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The stretch of Greenlawn Boulevard spanning from I-35 to Louis Henna Boulevard could soon be subject to a temporary speed limit reduction. 

Why now?: This comes as construction on the mixed-use project, The District, continues on the northwest side of the roadway, and Greenlawn Boulevard itself is widened to add another lane in each direction. 

What you need to know: The Round Rock City Council gave approval for a first reading of a temporary speed limit change on a portion of Greenlawn Boulevard on Jan. 8. 

City staff said the ongoing construction projects mandate a reduced speed limit to enhance crew and driver safety.

Lone Star Circle of Care is partnering with the Texas A&M Health Science Center in Round Rock to expand local specialty care and launch a new endocrinology program. 

In a nutshell: The health care provider announced its new program Jan. 12, expanding its services beyond primary care. Services in the new specialty will be led by Dr. Avinash Ravipati, a board‑certified physician in internal medicine and endocrinology, per the announcement.

The details: Endocrinology services will be available to patients 18 and older, per the release. These include:

• Diabetes management
• Care for thyroid disorders
• Adrenal and pituitary disorders
• Metabolic disorders
• Bone health
• Reproductive endocrinology

With the new year beginning and resolutions underway, individuals may look into body contouring procedures to feel more confident in their bodies, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sanjay K. Sharma said. 

Affiliated with Ascension Medical Group, the University of Texas Dell Medical School and the University of Texas Medical Branch, Sharma said these procedures are common in the Austin area due to the community’s culture of being outdoors and trying to stay healthy. He spoke with Community Impact about how body contouring works, ideal candidates and tips for community members to know when looking for a provider. 

What is body contouring?
Body contouring is a broad-based category in plastic surgery. Any part of the body can be contoured. It can be from areas that are sort of stubborn fat deposits. Patients sometimes want to know how they can get rid of isolated pockets around the abdomen, legs, thighs or arms.

Central Texas dentists have been feeling the effects of a nationwide shortage of dental hygienists, facing difficulties filling vacant positions to serve a growing number of patients

Zooming out: A 2019 study by the Texas Department of State Health Services projected that the demand for dental hygienists would outpace supply from 2018 to 2030. In Central Texas, the shortage of dental hygienists was projected to increase by 116.4% from 2018 to 2030, according to the report.

What they're saying: “As the population increases, new patients are coming into practices in Austin,” said Dr. Shailee Gupta, local dentist and member of Capital Area Dental Society. “Without the proper number of hygienists to go with these practices or community centers, there's no way to be able to meet that demand.”

The approach: To help counteract this shortage, Austin Community College opened an expanded dental hygiene clinic at its Eastview Campus this fall, nearly doubling the program’s annual cohort of students from 18 to 34.