Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Two injured after shooting near Round Rockby Tara Brolley Texas — Two people were wounded in a shooting during a dispute just outside Round Rock city limits Thursday night according to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office to reports of gunfire in the 2200 block of Chandler Creek Road investigators determined that two people been shot following an altercation that escalated ALSO | One person dead after disturbance at Shell gas station on East Riverside Drive One victim was transported to a nearby hospital by a private citizen while Williamson County Emergency Medical Services transported the second victim The conditions of the victims were not immediately released Authorities believe it was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information to contact their tip line at 512-943-1311 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 800-253-7867 The Sugar Land Space Cowboys (16-17) split their series with the Round Rock Express (17-16) after being shutout 13-0 on Sunday afternoon at Constellation Field 0-5) allowed one run to come across in the first after the first two Round Rock batters reached base Brice Matthews made an excellent play in the hole at second base and fired a dart to Luis Guillorme at third to catch Justin Foscue off the bag and end the frame The Express scored three runs in the top of the second including a two-run home run from Chad Wallach as Sugar Land fell behind RHP Rhett Kouba took over in the third and sat Round Rock down in order including striking out Trevor Hauver looking to retire the side and faced the minimum again in the fourth while adding two more punchouts to his ledger Although Kouba induced a double play in the fifth to end the inning Ezequiel Duran hit a solo home run to lead-off the frame as Round Rock extended their lead to Sugar Land drew two walks in the bottom half as Luis Guillorme led off with a walk and César Salazar took a base on balls with two outs but the Space Cowboys could not bring them in LHP Blake Weiman came on in the sixth and went three up Zack Short slapped a single into left in the home half Round Rock went up 10-0 in the seventh with a five-run frame including a two-run home run from Kellen Strahm Hauver hit a three-run homer in the ninth and Sugar Land went down in order in the home half his 15th game reaching base in his last 17 contests Whitcomb is 20-for-62 (.323) with eight doubles his 15th time reaching base in his last 16 games RHP Rhett Kouba leads Sugar Land relievers in innings pitched with 19.2 his first multi-walk game of the season and first since August 31 Luis Guillorme took his 21st walk of the season in the fifth inning Guillorme came into Sunday’s games tied for seventh in the Pacific Coast League in walks Sugar Land was shutout for the second time this season on Sunday with the other coming on April 6 at Durham The Space Cowboys have thrown four shutouts including two in their last seven games the Space Cowboys head west and take on the Salt Lake Bees for six games The game can be seen live on the Bally Sports Live App or MLB.TV and can be heard anywhere at SLSpaceCowboys.com Season Memberships for the 2025 Space Cowboy season including Full and Partial Season membership plans The Sugar Land Space Cowboys are the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros and compete in the Pacific Coast League They are the reigning Pacific Coast League Champions and Triple-A National Champions They began playing as the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate in 2021 and began playing under the Space Cowboys brand in 2022 The Space Cowboys play at Constellation Field located at the corner of Hwy-6 and US-90 Alternate in Sugar Land Follow the team on Twitter (@SLSpaceCowboys) and their official website (slspacecowboys.com) Fans can purchase full-season and partial-season plans for 2025 by visiting slspacecowboys.com/tickets Written by RotoWire Staff The Rangers optioned Ornelas to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday Ornelas was brought onto the active roster Friday to replace Nick Ahmed but will now head back to the minors to make room for Corey Seager Ornelas hasn't had much success at the plate this season going 0-for-5 during his brief stints in the majors and logging a .414 OPS across 67 Triple-A plate appearances Salons on Chisholm opened in mid-March with over 20 spaces for beauty professionals to rent Dacia is a features reporter for northern markets in the Austin metro She joined Community Impact in June 2024 shortly after graduating from The University of Texas with a degree in journalism Dacia previously interned for Austin PBS and Voces Oral History Center practicing yoga and trying new restaurants in the city Montgomery has served on the Round Rock City Council for the last 7 years The location is co-owned by Linoy Mathen and Josh Byers Williamson County Emergency Services District No 9 unveiled new firefighting equipment for the Round Rock Fire Department on April 29 The Texas Rangers announced that the club selected the contract of Crim will join the team at Globe Life Field tonight as the Rangers get set for their series opener with the Seattle Mariners at 7:05 p.m Crim has been on the Express active roster since September 13 Among players selected in the 2019 MLB Draft he has appeared in more MiLB games than any other player (590) Since he made his professional debut for Short Season Spokane in 2019 he leads all of MiLB in hits (668) and RBI (420) and is tied for second in doubles (130) while sitting at sixth in home runs (110) the 27-year-old has appeared in 308 games for the E-Train and has owned a slash line of .286/.373/.486/.859 with 71 doubles In his last game with the Express on Wednesday in Sugar Land Crim became just the ninth Express player to ever reach 200 RBI He is one of 16 players to appear in over 300 games for the Express and is ninth in club history in doubles and tied for seventh in home runs Crim slashed .313/.365/.565/.930 with six doubles He is tied for the Pacific Coast League lead in home runs He was named PCL Player of the Week for March 31-April 6 when he hit .520 (13-for-25)/.600/.880/1.480 with four doubles One homer was a walk-off against Toledo on April 2 Crim was named the Round Rock Express Most Valuable Player He appeared in 134 games while slashing .277/.370/.469/.839 with 33 doubles He collected his fourth consecutive season with at least 20 home runs and 80 RBI He