Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Lakeway will end labor and delivery services June 28, with three OB-GYNs leaving and patients transferring to other area hospitals.

The breakdown: The facility currently delivers about 33 babies per month, using six labor and delivery rooms and 18 postpartum beds. BSW cited demographic shifts toward an aging population in deciding to close the program just six years after consolidating labor and delivery services from Marble Falls to Lakeway. The medical center will continue offering obstetric services at its Round Rock and Marble Falls medical center. 

Within approximately 20 miles of Lakeway, other hospital systems offering labor and delivery services include St. David's HealthCare and Ascension Seton.

BSW is evaluating how to repurpose the labor and delivery space and expand its focus on services that support the aging population, a statement from the institution said.

All Lake Travis ISD staff will see an increase in their paychecks next school year.

The overview: The LTISD board of trustees approved the 2026-27 employee compensation plan at a May 20 meeting.

“The annual review and update of the compensation plan is a critical component of the district’s effort to attract and retain our high-quality staff and educators,” Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Pam Sanchez said.

Updates to the compensation plan include:

• A 1% midpoint pay increase
• Salary and stipend adjustments
• A $1,000 retention incentive for all staff

Texas officials released a draft of their next state water plan in April, projecting that state and local governments will need to spend $174 billion in the next 50 years to prevent a water crisis.

The details: The three-member Texas Water Development Board voted April 16 to publish an initial draft of the 2027 State Water Plan, laying out what is needed to prepare for a future “drought of record,” when water demands are highest and supplies are lowest.

The $174 billion price tag is more than twice the cost projected in Texas’ 2022 state water plan, which was $80 billion.

The context: As Texas’ population continues to grow, water restrictions and shortages are becoming more common in areas throughout the state. At the same time, major companies are moving to Texas and communities are contemplating large data center projects, with some residents expressing concerns about high water use in the already drought-prone state.

The proposed plan includes 3,000 proposed water management projects and 6,700 strategies to increase Texas' water supplies through 2080.