Initial construction phase work is complete for Pitchside, an 8.75-acre indoor-outdoor sports complex. The project remains on schedule to launch in early 2027.

The gist: Designed to provide Cedar Creek families, recreational users and athletes with a year-round venue, the multi-use complex features a 26,000-square-foot facility alongside 5 acres of grass fields.

Latest update: Pitchside said in a Sept. 14 news release that initial ground preparation for the venue is finished. With outdoor lighting set up and the foundation poured, construction on the primary building is now underway.

Next steps: Following the completion of the main building, installation of the property's irrigation systems and wells will begin, according to the release.

• Opening in early 2027

• 229 SH 21 W., Cedar Creek

The Austin-based Holdsworth Center selected Bastrop ISD Superintendent Kristi Lee wa leadership development cohort, per a Sept. 14 press release.

Two-minute impact: Lee was one of roughly about two dozen superintendents across the state chosen to participate in the retention-focused program, according to the release. About the program: The Holdsworth Center's Superintendent Leadership Program is an 18-month development and coaching initiative for superintendents new to their district or within their first five years. Participants attend learning sessions to develop skills and receive ongoing support from executive coaches, according to the center.

Additions to Leander High School, a new H-E-B in Buda and an apartment in Austin are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the metro this week.

1. Leander ISD high school modernization ($68 million): This project involves building additions and renovations at Leander High School.

2. H-E-B ($61.2 million): A new H-E-B grocery store is coming to Buda, with construction set to begin next spring.

3. The Ridge Apartments ($11.8 million): This project involves the construction of a four-story multifamily building

4. Residence Inn ($11 million): The hotel brand is coming to Hutto, with construction set to begin in December.

5. Texas State University pitching lab and batting cages ($4 million): This project includes an addition to the existing softball pitching facility and a new pre-engineered metal building to house baseball's pitching and hitting facility.

Last fall, Gov. Greg Abbott deemed Texas "the epicenter of AI development" during an event about Google's data center investments in the state.

Since making that remark, the Republican governor has issued several directives aimed at regulating AI-powered data centers. Meanwhile, state agencies are expanding their use of artificial intelligence in government services.

The overview: At the state level, one of the primary uses of artificial intelligence is to improve government efficiency, said Tony Sauerhoff, who leads the Texas Department of Information Resources.

Down the road, that will likely mean reducing the number of staff members at state agencies, Sauerhoff said, noting that agency leaders are being "intentional" about those changes.

Zooming in: When asked which state agencies will be most impacted by AI in the coming years, Sauerhoff pointed to the Texas Department of Transportation.

TxDOT uses artificial intelligence in a variety of forms, including to analyze transportation infrastructure, determine which construction projects should be prioritized, optimize road safety plans and manage the flow of traffic, according to its AI strategic plan.