, navigation improvements, enhanced accessibility tools and streamlined services.

A closer look: Alongside an improved desktop website, the new site is also easier to use on smartphones and tablets, according to the release.

Quote of note: "Our goal was to make it easier for residents to find the information they need without having to navigate complicated department pages," Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said in the release. "Whether someone is paying taxes, looking for public records, applying for permits or searching for County services, the experience is now much more straightforward."

A popular Buda Cajun restaurant known for its crawfish and seafood dishes has announced the closure of the Main Street location after six years of business.

The details: MudBugs served crawfish, crab and shrimp dishes and featured a full bar alongside indoor and outdoor patio space. The owners of the business posted on Facebook confirming the closure and thanking customers for their support, friendship and memories over the years.

"We are saddened to come to the decision to close MudBugs, and while we loved serving Buda and the other great towns around us, the times we are in have led us to this painful result," the owners said in the post.

The owners also said in the post that they are "still working hard to get our staff caught up and paid what they are due."

• 306 S. Main St., Ste. 107, Buda

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

Ongoing projects

Burnet Road Mobility Program
Project: The project will feature updated traffic signals, improved crossings, bus stop improvements, trail connections, drainage improvements, shared-use paths and more on Burnet Road from White Horse Trail to US 183 (C2), Bright Verde Way to MoPac (C3) and US 183 to Bright Verde Way (C4).
Update: According to Austin Transportation and Public Works officials, all three segments are officially under construction as of early June. 

• Timeline: 2026-28
• Cost: $64 million
• Funding source: 2016 Mobility Bond

• Timeline: March 2023-early 2029
• Cost: $606 million
• Funding source: funded by Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Texas Department of Transportation

Otsuka ICU Medical LLC announced plans for a $500 million expansion through a new facility and upgrades to its existing facility in Austin, with the goal of improving the long-term supply of IV solutions and supporting new IV products, according to a news release.

What’s happening: Otsuka ICU Medical will expand its existing 700,000-square-foot manufacturing site in Austin with a new 500,000-square-foot facility. The project is meant to help strengthen the supply chain of IV solutions and also bolster the transition to non-DEHP IV solutions containers.

Some context: The expansion is the first major milestone part of the joint venture by ICU Medical Inc. and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory Inc., which began in 2025. ICU Medical, which is headquartered in California, specializes in the development, manufacturing and sale of medical devices. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, which is based out of Japan, is a global IV solutions manufacturing subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co.