posted a 32-game on-base streak from June 27-August 10 After slashing .204/.312/.348 in 68 games to open the 2024 season he hit .412/.503/.588 in his next 34 games Crim was named the Texas Rangers "True Ranger" award recipient in 2023 for representing the organization's core values both on and off the field tied for fourth in doubles (31) and eighth in OPS (.891) while tied for second in extra-base hits (58) Crim was named an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star and led all Rangers minor league players in homers (24) he was named a High-A East League All-Star after batting .300 with 20 home runs and 61 RBI over 73 games with High-A Hickory Crim was named MVP of the Northwest League while playing for Spokane Alabama native was originally selected by the Rangers in the 19th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Mississippi College in Clinton Round Rock and Sugar Land will get set for game four of their series at Constellation Field tonight with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m 7.06) will face Space Cowboys LHP Colton Gordon (2-0 For more information on the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and X [AP1]should we say "selected the contract" [LF2]I would say 26 man mention here and the 28 man mention in next paragraph confuses me as someone not super familiar with that detail Donations to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association  The Round Rock Fire Department will conduct its annual Fill the Boot campaign for Muscular Dystrophy Association the week of May 5.  Firefighters will be collecting donations for MDA at two intersections in town on May 5 Expect to see firefighters at the East Palm Valley Boulevard/Mays Street and the A.W Grimes Boulevard/Gattis School Road intersections from 8-10 a.m RRFD is among the organizations that annually host more than 1,500 Fill the Boot fundraisers nationwide each spring MDA has partnered with the International Association of Fire Fighters through Fill the Boot for the past 75 years.   RRFD has raised $422,000 for MDA since 2011 “The funds raised by Round Rock Fire go towards many beneficial things for these individuals living with a neuromuscular disease,” said Kelsey Adamek a Fire Fighter Partnerships account manager for MDA “Some of these include research to help find cures treatments to prolong the lives of these individuals treatment care centers to be utilized by these individuals and summer camp that is specifically adapted for children to attend who have a neuromuscular disease.”  Fill the Boot donations may also be made online to the Round Rock Fire group assisting with the effort Left: Round Rock Fire Department receives proclamation for “Muscular Dystrophy Association Month” from Mayor Craig Morgan Right: Members of the Round Rock Fire Department participate in the 2024 Fill the Boot campaign Round Rock’s digital newsletter providing residents news events and general information regarding city government Staff DirectoryMobile AppsAlerts Sign UpE-Subscribe City of Round Rock221 East Main StreetRound Rock The Sugar Land Space Cowboys split their series with the Round Rock Express after being shutout 13-0 on Sunday afternoon at Constellation Field RHP Aaron Brown allowed one run to come across in the first after the first two Round Rock batters reached base ·  Luis Guillorme took his 21st walk of the season in the fifth inning ·  Sugar Land was shutout for the second time this season on Sunday After their six-game home stand, the Space Cowboys head west to take on the Salt Lake Bees for six games. Space Cowboys games can be seen live on the Bally Sports Live App or MLB.TV and can be heard anywhere at SLSpaceCowboys.com This article is provided by the marketing office of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros Email notifications are only sent once a day there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: SUGAR LAND, Tex. - BOX SCORE Round Rock 3B Ezequiel Duran led off the first with a base hit for the second consecutive game 1B Justin Foscue was hit by a pitch and the Express had two runners aboard The two advanced on a SS Cody Freeman groundout and CF Kellen Strahm sent Duran home with his sixth hit of the series The Express kept the pressure by adding three more in the second RF Trevor Hauver got on with a two-strike single and C Chad Wallach capped off a 13-pitch at-bat by launching his first home run of the season Round Rock put two more runners on with a DH Konner Piotto single and LF Alex De Goti walk 1B Justin Foscue hit a sacrifice fly to left field and Piotto came home to extend the lead to 4-0 Sugar Land went on to retire nine consecutive batters until Duran kicked off the fifth with a homer on the first pitch of the inning His third round-tripper of the year moved the E-Train advantage to 5-0 The Express pitching staff of LHP Michael Plassmeyer and RHP Cole Winn did not surrender a hit through the first five innings and allowed just four base runners via four walks Sugar Land RHP Blake Weiman quickly recorded two outs but the E-Train rallied with five runs on five hits Foscue drew a walk and Freeman sent him around with a double into right field 2B Sam Haggerty sent his second hit up the middle and Freeman scored from second CF Kellen Strahm belted his fourth home run of the year over the wall in left field Hauver sent a ground ball into the corner in right for a standup double Wallach recorded the E-Train’s fifth consecutive hit with a single to right and Hauver scored the 10th run of the day for a 10-0 lead Round Rock put two runners aboard in the ninth and Hauver joined the party with his fourth homer of the year The three-run shot sent the E-Train to a 13-0 lead as the score stood final for their first shutout and most runs cored in a game this year COLE STILL COOKING: Round Rock RHP Cole Winn extended his scoreless streak on Sunday afternoon tossing 1.2 innings without a run or a hit en route to earning the win The right-hander holds the longest streak in all of Triple-A tossing 21.2 innings without surrendering an earned run Winn made two appearances in the series against Sugar Land throwing a combined 4.0 innings with no hits and four walks He has yet to allow more than two hits in any appearance in 2025 SOMETHING ABOUT THE SEVENTH: Through the six-game series in Sugar Land the Express scored 15 of their 31 runs in the seventh inning They batted .485 (16-33) with six extra-base hits and a 1.398 OPS six of Round Rock’s nine batters tallied