Local news | Hill Country News

The winners of the Women of Wilco Awards pose for a photo at the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center following the March 6 awards ceremony.

Women of Wilco winners named; LISD chief finalist

GEORGETOWN, Texas — Organizers of the Women of Wilco Awards announced seven 2026 honorees March 6, while Leander ISD Police Chief Shā Rogers was recognized as a finalist. The Georgetown … more

Staff Reports | 3/12/26

Turnout was high during last week's Primary Election, with voters sending Round Rock Democrat James Talarico to face either Ken Paxton or incumbent John Cornyn for the U.S. Senate seat in November. The two Republicans are facing a likely May runoff, unless one withdraws from the race.

Texas primary voters smash recent midterm turnout records

Nearly one in four registered voters in Texas cast a ballot in Tuesday’s primaries, a high-water mark for midterm elections in the state’s recent history, driven by electrifying momentum … more

By Apurva Mahajan and Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune | 3/12/26

Voters in Williamson County faced long lines and confusion, with courts weighing in with emergency orders on Election Day. Voters in the county will return to the polls for a runoff election in the race for Precinct 2 County Commissioner in May.

Williamson County Precinct 2 Commissioner race goes to runoff

Williamson County’s only contested county race in the March 3 primary is headed to a May 26 runoff after no candidate won a majority in the Republican contest for commissioner Precinct 2 — a seat … more

Staff Reports | 3/12/26

Gas prices are up about 75 cents a gallon across the Austin metro area after the US and Israel began air strikes on Iran.

Austin gas prices jump about 75 cents in 2 weeks

Drivers across the Austin metro area are paying sharply more at the pump as the Iran war rattles oil markets and pushes up wholesale fuel costs. Average gasoline prices in Austin rose 53 cents … more

Staff Reports | 3/12/26

Williamson County Parks’ annual Learn To Fish event provides kids of all ages fishing tips and techniques through teaching stations.

Williamson County to host Learn to Fish event April 11

Williamson County will hold its annual Learn to Fish event April 11 at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park in Leander, offering free, hands-on instruction for children and families. The … more

Staff Reports | 3/5/26

Lago Vista launches fentanyl awareness, medication safety effort

LAGO VISTA, Texas — The City of Lago Vista is launching a Safe Rx & Youth Protection Initiative aimed at fentanyl awareness, safe medication disposal and access to overdose-reversal resources. … more

Staff Reports | 3/5/26

Family Place Libraries Grants awarded to 11 Texas libraries

Eleven public libraries across Texas will receive state-administered grants to expand early learning services for children ages 3 and younger and their caregivers, the Texas State Library and … more

Staff Reports | 3/5/26

Texas business leaders listen as Gov. Greg Abbott accepts the 17th Governor's Cup for economic development from Site Selection Magazine at the Governor's Mansion on March 2, 2026.

Anti-Muslim backlash shadows Austin after downtown shooting

When Austin Councilmember Zo Qadri heard the man accused of killing two people and wounding 14 at Buford’s Sunday morning might be Muslim, three feelings rushed through him. Disbelief. Shock. … more

By Andrea Ball, Acacia Coronado and Austin Current, The Texas Tribune | 3/5/26

Flowers are left in front of Buford's on West 6th Street in downtown Austin on March 2, 2026. A third victim of a Sunday shooting died Monday, raising the toll to four, including the suspected gunman.

Austin downtown shooting: What we know about the gunman, victims and motive

A gunman opened fire outside a bar in Austin’s West Sixth Street entertainment district shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, killing three people and injuring 13 others, authorities said. Austin … more

Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune | 3/5/26

Cedar Park officials and Cedar Park Public Library staff pose with the library’s 2025 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award during a City of Cedar Park City Council meeting.

Cedar Park library wins statewide excellence award

EDAR PARK, Texas — The Cedar Park Public Library has received the 2025 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association, the City of Cedar Park … more

Staff Reports | 3/5/26

Round Rock man charged in Northwest Austin credit union robbery

A Round Rock man remains in federal custody after authorities said he robbed a Northwest Austin credit union in late January and escaped with about $113,000. Syntedrick Tramaine Brown, 42, is … more

Staff Reports | 3/5/26

Jazmin Gonzalez Rodriguez, a 10th grader at Harmony Public Schools-Central Texas, was named a winner in the Young Writers Contest.

Central Texas teen wins national 100-word horror contest

AUSTIN — A Central Texas high school student has been recognized in a national writing contest that tasked young authors with creating a scary story in 100 words, according to Harmony Public … more

Staff Reports | 2/26/26

Rouse High School journalism adviser Shelby Nickells, pictured with a group of students, was named a UIL Sponsor Excellence Award winner.

Shelby Nickells wins UIL sponsor award

LEANDER, Texas — Rouse High School journalism adviser Shelby Nickells has been named a 2025 University Interscholastic League Sponsor Excellence Award winner, an honor given to 15 Texas sponsors … more

2/26/26

Judge hands out 75-year sentence in 2020 Cedar Park standoff

GEORGETOWN, Texas — A visiting judge sentenced Joseph Desean Taylor to 75 years in prison Feb. 6 for a 2020 hostage standoff in Cedar Park that wounded three police officers. Taylor, 32, was … more

Staff Reports | 2/26/26

Pedernales Electric Co-Op said it returned $10 million to its members through capital credits appearing on January 2026 statements.

PEC returns $10 million in capital credits to members

JOHNSON CITY, Texas — Pedernales Electric Cooperative said it returned $10 million to members through capital credits that appeared on January 2026 bills, a distribution approved by its board in … more

Staff Reports | 2/19/26

Transformative justice program study finds fewer arrests in Williamson County

Williamson County’s Transformative Justice Program reduced arrests and jail time for young adult felony defendants, according to a Texas A&M University research study released this week. … more

Staff Reports | 2/19/26

Georgetown teen court wins countywide mock trial competition

A Georgetown teen court team took top honors at a countywide Teen Court Competition hosted Feb. 5 by Williamson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, according to county officials. The event … more

Staff Reports | 2/19/26

A group of fifth-grade students celebrate during the Central Texas Math Carousel, held earlier this month in Austin.

Central Texas fifth-graders tested skills at Math Carousel

Fifth-grade students from across the Austin area competed Feb. 7 in the third annual Central Texas Math Carousel, a mathematics competition hosted by Harmony Public Schools–Central Texas. The … more

Staff Reports | 2/19/26

Round Rock OKs Skybox data center despite resident pushback

ROUND ROCK, Texas — The Round Rock City Council unanimously approved a rezoning ordinance Feb. 12 that clears the way for a Skybox Datacenters facility near a residential area, despite hours of … more

Staff Reports | 2/19/26

A Leander Police Department patrol vehicle is shown in Leander, Texas. Leander is among several Williamson County cities joining a regional task force aimed at reducing auto theft, vehicle burglaries and catalytic converter theft.

Central Texas cities form auto-theft task force

ROUND ROCK, Texas — A group of Williamson County cities and the county have approved an interlocal agreement to create a regional police task force aimed at reducing auto theft, vehicle burglaries … more

Staff Reports | 2/19/26

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