Small businesses in the Leander area can now tap into free business planning tools through a new city initiative, SizeUpLeander.

The details: Launched in late March, SizeUpLeander is a tool that gives small businesses the kind of market research and data that is “typically only available to large corporations,” according to a city news release. The platform helps users compare how their business is doing, check out competitors, find gaps in the market, connect with customers and suppliers and figure out the best places to grow or expand.

“Small businesses are an important part of Leander’s economy, and SizeUpLeander gives them access to practical information they can use to make informed decisions,” Randall Malik, director of economic development for the city of Leander, said in a statement.

What else? The analytics tools is designed for businesses in a variety of stages, from an entrepreneur looking to start a first business to a “seasoned” business owner looking to expand their customer base, according to the city’s website.

The Travis Central Appraisal District has begun releasing 2026 property value appraisals to Travis County homeowners. 

While the county’s single-family home market values slightly decreased, homeowners may want to consider protesting their appraisal if they believe it is too high, said Taylor Smith, deputy director of government affairs for the Austin Board of Realtors, in an interview with Community Impact.

“Take a moment, look at your notice of appraised value that you received, confirm that your exemptions were applied correctly, and then consider protesting so that you can lower that even further for future savings down the line,” Smith said.

The overview: TCAD began mailing appraisal notices to more than 427,000 property owners in late March, according to TCAD information. 

If a property owner believes their appraisal is incorrect, they may file a protest through the TCAD's online portal by the May 15 deadline or 30 days after the notice was mailed. By lowering a property’s appraised value, homeowners can see property tax savings in this year and future fiscal years, Smith said.

From road construction in Georgetown to a skatepark in Kyle, here are five of the most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Ronald Regan Boulevard Widening ($29.7 million): This project includes the construction of new lanes and intersection improvements on Ronald Reagan Boulevard, including drainage structures, bridges, retaining walls, lighting, signals and more.

2. Expo Center Park and Ride ($17.3 million): This project involves construction of a new park-and-ride. It will include bus bays and electric vehicle charging stations.

3. Round Rock ISD Hartfield PAC Renovation ($6 million): Construction will begin next year on a total roof replacement, mechanical equipment replacement, public address system upgrade, and interior other work, including replacement of flooring and wall finishes in the lobby and green room.

4. Gregg-Clarke Skatepark ($3.1 million): The Kyle skatepark will include approximately 34,000 square feet of concrete skatepark and pump track.

5. Creekview Vet Clinic ($2 million): Construction will begin in June on a vet clinic in New Braunfels.

Texas residents are increasingly facing damaging storms that drive up home insurance rates and other housing costs. Ahead of the state's 2027 legislative session, consumer advocates and insurance industry representatives are urging lawmakers to consider affordability solutions.

What's happening: The average Texas home insurance premium—the amount paid to an insurance company—was $3,291 in 2024, according to the latest Texas Department of Insurance data. In total, premiums rose about 50% between 2022-24.

Texas’ high propensity for natural disasters has been “the No. 1 driver” behind recent rate increases, said Rich Johnson, a spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Texas.

Stay tuned: While Texas can't legislate itself out of weather risks, lawmakers have considered some policy changes to increase disaster resiliency and boost regulatory oversight of the insurance industry. Proposals range from creating grants to help residents weather-proof their homes to placing limits on future rate hikes.

In the early hours of July 4, 2025, an intense rainstorm pummeled communities in the Texas Hill Country, submerging low-water crossings as segments of the Guadalupe River rose more than 30 feet in 90 minutes. Twenty-seven young campers and counselors died at Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls summer camp located along the river in Hunt.

Those deaths could have been prevented if camp leadership took action sooner or had a written evacuation plan in place, investigators told a panel of state lawmakers tasked with studying the flood response during an April 27 hearing.

Quote of note: “Questions about what should happen next are many, but for me, one thing is clear: This tragedy could have been prevented,” Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, said.

Zooming in: Camp Mystic staff had more than two hours to evacuate 386 campers from their cabins, investigator Casey Garrett said.

In violation of state law, the camp did not have a written evacuation plan and counselors were not trained on what to do in an emergency, she said.