Sangam Chettinad is now open on Ronald Reagan Boulevard along the Cedar Park-Leander line, according to a post on the restaurant's Instagram page.

What's on the menu: Sangam Chettinad serves authentic South Indian cuisine from the state of Tamil Nadu.

The extensive menu includes a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Chettinad cuisine is known for the complexity of flavors offered, which include freshly ground spices, such as star anise, red chilies, fenugreek, cloves and turmeric to name a few, co-owner Rathan Rajendren previously told Community Impact.

• 14300 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Bldg. 1, Ste. 106, Cedar Park

Round Rock ISD announced Oct. 9 that it hired Mike Harmon as its next chief of police. Harmon replaces former Chief Ryan Urrutia, who departed the school district earlier this year.

The gist: Harmon joins Round Rock ISD after spending the last 28 years with the Cedar Park Police Department. He most recently served as the chief of police for Cedar Park.

In their own words: “Serving Cedar Park for the past 28 years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Harmon said in a release from the district. “I’m excited for the opportunity to continue serving in a new capacity, protecting students, supporting educators and families, and carrying forward the community policing principles that have guided me throughout my career.”

Austin leaders voted to strengthen the city's Construction Training Program, which was created in 2018 to require contractors on city infrastructure projects to include early-career construction trainees in their workforce. The program applies to projects budgeted at $500,000 and up, with stricter requirements for those above the $10 million threshold.

The details: Sponsored by Mayor Kirk Watson, the update approved this fall will adjust existing policies for those $10 million-plus projects by:

• Allowing only current participants in construction apprenticeships, and not past graduates, to count toward program requirements

• Increasing the required trainee workforce benchmark from 15% to at least 20%

These updates will be phased in from 2027 into 2028 to allow for apprentice recruitment and program adjustments. The initiative complements City Hall's focus on the construction workforce through the Austin Infrastructure Academy, which recently received millions of dollars in civic funding.