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A submitted photograph shows the crane that collapsed last Friday, April 12, 2024, at the Samsung semiconductor factory in Taylor.

Crane collapse at Taylor Samsung plant under investigation; No injuries reported

A crane collapse last Friday afternoon at the $17 billion Samsung semiconductor factory being built in Taylor is under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/15/24

Construction continues on Samsung’s 6 million square foot manufacturing facility located in Taylor, about 30 miles northeast of downtown Austin, on January 6, 2024. However, multiple media outlets have recently reported the company will delay mass production of semiconductors at the facility until 2025, several months after the initial target. Samsung Electronics recently announced it would add a second, 2.7 million square foot, building to the facility originally announced in 2021. The second fabrication plant is part of the $17 billion chip plant that is reported to have risen to a an estimated cost of $25 billion due to increase costs of raw materials and construction.

Report: Taylor Samsung plant will more than double its investment to $44B after getting a $6B subsidy under CHIPS Act

Samsung Electronics will more than double its planned investment in Taylor to $44 billion because the Biden Administration plans to award the company between $6 billion and $7 billion in the near … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/12/24

A Cedar Park Police Department investigation into the robbery of the Black Rock Vape shop in Cedar Park led to the arrest of 20 alleged street gang members in Georgia last Friday, April 5, 2024. Four of the individuals are facing charges in Williamson County related to the Cedar Park burglary. The pictures released by the department show the cache of weapons, drugs, and money recovered during the raid.

Cedar Park investigation leads to arrest of 20 alleged Georgia gang members; Four of the suspects were wanted for the murder of a Georgia man just hours before the raid

What started as an investigation of an aggravated burglary of a Cedar Park vape shop by the Cedar Park Police Department has resulted in the arrest of 20 alleged gang members in Georgia. Four of … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/9/24

The spa complex company WorldSprings presented their concept plans for the Colorado hot springs-style, 8-acre development they hope to build in Cedar Park at the March 28, 2024, Cedar Park City Council meeting, which will feature a 25,000-square-foot building plus 40 pools, ranging from Dead Sea-style floating pools to artificial hot springs to cold plunge pools.

Tiger Wood-backed mini golf complex PopStroke, WorldSprings spa complex considering Cedar Park sites

Tiger Wood-backed mini golf complex PopStroke, WorldSprings spa complex considering Cedar Park expansion By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter The Tiger Woods-backed mini golf brand PopStroke and spa … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/9/24

Leander ISD teachers and students gathered outside to watch for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. Most Austin-area school districts closed for the day, but Leander ISD and Round Rock ISD elected to remain open on the usual schedule.

SHADOW ON THE SUN: Locals, tourists still manage to catch a view of total solar eclipse despite adverse weather

Madelyn Guy, 12, and Evelyn Funk (13) use eclipse glasses to watch as the moon passes in front of the sun on Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024 in Burnet, Texas. The event, dubbed ‘The Great North … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/9/24

UPDATE: Cedar Park Police identify man, woman found dead in possible murder-suicide shooting

The Cedar Park Police Department is investigating a possible murder-suicide shooting that occurred Saturday night at the 200 block of Fanwfield Drive in Cedar Park. Police officers responded at … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/7/24

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center captured this image of a partial solar eclipse over Europe in March 2015 using its Sun-watching Proba-2 mini-satellite. Proba-2 used its SWAP imager to capture the Moon passing in front of the Sun in a near-totality. SWAP views the solar disc at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths to capture the turbulent surface of the Sun and its swirling corona. Next Monday's eclipse across North America will be a total solar eclipse, which happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.

BLACK HOLE SUN, TOURIST WILL COME: Local area prepares for solar eclipse, tourism influx

Austin, Cedar Park, Leander and other area cities are bracing for their cities not only to be shrouded by the upcoming solar eclipse on Monday, but also by the wave of eclipse tourists expected to … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/4/24

The graphic shows the City of Leander's requirements for its different phases of water restriction.

Leander returns to Stage 2 water restriction after BCRUA pipeline replacement complete

Leander is easing its water restrictions after the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) completed its raw water intake pipeline replacement project and restored water service on Tuesday, … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/3/24

Leander ISD Elementary School No. 30 will be named after former trustee Donald Lewis Hisle

The new Elementary School No. 30 will be named after former Leander ISD trustee Donald Lewis Hisle, who was one of the longest-serving school trustees in Texas history. The Leander ISD Board of … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/1/24

The City of Cedar Park recently announced it had selected Arthur Jackson as the city's new Chief Economic Development Officer.

