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WilCo reopens vote counting after 69 Republican ballots found

A total of 69 Republican ballots cast on election day, but misplaced and not initially counted, will be tabulated and included in the final canvassed results following a March 12 court order.

What happened: While processing post-election paperwork March 11, the Williamson County Election Department discovered presiding judges at two Republican polling locations misplaced a total of 69 ballots cast on election day, a county spokesperson confirmed in an email.

The ballots, 40 from the Andice Community Center in Florence and 29 from the Cedar Park Randalls, were put in a box of election-related paperwork instead of the ballot box, resulting in them not being counted.

The Republican Party petitioned a Williamson County district judge to reopen the central counting station in order to tabulate these ballots and include them in the final count, which the party is canvassing today.

The outcome: Judge Betsy Lambeth granted the motion allowing the Republican Party's central counting station to reopen and count the ballots.

 
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CI Business
Indoor sports facilities and American cuisine: Check out these 18 Leander-area business updates

Check out new business updates in Leander, including a new sports bar and grill, play cafe and boxing gym now open in the area.

Now open

Game On Bar & Grill
The new sports bar features a 16-by-9-foot LED TV, 44 different draft beers and classic American grill food, such as burgers, wings and loaded fries.

  • Grand opening March 21
  • 15609 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Ste. A100, Leander

Little Leaps Play Cafe
The play cafe, brings together an indoor play area, events and bilingual story times. The family and Latina-owned business is geared towards families with children under 6 years old, co-owner Angela Simpson said.
  • Opened Jan. 15
  • 3550 N. Lakeline Blvd., Ste. 200, Leander

The Boxing Academy
Owned by Ray Lugo, the locally owned gym features both private and group lessons, including family boxing sessions where parents and children can train at the same time.
  • Opened in December
  • 1351 183A Toll, Ste. 62, Leander
 
On The Business Beat
Costco, Wells Fargo and a spa: 6 Liberty Hill business updates to know

Stay up to date with the latest Liberty Hill business news—a collection of newly opened, coming soon, relocations and closings.

Now open

Costco: the store will debut a new location and gas station in Liberty Hill on March 11, according to a news release. The 152,000-square-foot warehouse will be equipped with its signature offerings, including food, an optical department, pharmacy, hearing aid center, food court and tire center.

  • Opening March 11
  • 595 US 183, Liberty Hill

Exclusive Massage & Spa: The spa offers a variety of massage types, including Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, prenatal, hot stones and cupping.
  • Opened Nov. 26
  • 2029 Kauffman Loop, Ste. 430, Georgetown

Coming soon

Wells Fargo Bank: A bank branch is coming to Georgetown's Parmer Ranch Marketplace, a spokesperson with the bank confirmed. The 3,500-square-foot building began construction in March 2025 and costs approximately $2.7 million, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
  • Opening March 23
  • 28707 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Georgetown
 

FOODIE FRIDAY
Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Austin area.

AnTeNa Kitchen & Bar to bring “contemporary Indian" to Leander this month

A new fine-dining establishment serving modern Indian cuisine in Leander is expected to open to customers in late March, owner Anil Annepu said.

The restaurant will blend modern dining with traditions of Andhra, Telangana and North America.

Read now.

 

🍸 Boni's Bar Next Door now serving Spanish cocktails, tapas in South Austin
(Read more)

🍳 Eggs Up Grill now serving breakfast, brunch to Southwest Austin
(Read more)

🌯 Chuy’s to bring burritos, enchiladas and more to Bastrop on May 18
(Read more)

🍽️ San Pedro Limon owners continue family legacy with second Georgetown location
(Read more)

 

Da's Thai Cuisine opens Hutto location

Customers will find egg rolls, steamed dumplings, chicken satay, steamed edamame, fried tofu and crab rangoon rolls on the menu for starters. The restaurant also serves curry, fried rice, pad Thai, beef and broccoli, and a variety of other Thai dishes.

Read now.

CI Texas
Applications for new Texas education savings accounts close Tuesday, March 17

Families have until 11:59 p.m. March 17 to apply for the first year of Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

The big picture: Under the $1 billion program, participating students will receive state funds for private education or homeschooling during the 2026-27 school year. It is unlikely that all applicants will be accepted, as application data shows more students have applied than the program can fund.

The program offers $2,000 to homeschooled students; $10,474 for private school tuition and related expenses; and up to $30,000 for students with disabilities. With demand set to exceed available funding, applications will be prioritized based on need and household income.

How we got here: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025, with proponents saying it will expand options for families who don't want to send their children to public schools. Critics of the program have said it will unfairly benefit students already in private schools and divert funding from public schools.
 

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Haley McLeod
Editor

Denise Seiler
General Manager

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