Hill Country News

The Leander City Council will review this updated Future Land Use Map and the updated Leander Comprehensive Plan this Thursday during their regular meeting.

Leander Council to review, potentially pass updated Comprehensive Plan

Leander is rapidly growing with its population potentially exceeding Cedar Park's population in coming years. The ongoing update to the Leander Comprehensive Plan will be a critical component in … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/21/21

Cedar Park Councilors to live stream first Council Chat under COVID-19 on Jan. 27

Cedar Park Mayor Corbin Van Arsdale and Cedar Park City Council member Heather Jefts and Mel Kirkland will participate virtually Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the first Council Chat of 2021. The event also … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/21/21

The Cedar Park Transit Study outlines the comparative cost of each considered transit option, including the City's share, and the projected ridership of each one.

Cedar Park Transit Study: Transit options not currently viable; post-COVID-19 carries opportunities

The Cedar Park Transit Study is an interesting collection of contradictions, which paradoxically helped provide clear direction Thursday for the Cedar Park City Council while they reviewed its final … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/19/21

The City of Cedar Park is considering three options for redeveloping the Lime Creek Quarry site over the coming years.

Lime Creek Quarry update: Blasting will cease at end of 2021, redevelopment progressing

The Cedar Park City Council received an update Thursday on the 216-acre Lime Creek Quarry, which the City of Cedar Park purchased in 2015 with the intent of ending the blasting at the location that … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/18/21

Michael Ramos, left, and Javier Ambler, right

Travis County grand juries could finally see Ambler, Ramos cases and Chody, Nassour could face evidence tampering charges by March 30

The charges against the officers involved in the separate criminal investigations into the deaths of Javier Ambler and Michael Ramos may finally go before a Travis County grand jury by March … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/15/21

Cedar Park Timberwolves senior wide receiver Jack Hestera (19) delivers a stiff arm to Veterans Memorial Eagles cornerback Joseph Meador (23) during a high school football playoff game between Cedar Park and Veterans Memorial on January 8, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. The city of Cedar Park plans a parade through town to send the team off in style.

STATE BOUND! Cedar Park plans state sendoff

The City of Cedar Park is encouraging the community to wear their finest green, black and silver this Friday, and cheer on the Cedar Park High School Timberwolves Football Team. more

From Staff Reports | 1/14/21

Cedar Park Council to vote on Rules of Procedure, Charter amendments; review Transit Study, Lime Creek Quarry update

The Cedar Park City Council will hold its final public hearings and debates Thursday on their proposed Council Rules of Procedures and separately on their proposed City Charter amendments, which will … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/14/21

Williamson County occupancy rollback highlights how COVID-19 has transformed businesses

Williamson County businesses had their occupancy limits rolled back from 75 percent to 50 percent and bars that aren't restaurants were closed following the notification Sunday that the seven-county … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/12/21

The Leander Police Department's Annual Report shows the recent trends involving burglaries of items from vehicles.

Leander Police: Unlocked vehicle a factor in number of vehicle thefts, burglaries

The Leander Police Department warned the public Thursday that vehicles being left unlocked was a major factor in a number of recent vehicle thefts and burglary of items from vehicles in 2019 and … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/12/21

Leander resident enjoy snow sledding for the first time in years Sunday at Robin Bledsoe Park.

UPDATE: Snowfall surprises Cedar, Leander with Winter Wonderland; LISD calls a Snow Day

Central Texas was blanketed with approximately six inches of heavy snowfall Sunday morning, the first major snowfall the region has received since the record-setting storm in 2017.Temperatures … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/11/21

New Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason held his first press conference after being sworn in last Friday.

Chody sues new WilCo Sheriff; alleges election fraud

Last month, Robert Chody, the former Williamson County Sheriff, filed a lawsuit against the person who beat him in the November election.During his first press conference Friday, new Williamson … more

Richard Stone | Editor at Large | 1/8/21

Leander Police seek suspect in Leander cell phone store robbery

The Leander Police Department is seeking help from the public to identify and provide information on the two suspects in the Sunday, Jan. 3, armed robbery of a Leander cell phone store. Leander … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/7/21

Pat Bryson Municipal Hall at 201 N. Brushy Street in Leander, Texas.

Leander Council will hold public hearing, vote on Comprehensive Plan final draft

The Leander City Council will hold a public hearing Thursday for the final draft of the updated City of Leander's Comprehensive Plan, which is a guiding document for the City that outlines its … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/6/21

The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Capitol under lockdown as protesters storm the building during Electoral College certification

The United States Capitol devolved into dangerous chaos Wednesday afternoon as thousands of protesters stormed into some of the most restricted areas outside and inside the building, while members of … more

BY PATRICK SVITEK AND ALEX SAMUELS / Texas Tribune | 1/6/21

Leanderthal Distilling founder Scott Calame poses with their Leander Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award (right) as well as an example of hand sanitizer they produced to help during the pandemic (far left).

Community support helps local distilleries dodge New Year's Eve nightmare

Blink, and you'll miss it!Local distilleries rang in the New Year in a panic when they suddenly found themselves facing an unannounced, business-closing, $14,060 fee from the U.S. Food and Drug … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/6/21

Penniman-Morin running for Cedar Park Council; Councilor Kelly will resign soon

Cedar Park attorney and military veteran Jim Penniman-Morin kicked off the 2021 Cedar Park City Council municipal races by being the first candidate to formally announce for the May elections. The … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/5/21

the US 183A Toll Road is normally shoulder-to-shoulder thick with cars commuting into Austin and other people needing to get somewhere. By the end of March, it was empty of traffic.

2020 Top Stories: COVID-19 leads to nearly 200 deaths, 20K infections

It seemed to come out of nowhere.It didn’t, of course. By the time Austin Mayor Steve Adler shut down the annual SXSW conference in mid-March, the potential devastation of the coronavirus pandemic … more

Richard Stone | Editor at Large | 1/3/21

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell held a major press conference from the courthouse steps in March. The con

2020 Top Stories: Local government response to pandemic was uneven

Local governmental response to the spreading coronavirus pandemic in Williamson County has been variegated. When the first cases were reported in March, the state and county rolled out robust … more

Richard Stone | Editor at Large | 1/3/21

Several members of the teacher-led group who sought a recall election against Cedar Park Councilor Tim Kelly posed July 30 for a photo before submitting their initial batch of signatures.

The decisive rebuke of former Cedar Park Council member Dorian Chavez and the slate of candidates backing him during the November municipal elections - and their argument for making the Council more … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/3/21

Most shops remained closed and few local residents turned out for the Lakeline Mall's reopening in May after statewide emergency order rules were lifted.

Local businesses faced a devastating year in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent emergency orders sporadically closed or restricted their businesses throughout the year while they … more

By JOSH MONIZ, Senior Reporter | 1/1/21

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