multiple hits while seven recorded an RBI RF Trevor Hauver and C Chad Wallach each had three RBI Every batter got on base at least once and eight of nine scored a run LOCKDOWN: The Round Rock pitching staff of LHP Michael Plassmeyer RHP Hunter Strickland and RHP Luis Curvelo gave the E-Train the first shutout of the season The crew only allowed two hits while the Space Cowboys first hit came in the sixth inning The Express did not allow a runner to reach third base in the win For more information about the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Subscribe to the E-Train email newsletter and keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and X Big League Blaine pic.twitter.com/ktTNkHqoDz Burger gets chance for offensive 'reset' at Triple-A; Crim makes MLB debutMay 3rd ARLINGTON -- The Rangers’ offensive struggles have reached a critical point When you keep losing games in the same way The club also recalled infielder and designated for assignment Burger was one of the Rangers’ biggest offseason acquisitions but he has been one of many players struggling in the first month of the season He’s hitting .190 with a .561 OPS in 30 games as the Rangers’ primary first baseman president of baseball operations Chris Young said Burger’s individual performance is amplified by the collective underperformance of the Rangers’ offense through the first month of the season Big League Blaine pic.twitter.com/ktTNkHqoDz “It's just getting back to the best version of himself,” Young said it's a reset for him to go down and remember who he is as a hitter and to come play the game with confidence and conviction and belief “We feel he embodies everything we want in our players and it's our job to try to help them through that and put them in environments that are going to allow them to succeed Our hope is that Jake will get hot quickly and be right back with us.” The Rangers traded for Burger in hopes that he would add some much-needed thump to the lineup He was coming off a 29-homer season with 76 RBIs for the Marlins in 2024 he hit a career-high 34 homers with the White Sox and Marlins and recorded an .827 OPS Shortly after acquiring Burger this offseason, the Rangers traded first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to the Nationals in return for lefty reliever Robert Garcia who has been a vital piece of the bullpen in 2025 Young doesn’t see Burger’s demotion as a wake-up call of sorts for the rest of the Rangers’ offense which entered Friday collectively slashing .229/.285/.367 through 32 games The current moves are about getting Burger right and giving Crim an opportunity after years of performance in the Minors “There's no hidden messages with these moves,” Young said “We're just simply trying to field the best team possible But this isn't a message with these moves This is simply that we're committed to winning and players who are performing are going to get the playing time.” Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball hitting .296 with an .879 OPS across six seasons he’s slashing .313/.365/.565 with seven homers this season they determine their destiny by performing and Blaine has continued to do that,” Young said He really is everything that I love in a player We're really excited for him to have this opportunity he still believes that Texas is a team built to compete and win He believes Burger will be back with the big league club sooner Corey Seager is set to return from the injured list sooner than later Evan Carter could even be recalled in the coming weeks If even a few hitters return to their best forms “Good teams go through hard times,” Young said “It's how you handle those times that will define what this team becomes I don't want to play our best baseball in April I had hoped that maybe we'd be clicking a little bit better offensively I think there's a lot that could be made of the moves I think this is about just trying to do the best thing to win baseball games at this moment I believe in this group and where we're headed so I don't want that to get lost in any of this.” Lake Travis and Round Rock are the first Austin-area baseball programs to advance in the UIL playoffs Both teams completed sweeps of their best-of-three Class 6A Division I bi-district playoff series Friday with Lake Travis taking care of Cedar Ridge 8-0 and 13-3 and Round Rock defeating Bowie 7-2 and 9-0 They will await Game 3 outcomes Saturday to determine their area round opponents More: Texas high school baseball playoffs: 5 Austin-area teams and 25 players to watch Cedar Ridge 0: In a Game 1 that started Thursday before being delayed by weather the Cavs put across seven runs in the top of the first and never looked back Nelson Molina’s three-run double and RBI singles from Jager Rahn and Ethan Schlotterback highlighted the inning That would be plenty for Cavs pitchers Cooper Webb and Thomas Grisamore with the latter tossing five innings of relief Reid Kilgo finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Austin Glasgow also had two hits for Lake Travis Cedar Ridge 3 (6): Luke McBride struck out six in a complete-game performance Rahn went 3-for-3 with a double and RBI and Kilgo finished 2-for-2 with two walks and a run driven in as the Cavs finished an impressive sweep Lake Travis again took control early with a five-run first inning Nelson Molina blasted an RBI double and Schlotterback ripped a run-scoring triple before Reed Murphy’s sacrifice fly rounded out the big opening frame Murphy and Yanuell Molina all ended with two RBIs while Nelson Molina finished with two hits The Cavs will play either San Antonio O’Connor or San Antonio Johnson Bowie 2: JP Kazmann’s two-run double and a two-run single from Quinn Barthelette highlighted a six-run bottom of the first as the Dragons quickly jumped out to a big lead in Game 1 Round Rock also drew two walks and took advantage of a hit batter and error in the inning Kazmann finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Barthelette ended with two hits while Brooks Mikulencak’s three scoreless innings in relief paced the Dragons on the mound Carter Hughes and Ethan Smith also tossed a scoreless frame for Round Rock Bowie 0: Isaac Rodriguez scattered five hits and struck out four in five innings Chris Alsobrooks went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs Hudson DePriest had a two-run single and Trajan Godbee finished 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs as the Dragons completed the sweep Round Rock will face either San Antonio Reagan or San Antonio Warren Laredo United 2: Reed Dierschke tossed a complete game with four strikeouts and the Jaguars scored six runs in the top of the seventh to break a 2-2 tie and force a series deciding Game 3 in Class 6A Division I Joseph Cardona's bases-clearing double marked the key hit during Johnson's big inning but the Jaguars also received singles from Luke Levassar walks from Anderson Berndt and Ricky Montijo and took advantage of two errors Dierschke retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game Plummer finished 3-for-4 and Garrett recorded two hits and two runs scored to pace the Johnson offense The Jaguars lost Game 1 on Thursday 9-5 Round Rock theater company settling into its first-ever facility  It feels only fitting that Penfold Theatre Company’s first performances in Round Rock were Shakespeare in downtown’s Centennial Plaza—open-air productions where the city itself became the stage the professional theater company has steadily grown its presence in the community after more than a decade of producing plays in shared and temporary spaces Penfold has a place it can call its own in Suite 290 at 2120 North Mays Street in Round Rock.  Penfold co-founders Ryan Crowder and Nathan Jerkins were a few years removed from college and looking for the next big step in their lives The Abilene Christian University grads became Austin-area transplants and only later learned about the City of Round Rock’s downtown development plans They soon would find themselves performing in front of a group of movers and shakers in the Round Rock fine arts community Penfold performed “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” at Centennial Plaza’s outdoor amphitheater and the theatre company has enjoyed a presence in Round Rock ever since.   The City’s comprehensive plans, including Round Rock 2030 and Round Rock Creates call for fostering creative entrepreneurship and enhancing the community’s quality of life through diverse entertainment options approved a grant to assist Penfold’s initial use of a roughly 6,400-square-foot space in the Rock Creek Plaza shopping center located along Interstate 35 just south of Old Settlers Boulevard.  sourced from hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds paid by visitors to Round Rock and covered rent for Penfold’s new venue for a total of 18 months The agreement calls for Penfold to provide a variety of programming in the facility including rentals to other arts organizations.   Penfold now enters its second year at Rock Creek Plaza improv and musical theater classes and summer camps for children.   Metamorphosis Dance of Round Rock performed “The Little Mermaid” on April 25-26 at Penfold’s home.   The Hideout Theatre is partnering with Penfold in a six-week adult improv workshop this year as well as summer camps for children ages 8-13 from June 16-20.   ZACH Theatre also will work with Penfold this summer in a series of summer camps beginning with “Moana and Moana 2” (for grades K-2) and “Wicked” (grades 3-5) from July 7-11 Other portions of the series will bring “Bluey Adventures” (July 14-18) “Matilda” (July 21-25) and “Harry Potter Adventures” (July 14-18).   Penfold has also announced new shows that can be expected during its 2025-26 season which officially is the company’s 18th season “Season 18 lifts stories of people we might write off because of their age or how they experience the world,” said Crowder and strive to find meaning in our own corners of the world especially when much feels beyond our control we open ourselves to receive the good we can offer each other.”  Penfold also presents the comedy “Anton Chekhov is a Tasty Snack,” created by Austin playwright Jenny Connell Davis and loosely based off Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” Tickets For more on Penfold Theatre and its offerings, visit www.penfoldtheatre.org.  Texas — The Round Rock Police Department responded to a fatal crash involving a cyclist on the northbound I-35 frontage road Tuesday afternoon Round Rock PD posted on social media around 12:07 p.m that officers were responding to the scene of the crash at East Old Settlers Boulevard near McDonald's The driver involved reportedly stayed on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation Police say all westbound traffic from North Mays Street to I-35 including the bridge is currently shut down Drivers should expect delays and use alternate routes Round Rock’s newest recruit might be small but her mission is anything but playful.  Tasked with providing comfort and emotional support to the City of Round Rock’s firefighters Ivy the therapy dog is among the newest additions to the Round Rock Fire Department Standing out from the other department members in her red vest and curly tail the bronze-shaded Goldendoodle has brought a calming presence to her new colleagues.  Ivy is the product of a partnership between RRFD and California-based Hearts4HeroesUSA a nonprofit founded by first responders to support the needs of other first responders.  Firefighting is an inherently high-stress profession and both the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S Fire Administration have recognized the significant mental health challenges faced by firefighters through programming and policies.  “Firefighters can be exposed to a significant amount of trauma on a daily basis,” said Ivy’s handler Round Rock Fire Department Driver Jody Virgne who is assigned to the department’s Training Division “Our department is almost 200 people and the whole county is growing exponentially so there’s such a demand placed on our firefighters If a tool as simple as a dog can be a benefit Ivy completed the puppy version of the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification She also trains daily and lives with her handlers who also serves as a firefighter for Round Rock While the community may see Ivy out and about as she goes about her duties her main mission is to support the firefighters who respond to the community’s emergencies.  “She’s been well-received,” noted Ricky Virgne She has been melting the hearts of many of our members.”  For more information on Hearts4HeroesUSA, visit hearts4heroesusa.org.  