Gold Sponsors

Painting, pottery and craft space Venvino Art Studios is headed to Leander. Franchise owner Lindsey Gibson said she is aiming for an early September opening. The studio will be located in the Shops at Leander retail center near the Leander-Cedar Park line.

What they offer: Venvino Art Studios offers a variety of arts and crafts, including:

• Paint your own pottery
• Clay hand-building
• Acrylic painting on canvas
• Wood signs
• Glass painting
• String art
• Seasonal projects and more

Leander residents may soon see a new upscale fitness destination along Hero Way after the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a planned unit development for Life Time on May 14. The 14-acre project, located at 11675 Hero Way West north of South Street Villas, would bring a 100,000-square-foot athletic country club featuring a spa, salon, cafe and outdoor amenities.

A closer look: Plans include a 45,000-square-foot outdoor pool deck with a children’s play area, bistro and amplified sound system. Under the approved zoning, Life Time could operate from 4 a.m. to midnight, while outdoor amplified sound would be limited to 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Company representatives said the pool area is expected to remain 200-400 feet from nearby residences, with Brushy Creek serving as a buffer. The facility would also offer up to two hours of daily childcare for children ages 3 months to 11 years old.

Looking ahead: The proposal heads to Leander City Council for consideration June 18.

Whether it’s from around Williamson County, the Austin area, out-of-state or from abroad, more millennials are deciding to put down roots in Round Rock, a recent study shows.

Two-minute impact: An estimated 32% of the city’s roughly 135,600 residents in Round Rock are ages 25-44, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data. However, the city of Round Rock, which bases population figures on housing units, occupancy and household size, estimates the city has reached over 142,500 residents as of April.

Financial technology company SmartAsset recently ranked Round Rock 17th out of 254 cities in the U.S. in a study based on relative popularity among millennials—a byproduct, officials say, of work the city and developers have done to make Round Rock more attractive.

Residents, business leaders and city officials point to several factors driving the recent wave of newcomers, including the city’s proximity to Austin, school system, job opportunities, park amenities and affordability.

Cedar Park residents can expect temporary route changes on the Brushy Creek North Fork Trail as part of the Toro Grande Roadway Improvements Project.

The details: According to a March 24 news release, a detour will be in place at the Brushy Creek bridge through the end of the year. The city advises residents to keep an eye out for ongoing construction and to abide by posted signage near the work zone.

The context: The approximately 3-mile-long, mixed-use trail was completed in early 2025. Both pedestrians and bikers can take advantage of the trail, which is 8 to 10 feet wide. The Toro Grande Roadway Improvements Project will construct a new four-lane route linking New Hope Drive and Parmer Lane. The project is managed by both Cedar Park and Williamson County.

Check out some of the top trending stories from the Austin area May 11-14. 

1. Jewel of Texas opens in Pflugerville

2. Construction underway on site of future Georgetown Texas Roadhouse

3. Frank & Margie's to open in Odd's Bar + Bistro space

4. Espadas de Brazil to bring Brazilian steakhouse to Bastrop's former Stem & Stone

5. Baylor Scott & White to expand Cedar Park clinic, bring more specialists

6. Austin moving to consolidate technology employees, services after weeks of pushback

Roughly 76,000 fewer students were enrolled in Texas public schools this academic year than the year prior, according to May 11 report.

The overview: The 2025-26 school year marks the second recorded enrollment drop in recent history, according to Texas Education Agency data collected since the 1987-88 academic year. The first decline happened in the 2020-21 school year, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hispanic students accounted for 81% of the enrollment loss in the 2025-26 school year, the policy research group Texas 2036 found.

The local impact: School districts across Community Impact’s coverage areas are in the process of closing and consolidating campuses, citing enrollment declines and budget shortfalls. Statewide data shows that 130 campuses have been selected for closure in the past two years.

What they're saying: “This year, we are down students, and these [drops] are somewhat more accelerated than statewide demographic trends indicated,” TEA Commissioner Mike Morath told lawmakers May 11. “We cannot tell you the precise cause of this. We just know that it has occurred.”