Grey Orchard, from James Sun and Chef Cole Fitzgerald, will soft‑open July 9 at 2700 N I‑35 in Round Rock with a seasonal modern‑American menu and private‑dining options.

Leander approved a Life Time PUD and an interlocal to install turn bays near Harmony Science Academy while reallocating nearly $4M to capital and safety projects.

New reporting and longtime mammal inventories show more than 100,000 free‑roaming exotic mammals in Texas — from nilgai to blackbuck — raising disease and regulatory questions. The split between free‑roaming animals and fenced game ranches complicates management.

Round Rock roastery Mi Mundo has opened a Cedar Park shop on Bell Boulevard, serving organic coffee, teas and a small food menu with tamales and breakfast tacos.

Boomerang Industrial has started site work on STX Frio, a 325,274‑sf cold storage warehouse at FM 2252 in Schertz. The speculative project includes modern cold‑chain specs and public infrastructure support.

Highs near 976F this week in Austin with heat-index readings near 1006F–1026F; scattered storms possible Saturday. Cooling centers are available.

State records show Cedar Ridge High School will get a two‑story classroom wing, a dance addition and turf upgrades under a $30M bond‑funded plan. Construction is slated for May 2027–Nov. 2028.

A Burnet County jury handed Nicholas Anthony Farris the maximum 20‑year term after finding he solicited what he thought was a 13‑year‑old online.

A July 4 shots call near Leander High prompted a drone-assisted search in Cedar Park that ended with three arrests and seven firearms seized.

Texas Monthly put Top 50 Picnic tickets on sale July 1, with early-bird passes for TM BBQ Club members already sold out. The Lockhart weekend brings 30+ Top 50 barbecue joints in one place.

Buda secured $10.48M in CAMPO funds to widen East Main Street into a four-lane corridor with a median, left-turn lanes and shared-use paths. The city says the project carries a $13.1M budget with a local match.

A spat over a “California transplant” barb has Ken Paxton accusing James Talarico of insulting military families, injecting fresh drama into the tight Texas Senate race.

Enchanted Rock’s new Backcountry Area opens on Tuesday with about 10.5 miles of rugged trail and limited facilities, after the park more than doubled in size.