The Texas Historical Commission on Thursday presented the City of Round Rock with its Award of Excellence in Media Achievement honoring excellence in reporting by print or electronic media on preservation and/or heritage tourism issues While a wide array of one-time media products are generated by the City this nomination highlights media products that generate long-lasting results and that were produced during the past two years: Historic Landmarks Explorer The newly designed Round Rock “Historic Landmarks Explorer” is an interactive online application that allows the public to explore and learn about 109 historic resources and landmarks throughout the City of Round Rock The application provides an interactive map addresses and a detailed description of each landmark. The map identifies locations of landmarks cemeteries and former sites of Round Rock historic resources to help the public navigate the site and are scheduled for viewing periodically on the city’s Government Access TV Channels (Spectrum Cable 10  and Uverse 99) to share information about historic resources The Williamson Museum invites you to the 19th annual Pioneer Days at Old Settlers Association in Round Rock on Saturday make corn husk dolls and rag balls and wander through reenactment camps and chuck wagon areas historic house tours and a fully stocked general store Sponsored in part by the City of Round Rock the event is free and open to the public Old Settlers Association is located at 3300 E across Harrell Parkway from The Salt Lick BBQ View Organizer Website updates@williamsonmuseum.org The Round Rock Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect involved in an aggravated robbery officers responded to a report of an aggravated robbery at the 7-Eleven located at 2801 La Frontera Blvd The suspect fled the scene on foot prior to officers’ arrival Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Leo Quintana at 512-218-7048 or email lquintana@roundrocktexas.gov Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Williamson County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-253-7867 Texas — UPDATE: Raymundo was found deceased in a wooded area just north of the QuikTrip at 1540 RM 620 The cause of death is to be determined pending autopsy results The Round Rock Police Department is requesting assistance in locating 34-year-old Brayan Ivan Valle Raymundo Raymundo was last seen leaving his apartment on Bowman Road at approximately 1:00 p.m he has not returned to his residence or workplace since ALSO:Pedestrian dead after being hit by car on I-35 in downtown Austin and was last seen wearing a black hoodie with lime green lettering and blue jeans Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Bernie Villegas at 512-671-2709 or email bvillegas@roundrocktexas.gov The National Trust for Historic Preservation established National Preservation Month in 1973 as an occasion for local preservation and civic organizations to spotlight preservation programs and heritage tourism Chuckwagon Dinner Friday, May 2, 6 to 8 p.m.Old Settlers Association, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd.Hosted by the Williamson MuseumKick off the month with a traditional Chuckwagon Dinner and play at the historic Old Settlers Association grounds. This is a ticketed event.More information Pioneer DaySaturday, May 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Old Settlers Association, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd.Bring the family out for a fun and educational day celebrating pioneer life. Experience hands-on activities, historical demonstrations and a glimpse into the daily lives of early Texas settlers.More information Preservation Month Proclamation at City CouncilThursday, May 8, 6 p.m.City Council Chambers, 221 E. Main St.Round Rock City Council will officially recognize Preservation Month with a proclamation at the beginning of its first meeting in May. More information Black History Tour of Round RockSaturday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Round Rock Public Library, 200 E. Liberty Ave.Presented by the Round Rock Black History OrganizationExplore Round Rock’s Black heritage with a guided virtual tour highlighting significant sites and stories that have shaped our community. More information Round Rock Cemetery CleanupSaturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.Round Rock Cemetery, 1400 Sam Bass Rd.Hosted by the Round Rock Cemetery AssociationGive back by helping preserve one of Round Rock’s historic sites Volunteers are needed to assist with the cleanup of the Round Rock Cemetery All are welcome — supplies will be provided Bagdad Ave.Presented by the Center Art ClubVisit the Baca Center throughout May to view a vibrant collection of artworks celebrating Round Rock’s rich history Bygone Elegance: Antique Handkerchief ExhibitRound Rock Public Library – 3rd Floor Liberty Ave.Presented by Round Rock PreservationStep into the past with this charming exhibit showcasing a collection of antique handkerchiefs offering a glimpse into the craftsmanship and social customs of a bygone era Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 9 (ESD9) is taking proactive steps to protect its residents in the county, in a special event, ESD9 unveiled a suite of state-of-the-art wildland firefighting equipment to the Round Rock Fire Department Wildland Team The surprise reveal included a Polaris Utility Task Wildlands Vehicle a purpose-built command center trailer and a specialized firefighting truck all tailored to address the unique challenges of wildland firefighting in Williamson County’s varied terrain The equipment was designed and built by FarrWest service and training to the First Responder industry Chief Shane Glaiser of Round Rock Fire Department said: “As the area develops and firefighting strategies must adapt to the changing landscapes We’re so grateful for ESD9 gifting us with a cutting-edge fleet of wildland firefighting gear It’s a huge step forward in protecting our community.” With Williamson County identified as one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas these new tools will greatly enhance operational capacity situational coordination and firefighter safety during wildland incidents ESD9 Commissioner said: “Wildfires are occurring more frequently – they’re an ongoing threat that disrupts every corner of our county “This investment emphasizes our unwavering commitment to ensuring our firefighters are equipped and ready to meet today’s challenges head-on.” Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 9 has gifted the Round Rock Fire Department Wildland Team with state-of-the-art wildland firefighting equipment This surprise investment marks a commitment to preventing the ongoing spread of wildfires across the country Fire & Safety Journal Americas is a publication of Centurian Media Limited Registered office: 71-75 Shelton Street London Greater London WC2H 9JQ UNITED KINGDOMOperating office: The Maidstone Studios Centurian Media Limited (CML) is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer along with all qualified applicants that we receive for employment fixed contract or freelance projects receive consideration without regard to race CML is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status Website hosted and maintained by Grass Media Web Design ICO registration number: CSN0536342 All content copyright Centurian Media Ltd 2019-2025 It's time for Texas voters to cast their ballots in the May 3 general election Where can Central Texas residents vote on Election Day Here is what you need to know before voting If you're planning to vote on the May 3 election, here is what time polls open and close: Here is a look at each county's sample ballot for the May 3 election: these are acceptable forms of ID to vote in Saturday's election: The state IDs must be issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety Any expired forms cannot be expired beyond four years for voters ages 18 to 69 Individuals 70 and older are allowed to bring photo IDs that have been expired for any amount of time What alternative forms of ID can be used to vote?Voters who cannot provide one of the specified forms of identification may complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polling station and present an alternative form of ID These alternative forms of identification may be either original documents or copies Here are the following forms of ID you can use: persons are not allowed to use wireless communications devices within 100 feet of voting stations persons are not allowed to use mechanical or electronic devices to record sound or images within 100 feet of the voting stations Devices that should not be used in the polling place include: The City of Round Rock continues to earn national recognition as Livability lists Round Rock as the No 10 Best Place to Live in America in a recently published ranking Livability’s rankings are based on an in-depth review of thousands of U.S nearly 100 data points focused on local economic conditions and activity wide range of health care options and vibrant economy were all mentioned as reasons the City landed a top spot Here’s an excerpt from what they had to say: “Round Rock lures residents with its safe neighborhoods top-notch health care options and plenty of job opportunities the living and housing costs are lower than many of its neighbors including nearby Austin — about 18 miles away.Some of the larger employers include Emerson Automation Solutions with growing sectors such as life sciences so young professionals have plenty of opportunities to advance their careers As far as health care goes, Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital serves Williamson County alongside more than 8,400 health care practitioners working in both doctors’ offices and trauma care centers.There are over three dozen parks for the city’s 128,111 residents including a Play for All Abilities Park featuring a sensory pod sandbox and an all-abilities treehouse and an assortment of centers and pavilions available for rent for family get-togethers. Downtown Round Rock is a gathering place for dining nightlife and events ranging from Music on Main to Beaujolais Nights.“ Round Rock was one of only eight Texas cities to be included in the ranking The full list of cities, including detailed information on ranking methodology, can be found at https://livability.com/best-places/top-100-best-places-to-live-in-the-us/ The City of Round Rock recently completed installation of a new playground at Bowman Park The project included installation of two new play structures, swings and shade sails at 950 E. Bowman Road The $155,623 playground project was funded through federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) as part of the City of Round Rock’s CDBG 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan The work was part of the overall renovation of Bowman Park which previously called for CDBG allotments that expanded Bowman Park’s trail and made ADA improvements at the 8.54-acre neighborhood park.  Round Rock Parks and Recreation aims to replace playground equipment every 10-15 years The previous Bowman Park playground equipment that was removed had been installed in 2009 For more information about the City of Round Rock’s CDBG program, visit www.roundrocktexas.gov/cdbg. To learn more about the City of Round Rock’s parks, visit www.roundrocktexas.gov/parks Officials broke ground Thursday on The District a long-anticipated mixed-use development to be built south of State Highway 45 and northwest of Greenlawn Boulevard in Round Rock The project by Mark IV Capital will feature 65.5 acres of retail First introduced to the City Council in 2017 the project has evolved over the years in response to market demands and community needs growing from an original 1 million-square-foot plan to at least 3 million square feet of development Now expected to exceed $500 million in private investment The District is expected to reach full build-out by 2039 Round Rock City Council approved an amendment to the development’s existing Planned Unit Development in a unanimous vote on Feb The amendment allowed for changes to the development’s private road network and set standards for multi-family development on the property The road design prioritizes pedestrian safety with sidewalks while also accommodating spaces for outdoor dining and public gatherings Round Rock City Council first approved an economic development agreement with M4 Greenlawn LLC for the project in 2019 in which the city agreed to contribute $12.56 million for infrastructure improvements in exchange for the developer constructing one million square feet of office The development agreement also outlined key performance milestones requiring 1 million square feet of development to be completed by 2039 developers introduced revisions to the plan to accommodate market shifts and evolving business needs City Council approved an amendment to the agreement that requires The District to achieve a full buildout of at least three million square feet by 2039 the City committed to reimbursing $25 million in infrastructure costs through sales tax revenues designated for transportation and development projects The performance milestones listed in the agreement require at least 200,000 square feet to be completed by 2028 with a minimum of 600,000 square feet dedicated to commercial and retail use The project’s financial impact is projected to generate approximately $40 million in revenue for the City over the next 20 years developers said that the project meets a high demand for mixed-use walkable developments with class-A office space Construction is expected to begin with infrastructure work followed by office and residential development Mayor Craig Morgan noted that Mark IV has built other successful projects in Round Rock including Summit at La Frontera in 2013 and the nearby Summit 2 project in 2019 “This project is going to be a game changer for our community providing vibrant spaces that enhance our quality of life while driving economic growth in Round Rock,” Morgan said Beer and Wine Schedule of Events 6:00-6:30 Appetizers 6:30-7:00 Dinner is Served 7:00-7:25 Tales of the Old Ranger in the Saga of Round Rock brought to you by WOTR 7:30-8:00 Enjoy the sounds of Pat Gavin and the Buckaroo Band updates@williamsonmuseum.org The City of Round Rock has once again earned the ETC Institute’s “Leading the Way” award for its outstanding achievement in the delivery of services to residents the City conducts a survey of its citizens to see how well the city government is meeting their needs and to determine the issues of concern to them Round Rock ranked in the top 10 percent among communities across the United States during the fall/winter 2024 survey season with regard to its performance in the three core areas assessed on ETC Institute’s DirectionFinder Survey:  In addition to being among the best overall Round Rock also scored more than 20 percentage points higher than the national average in 25 different areas of city services These areas include how safe people feel downtown satisfaction with parks and recreation programs Residents also gave high marks for the city’s water as well as library services and the condition of city streets and sidewalks The ETC Institute has been conducting its DirectionFinder Survey since 1999 and has collected input from over 2 million residents across all 50 states “These results show that Round Rock residents overwhelmingly trust the City to deliver high-quality services—and we don’t take that trust lightly,” said Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan “From customer service to the overall value for taxes and fees we’re proud to lead the way in Texas and the nation.” Since 1999, the DirectionFinder Survey has been administered to nearly 2 million residents in all 50 states.  To learn more about the City’s biennial City survey, visit roundrocktexas.gov/survey Round Rock City Council unanimously approved funds on Feb 27 to replace the Joanne Land Playground at Old Settlers Park funded through $1.87 million in voter-approved 2023 general obligation (GO) bonds will be the largest in the city’s inventory and will include modern safety and accessibility features The playground was designed and will be installed by WeBuildFun which installed the park’s original Joanne Land Playground in 2016 Although the lifecycle for a typical playground in Round Rock’s park system is approximately 15 years the previous playground was one of the most heavily used in Round Rock The new play structure will be approximately twice the size of the original and will include integrated lighting and plastic components designed to minimize heat absorption This will be the first installation of this particular equipment which will be included in the manufacturer’s catalogue was the City of Round Rock’s City Secretary from 1970-2002 a period when Round Rock’s population grew from less than 3,000 people to more than 60,000 The playground will be located near the new pavilion and restrooms being built as part of the larger voter-approved improvements to Old Settlers Park Installation is scheduled to begin this year For more information on the Old Settlers Park improvement projects, visit www.roundrocktexas.gov/bond Round Rock continues to shine on the national stage, earning high praise in Niche’s 2025 Best Places rankings once again confirming its status as one of the best places to live and raise a family in the U.S According to Niche a platform known for analyzing neighborhoods bases its rankings on rigorous data analysis from reliable sources including the U.S Ranking methodology weighs factors such as crime rates employment statistics and access to community amenities These rankings reflect Round Rock’s consistent appeal across a range of quality-of-life factors strong economy with plentiful job opportunities top-rated school system and abundance of parks and local amenities were all cited as key factors to Round Rock’s success with especially strong marks in public schools Full ranking and detailed methodology is available at https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/round-rock-williamson-tx/ slightly larger than the Best Buy located next door The Round Rock Fire Department is actively responding to a 5-inch gas line break near County Road 172 and Lynda Sue Street on the west side of Round Rock and multiple fire department units are on the scene conducting air monitoring in buildings around the leak There have been no evacuations as a result of the leak Residents should not be alarmed if they smell natural gas outdoors, as the odor is expected to spread beyond the immediate area due to this morning’s wind direction and cool temperatures. However, as a precaution, if you are in the area and detect a strong gas odor inside your home or business, leave the area and call 9-1-1 or ATMOS’s toll-free emergency number at 866-322-8667 For more information about natural gas safety, visit www.atmosenergy.com/safety/recognizing-leak the City of Round Rock’s trash service provider will not pick up garbage or recycling on Tuesday Public meetings, including City Council Packet Briefing and Historic Preservation Commission Meeting scheduled for Tuesday have also been canceled Other City services will be impacted as follows: Transportation crews monitor bridges and have been pre-treating elevated roads and hills within the City of Round Rock. During winter weather, crews focus on sanding critical areas to ensure a safe pathway for public safety services. Although travel is not advised, you can monitor road conditions by visiting drivetexas.org or calling 1-800-452-9292 The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Round Rock and all of South Central