Officials with Sun City Texas Community Association and homebuilder PulteGroup celebrated the start of a project to construct the neighborhood’s first 9-hole golf course at a groundbreaking ceremony April 30.

About the project: The Den will be a short course near the White Wing Golf Club, featuring elevation changes, forced carries where the player must hit the ball over an object, and thick trees, Sun City Golf Director Zach Seith said.

Sun City golfers play about 155,000 rounds a year, or an average of 425 rounds a day, according to data provided by the Sun City Texas Community Association. The shorter course is ideal for residents who don’t have the time or the ability to play a full 18 holes, Seith said.

One more thing: The 55-plus community is also celebrating its 30th year.

Stephanie Redding, director of marketing for PulteGroup’s Austin division, said the builder closed on its first three Sun City home sales in February 1996.

Unofficial voting results in Williamson County show 20,113 people—or 7.2% of registered voters, cast a ballot in the May 2 local election.

The results: In Georgetown, incumbent Jake French secured the seat for City Council District 6, with 202 votes, or 65.16% of the vote. Challenger Emily Kaye Kipp finished with 108 votes, or 34.84%.

What they’re saying: "I feel like this election was very validating of the work that I've done to date [and] the level of engagement that I've had with my constituents," French told Community Impact. "My plan is to work on road infrastructure, and work on ... offering the citizens a transportation bond in the near future, [and] continue to work on long-term water supply solutions."

Find out more: District 6 was the only contested Georgetown City Council race. District 6 generally encompasses the area of Georgetown between I-35 and Hwy. 130 from their northern intersection to Hwy. 29.

Both the race for mayor and District 2 are uncontested. Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder and newcomer Doug Noble ran unopposed for those seats, respectively.

Also on the ballot: Voters also approved a ballot proposition to sell the majority of the city’s water service area to local municipalities and a third-party water provider. The proposition received 4,796 votes in support, amounting to 82.66% of the votes cast.

Something to note: All results are unofficial until canvassed.

Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 9 partnered with the Sam Bass Fire Department for new specialized wildland equipment designed to combat wildfires, and aid in local search and rescue missions.

What is it: The upgraded equipment includes a command truck equipped with fire suppression gear, an air-conditioned trailer, and a utility task vehicle that acts as a mini off-road fire truck, ESD 9 Commissioner Alan Forster said. The UTV is specifically designed to navigate narrow hike-and-bike trails where traditional, larger fire engines cannot fit.

Funded by tax dollars through the ESD 9 partnership, the new equipment aims to protect urban wildland areas, including greenbelts and county parks, Sam Bass Fire Department Chief James Shofner said.

The new equipment will also aid in search and rescue efforts and flood responses, Shofner said.

Check out some of the most-read stories from the Austin area April 27-30. 

1. 140-year-old Lammes Candies closes Round Rock shop, Austin location to follow

2. Four dining options to open this summer in Georgetown's upcoming The Junction development

3. Leander, Liberty Hill road projects: Explore several May construction updates

4. City of Austin acquires 50 acres of parkland in South Austin

5. Cedar Park development update: 3 projects to watch

6. Barbecue, tacos, tequila: 16 business updates for Lake Travis, Westlake

Texas retailers can keep various smokable hemp products on their shelves through late July, a Travis County judge ruled May 1.

The overview: Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle’s ruling prohibits the Texas Department of State Health Services, which regulates and licenses consumable hemp businesses, from enforcing new THC testing requirements and sharply increasing licensing fees.

The hemp industry previously argued that the DSHS was overstepping its regulatory authority by changing how Texas classifies THC content. State officials have defended the reclassification and other rules as in line with a September executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott.

What it means: DeSeta Lyttle’s temporary injunction extends an earlier pause on the DSHS rules, which was issued April 10.

The pause applies to all consumable hemp businesses in Texas, allowing them to continue producing, manufacturing and selling smokable products until at least July 27, when a final court trial is scheduled. That could change if the state appeals the ruling to a higher court.