Crunch Fitness is now open in Lakeway.

The overview: The gym opened a new location within the Lohman’s Crossing Shopping Center. The facility offers a range of cardio equipment, free weights and exercise machines.

Other features and amenities include personal training, group classes, locker rooms with showers, HydroMassage and tanning. The gym offers three different membership options.

• Opened July 29

CesiumAstro—an aerospace and defense technology company with its global headquarters in Bee Cave—announced in mid-August its acquisition of Jariet Technologies, a fabless semiconductor provider.

The overview: The purchase will allow CesiumAstro to bring semiconductor design in-house, according to a news release, as it continues to produce satellite communication technologies.

Folding in the semiconductor design is will give CesiumAstro greater control across the radio frequency signal chain and enable tighter integration of silicon, hardware, software and missions systems. This will help boost the company’s ability to deliver communications and sensing systems to commercial, civil and national security customers.

CesiumAstro plans to launch its first Element satellite this fall. Element is a low Earth orbit satellite platform designed for commercial and defense communication missions.

The background: CesiumAstro’s recent acquisition comes as the company is working on a $500 million expansion project and bringing 500 news jobs to the area. The facility, located off of Hwy. 71 near the Madrone Canyon neighborhood, is expected to begin operations in 2027.

Check out the latest transportation updates across the Austin metro from local and state sources.

Upcoming projects

Bee Cave Parkway and Bee Cave Road pedestrian improvements
Project: Bee Cave Parkway and Bee Cave Road in Bee Cave will undergo pedestrian improvements including the construction of signals, crosswalks, sidewalks and ADA curb ramps.
Update: The final package of design documents will be completed in August.

• Timeline: Construction is expected to begin in March 2027
• Cost: $1.06 million
• Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation and the Bee Cave Development Corporation

• Timeline: 2024-27
• Cost: $12.8 million
• Funding sources: city of Georgetown, developer fees

The Texas Education Agency released public school accountability ratings for the 2025-26 school year on Aug. 14.

"We use [A-F ratings] as a way to evaluate our own performance as adults, and then build action plans so that the way that we run our schools next year can be even better than last year," Education Commissioner Mike Morath said during an Aug. 14 news conference.

The overview: Across the state, 85% of campuses received a C rating or higher, which is considered “acceptable" academic performance.

Schools are rated based on three criteria: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps.

Zooming in: At least one district, Austin ISD, is at risk of being taken over by the TEA after two of its middle school campuses received their fifth consecutive failing grades this year. State law requires the agency to shutter those campuses or take control of the district.

Any potential state-mandated closures or takeovers will not happen immediately, as districts with concerns about their ratings have through Sept. 11 to appeal scores to the TEA.