Sporting goods store MonkeySports is now open at The Crossover near the Cedar Park-Leander line, according to Adam Powell, general manager of The Crossover.

The details: MonkeySports sells athletic equipment with a focus on hockey, lacrosse and baseball, according to the company's website.

The store sells gear for men's, women's and youth sports, as well as other sports-related clothing and merchandise, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Some context: There are eight other MonkeySports locations in the U.S., including one in Allen, according to the company's website. The company also has a store in Canada and two in Sweden.

Williamson County commissioners approved the allocation of $10.4 million for capital improvement projects for the next fiscal year during a Commissioners Court meeting Sept. 15.

The projects include facility repairs, public safety upgrades and long-term infrastructure needs.

The setup: The county had $23.45 million available for capital projects in fiscal year 2026-27. This includes $16.9 million in new funding with the recently passed budget and about $6.5 million left over from previous projects, County Auditor Julie Kiley said.

About the projects: Projects and funding amounts for the FY 2026-27 CIP include:

• $2.5 million for civil infrastructure improvements at the North Campus

• $2 million for internal asset management software

• $1.39 million for infrastructure improvements at the Northeast Inner Loop Yard

• $1.2 million to replace jail HVAC systems

• $1.2 million for building dehumidification

• $1.2 million to replace soil and stabilize ground around the Emergency Services Operations Center

During a Sept. 10 meeting, Round Rock ISD officials extended the district's good-cause exemption from House Bill 3, a legislative mandate requiring armed guards at all public schools in the state, for at least one more year.

What's new: District counsel Cindy Hill said the district is opting to extend the measure, as the district still can't afford to staff to the level required by HB 3.

In their own words: "At this time, we need to look at extending our good cause exception for at least another year to allow us to not only get a handle on the financial conditions of the district as well as identify other sources of officers," Hill said.

Diving deeper: Per the district, staffing each of its 56 schools with an armed officer would require hiring 27 additional full-time employees and cost $4 million, at a time when the district is running a deficit budget.

The Williamson County Art Guild, a 200-member group of artists and art-appreciators, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The details: Since starting in 1976, the art guild has become a “bigger presence” in the community, past President Lynn Kessel said. The guild participates in a number of projects, often partnering with local businesses to create artwork around town. They also host art events and exhibitions throughout the county, she said.

The guild opened a gallery on Rock Street in Georgetown in October 2023. The addition of the gallery builds stronger relationships between members and stronger ties into the community, Bradstreet said.

The celebration: To celebrate half a century, the guild is taking it back to the 1970s with a disco party 6-9 p.m. Sept. 26. Named the “Peace, Love & Art Affair,” the festivities include music, refreshments, a silent auction and a quick-draw artist.

One more thing: To commemorate the long line of people involved with the guild, the guild is showing the “Legacy Exhibit.” The 100-piece exhibit, opening Nov. 14, will be shown both at the Georgetown Public Library and the Williamson County Art Guild Gallery.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must stop issuing new permits for data centers, Gov. Greg Abbott said Sept. 21.

The overview: His order expands an existing pause on data center development in the state amid consistent public criticism of the booming industry. Abbott, who is running for a fourth term as governor, has recently moved to slow the growth of data centers after calling Texas “the epicenter of AI development" last year.

The context: Hundreds of proposed data centers are currently being audited by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state power grid.

Some developers may be able to get around the ERCOT pause by building in-house power infrastructure that is not connected to the grid, experts have said.

However, any construction project impacting at least one acre of land requires permits from TCEQ.

What they're saying: "As Texas faces increasing pressure on our water supplies and electric grid, we need to ensure that data centers operate efficiently and sustainably," said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas.