In recent years, communities across Central Texas have been tasked with evaluating the potential positive and negative impacts of proposed data center projects. The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, or GEAA, released a news report summarizing the operations, growth and impacts of data centers.

The overview: The GEAA’s report, titled “Data Centers in Texas: A Review and Call for Innovation and Regulation,” reviews data center response efforts on both national and international levels and provides recommendations for how the developments should be handled in Texas.

Since 2019, $14 billion in venture capital has been invested in data centers from 1,376 deals in Texas, contributing to the southern region’s AI and semiconductor boom, according to an American Edge Project, or AEP, report.

Without action from the state Legislature and municipalities to regulate and address the increase in data center development, the industry’s impact on crucial resources could worsen, according to the GEAA report.

Looking forward: The GEAA report recommends that Texas governmental bodies adopt policies outlining guardrails to reduce the negative impacts of data centers.

H-E-B Plus shoppers in Kyle will now have the opportunity to shop in a larger store with more products and upgraded departments. The grocery retailer celebrated the improvements and redesign of the 182,000-square-foot store May 1.

Zooming in: Renovations on the store, which has served the community since 2007, began in August 2024.

According to a news release from H-E-B, the store has the following improvements:

• New True Texas BBQ Restaurant: includes indoor seating and serves smoked meats, sandwiches, loaded baked potatoes and Prime brisket
• New H-E-B Wellness Primary Care Clinic: provides routine checkups, sick visits, primary care medical visits, lab services, immunizations, physical therapy, nutrition services and more

With all precincts in Hays, Caldwell and Travis counties reporting in the May 2 uniform election, unofficial results show Alex Zavala and Katy Armstrong have secured seats on the Hays CISD board of trustees.

A closer look: In the race for the at-large position, Zavala secured 706, or 54.48% of ballots, against opponent Ashlee Thurston, who had 590, or 45.52% ballots cast in their favor. 

Armstrong secured 189, or 63.64% of votes in the race for the Single-Member District 2 seat, with candidate Jose Luis Perez securing the remaining 36.36% ballots, according to a report from HCISD. 

Also of note: Incumbent Raul Vela Jr. ran unopposed for the Single-Member District 1 seat. He was first elected to the board in 2020 and will retain his seat for another three-year term.

Looking ahead: All results are unofficial until canvassed on May 11.

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 overiew: 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.