After about four years of planning and construction, the $250 million Amazon warehouse and distribution center located along CR 172 in Round Rock is operational. 

What you need to know: Planning and Development Services Director Brad Dushkin confirmed May 15 that the facility was issued a temporary certificate of occupancy May 13. The facility was previously set to open in late April, but rain delayed the finish out of CR 172 road improvements required before the building could be occupied. 

The city will give the facility a full certificate of occupancy once some minor aspects of improvements remaining, he said. 

Did you know? An adjacent property owned by Amazon has also been zoned for a data center, but it has not been built. The warehouse and distribution center alone is estimated to bring roughly 150 to 200 jobs to the city, according to Jessica Breaux, Amazon's senior manager of economic development.

A new Tex-Mex restaurant is now open in the Greenlawn Crossing retail center in Round Rock.

About the business: The first Texas location of Barrio Burrito Bar opened in mid-May, bringing a fast-casual model and a menu including burritos, tacos, bowls, quesadillas and more that can be customized with a variety of proteins, toppings and house-made sauces, according to the business. 

The details: This Barrio Burrito Bar location is locally owned by Mikita Mirani. 

Check out the latest transportation projects across the Austin metro. 

Upcoming projects
Bee Cave Road AI traffic signals
Project: West Lake Hills will install nine artificial intelligence traffic signals along Bee Cave Road to try and improve traffic efficiency along the corridor.
Update: City Council moved forward with funding the traffic signals April 22.

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: $360,000
• Funding source: city tax revenue proceeds, general fund

• Timeline: August 2024-summer 2027
• Cost: $52.4 million
• Funding source: Williamson County 2019 road bond

St. David's Surgical Hospital received a Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Hip and Knee Replacement Certification from The Joint Commission, the hospital announced March 9.

Learn more: Its national recognition for orthopedic care signifies the knowledge, professionalism and commitment of the orthopedic staff at St. David’s, Howard Garner, the hospital’s chief operating officer, said in a news release. 

Dive deeper: Health care facilities are recognized by The Joint Commission and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons based on a comprehensive evaluation of care. The certification considers pre-surgical consultations, hospitalization, rehabilitation and follow-up appointments, according to the release. 

In their own words: The hip and knee replacement certification “further distinguishes itself as a destination for leading-edge orthopedic care in Central Texas,” according to the release. 

The Texas Supreme Court on May 15 denied Gov. Greg Abbott’s request to remove state Rep. Gene Wu from office after the Houston Democrat led his colleagues in a walkout to protest congressional redistricting last summer.

The details: In the court’s majority opinion, Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock ruled that because Wu and other House Democrats “voluntarily returned” to the Capitol two weeks after their August departure, it was not necessary for the court to get involved.

The court also rejected a petition by Attorney General Ken Paxton to expel Wu and 12 other Democrats over the walkout, consolidating the two requests in one ruling.

What they're saying: Wu celebrated the ruling in a May 15 statement, saying that "the Constitution does not let a governor erase voters’ choices when their choices are inconvenient to him."

Abbott's office argued the governor's August lawsuit helped end the walkout and said the state was prepared to fight future quorum breaks: "If Democrats abandon their offices again, the governor will bring them right back to the Texas Supreme Court."