Rocking Horse Academy opened in 2002 and has provided preschool services to the Kyle community for over two decades. 

Fortec, a Miami-based real estate development firm, recently acquired the property in coordination with KinderCare Learning Companies. The school, now operating as Plum Creek KinderCare, has remained open through the transition and will undergo facility renovations.

The overview: The approximately 17,900-square-foot property has a licensed capacity of 282 children, according to a news release. KinderCare acquired the operation of Rocking Horse Academy from its founding operators, Jane Terrell and Rebecca Eichen, and entered into a long-term lease with Fortec.

Plum Creek KinderCare is currently enrolling students in multiple programs for fall 2026, according to the learning center's website, including:

• Infant daycare

• Toddler daycare

• Discovery preschool

• Prekindergarten

• Before- and after-school programs

Diving deeper: The learning center is slated for multiple upcoming renovations, including classroom refurbishments, playground improvements and updates to safety and security infrastructure, according to the release.

The 20th annual Hays County Food Bank Turkeys Tackling Hunger campaign kicked off Oct. 29, inviting the community to help provide more than 1,500 families with a traditional holiday meal.

The two-minute impact: The Turkeys Tackling Hunger campaign provides local families with complete meal kits for the fall season, including a turkey and classic holiday sides and trimmings, according to a Hays County Food Bank news release.

The campaign relies on community donations and sponsor support.

The details: The food bank needs additional support through donations and volunteers to combat rising food costs and ever-increasing need in the community, according to the release. A complete holiday meal kit will cost $60.

Donations can be made securely on the Hays County Food Bank’s website. Donors who give $60 or more will receive a free campaign T-shirt. Community members can also volunteer to distribute turkeys or support other food bank programs.

A new worship building for a church in Round Rock, an addition to the public works facility in Buda and a Dave’s Hot Chicken in Kyle are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Bastrop Modular Vivarium ($19.6 million): This project involves the construction of a seven-module building complex with an added vestibule for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

2. New Worship Building ($10.9 million): Cityview Bible Church will be constructing a new worship building featuring a 1,200-seat auditorium with a stage designed to accommodate worship services, presentations and community events.

3. City of Buda Public Works and Parks Expansion ($5.5 million): This project involves a 7,790 square-foot building addition and 2,071 square feet of renovations to the existing Public Works and Parks facilities in Buda.

4. Discount Tire ($950,000): A new Discount Tire location is coming to Hutto, with construction set to wrap up next August.

5. Dave’s Hot Chicken ($525,000): A new Dave’s Hot Chicken location is coming to Kyle.

Texas lawmakers and legislators-elect began filing new bills on Nov. 9, unofficially kicking off the 90th state legislative session. By noon, they had submitted more than 1,000 legislative proposals that they hoped would be considered at the state Capitol next year.

The overview: When the 90th legislative session begins Jan. 12, Texas will be led by all Democratic statewide officials. Democrats also won control of the Texas House during the Nov. 3 election, while Republicans retained Senate control.

Zooming in: Democratic lawmakers were the first to file bills in both legislative chambers, signaling some of the party's priorities as Texans prepare for the first Democratic-led state government and divided legislature in a generation.

State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, filed bills to expand who is eligible for Medicaid in the state, while Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, proposed tightening regulations on the booming data center industry.

More details: Lawmakers had filed at least 57 constitutional amendments before press time Nov. 9, including measures on property taxes, sports betting and term limits for elected officials.