Arthur Jackson named new Cedar Park Chief Economic Development Officer

Cedar Park has selected a Tulsa Regional Chamber senior vice president and former Austin economic development official as the new Cedar Park Chief Economic Development Officer. Arthur Jackson … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 4/1/24

Leander ISD unveiled on March 7 the preliminary renderings for two new buildings it hopes to begin building: a new, planned Science Materials Center and a building for the 18+ Transition Services program it provides to special education students.

EDUCATION ROUNDUP: Leander ISD approves new Elementary School attendance zoning maps, early hirings of specialized teaching positions ahead of 2024-25 school year; LISD unveils designs for Science Materials Center, Transition Services buildings

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees has adopted a new Elementary School attendance zoning map and approved early hirings of almost two dozen specialized teaching positions as part of its broader … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/28/24

Cedar Park Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin speaks at the ribbon cutting for the Anderson Mill Road Phase 2 construction project on March 5.

Cedar Park celebrates Anderson Mill Road Phase 2 project completion

Cedar Park dignitaries were joined last week by design and construction partners Kimley Horn, Binkley Barfield, Cash Construction Company and D.L. Dial and Associates to officially cut the ribbon on … more

Staff Reports | 3/28/24

The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority is in the process of replacing its Raw Water Intake pipeline, which they hope to "substantially complete" by Friday, March 29, 2024.

BCRUA pipeline replacement will be "substantially complete" Friday; BCRUA hopes to resume water service on Monday

The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) will have its raw water intake pipeline replacement project "substantially complete" this Friday. The BCRUA also hopes to resume water … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/26/24

Plug and Play CEO and Found Saeed Amidi (center left) participated in a ribbon cutting for the company's new Cedar Park location on Feb. 21, 2024, with Cedar Park Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin (center right) and other city officials. The location is Plug and Play's first Texas location.

BUSINESS BOOM: Wilco approves 200K-square-foot Hanwha facility; Leander approves 115-acre business park; Plug and Play holds grand opening in Cedar Park

While 2023 was a year of several high-profile successes - and a few major disappointments - for Williamson County, Leander and Cedar Park, all three have already seen a major success in just the … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/25/24

Man sentenced in St. David's parking lot pipe bomb explosion

A Jonestown man was to two and a half years in federal prison last Friday in federal court for possessing a pipe bomb that exploded back on Aug. 9, 2023, in his pickup truck while it was in the … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/20/24

2024 Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce Business Climate Survey

Chamber survey: Cedar Park businesses positive about future, growth

A majority of Cedar Park's businesses feel Cedar Park is heading in the right direction and feel they are doing better or the same as they did last year, according to over 300 individuals associated … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/19/24

Leander City Council Place 4 incumbent Na'Cole Thompson will face off against challenger Monica Roussel-Methena in the upcoming May 4 municipal elections.

Roussel-Methena challenging incumbent Thompson for Leander Council Place 4 seat

Leander City Council Place 4 incumbent Na'Cole Thompson, a Leander small business owner, is being challenged by newcomer candidate Monica Roussel-Methena, a rental management business owner and state … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/19/24

A group of Leander ISD students performed a dance at the Feb. 15, 2023, school board meeting in protest of a change the district made to its Off-Campus PE program.

Student backlash prompts Leander ISD to reverse course on Off Campus PE policy

Following public backlash against a change in a district policy, a group of students helped to convince the Leander ISD Board of Trustees to roll back a change to the district’s Off-Campus PE … more

By Scott W. Coleman, Editor | 3/14/24

Leander City Council Place 6 incumbent Becki Ross will face off against challengers Anna Yelaun and Pulla Reddy Yeduru in the upcoming May 4, 2024 municipal elections.

Leander Council Place 6 incumbent Ross facing two challengers

Leander City Council Place 6 incumbent Becki Ross, a 15-year business owner, is facing two challenger candidates this year — local teacher Anna Yelaun and senior software engineer Pulla Reddy … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/12/24

Former Williamson County Sheriff's Office deputies James "JJ" Johnson and Zach Camden

Former Wilco deputies found not guilty in Javier Ambler's death

The two former Williamson County Sheriff's Office deputies who were criminally charged following Javier Ambler's death while in their custody were found not guilty of all charges last Thursday, March … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 3/12/24

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