Texas from 8 a.m and dry fuels will create very high to extreme fire danger throughout the day Any fires that ignite could spread rapidly Critical fire weather conditions are expected with west winds reaching 25-35 mph and gusts up to 50 mph relative humidity dropping as low as 5-15% and high temperatures between 75-85 degrees Dry vegetation across the region increases the risk of fast-moving wildfires Residents are urged to take extra precautions to prevent fire hazards and make sure they’re prepared for potential wildfires: check out this classic PSA featuring baseball icon Nolan Ryan who reminds us that we each need to do our part to prevent wildfires: The Fire Weather Watch may be upgraded to a Red Flag Warning if conditions worsen. Residents should stay informed by monitoring official weather updates from the National Weather Service and local media For updates, follow the City of Round Rock on social media or visit the National Weather Service – Austin/San Antonio at www.weather.gov/ewx “Friday Fun Nights” at Yonders Point IS BACK for 2025! Join your Parks and Recreation Department for the FREE “Friday Fun Nights” at Yonders Point at Old Settlers Park Bring the entire family and enjoy fun themed activities on select Friday nights from May through August located just southwest of the baseball fields in Old Settlers Park is a place where families can picnic and enjoy an amazing view of Bright Lake Each “Friday Fun Night” will feature FREE fun activities for the entire family The Round Rock Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at 2:59 p.m to find heavy fire conditions in a second-floor unit Firefighters brought the fire under control by 3:26 p.m while three others experienced smoke and water damage A total of seven fire apparatus responded to the scene No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters The cause of the fire is under investigation ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Texas Rangers announced that RHP Jack Leiter is expected to make a rehab start Tuesday night at Dell Diamond. Leiter is slated to take the baseball when the Round Rock Express host the Las Vegas Aviators (Athletics affiliate) at 7:05 p.m The right-hander made two starts for Texas before going on the Injured List on April 3 with a right middle finger blister Leiter was 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (1 ER/10.0 IP) with one walk and 10 strikeouts He earned his first career victory on March 28 against the Boston Red Sox after tossing 5.0 innings with one earned run on five hits RHP Bud Norris (2009) and RHP Jason Hirsh (2006) as the only players in E-Train history to win PCL Pitcher of the Year Award The right-hander earned the honor last season after going 6-4 with a 3.51 ERA (30 ER/77.0 IP) with 35 walks and 110 strikeouts Opponents hit just .217 against Leiter and he struck out 33.3 percent of the batters he faced He finished the season 10th in the PCL in strikeouts despite pitching in just 77.0 innings All nine pitchers in front of him went 104.2 innings or more Among PCL pitchers with at least 60.0 innings his 12.86 strikeouts per nine innings figure is first in the league The 25-year-old was selected second overall in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt University New Jersey where he went on to win New Jersey Gatorade High School Player of the Year at Delbarton School pitched 19 seasons in the Major Leagues and was a two-time World Series Champion Girls Empowerment Week is a week-long program designed for girls aged 11-14 to unlock their full potential and be inspired by female leaders from various fields The program encourages participants to step outside their comfort zones and develop the skills needed to lead with strength and resilience participants will engage in a variety of activities that promote teamwork the program includes physical training such as an obstacle course Girls will also have the opportunity to explore specialized equipment like patrol and SWAT vehicles The curriculum empowers participants by covering important topics such as personal safety local field trips will provide valuable insights into community safety and highlight the vital role of women in law enforcement and other leadership positions This year’s Girls Empowerment Week will take place from July 28 to July 31 Spring is the season for gardening! Check out this printable list of local shops, groups, and resources to help you get started One of our featured displays this month on the 3rd floor of the library is gardening themed. Come see what books we have on display today Need some seeds? The Seed Library is a collection of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds that are available for Round Rock citizens to take home and plant Check them out on the 1st floor behind the desk Meet fellow gardeners and support the seed library by coming to a meeting of the Seed Savers! These volunteers get together to clean and sort donated seeds so they can be checked out to patrons The Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension They hold classes at the library on the first Thursday of every month have demonstration gardens which are open to the public and have a help desk for gardening questions March 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Master Gardeners’ monthly gardening program at Round Rock Public Library March 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Master Gardeners’ 17th annual plant sale at Georgetown Community Center—come early for the best selection Demonstration Gardens: Located at 3151 SE Inner Loop, Georgetown, the Master Gardeners can usually be found tending these gardens on Tuesday and Friday mornings and they are happy to answer any questions Help Desk: Got gardening questions? Ask the Master Gardeners’ help desk. Round Rock Garden Center is a native plant nursery located at 901 Sam Bass Rd in Round Rock Snooper’s Nursery & Garden Center has been selling and growing plants in Central Texas for 30 years Check out their site for a list of recommended plants that do well in our area City of Round Rock Tool Depot lends out large tools so you don’t have to buy your own Most can be borrowed for 4 days with the fence staining kit able to be borrowed up to 14 days Tools available to borrow:Lawn mowersWeed trimmersHedge trimmersBlowersSeed & feed spreadersTillersPole sawsChainsawsPower washersFence staining kitsLadders Round Rock ISD administrators are planning an expansion to the district's teacher residency program