Local news | Hill Country News

Interim City Manager hopes to make his mark on Leander

The new Interim City Manager hopes he can make his mark on Leander. Isaac Turner, who took over the role on Oct. 27 after former Leander City Manager Rick Beverlin departed for his new city … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 11/22/23

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees, district staff and elected officials from the Cedar Park and Leander city council celebrated Leander ISD being named on Nov. 16, 2023, as the 2023 Advanced Placement Large District of the Year by the nonprofit College Board.

Leander ISD named 2023 AP Large District of the Year

Leander ISD was named 2023 Advanced Placement Large District of the Year by the nonprofit College Board. The district beat out over 12,000 districts across the U.S. and Canada on the annual AP … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 11/25/23

Spate of fatal accidents in Leander, Cedar Park: Police officer, pedestrian killed in separate Leander accidents; Leander ISD student killed in Travis County; Passenger dies after jumping from car in Cedar Park

Leander and Cedar Park have suffered a spate of fatal accidents this month. Leander alone had to deal with three fatal accidents on the same day - two within the city and one involving a Leander … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 11/26/23

Cedar Park-based electric trucking company Hyliion announced on Nov. 8, 2023, that it is terminating 67% of its staff, including 150 jobs at its Cedar Park headquarters, to switch focus the company's focus from its electric powertrain business to agnostic-fuel generators.

Cedar Park-based Hyliion cuts two-thirds of workforce, 150 jobs in Cedar Park

Cedar Park-based electric trucking company Hyliion is terminating 67% of its staff, including 150 jobs from its Cedar Park headquarters, according to its public filings with the U.S. Securities and … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 11/28/23

The rendering shows exterior designs for the 30,000-square-foot temple the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to build in Cedar Park by June 2024.

LDS temple groundbreaking in Cedar Park planned for June 2024

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony to kickoff the construction of a 30,000-square-foot temple in Cedar Park sometime around June of 2024. … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 11/29/23

Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, Texas.

Four Leander ISD to receive modernization upgrades

Four Leander ISD campuses will receive a combined maximum total of $25 million in modernization upgrades next year in 2024. The $25 million in funding is part of the 2023 voter-approved district … more

By Clayton Kelley, Reporter | 12/5/23

Leander Man sentenced to 2 years in prison for threatening Georgia election officials

A Leander man was sentenced on Nov. 29 to two years in prison for threatening several Georgia public official and election officials via an online message following the 2020 presidential election. … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/1/23

The 2023 Leander Old Town Christmas Festival drew over 31,000 attendees on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, a record-high turnout for the event.

2023 Leander Old Town Christmas Festival draws record crowd

The 2023 Leander Old Town Christmas Festival drew its highest turnout ever on Saturday, Dec. 2. The Leander Chamber of Commerce, which runs the event, estimated over 31,000 people … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/4/23

The team competed against 12 other Central Texas schools in competitions ranging from physical fitness to drill teams to even flying quadcopter drones through an obstacle course. The seven trophies are the highest number of trophies the team has brought back from a competition. Additionally, this year was the first time they competed in the inspection competition category.

Leander HS AFJROTC wins seven awards at 5th Annual Central HS AFJROTC Competition

The Leander High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) won seven awards on Oct. 28 at the 5th Annual Central HS AFJROTC Competition in San Angelo. Leander HS is the … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/4/23

May 11, 2022, Leander, Texas: A CapMetro Metro Rail train sits at the Leander Station as passengers arrive for a morning departure for its route to downtown Austin.

Death of woman killed by CapMetro train ruled accidental

The Leander Police Department has ruled the Nov. 18 death of woman fatally struck by a CapMetro commuter train in Leander while crossing a railway bridge as accidental. On the day of the … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/6/23

A release from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service shows the two suspects and the vehicle they used after robbing a USPIS worker around 9 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2023, in the 2000 block of Lucky Lane in Williamson County, just outside of the Leander city limits. The USPIS is offering a $150,000 award for any information that leads to the arrest of the two suspects.

Postal worker robbed just outside Leander limits; US Postal Service offering $150K reward for information on suspects

A U.S. Postal Inspection Service worker was robbed around 9 a.m. on Dec. 5 in the 2000 block of Lucky Lane in Williamson County, just outside of the Leander city limits. The Leander Police … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/6/23

The Leander Independent School District Administration Office, located at 204 W. South St., Leander.

LISD votes No on chaplains as employees

Leander ISD will not allow chaplains, or clergy members, to serve as district school counselors. LISD Board of Trustees voted Nov. 30 against allowing or accepting chaplains as volunteers … more

By Clayton Kelley, Reporter | 12/8/23

Leander will permanently close and vacate its right to the CR 177 low-water crossing bridge located east of the road's intersection with Ronald Reagan Boulevard due to it becoming a persistent safety issue.

Leander closing CR 177 low-water crossing bridge

Leander will permanently close the CR 177 low-water crossing bridge in the coming days. The bridge over Brushy Creek is located on a section of the county road near its midpoint between its … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/12/23

Leander ISD is starting the process of creating its own district school department to comply with a new law. The district hopes to have its application for the department reviewed and approved by summer 2024.

Leander ISD creating district police department

Leander ISD will start the process of creating its own district police department by summer 2024 to comply with the requirements of a new state law. The exact timeline for the Texas Commission … more

12/13/23

Williamson County ..Williamson County held a ribbon cutting ceremony Dec. 13, 2023, for the completion of a $1.1 million sports fields and courts lighting project at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park in Leander

$1.1 million Southwest Williamson County Regional Park lighting project completed; other improvements planned

Williamson County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 13 for the completion of a $1.1 million sports fields and courts lighting project at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park in Leander. … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/14/23

Substitute teacher bringing gun to Leander ISD campus under police investigation

The Travis County Sheriff's Office and the Leander ISD's district administration are investigating a Dec. 13 incident at Four Points Middle School where a substitute teacher brought a gun onto the … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/18/23

Atomic Tattoo shop on US 183 in northwest Austin, a few miles south of Cedar Park.

INK-ling of an idea: Cedar Park Council planning to loosen tattoo parlor zoning rules

Cedar Park doesn't have a single tattoo parlor. The cluster of them along the city's southern border, the newly opened tattoo parlor to the north in Leander's Old Town District and citizen … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/19/23

The Cedar Park Police Department provided a photo showing the approximately nine ounces of powder fentanyl seized during the May 16, 2022, bust.

Leander HS student dies after suspected fentanyl overdose

A Leander High School student's death last Saturday, Dec. 16, is suspected to have been a fentanyl overdose, according to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. Zarek McMeekin, an 11th grader, … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/19/23

Mail-theft ring arrested for Leander, Round Rock postal worker robberies

Four members of an alleged mail-theft ring operating out of Austin have been arrested and charged in connection with two robberies and a third attempted robbery of USPS master keys from postal … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/20/23

The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority is nearly 28% completed with its approximately $290 million total deep water intake pipeline that will pull for the deepest section of Lake Travis. Construction of the pipeline is expected to be completed in April 2027.

Leander and Cedar Park residents had to repeatedly turn their taps off in 2023. Leander twice had to impose Stage 3 water restrictions, which prohibited all outdoor watering except for handheld … more

By Josh Moniz, Senior Reporter | 12/25/23

Sections

Services

Connect with us