A surgeon with Ascension Seton Cedar Park performed the Austin area's first single-port robotic-assisted colorectal procedure, according to a news release.

The overview: Dr. Amar Shah, a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon, performed the "landmark" surgery, according to the release. It was a single-port procedure, meaning that only one incision was made.

While robotic-assisted surgery was initially cleared for use in general laparoscopic surgery by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000, this technology was recently approved for rectal and transabdominal procedures.

The technology can now be used for a variety of colorectal procedures, including tumor removal, according to the release.

The Austin Metro Hockey Association, or AMHA, recently celebrated its five-year anniversary at The Crossover, a spokesperson for the organization said.

A closer look: Located right on the Cedar Park-Leander line, AMHA is the major governing body overseeing youth hockey in Austin, according to its website.

The organization recently joined The Pond Hockey Club to create a new youth hockey community with “an intercity league, tournament teams and travel teams” all bearing a new name, the Austin Capitals, the group said in a statement. AMHA also hosts "Try Hockey For Free" events at schools to introduce new players to the sport.

• 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Ste. 210, Cedar Park

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials announced May 24 that its newest airline partner, Cayman Airways, will offer a seasonal nonstop route between Austin and Owen Roberts International Airport in the Cayman Islands through August.

The details: According to officials, the route is Cayman Airways' only nonstop service from Texas. The route will operate on Sundays weekly through Aug. 16 on a Boeing 737-8 aircraft and feature:

• 160 seats, including a Business Class cabin
• Free carry-on bag and personal item
• Complimentary meals and the airline's signature Seven Fathoms Rum Punch
• Free streaming inflight entertainment
• Device charging at every seat

Check out the latest transportation updates across the Austin metro.

Upcoming projects
CR 175 widening
Project: The project will widen south of Creek Meadow Cove to RM 2243 in Leander, and is expected to improve capacity and regional connectivity.
Update: Phase 2 preliminary design is complete, and design completion is expected later this year.

• Timeline: 2027-28

• Cost: $42.8 million

• Funding source: 2023 road bond

Completed projects
Hwy. 71 and Uplands Ridge Drive signal
Project: The new signalized light provides easier access to and from the H-E-B in Bee Cave for those traveling east or west on Hwy. 71 through a protected turn in and out of The Uplands neighborhood.
Update: The new traffic light was activated in May. 

• Timeline: completed mid-May

• Cost: not available as of press time

• Funding source: TxDOT

Texas was home to eight of the nation’s fastest-growth municipalities in 2025 as people continue moving to smaller cities in the state’s large metropolitan areas, new U.S. Census Bureau data shows.

The details: Celina, located about an hour north of Dallas, grew faster than any other U.S. city in 2025, according to the census data released May 14. The city grew by 24.6% between July 2024 and July 2025, and 64,427 people called Celina home as of July 1.

Fulshear, a 64,630-person city west of Houston, saw the second-fastest growth in the nation last year, at 21%.

What's happening: Helen You, interim director of the Texas Demographic Center, said the trend of people moving to smaller cities in major metros “is not unique to Texas."

The suburban boom comes amid a slowdown in overall population growth, according to previous Community Impact reporting. While Texas gained more new residents last year than any other U.S. state, growth slowed significantly amid a nationwide reduction in immigration from other countries.